Month: April 2022

  • Best CBD Oil Products: Top-Rated Cannabis Oil Brands to Buy (April 2022)

    Best CBD Oil Products: Top-Rated Cannabis Oil Brands to Buy (April 2022)

    If you have ever felt overwhelmed shopping for CBD oil, you’re not alone. There are literally thousands of CBD products and brands available now, not all of them trustworthy. Below, I will help break down some of the top brands available on the market today.

    We hope you find it helpful!

    What is CBD?

    First, what is CBD? Cannabidiol (CBD) comes from the hemp plant, a close relation to the marijuana plant. CBD does not have the psychoactive ingredients indicative of the marijuana plant, so you won’t get high. That being said, there are many health benefits that come with using CBD.

    What does CBD do?

    Studies show it can alleviate chronic pain and inflammation, improve sleep quality, limit the frequency and severity of seizures, reduce stress and anxiety, protect against neurodegenerative diseases, and reduce diabetic complications.

    Where can I get it?

    You can get CBD in many places these days, either online, in a medical dispensary, or even in a grocery store. Just be careful when reading labels so you know just what you’re getting. Here is a look at the CBD products we will be reviewing.

    Editors Top Picks

    Full Reviews:

    XWERKS CBD Oil

    Sports nutrition is the focus of this company, with product lines designed for those on the go with active lifestyles. The CBD oil used is grown domestically from hemp plants that don’t have heavy metals or pesticides. You get a full-spectrum formula, which means the product doesn’t just have CBD in it, but also many phytocannabinoids derived from the hemp plant.

    They offer 600 mg and 1200 mg oils, as well as CBD topical and CBD capsules, backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee and free shipping over $75.

    OFFICIAL WEBSITE

    CBD Pure

    This company produces full-spectrum, high-quality cannabidiol that comes from certified organic hemp in Colorado and Washington. Each batch has been triple-tested and is confirmed to be 100{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c} pure, legal, and safe.

    All of the tests the products go through are posted on the company’s website, along with a breakdown of toxins, pesticides, and solvents.

    Choose from three different strengths of CBD oil: 300 mg, 600 mg, or 1000 mg. You could also get a 750 mg softgel product if you prefer not to use CBD oil. If you are a beginner, you may want to start with the softgel version. The company offers a 100{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c} money-back guarantee.

    OFFICIAL WEBSITE

    Populum Full Spectrum Hemp Oil

    This company name comes from the Latin word meaning “the people.” Their CBD oils contain full-spectrum hemp locally grown on farms in Colorado, with all extracts undergoing food-grade ethanol extraction and distillation processes.

    This is a two-step process that has the ability to segregate waxes from clean oils, and to separate the chlorophyll and lipids. This results in the most natural, effective product that also does not have CBD isolates or diluted extracts.

    All products are triple-tested for quality and purity, with available strengths of 250 mg, 500 mg, 1000 mg, or 2000 mg per bottle ($279).

    The CBD oil sold by this company includes grape seed oil, orange oil, coconut oil, omega-six fatty acids, and antioxidants.

    OFFICIAL WEBSITE

    Sol CBD Pure Hemp Tincture

    The co-founders of this company spent eight years exploring, learning, researching, and experimenting to reveal both the effectiveness and limitations of CBD oil. This family-run business uses locally grown hemp, while documenting everything from cultivation to bottling.

    You get a full-strength product from a company well-known for its CBD tinctures that help with sleep. Some of their CBD oils are actually designed for pets. Each 30 mL bottle has 500 mg of CBD, along with some mint and cinnamon for taste. You can get a discount on bulk orders, as well as a certificate of analysis for every bottle you buy.

    OFFICIAL WEBSITE

    CBDistillery CBD Oils

    This brand has hemp-derived CBD products, with a goal of educating their customers on the use of CBD oils. Founded in Colorado, this company’s full-spectrum CBD tincture has a powerful concentration with affordable pricing. You get consistent dosing with this 500 mg bottle that contains vitamins, minerals, and plant proteins.

    All products are made in the United States, certified by the Hemp Authority. The hemp is cultivated with natural farming practices, undergoing strict laboratory testing for safety, purity, and quality.

    OFFICIAL WEBSITE

    Charlotte’s Web CBD Oil

    A pioneer in the industry, this company’s products are in the higher price range of CBD oils, but you get very high quality products.

    The company is very involved in the making of their product, from seed production to the final product. They test for purity and quality to make sure impurities such as heavy metals are not included. They also provide certificates of analyses to consumers for all their CBD oils, including lemon twist, mint, orange blossom, chocolate, and natural flavors.

    Pricing ranges from $29.99 to $275 depending on size.

    OFFICIAL WEBSITE

    Joy Organics’ CBD Oil

    Founded in 2018 by a woman who had trouble sleeping at night, this company offers a CBD tincture with the proper safety, efficacy, and potency to promise restful sleep. All ingredients have been meticulously sourced, tested, and extracted with supercritical CO2.

    It’s known for its proprietary nano-emulsion technology, converting hemp oil into nano-sized emulsions for better absorption. Tinctures are used for a more relaxing sensation. Choose from full-spectrum and broad-spectrum solutions in lemon, mint, orange bliss, lime, and natural flavors.

    OFFICIAL WEBSITE

    Rya Organics CBD

    This company offers three CBD-based products boasting increased absorption technology, eco-friendly methods, pure ingredients, and health-boosting properties.

    The Nexus Relief CBD Oil is a popular 300 mg bottle relieving inflammation, strengthening the immune system, restoring homeostasis, and improving mood. This product isn’t just full-spectrum CBD but has combined effects of Boswellian extract, MCT, curcumin, DHA and EPA, and sea buckthorn oils.

    All products are made in the United States with organic ingredients such as sugar, soy, and gluten-free substances. Their process adheres to ketogenic diet guidelines.

    OFFICIAL WEBSITE

    American Shaman Full Spectrum CBD Oil

    This company follows all standard industry procedures using proprietary nanotechnology to boost bioavailability. Lower strength bottles include 30 mL bottles which give you 300 mg of CBD. Flavors include lemon, grape, piña colada hemp, cherry limeade, and grape.

