The holiday season can be exhilarating—but let’s be real: it’s also intense. The mix of family gatherings, endless social events, and year-end work deadlines can create a perfect storm of stress. With so much happening, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. That’s where CBD may lend a helping hand. Known for its potential calming effects, CBD could be a solid addition to your routine to help tackle holiday pressures. Here, we’ll break down three common holiday stressors and how CBD might help you manage them, keeping you calm, grounded, and focused on what truly matters.
Issue #1: Overloaded Schedules
The holiday season often means a packed schedule with family dinners, social gatherings, shopping trips, and work events. Balancing all of these commitments can feel like juggling an endless to-do list, leaving you stretched thin and exhausted. When the calendar is full, even a small delay or added responsibility can feel like too much, pushing you closer to burnout.
Solution:
Consider adding CBD into your daily routine as a way to create pockets of calm amidst the chaos. Try a CBD tincture or softgel in the morning to start the day with a sense of relaxation, helping you handle the demands of a busy schedule more smoothly. For mid-day support, a CBD gummy may offer an easy-to-carry, discreet option that can help you reset and stay centered. By promoting a sense of calm, CBD could help you handle a busy schedule with a more balanced approach so you can stay present and enjoy each moment.
Issue #2: Holiday Crowds and Sensory Overload
Shopping, parties, and family gatherings bring exposure to large groups and loud environments. The noise, crowds, and sensory stimulation can lead to feelings of anxiety or irritation. If you’re someone who feels overwhelmed in these high-energy settings, the holidays can quickly feel draining rather than joyful.
Solution:
A pre-event dose of CBD, such as a fast-absorbing tincture, may help promote a sense of calm before stepping into crowded spaces. Taken 30 minutes before heading out, CBD could provide a layer of relaxation that helps you navigate social interactions more easily. With its potential calming effects, CBD might allow you to feel more at ease in busy environments, helping you engage without feeling overstimulated. For situations where you know you’ll be facing intense crowds, CBD may offer a way to stay grounded and focused, making it easier to be fully present.
Issue #3: Post-Holiday Crash and Burnout
With all the planning, gifting, and gatherings, it’s common to feel burnt out once the festivities wind down. The post-holiday crash is real—many people find themselves drained from weeks of nonstop activity. This exhaustion can carry over into the new year, affecting energy levels, sleep quality, and overall well-being.
Solution:
Using CBD as part of your post-holiday recovery plan may help you manage the physical and mental effects of burnout. Incorporate a CBD softgel or gummy into your evening routine to promote relaxation and improve sleep quality, which is crucial for recovery. CBD’s potential to support restful sleep can help you recharge more effectively so you wake up ready to start fresh in the new year. A nightly CBD dose may assist in calming the mind, easing muscle tension, and giving your body a chance to recover from the holiday hustle.
From overloaded schedules to crowded gatherings and post-holiday burnout, the season’s challenges don’t have to take a toll on your well-being. By adding CBD to your holiday routine, you may find it easier to stay calm, centered, and resilient, making it possible to truly enjoy this time of year. As always, consult with a healthcare professional if you’re new to CBD or have any questions about the best approach for you.
In 2017, a poisoning incident attributed to synthetic marijuana left a number of people in Utah critically ill. In Chicago and neighboring regions of Illinois this spring, there were 56 complaints of serious bleeding for which synthetic cannabinoids were thought to be the substance to blame. In what the Illinois Department of Public Health described as “the first time we’ve seen an outbreak of this magnitude in the area,” two of these 56 people died.
Similar incidents were reported in Connecticut last summer, where more than 70 individuals died after overdosing on synthetic marijuana. About 300 synthetic marijuana overdoses occurred in Washington, D.C., over the course of two weeks just a month prior.
Simply put, you should never take CBD oil that is synthetic.
The Crisis of Synthetic Cannabinoids
It’s not unusual to experience negative effects from synthetic cannabis. If you will, you might say that there is an issue with human consumption of synthetic cannabinoids in America. In what has turned into an increasingly common practice, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have identified multiple cases of synthetic cannabis poisoning across the nation.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a statement in July 2018 alerting the public to the “significant health risks of contaminated illegal synthetic cannabinoid products” and connecting their use to “severe illnesses and deaths” in several cases over the previous few months in different states across the nation.
One type of artificial cannabinoid is made to resemble the effects of marijuana. People who want to get high but can’t have any THC in their system for any reason now have a good option that won’t show up on a drug test.
However, the poison outbreaks that occurred in Utah last winter were a little different. The people who got sick didn’t buy the synthetic cannabinoid known as “K2” or “Spice.” They purchased what they thought was CBD. They ended up in the emergency department rather than enjoying the health advantages of non-psychoactive cannabis.
