I'm currently working on a new formulation, meant to soothe the symptoms of Lichen sclerosus. In my research, Emu Oil has come up several times as a good option to include. Calendula has long been my "go to" oil for anti-inflammatory and skin healing properties but it looks like Emu Oil may also address the itching and swelling common with Lichen sclerosus. I'm only in the beginning stages of my research but I'm really interested in learning more about Emu Oil and its efficacy in addressing other health concerns.
Can topical CBD reduce pain in osteoarthritis? Although widely available over-the-counter and online, there is still much to be learned about the pain-relieving effects of the topical form of cannabidiol (i.e., CBD cream). CBD is an active compound commonly extracted from hemp, a type of cannabis. (CBD is not THC, i.e., tetrahydrocannabidiol, the psychoactive compound found in the cannabis plant). Confoundingly, some CBD products also contain up to 3% of THC. CBD can be taken in oral, topical, and inhaling forms. Animal studies and small human studies suggest that CBD has pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory properties. One study published in the Journal of Hand Surgery in 2022 showed a statistically significant improvement in pain symptoms and hand function in patients with thumb arthritis after a 2-week course of 6.2 mg /ml of topical CBD applied twice a day compared to placebo subjects. Although this was a randomized control study, there were only 9 treatment patients versus 9 control subjects and was very short-term. This and other human studies have shown topical CBD is safe to use, but much larger and longer term studies are needed to establish whether topical CBD can reliably treat pain from osteoarthritis. However, if proven to be effective, it can be an attractive alternative to oral NSAIDs or narcotic pain meds for many arthritis patients.
One ingredient I've been real curious about lately is Yellow #5. You see it all the time—especially in drinks that proudly say '0% juice' right on the label. Sports drinks, sodas, those neon-colored lemonades... they're glowing like a highlighter, and Yellow #5 is usually the reason why. And I have to ask—what even is it? I mean, it sure isn't squeezed out of a lemon. Turns out, it's a synthetic dye, lab-made, and originally derived from coal tar. Yeah, coal tar. These days it's made from petroleum. That alone makes me raise an eyebrow. It's wild how something so artificial ends up in so many things we drink, especially stuff marketed to kids or folks trying to be 'health-conscious.' I'm not a scientist, but common sense tells me if it's got a number instead of a name, it probably isn't doing your body any favors.