    Products range from terpene-rich solutions to water-soluble mixtures, as well as full-spectrum hemp oils.

    OFFICIAL WEBSITE

    Five CBD Tincture

    Each product from this company contains a 5-to-1 ratio of cannabidiol to minor hemp cannabinoids. These products also have the ‘Entourage Effect’, containing large concentrations of flavonoids, terpenes, and other hemp plant components.

    All products are derived from a U.S.-based farm, and are tested by a third-party laboratory. Choose from many CBD oils, including 1500 mg, 3000 mg, and 6000 mg concentrations. Flavors include mint, lavender, chocolate, and citrus.

    OFFICIAL WEBSITE

    Zatural

    Founded by a naturopathic doctor, these products contain only all-natural ingredients. Most of them are tinctures, and are available in broad-spectrum, full-spectrum, and CBD isolates. Pricing starts at $27.50 for a 300 mL bottle.

    Enjoy earthy flavors, along with more enticing flavors like cinnamon, lemon-lime, spearmint, and peppermint. Every product goes through laboratory testing for quality and purity, with documentation available regarding concentration, product type, terpene results, pesticides, and contaminants.

    OFFICIAL WEBSITE

    Medterra Ultra Broad-Spectrum CBD

    This company claims all servings of their CBD oil contain pure hemp seed, grown in Kentucky. Products go through third-party testing. Products are made using modern industrial farming methods, vegetable genetics, and food-grade extraction processes.

    Choose from 500 mg versions or 1000 mg CBD tinctures, with prices starting at $30. It is backed by the US Hemp Authority, which says the product is certified to be pure and high in quality. Rest easy knowing you are buying a safe, legal, and quality product backed by a certificate of analysis.

    OFFICIAL WEBSITE

    cbdMD Premium CBD Oils

    This company has a solid plan in place when it comes to growing, extracting, pricing, and testing through a third-party lab to ensure purity and quality. This company has one of the biggest collections of CBD products in concentrations of 300 mg, 750 mg 1500 mg, 3000 mg, 5000 mg, and 7500 mg.

    Flavors include mint, orange, mixed berry, and honey. You can grab the certificate of analysis from the company’s website.

    OFFICIAL WEBSITE

    Aspen Green Full Spectrum Hemp Extract

    This family-operated business brings you the utmost in transparency, quality and integrity, backed by a customer-centric focus.

    Every process is closely watched by company officials, from harvesting and extraction to formulation and packaging. Choose from concentrations of 500 mg per bottle up to 3000 mg. If you are a beginner, use the company’s convenient dosing guide to familiarize yourself with what you can expect.

    OFFICIAL WEBSITE

    Bloom Hemp Essential Calming Tincture

    When the farming bill passed in 2018, this company was already well-established as a hemp-growing operation. Founded by Thomas Schnackenberg, Bloom Hemp doesn’t source their products from large farms. Rather, they rely on small farms and growers who pay close attention to detail to all their processes, including soil and plants.

    All products are USDA-certified organic, from seeds to full grown hemp plants. The company places a priority on education, providing all consumers with a certificate of analysis.

    OFFICIAL WEBSITE

    RE Botanicals’ Hemp CBD Tincture

    The first in the country to market a U.S.-grown, USDA-certified organic hemp product, this company protect their products from glyphosate residue, which could increase the risk of cancer. It also utilizes ancient alcohol tradition when extracting the CBD.

    Once extracted, cannabinoids are infused into MCT Oil to produce a rich full-spectrum product for max health benefits. You can also choose from a wide selection of essential oils to use in conjunction with their CBD oil, backed by strict third-party lab testing.

    This company uses micro-dosing, something not all companies bother with. As such, you can get as little as 15 mg per serving right on up to 50 mg per serving. If you want limited doses of CBD oil, this is a great place to start.

    OFFICIAL WEBSITE

    Receptra Naturals’ Full Spectrum Hemp Extract

    All products come from Colorado-grown hemp, using all-natural ingredients and terpenes for a holistic state of wellness. This company’s products help you to balance sleep and waking cycles, reduce your stress levels, and alleviate emotional and physical pain.

    To hasten the healing process, ingredients have synergistic properties to better fight pain. CBD is combined with anti-inflammatory agents such as turmeric. For restful sleep, the balance between CBD oil and CBN can be quite effective.

    Their products may also contain MCT Oil, omega-6 fatty acids, avocado oil and omega-3 fatty acids. Quality analysis is simplified through QR codes the consumer can scan. Products include half-ounce, one-ounce, and two-ounce bottles for 33 mg of full-spectrum CBD in one drop.

    OFFICIAL WEBSITE

    Green Roads Broad-Spectrum CBD Oil

    All products are formulated by pharmacists, with the cofounder and CEO Laura Fuentes having spent 20 years studying various formulations for these CBD solutions. These CBD oils are consistently the most popular, trusted, and awarded in the whole industry. The company consistently gets five-star ratings in its online reviews.

    Products include 25 mg, 300 mg, 750 mg, and 1500 mg bottles of full-spectrum CBD oil to result in mild, moderate, or super-charged effects.

    OFFICIAL WEBSITE

    Mana Artisan Botanics’ Hawaiian Hemp Oil

    This company derives whole plant hemp extracts infused with Hawaiian botanicals that are all-natural, pure, and isolate-free. It focuses on regenerative agriculture to save the environment, local economy and holistic health. Ingredients include passionflower, vanilla, lehua and turmeric. While you won’t find a hugely extensive product line, you will find a variety of concentrations ranging from 100 mg, 600 mg, and 1250 mg, to 3600 mg.

    OFFICIAL WEBSITE

    JustCBD Oil

    These products use natural ways to alleviate mental stress so users can get a better night’s sleep. Founded in 2017, this company’s products are legal in all 50 states and approved by the FDA. They are also certified through lab testing for max safety.

    Choose from 50 mg, 100 mg, 250 mg, 550 mg, 1000 mg, 1500 mg, 3000 mg, or 5000 mg bottles of full-spectrum CBD oil.