Know the Risks Associated with Synthetic Cannabinoids
In the U.S., synthetic cannabinoids first became commercially available in 2008, and since then, their use has exploded all throughout the nation. Synthetic cannabinoids, however, are very, very harmful since they are not the same as cannabinoids that are derived from the natural plant.
According to the CDC, the majority of synthetic cannabinoids are prohibited by federal law. Manufacturers of synthetic cannabinoids change the chemical makeup in order to circumvent this problem, creating new and “presumably legal” substances.
It is challenging to keep track of the chemicals used in synthetic cannabinoids since producers are continually altering their chemical makeup to remain “legal.” Products using synthetic cannabinoids may contain ingredients that have the potential to have very different effects from what the user was looking for because the chemical makeup of many synthetic cannabinoids is unknown and continually changing.
In the instance of overdoses reported in Illinois, brodifacoum, a rat poison frequently available in hardware shops that is a known anticoagulant and has been proven to cause brain damage, was blamed for the serious bleeding in over 50 people and two fatalities. Although this is the first instance of rat poison being discovered in synthetic cannabis products, it is still unclear how it got there.
Research on the precise effects of synthetic cannabis on the body is scant. But it is understood that they are incredibly hazardous. And unlike naturally occurring cannabinoids like THC and CBD, they are also known to be physically and mentally addictive, in addition to having a long list of undesirable side effects.
The CDC lists the following as some of the consequences of synthetic cannabinoids:
symptoms of the nervous system include irritability, insomnia, lightheadedness, disorientation, trouble focusing, incoordination, stroke, and seizures.
aggressive behavior, delusions, hallucinations, psychosis, and suicidal thoughts are examples of psychiatric symptoms.
physical signs include mortality, renal failure, rhabdomyolysis, severe nausea and vomiting, tachypnea, tachycardia, chest discomfort, and heart attack.
Physical and psychological dependence has been observed to form in people who use synthetic cannabis repeatedly over extended periods of time without experiencing a strong reaction the first time they do. Extreme anxiety, headaches, difficulties sleeping, sweating, nausea, and vomiting are among the effects that regular users of synthetic cannabinoids describe. They should expect to experience some very serious withdrawal symptoms, including seizures, a fast heartbeat, trouble breathing, heart palpitations, and chest discomfort, if they stop using them quickly. Depending on how much and how long a person uses, the intensity of withdrawal will vary.
Beware of Synthetic CBD: They’re Not Just Designed to Simulate THC’s Effects
Due to CBD’s rising popularity, new “synthetic” forms of cannabinoids are constantly making their way into goods. While the FDA did approve Epidiolex, a synthetic form of CBD, it’s important to note that this is not the same as the synthetic CBD found on the shelves at your neighborhood smoke shop.
Artificial and synthetic cannabinoids affect everyone Consider the events that occurred in Utah in December. All of the patients who were affected by the poisoning had consumed what they thought to be CBD-infused cannabis oil, and many of them had bought it from a nearby smoke shop. None of the items that patients had used had any CBD when lab testing was done on them. Instead, they were a mixture of artificial chemicals and cannabinoids, including 4-cyano-CUMYL-BUTINACA (4-CCB), a man-made cannabinoid designed to mimic the effects of THC.
Synthetic cannabinoids, like 4-CCB, function on the same cannabinoid receptors as THC, but their effects can be unexpected, severe, or even lethal, according to Roberta Horth, an officer with the CDC’s Epidemic Intelligence Service. According to case-patient reports of 4-CCB adverse effects, they seem more severe than THC. The use of 4-CCB has been linked to fatalities in Europe.
Since then, there haven’t been any cases of synthetic CBD overdoses, but this is a trend that isn’t anticipated to stop anytime soon. With other synthetic cannabinoid drugs, it has been going on for more than ten years, but there aren’t many laws in place for CBD. In essence, anybody can produce synthetic CBD, label it, and sell it as the real thing.
According to a 2017 JAMA study, up to one-third of CBD products purchased online may have inaccurate labels. It’s probable that additional goods will include 4-CCB or other harmful synthetic cannabinoids, according to Horth.
Simply Refuse to Use Synthetic CBD
Synthetic cannabis poses very significant and very real risks. It is not worth the risk of purchasing synthetic CBD. Consider the 52 patients in Utah, 33 of whom required emergency department care and.
There are a ton of fakes out there. The substances they combine and sell as CBD oil have the potential to kill you. If you’re interested in CBD, it’s essential to be sure the items you buy are created with top-grade CBD and have undergone laboratory testing rather than a combination of hazardous substances.
