Meet Shauna Blanch
Shauna Blanch is a CBD expert and co-founder of Color Up Therapeutics who has dedicated her life to service, education, and being a positive impact on this planet. Growing up an ethical herbivore and conscious consumer, Blanch’s entrepreneurial spirit was fueled by her parents as they built their family business. Based in Colorado, Blanch is the COO of Color Up, a cruelty-free, all-natural CBD company. Blanch is also a Licensed Massage Therapist, Certified Reiki Master and yoga teacher.
I ask Shauna all about CBD and why everyone’s jumping on board.
Is CBD just a fad or is it here to stay?
Cannabis has been around for thousands of years…and we are just now in the infant stages of research that’s proving we all may have some stage of cannabinoid deficiency due to prohibition of the plant. Not only is CBD here to stay, but I also believe that all the other cannabinoids in the Cannabis plant will find their place in the healing community.
Why the rapid rise in the popularity of CBD?
There are quite a few factors that contribute to the quick rise of CBD, the most impactful of which has been the anecdotal evidence over the last five years or so. With wellness centers like ours popping up around the country, we cannot deny the therapeutic benefits of CBD any longer. With the legalization of Marijuana in many states, approval of the first pharmaceutical CBD drug, and the most recent Farm Bill being signed in November, we are seeing a change in the stigma around the plant which is helping to relieve people’s trepidation.
What are the beauty benefits of CBD?
CBD truly is a skincare powerhouse ingredient. Some of CBD’s greatest beauty benefits are its antioxidant, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and anti-microbial properties. Along with its ability to regulate sebum production & melanogenesis (melanin production), as well as decrease inflammation and fight the effects of aging & acne. We have hundreds of clients who use it for everything from anti-aging, acne and pigmentation, to psoriasis and eczema.
Are there long-term beauty benefits of CBD as well as short-term?
Absolutely. The quickest short-term benefits you will see when using CBD are the immediate anti-inflammatory effects. You will also notice a quick change in skin hydration and integrity. Long-term benefits can include an overall change in skin health, as well as regulation of sebum production and melanogenesis, which contribute to aging, pigmentation and acne.
What are the benefits of CBD gummies, tinctures and other ingestibles?
The benefits of ingesting CBD are vast. The greatest internal benefits are CBD’s powerful anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties, as well as its ability to encourage the Endocannabinoid System (ECS) to create the receptors and endogenous cannabinoids the body needs to find balance throughout. Long-term benefits of internal CBD are its neuroprotective properties, its ability to encourage bone stimulation, reduce seizures and spasms, relieve anxiety and depression, and it may even help with overcoming addiction.
Sublingual tinctures are the safest and quickest way to get CBD and other cannabinoids into the bloodstream. Once dropped under the tongue, they are absorbed by the mucus membrane and then directly into the blood. We can find relief within 20-25 minutes without interruption from our digestive systems.*
Are there long-term health benefits of CBD as well as short-term?
Just like with topicals, consuming CBD internally will have both short- and long-term benefits. The short term can be reduced stress and anxiety, pain relief, reduction in inflammation and nausea, and even suppression in seizure activity. The ECS is always seeking homeostasis throughout the body, so long-term use and benefits will include an overall balance within our biological systems, as well as some powerful anti-tumoral effects, and its potential ability to restore the nervous system, its cells, structure and function.
There are also CBD products for pets. Is CBD really helpful for animals?
The same endocannabinoid system that exists in humans also exists within all mammals, birds, fish and reptiles, therefore we see many of the same benefits for our pets as we do for ourselves. Some of the greatest benefits for animals may be its anxiolytic and pain-relieving properties, tremor and seizure reduction abilities, skin health benefits, and even digestive system regulation.
Where is CBD extracted from?
CBD comes from Cannabis, which can then be broken down into Marijuana and Hemp. Legally, you will find CBD from Marijuana can only be sold in dispensaries because when extracted it contains above .3% THC (tetrahydrocannabinol, the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana). CBD from Hemp can be extracted with less than .3% THC and can therefore be sold in most retail spaces across the country. Again, this is a legal determination and in no way changes the molecular structure of CBD. CBD from Marijuana and CBD from Hemp are the exact same molecule, with the exact same benefits, but legally it is broken down into two separate categories.
What are the different kinds of CBD?
Products now are being infused with either isolated CBD, Full Spectrum, Broad Spectrum/THC-free Broad Spectrum or Whole Plant Extract.
- Isolated CBD CBD is just the cannabinoid CBD
- Full Spectrum CBD is an array of cannabinoids including THC and terpenes (the component of the plant that is responsible for flavor and fragrance)
- Broad Spectrum CBD is typically going to be an array of cannabinoids including THC, but without terpenes or THC-free Broad Spectrum which would be the same except the THC has been removed,
- Whole Plant Extract CBD is less refined and usually has an array of cannabinoids including THC, as well as all of the terpenes, and other plant constituents such as chlorophyll and lipids.
How does the average consumer determine what dosage is right for them?
At this point, there have been few studies done on dosing. Every body is different and, therefore, everybody will have a different amount that works for them. What we do know is that we only need a small amount of CBD in order to excite the ECS, so we don’t need a lot to get started. The best way to determine what dosage you need is to start low and titrate up slowly. Start with a few milligrams for the first few weeks, and then increase the dosage frequency if there is no relief. This is the best way to introduce your body to cannabinoids, rather than overstimulating the body or wasting product.
Curious about CBD now? For the past few weeks, I’ve been testing a whole host of CBD products and have rounded up my favorites. You can read about those here.
Make sure you follow Shauna on social media so you don’t miss a thing:
Site: ColorUpTherapeutics.com
Instagram: @colorupCBD
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*Note: When taking anything ingestible like gummies and other edibles, users should be cautious and start with an extra low dose. Just like 80% of other supplements and pharmaceuticals that we consume, these edibles travel through both our complicated digestive and enzyme systems before entering the blood. This leaves room for dose discrepancies and we may see a decrease in the amount that makes it into our blood steam, or even a potential increase in what enters the system. This is based on daily food intake, each person’s metabolic rate, how healthy the digestive and liver systems are, and other internal biological factors.