    OFFICIAL WEBSITE

    CBDFx Tinctures

    Offering many CBD products, the company’s mission is focused on outstanding innovation backed by an optimal experience for users. An emphasis is placed on terpenes, organic ingredients, alternative cannabinoids and environmentally-friendly practices. This third largest privately-held CBD company offers CBD isolates, broad-spectrum, and full-spectrum CBD.

    The company’s tinctures provide healthcare solutions encompassing U.S.-grown industrial-grade hemp blended with MCT Oil so it’s better absorbed by the body. All products include either CBD, as well as CBG and CBN. They may also include terpenes or other botanicals and compounds. Choose from 500 mg, 1000 mg, 2000 mg, 4000 mg, or 6000 mg bottles. If you can’t afford an outright purchase, the company allows you to sign up for a convenient payment plan.

    OFFICIAL WEBSITE

    CBD Frequently Asked Questions

    While CBD is still sort of a new product without universal acceptance as of yet, there are many rumors and speculations regarding its nature and usage. That’s why we have compiled the following FAQs to enlighten you about CBD and how safe and effective it is.

    Q: What is CBD?

    A: CBD is short for cannabidiol, a non-psychoactive extract of the cannabis plant. It has been known to address many healthcare conditions such as anxiety, depression, epilepsy, insomnia, inflammation, and chronic pain. You can get them in many forms, such as topicals, edibles, oils and capsules.

    Q: How is CBD used?

    A: You can ingest CBD as an edible, as an oil, as gummies, or as capsules. You could also inhale it via vape pens or via raw hemp flower. In addition, you can apply it topically as a cream or lotion, or inject it intravenously for medicinal purposes.

    Q: What are CBD benefits?

    A: There are many well-documented health benefits of CBD, as it interacts with your endocannabinoid system that contains receptors throughout your body. CBD can also affect serotonin and dopamine, which affect neurotransmitter cell regeneration. CBD can:

    • support reproductive health
    • protect the cardiovascular system
    • regulate metabolism and hormone levels
    • protect the brain
    • support healthy skin
    • relieve inflammation and pain
    • support well-being and mental health
    • manage intensity and frequency of epileptic episodes
    Q: Why do people use it?

    A: Eighty-percent of CBD usage comes from trying to manage these medical conditions and more:

    • encouraging better sleep by reducing anxiety and insomnia
    • stress and anxiety relief
    • inflammatory conditions such as bowel disease or arthritis
    • skin inflammation such as psoriasis or eczema
    • joint pain such as post-surgery recovery or arthritis
    • help with mood disorders and depression (OCD, bipolar disorder)
    • relieve from chronic fatigue syndrome
    • pain relief from migraines, arthritis, fibromyalgia, nerve pain, multiple sclerosis, PMS pain, and sickle-cell anemia
    Q: How does CBD provide pain relief?

    A: CBD can relieve inflammation, manage pain receptors, and enhance damaged tissue recovery. CBD gives the user fast-acting relief, typically within 45 minutes of ingesting it. Effects can last up to six hours. The more you use it, the better effect you will have.

    Q: How does CBD provide anxiety relief?

    A: Hyperactivity can be targeted by CBD, which can calm down your brain and slow it down when you are experiencing anxiety. CBD also happens to regulate serotonin and dopamine production, which relaxes tense muscles in the neck and shoulders. It can also promote better sleep while lowering cortisol levels in the blood. The best CBD oils for the treatment of anxiety come from a full-spectrum hemp extract, needing a high concentration of CBD per bottle, usually more than 500 mg per ounce.

    Q: How does CBD allow you to sleep better?

    A: CBD manages symptoms associated with poor sleep, such as pain, anxiety, discomfort, and chronic stress. CBD is also effective when you take these additional steps to improve the situation:

    • avoid computer and phone screens for an hour before bed
    • avoid drinking alcohol or caffeine in the late afternoon or evening
    • do yoga or meditation before bedtime
    • dim the lights before sleep
    • use blue light filters on computer screens in afternoon or evening
    • stick to set times for retiring at night and waking in the morning

    The CBD oils for getting a good night’s sleep are included in a full spectrum CBD oil due to the higher number of cannabinoids and terpenes. The product you use for this purpose should have at least 15 mg of CBD per mL of oil.

    Q: How does CBD support weight loss?

    A: CBD reduces appetite, lowers bodily inflammation, regulates mitochondrial function, supports hormonal balance, and regulates blood sugar levels. When combined with lifestyle changes and diet modification, CBD can help you lose weight.

    Q: Can CBD help improve my skin?

    A: Yes. CBD soothes irritated, dry or inflamed skin, or even skin that is marked by acne. It reduces the thickness of skin sebum so your pores don’t get clogged as often. CBD also provides anti-inflammatory relief, managing skin conditions such as psoriasis, allergic dermatitis or eczema. Make CBD a part of your regular routine when you want to maintain skin health.

    Q: Why does CBD deliver so many health benefits?

    A: Research shows there are 55 health benefits of CBD, but that number may even be closer to 100. That’s because it interacts closely with the receptors in the body. CBD can target a wide range of receptors that are included in the endocannabinoid system, which is associated with hundreds of bodily functions. Thus, CBD interacts with every organ in the body, helping to reduce anxiety, pain transmission, inflammation, and much more.

    Q: Is CBD oil similar to hemp seed oil?

    A: No, CBD oil is different from hemp seed oil. Hemp seed oil comes from cannabis plant seeds chock full of phytonutrients and omega-six fatty acids that have no terpenes or cannabinoids. CBD oil, on the other hand, comes from hemp plant flowers and leaves which have terpenes, cannabinoids, phytonutrients, and other medicinal compounds.

    Q: Will I fail a drug test after taking CBD?

    A: No. Those drug tests look for THC, the psychoactive component of the hemp plant. Because those tests don’t look for CBD, you won’t fail. CBD oils come from broad-spectrum extracts and CBD isolates, with no trace amounts of THC. To be safe and if you are concerned, use broad-spectrum extracts or CBD isolates, which have no trace amounts of THC.

    Q: What is the recommended dose of CBD?

    A: There’s not one set dosage that’s best for taking CBD. Everyone is different and will have different needs and tolerances. The dose you take could vary from 5 mg a day to 150 mg per day or more. You can check out one of the many online dosage calculators to pinpoint your desired strength and weight class. If this is your first time taking CBD oil, always start out on the lower side based on weight, slowly increasing to a stronger dose later. You will soon know you have the right dosage due to the quick improvement of your symptoms. Keep in mind that it could take many weeks before you notice any CBD benefits. Just keep at it till you achieve the right dose.

    Q: How frequently should I take it?

    A: Most people take CBD two or three times a day. If you take it three times a day, take it once in the morning, once at lunch and once after dinner. If you take two doses, take one in the morning and one in the evening. How many doses you take per day will depend on what you want to treat. If you have arthritis, take CBD many times a day for all-day relief. If you just want to get a better night’s sleep, take it once a day at night.

    Q: How long does CBD take to be effective, and how long does it last?

    A: Every CBD form will take a differing amount of time before you see its effectiveness. The quickest effect is when inhaling CBD as a vape, with results seen in as little as five minutes or less. If you take CBD orally as a capsule or softgel, expect results to take between 30 and 60 minutes. This is how long it takes for the active ingredients to travel through your stomach and small intestine. Before CBD gets into the blood, it must be absorbed into lymph fluid, get to the heart and then into the bloodstream. If you take a tincture, results will come in about 10 minutes. No matter which form of CBD you ingest, the duration of effects will be between four and six hours.

    In Conclusion

    The benefits of CBD are very strong. We hope you found this guide to be helpful as well as our list of the best CBD oil brands. To recap,

    CBD can:

    • support reproductive health
    • protect the cardiovascular system
    • regulate metabolism and hormone levels
    • protect the brain
    • support healthy skin
    • relieve inflammation and pain
    • support well-being and mental health
    • manage intensity and frequency of epileptic episodes

    It also helps with:

    • encouraging better sleep by reducing anxiety and insomnia
    • stress and anxiety relief
    • inflammatory conditions such as bowel disease or arthritis
    • skin inflammation such as psoriasis or eczema
    • joint pain such as post-surgery recovery or arthritis
    • help with mood disorders and depression (OCD, bipolar disorder)
    • relieve from chronic fatigue syndrome
    • pain relief from migraines, arthritis, fibromyalgia, nerve pain, multiple sclerosis, PMS pain, and sickle-cell anemia

    As you can see, the benefits associated with CBD are enormous!

    Affiliate Disclosure:

    The links contained in this product review may result in a small commission if you opt to purchase the product recommended at no additional cost to you. This goes towards supporting our research and editorial team. Please know we only recommend high-quality products.

    Disclaimer:

    Please understand that any advice or guidelines revealed here are not even remotely substitutes for sound medical or financial advice from a licensed healthcare provider or certified financial advisor. Make sure to consult with a professional physician or financial consultant before making any purchasing decision if you use medications or have concerns following the review details shared above. Individual results may vary and are not guaranteed as the statements regarding these products have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration or Health Canada. The efficacy of these products has not been confirmed by FDA, or Health Canada approved research. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease and do not provide any kind of get-rich money scheme. Reviewer is not responsible for pricing inaccuracies. Check product sales page for final prices.

    The news and editorial staff of Sound Publishing, Inc. had no role in the preparation of this post. The views and opinions expressed in this sponsored post are those of the advertiser and do not reflect those of Sound Publishing, Inc.

    Sound Publishing, Inc. does not accept liability for any loss or damages caused by the use of any products, nor do we endorse any products posted in our Marketplace.

  • New laws say patients can have visitors even in an outbreak : Shots

    New laws say patients can have visitors even in an outbreak : Shots

    Mary Daniel took a dishwasher job at her husband’s Florida memory care facility to see him during the initial coronavirus lockdown. She has been fighting for visitation rights ever since.

    Tiffany Manning for NPR


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    Tiffany Manning for NPR


    Mary Daniel took a dishwasher job at her husband’s Florida memory care facility to see him during the initial coronavirus lockdown. She has been fighting for visitation rights ever since.

    Tiffany Manning for NPR

    Jean White’s mother has dementia and moved into a memory care facility near Tampa, Fla., just as coronavirus lockdowns began in the spring of 2020. For months, the family wasn’t allowed to go inside to visit.

    They tried video chats and visits from outside her bedroom window, but White said that just upset her mom, who is 87.

    White’s mother couldn’t grasp why she could hear familiar voices but not be with her loved ones in person.

    When the family was allowed in to see her, disruptions continued. White said the facility kept shutting down anytime a resident or staff member had the virus.

    KHN logo

    All the while, her mom’s memory was deteriorating.

    “You know it’s going to happen, but still, when it does. And when you haven’t — when you miss time that you thought you had,” White said, speaking haltingly and with emotion as she talked about her mother’s decline.

    Restrictions on visitation have relaxed in recent months, White said, but she questions whether protecting her mom from COVID-19 was worth the lengthy separation.

    “What anxiety, loneliness and confusion she must have had – I think I would have rather her seen her family,” she said.

    On March 11, the Florida Legislature passed a bill that will make it easier for people like White to see their loved ones in health facilities. Gov. Ron DeSantis is expected to sign it in the coming weeks. At least eight states have already passed similar laws, and several others have bills under consideration.

    Some laws, like those passed last year in New York and Texas, are specific to long-term care facilities. They allow residents to designate essential caregivers, also known as compassionate caregivers, who are allowed to visit regardless of whether there is a health crisis. Texans also added protections in their constitution.

    Other states including Arkansas, North Carolina and Oklahoma passed similar “No Patient Left Alone” acts that also guarantee visitor access to patients in hospitals.

    Hospitals and long-term care facilities set pandemic restrictions on visitors to protect patients and staffers from infection. But supporters of these news laws say they want to ease the restrictions because the rules may have harmed patients.

    An Associated Press investigation found that for every two residents in long-term care who died from COVID-19, another resident died prematurely of other causes. The report, published in late 2020, attributed some of those deaths to neglect. Other deaths, listed on death certificates as “failure to thrive,” were tied to despair.

    Even in regions of the U.S. with low rates of COVID, risk of death for nursing home residents with dementia was 14{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c} higher in 2020, compared to 2019, according to a study published in February in JAMA Neurology.

    The researchers pointed to factors besides COVID infection that may have contributed to the increased mortality, such as less access to in-person medical care and community support services, and “the negative effects of social isolation and loneliness.”

    She took a kitchen job so she could see her husband

    When long-term care facilities and hospitals began closing their doors to family visitors, patient advocate Mary Daniel, from Jacksonville, Fla., was worried about what might happen to her husband, Steve, who has Alzheimer’s.

    “I promised him when he was diagnosed that I would be by his side every step of the way, and for 114 days I was not able to do that,” Daniel said.

    To get back inside, Daniel took a dishwashing job at her husband’s assisted living facility so she could see him.

    Daniel would work in the kitchen two nights a week, then after her shift go to his room. She’d help him change into his pajamas and lay beside him watching TV until he fell asleep.

    “That is really why I’m there, to be his wife, to hold his hand, so he feels that love,” said Daniel.

    Daniel has been fighting for visitor rights at the state and federal levels ever since. She’s a leader of Caregivers for Compromise, a coalition with thousands of members. She also served on a state task force that informed Florida’s decision to order long-term care facilities to reopen to families in the fall of 2020.

    “We understand that COVID kills, but we want to be sure everyone understands isolation kills too,” Daniel said.

    While the visitation laws open the doors, they also include provisions to protect patients and staff by directing facilities to establish infection-control measures that families must follow to enter. That could mean mask requirements or health screenings. In Florida, protocols for visitors cannot be more stringent than they are for staff, and vaccination status cannot be a factor.

    Also in Florida, facilities will be able to ban visitors who don’t follow the rules. That’s fine with advocates like Daniel.

    “I mean we’re not here beating down the door saying, ‘You can never kick us out and I’m going to be here as long as I want to,’” she said. “We want to protect their health, we want to be sure that everything is safe.”

    DeSantis, who appointed Daniel to the 2020 task force, was a vocal supporter of expanding visitor access.

    “COVID cannot be used as an excuse to deny patients basic rights, and one of the rights of being a patient, I think, is having your loved ones present,” DeSantis said at a news conference in February.

    Balancing the joy of visits with the risks of infection

    In November, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services directed nursing homes to open their doors to visitors even amid COVID-19 outbreaks, so long as they screen visitors to see if they have tested positive or have symptoms of COVID-19.

    Hospitals and assisted living facilities are not regulated in the same way as nursing homes. Some health care industry leaders fear the new laws for hospitals and assisted living won’t provide operators the flexibility they need to respond to crises.

    Veronica Catoe, CEO of the Florida Assisted Living Association, says she represents facilities with varying capabilities to accommodate visitation. Some are large with private rooms and multiple common areas; others are single-family homes that just have a handful of residents.

    “These operators are trying to protect not only the loved one that wants a visit, but also the loved one that doesn’t want these outsiders coming in. They both have resident rights,” Catoe said.

    Florida’s legislation outlines various scenarios during which visitation must be allowed at all times. Those include if a patient is dying, struggling to transition to their new environment, or experiencing emotional distress, among other factors.

    Catoe said those situations aren’t always easy to define.

    “Is it the facility that makes that decision, is it the family that makes that decision, or is it the resident?” she asked. “And when they’re in conflict, who gets the deciding factor?”

    Relatives wanted more time with a dying loved one

    Mary Mayhew, president of the Florida Hospital Association, said the decision is also difficult for medical centers.

    “They are extremely reluctant to place restrictions on [visitor] access, and it has largely been done during this extremely unusual time period when we have had a virus — continue to have a virus — that we are often learning something new about every day,” Mayhew said.

    She added that people go to hospitals because they’re already sick or injured, which makes them vulnerable to infection.

    “There is significant risk of any of those patients getting exposed to, in this case COVID, might be brought in by a visitor,” Mayhew said.

    Families are vital to patient care, she said, and stressed that even during COVID surges and lockdown, hospitals have tried to get relatives in to visit, especially when patients were dying.

    Kevin Rzeszut says his family needed more.

    “By the time we saw him, I mean, he was gone. There was no consciousness left; he was on so many medications,” Rzeszut said. His father died at 75 from a bacterial infection in August of 2021, when Tampa hospitals were overwhelmed with patients sick with the delta variant.

    Rzeszut said he couldn’t visit his dad for nearly two weeks. When doctors told the family to come say their goodbyes, Rzeszut’s 11-year-old son went along.

    “I think the worst part for me was that my son got to see him, you know, just hooked up to a bunch of machines and totally out of it, like that was it, you know?” said Rzeszut, his voice breaking with emotion.

    He said the staff did the best they could.

    “The nurses and doctors, they can look at notes all day long, but they don’t know him, they haven’t spent 53 years with the man” the way his mother had, Rzeszut said. “She’d be more attuned to minor improvements or degradations. Maybe that’s a pipe dream, but it feels real.”

    Rzeszut said he supports measures to give families more access to their loved ones, so long as enforcing them doesn’t add more workload to an “already overburdened” health care system.

    What he really wishes, he said, is that more people would take COVID seriously so people didn’t need a law to visit their loved ones.

    This story comes from NPR’s health reporting partnership with WUSF and KHN (Kaiser Health News).

  • Witham Health Services updates visitor guidelines as COVID-19 eases

    Witham Health Services updates visitor guidelines as COVID-19 eases

    Witham Health Companies, headquartered in Lebanon, Ind., announced Friday updates to visitor pointers just after COVID-19 fears reduce.

    The professional medical program will also provide in-human being group education lessons and guidance group meetings, services drastically afflicted when the COVID-19 pandemic hit just about two years in the past.

    “Things are going in the right way. We have a new sense of hope as the quantity of COVID positive clients in our clinic is in the vicinity of zero!” said Kelly Braverman, CEO/president of Witham Wellness Expert services, in the announcement.

    “Now is the perfect time to timetable any regimen test-ups and screenings that you have delayed all through the most up-to-date COVID spike. Your overall health and basic safety is our top rated precedence. Be sure to do not place off crisis or program treatment – we are in this article to support maintain you healthful. Witham Wellness Services will deliver the exceptional treatment you’ve come to hope.”

    Witham Health Services updates visitor guidelines as COVID-19 eases

    Even though Witham staff members, clients and site visitors need to nonetheless war masks in each individual health care facility, according to the announcement, restrictions on the selection of readers has eased in selected areas. 

    “Witham is focused to maintaining you and your loved ones harmless and with the standard precautions of wearing masks and social distancing, we are the moment all over again ready to provide in-individual group training lessons and guidance group conferences. We have also updated our customer rules to mirror the lessen COVID positivity charge in Boone County.” mentioned Braverman.

  • Pujols Returns Home, Finds Fit With Cardinals

    Pujols Returns Home, Finds Fit With Cardinals

    With a wave of his hand and a suggestion of the cap, Albert Pujols walked again into the planet of the St. Louis Cardinals.

    Putting on a large smile and his acquainted purple No. 5 jersey, Pujols emerged from over and above the correct area wall at Roger Dean Stadium concerning the first and next innings of a sport versus Houston on Monday.

    Cardinals pitchers, catchers and coaches sitting down on chairs much down the line stood to acknowledge the 3-time NL MVP, as did the enthusiasts in the stands. Pujols strolled all over to the St. Louis dugout on the third base facet, the place he was greeted with hearty hugs and large-fives.

    All these many years later on, the slugger who served the Cardinals acquire two Globe Sequence championship was house.

    The Cardinals and Pujols have achieved settlement on a one particular-yr agreement valued at $2.5 million, supplying him a prospect to stop his profession in the place exactly where it begun.

    The 42-calendar year-old Pujols used section of Monday movie conferencing with veteran St. Louis catcher Yadier Molina. The two invested 8 a long time as teammates in St. Louis.

    “I’m happy for him to be below,” Molina stated. “It’s likely to be a pleasurable 12 months.”

    Pujols played the initial 11 many years of his occupation in St. Louis, teaming with Molina to guide the Cardinals to the 2006 and 2011 Earth Collection titles.

    “We’ve only received one particular point in mind – winning a further championship,” Molina said.

    Prior to Monday’s Graprefruit League recreation, Cardinals heart fielder Harrison Bader posted a image on social media of what appeared to be a No. 5 Pujols jersey hanging in a Cardinals’ locker.

    Pujols doesn’t swing nearly as fearsome a bat as he did throughout his St. Louis hey-day, but the Cardinals determined they have a place for a designated hitter who can strike remaining-handed pitching.

    That is one particular matter Pujols even now does properly.

    Pujols strike a mixed .236 for the Los Angeles Angels and Dodgers past year, but strike .294 with a .939 OPS towards lefties.

    Pujols wants 21 homers to grow to be the fourth job big leaguer to strike 700 in a vocation.

    “Adding anyone like that is ridiculous critical,” initial-calendar year manager Oliver Marmol reported. “What he does with that clubhouse exterior of his ability established is unbelievable.”

    The deal delivers Pujols back again to exactly where he turned a single of the game’s most effective and dangerous all-all-around hitters. The NL Rookie of the Calendar year in 2001 hit at least .300 with at minimum 30 homers and 100 RBIs in every of his initially 10 seasons in St. Louis.

    A wildly well known participant in St. Louis, Pujols played his final recreation for the Cardinals on Oct. 28, 2011, a Activity 7 get more than Texas in the Environment Sequence.

    Pujols won those three MVP awards and produced 9 All-Star groups with the Cardinals right before signing a 10-12 months, $240 million deal with the Angels in 2012. He was waived by the Angels previous May well although hitting .198, and signed with the Dodgers, for whom he strike 12 homers and drove in 38 runs in 85 video games.

    With the Nationwide League now adopting the DH rule, the Cardinals located a healthy with Pujols as opening day on April 7 from Pittsburgh at Busch Stadium approached.

  • Tardive Dyskinesia and Your Mental Health: Tips, Advice, and More

    Tardive Dyskinesia and Your Mental Health: Tips, Advice, and More

    Up to 1 in 3 people today who choose antipsychotic or neuroleptic medications to deal with mental wellbeing problems like schizophrenia, key melancholy, or bipolar disorder knowledge a assortment of uncontrollable actions.

    This is a medicine side effect identified as tardive dyskinesia. Tardive dyskinesia brings about jerky motions of the confront, neck, arms, and legs.

    On leading of controlling a mental health and fitness problem, encountering these styles of uncontrollable movements can impact your quality of daily life in numerous ways. The far more significant these actions are, the far more of an effects tardive dyskinesia can have.

    Here are just a couple of the possible outcomes tardive dyskinesia can have on your life and how to manage them.

    With tardive dyskinesia, your lips could possibly instantly pucker, your experience could crinkle into a frown, or you could possibly stick out your tongue at a stranger. People today who really do not know what’s heading on could possibly stare, whisper, and inquire queries.

    Folks who expertise tardive dyskinesia say that the impression on their social daily life is just one of the hardest areas of residing with it. Humiliation can be a massive difficulty. Panic of undesirable attention causes some men and women to withdraw from good friends and family members, in particular if signs are extreme.

    A person way to regulate the stigma of tardive dyskinesia is to understand every thing you can about it. Then when you fulfill a person who asks concerns, you’ll know how to response them.

    Surrounding you with supportive men and women can assist relieve some of the embarrassment. Think about opening up to family and friends about what it’s like to dwell with tardive dyskinesia. You may possibly also contemplate joining a movement issues support team to connect with other folks who have an understanding of particularly what you are going by.

    When scientists reviewed social media posts from folks dwelling with tardive dyskinesia, 64 p.c of people posts had been negative. Persons wrote about getting annoyed with their signs. Several described owning tardive dyskinesia as a really distressing encounter.

    If you really feel indignant or pissed off, get to out to a person for assist. You could discuss with a therapist or counselor who operates with folks who have persistent conditions. Or contact an group like the Countrywide Alliance on Psychological Health issues or the Melancholy and Bipolar Assist Alliance for suggestions.

    Insecurity is one more frequent theme people today dwelling with tardive dyskinesia mention on social media. They say that they truly feel unpleasant, unaccepted by other people, and uncomfortable in their possess skin. Some folks have explained that living with tardive dyskinesia is so discouraging that they’ve had ideas of suicide.

    If tardive dyskinesia has influenced your self-self confidence, examine with your medical professional to make positive you’re on the suitable treatment method. Lean on pals and family for assist. Nevertheless it can be hard to have a sense of humor about these movements, some folks uncover that laughing at themselves assists reduce panic.

    And if you ever have thoughts of hurting you, contact 911 or the National Suicide Avoidance Lifeline (800-273-8255) ideal absent.

    A person way to decrease tardive dyskinesia signs is to lessen the dose of your antipsychotic or neuroleptic treatment. It’s crucial to verify with your medical professional prior to generating any changes to your remedy. In advance of earning the final decision to lessen the dose, you need to look at your mental well being, far too.

    Even though changing your dose may possibly boost the actions, it could also lead to a relapse of the underlying mental well being ailment. Far more than fifty percent of persons living with schizophrenia who cease having their medication relapse inside 9 months.

    A intense relapse could direct to a clinic remain. One particular analyze identified that a tardive dyskinesia analysis caused up to a 19 p.c raise in healthcare facility visits and admissions.

    If you need to have to keep on your treatment, there are other therapies you could possibly attempt for tardive dyskinesia. Valbenazine (Ingrezza) and deutetrabenazine (Austedo) are two medications that modify levels of dopamine in your mind to reduce the actions.

    Even if the despair, bipolar ailment, or schizophrenia is perfectly-controlled, you might locate it tougher to get or continue to keep a work due to tardive dyskinesia. Folks who experience this aspect influence are much less likely to be utilized than those people who do not.

    The stigma of tardive dyskinesia can get in the way of getting a work. Some persons are also ashamed to utilize for employment. Other folks discover that the movements make it hard to meet up with the specifications of their task.

    Tardive dyskinesia makes perform far more demanding but not unattainable. You could possibly have to make clear the actions to your manager and co-employees. At the time they’re knowledgeable, you may possibly be in a position to established up lodging to help you do your position a lot more quickly.

    If tardive dyskinesia helps prevent you from performing, you may perhaps be capable to go on incapacity go away until finally indications enhance. You could also take a look at operate-from-house possibilities.

    When you’re residing with tardive dyskinesia, it is essential to find emotional support. Talking with other folks about what you are going by means of can enable you come to feel less by yourself and make improvements to your quality of daily life.

    Think about opening up to close friends, loved ones, and other liked kinds so that they know how to help and assistance you.

    Look into joining a help group, regardless of whether in individual or online, to hook up with other folks who have an understanding of firsthand what lifestyle with tardive dyskinesia is like. Talk to your medical doctor about out there means near you.

    The National Corporation for Tardive Dyskinesia provides opportunities to read through stories from other individuals and share your personal encounters. The National Alliance on Psychological Disease presents numerous aid groups and on the net discussion groups. Social media teams like this one particular on Fb can also link you with other folks who are living with tardive dyskinesia.

    The uncontrollable actions of tardive dyskinesia can have an effects on your high quality of life. Help is accessible to alleviate the movements themselves and the results they can have on your emotions, function, and social everyday living.

    If you experience not happy or confused, achieve out to beloved types, a help group, or a psychological wellbeing skilled for guidance.

  • A Complete Guide and Comparison

    A Complete Guide and Comparison

    Integrative medicine combines conventional and complementary approaches to healthcare treatment to provide optimal health for the whole person. It coordinates conventional medicine with nutritional, psychological, and physical approaches to improve the overall health of the mind and body and address all effects of illness.

    According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), chronic disease affects around 6 in 10 people in the United States.

    Disease can affect individuals beyond just the physiological effects it causes. However, conventional medicine may not always address all aspects of health during treatment.

    Integrative medicine is gaining popularity as a method of treating acute and chronic health conditions. It seeks to improve all adverse effects of ill-health and treat the whole person comprehensively, beyond just the symptoms of their illness, using all appropriate methods.

    Read on to learn more about integrative medicine, including its purpose, treatment types, benefits, and risks. This article also covers how to find a practitioner. 

    Woman sits crossed-legged and with eyes closed in meditative pose in front of trees

    Eyes On Asia/Stocksy United

    Integrative medicine is a person-focused approach to the treatment of illness. It seeks to improve a person’s overall health and wellness physiologically, spiritually, emotionally, mentally, and environmentally.

    To do this, integrative medicine combines conventional medicinal and complementary practices that are evidence-based to create a comprehensive treatment plan that the individual can take an active role in. These treatment plans aim to address the body and mind as a whole, improving health conditions and quality of life from the root cause. 

    In addition to conventional medicine, integrative medicine may make use of approaches including nutritional, psychological, physical, and combined therapies.

    Many different approaches to medicine exist. Integrative medicine intends to combine these different approaches holistically to provide optimal outcomes.

    Common types of medicinal care include:

    • Conventional medicine: This is also known as biomedicine, mainstream medicine, or Western medicine. It refers to modern healthcare approaches in which medical doctors and other healthcare professionals use drugs, surgery, and other treatments to address symptoms and disease. 
    • Complementary medicine: This refers to healthcare approaches that are not typically part of conventional medicine but form part of treatment alongside it. Complementary medicine can include nutritional, psychological, and physical therapies.
    • Alternative medicine: This is the use of complementary medicine instead of conventional medicine as opposed to alongside it.

    Integrative medicine relies on a combination of these conventional and complementary approaches to improve conditions.
    Further approaches of medicine can constitute either complementary or alternative medicine, depending on their use, and integrative medicine may make use of some of their principles. These include:

    • Holistic medicine: This focuses on treating both the physical presentation of a condition and the emotional, mental, and spiritual aspects that may aggravate it. Holistic medicine can be similar to integrative medicine, but holistic medicine may not always consider various approaches to treat an individual at one time.
    • Functional medicine: This aims to identify and treat the cause of an illness by investigating the connections between a person’s environment and lifestyle factors and their internal physiological systems.
    • Naturopathic medicine: This relies on the healing power of nature and seeks to provide treatment through the use of natural methods, such as herbal medicine, homeopathy, and nutrition.

    Integrative medicine can involve a group of trained clinicians working together. Some deliver conventional medical care, while others provide complementary therapies. 

    An integrative medicine doctor will work with your primary doctor to recommend complementary therapies and develop a personalized plan that may aid your healing.

    For example, for someone undergoing treatment for cancer, an integrative medicine doctor may work with an oncologist to recommend complementary therapies to help ease the symptoms and manage the side effects of treatment. In this case, they may recommend acupuncture to help with pain or nausea.

    An integrative medicine doctor will make use of all therapeutic approaches appropriate for the person as informed by evidence of any potential benefits.

    In a 2009 analysis, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health identified five main types of complementary treatments. These are as follows:

    • Mind-body therapies: This group of therapies focuses on the connections between thoughts and bodily functions. Examples can include meditation, guided imagery, hypnosis, breathwork, and expressive therapies such as art and music.
    • Biologically based therapies: This is the use of substances present in nature to promote health or reduce the risk of disease. Examples of substances used can include vitamins, minerals, herbal supplements, and probiotics, as well as whole diets and functional foods.
    • Manipulative and body-based methods: These methods focus on the structures and systems of the body, such as the bones, soft tissues, and systems such as the circulatory system. Examples of treatment according to this method can include massage therapy, chiropractic treatments, and physical therapy.
    • Energy therapies: Energy therapies focus on balancing an individual’s energy fields to promote healing and health using either biofield therapies or bioelectromagnetic-based therapies. Examples of energy therapies can include Reiki, therapeutic touch, and the use of magnetic fields.
    • Whole medical systems and alternative medical systems: This group of medicinal approaches includes systems of theory and practice that aim to treat the whole person. Examples can include traditional Chinese medicine, Ayurvedic medicine, and homeopathy. 

    Integrative medicine will combine one or more of these complementary therapies with conventional medical care to form a complete treatment plan that aims to improve your overall mental and physical health.
    Your integrative medicine doctor can work with your primary doctor to determine which types of complementary therapies should be included in your treatment plan. 

    Individuals with varying conditions use methods of integrative medicine.

    Although people who use integrative medicine commonly experience chronic conditions, the approach can be useful in treating many different health conditions. This can include treating acute disease and managing its associated symptoms.

    Integrative medicine may be an effective option for helping treat the following symptoms and conditions:

    If you believe that you could benefit from integrative medicine, your doctor can help you decide if it may be an option for you. 

    Researchers suggest that biomedicine alone may not fully address all aspects of healing or treatment necessary to improve conditions which can cause distress beyond the physical.

    Integrative medicine that combines conventional biomedicine with complementary therapies may thus offer additional benefits, though specific benefits will depend on your medical diagnosis, treatment plan, and chosen complementary therapies. 

    In a 2018 review of integrative medicine, researchers who looked at several studies observed improvements in:

    • fatigue
    • appetite
    • cognitive and emotional function
    • pain
    • sleep
    • anxiety
    • emotional and mental well-being
    • distress
    • overall health

    It is worth noting that some of these studies were uncontrolled and not definitive.
    Although complementary therapies are not a substitute for conventional medicine, their combination in integrative medicine may bring some benefits.

    There can be risks with any medical treatment, including the conventional medicine and complementary treatments used in integrative medicine.

    Potential risks of integrative medicine can include

    • adverse reactions to health products and practices
    • side effects from both conventional and complementary treatment methods
    • interference of complementary therapy with conventional treatments
    • interference of or negative interactions between dietary and herbal supplements with prescribed medications
      • Many supplements are available that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not evaluated or approved for safety or efficacy.
    • a lack of testing or research on complementary therapies to ensure safety or effectiveness
    • a lack of experience or training in practitioners of complementary therapies

    However, there are steps that you can take to mitigate risk from integrative medicine practices, such as:

    • informing your primary doctor of any complementary therapies you may be considering and all health treatments you already use
    • avoiding treatments and therapies that have no proof of safety or effectiveness for your condition
    • selecting a practitioner who is licensed and has undergone training for the specific treatment
    • following the guidance and treatment plan of your doctor

    Your doctor can help determine whether or not a particular complementary therapy will affect your medical care. 

    The cost of your care will vary based on your diagnosis and individual treatment plan.

    Insurance may not cover all complementary therapies, but some health insurance policies may cover some of the costs of integrative medicine. This can include conventional medical treatments and some more common complementary methods, such as acupuncture and chiropractic therapy. 

    Contact your health insurance provider before starting treatments to find out which options it covers. It is important to understand which treatment costs you may be responsible for and what requirements your provider has so that you can plan accordingly.

    The outlook for people undergoing integrative medicine treatments will vary based on their diagnosis and exposure to effective treatment options.

    Integrative medicine can help improve symptoms and quality of life for people. It may also reduce some of the problems associated with their health condition.

    For the best results, it is important to discuss all of your options with your doctor and follow your treatment plan.

    Medical doctors, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and other qualified medical professionals can provide conventional medicinal care and may also offer an integrative approach.

    It is important to find conventional and complementary practitioners who will work together to ensure that you are getting the care you need and that it is appropriate and safe for you. 

    A variety of experts — such as massage therapists, acupuncturists, and physical therapists —

    will also provide complementary therapies. Requirements for licensing can vary according to location, but when considering integrative medicine, it is important to investigate the safety and efficacy of a treatment to prevent negative outcomes.

    You should also verify that your practitioners are trained and qualified in the treatment they offer.

    When considering possible options, inform your doctor of your desire to follow an approach that focuses on integrative medicine, including any treatments you already use.

    Your health insurance provider or local hospital may have additional recommendations for potential integrative medicine practitioners.

    Integrative medicine is a person-focused approach that relies on both conventional medicine and complementary therapies to achieve whole-person health.

    An integrative medicine doctor will work with your primary doctor to recommend complementary therapies that may ease the symptoms of your condition or possibly help treat it.

    There are risks associated with all medical treatments, including integrative medicine. For this reason, it is important to work with a trained and qualified doctor to identify the therapeutic approaches that are safe and effective for you.