As a retired US Navy SEAL veteran, I know all too well the physical and emotional toll that serving our country can take on a person. When I left the service, I had a litany of issues to deal with, including the emotional decompression I experienced and the effects of physical injuries I acquired during my years of service working within special operations forces. After trying various treatments and therapies, I had another SEAL brother share some CBD with me, and I started to learn more about its potential to help alleviate what I was experiencing.
I haven’t been shy about my post SEAL team life and especially the first year and a half after my retirement. I started using alcohol to self-medicate in an attempt to tone down the anger I was feeling. I also experienced physical pain throughout my body, and I wasn’t willing to commit to a life of prescription medicine that would likely harm me in the long haul rather than address my problems.
A SEAL brother of mine shared with me a bag of his CBD gummies, and I started to take them. I noticed that my pain was lessening, and I wasn’t as angry as I had been in the past. Eventually, I found myself becoming more even-tempered inside and less angry. Then I ran out of gummies, and the anger started to build again. I bought another bag of gummies, and the anger started to diminish again, and I thought, “Hey there’s something to this.”
So I started a CBD company.
CBD, or cannabidiol, is a compound found in the cannabis plant that has been shown to have a variety of potential health benefits. Unlike its cousin THC, which is the psychoactive compound responsible for the “high” associated with marijuana use, CBD does not produce any psychoactive effects. Instead, it interacts with the body’s endocannabinoid system, which plays a role in regulating a variety of physiological processes, including pain perception, mood, and sleep.
I wanted to create a product that was not only effective but also trustworthy and transparent. The Navy SEAL ethos is one I don’t take lightly and resonates with my personal and professional core values. I know firsthand the importance of integrity and honesty, and I wanted my company to reflect those values.
One of the main reasons I started a CBD company was to provide other veterans with an alternative to traditional pharmaceutical treatments for conditions like chronic pain, anxiety, and PTSD. Many veterans are prescribed a metric shit ton of prescription meds, including opioids for chronic pain, which can be highly addictive and have dangerous side effects. CBD, on the other hand, has been shown to have few side effects and a low risk of addiction.
In addition to providing veterans with an alternative to traditional pharmaceuticals, I wanted to create a company that supported the effort to educate and prevent veteran service members suicide, which is climbing at an alarming rate. It’s something I speak of when I travel and address business leaders across the country.
Starting a CBD company, not only as a retired Navy SEAL veteran from Naval Special Warfare but as a small business owner, has not been without its challenges. There is still a lot of stigma surrounding cannabis and CBD, and it can sometimes be difficult to navigate the complex legal landscape. However, I believe that the potential benefits of CBD are worth the effort, and it’s an established alternate form of treatment for many. I think we’re still at the beginning of really understanding what CBD oil can do for the active service members of our armed forces as well as our veterans. In my opinion, this is our new mission – to combat the individual forces that separate us from living our best life and focus on post-career care. Negligence, ignorance, and stagnation for treatment is our new enemy.
If you want to learn more about how I cultivate a strong mindset and apply the use of CBD in my life, check out a recent podcast I was a guest on as I talk about all of this.
I have been on quite a few podcasts discussing how dirty the CBD industry has been found to be by the FDA conducting inspections and spot checks on CBD producers and distributors. The CBD industry has exploded in recent years, with sales reaching billions of dollars annually. CBD, short for cannabidiol, is a non-psychoactive compound found in the cannabis plant that has been touted as a natural remedy for a variety of ailments, including anxiety, pain, and insomnia.
More than 75% of the CBD products tested by the FDA didn’t even have CBD in them. Instead, they found high levels of mercury, arsenic, lead, heavy metals, pesticides, etc. While there are certainly benefits to using CBD products, there is also an ugly side to the industry that consumers should be aware of. In this blog post, we will explore some of the negative aspects of the CBD industry.
Lack of Regulation
One of the biggest issues with the CBD industry is the lack of regulation. The FDA has not yet approved CBD as a dietary supplement or a medication, which means that companies are not required to undergo testing to ensure the safety and efficacy of their products. As a result, there is a wide range in the quality of CBD products on the market, and consumers are left to navigate this without much guidance.
Inaccurate Labeling and Misleading Marketing
Another issue with the CBD industry is inaccurate labeling. A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that nearly 70% of CBD products tested were mislabeled, meaning that they contained more or less CBD than was listed on the label. This can make it difficult for consumers to determine the correct dosage and may lead to unintended side effects or ineffective treatment.
Another major problem is the widespread mislabeling and misleading marketing practices of products and many companies making claims of curing illnesses like cancer, diabetes, etc. Many companies make bold claims about the health benefits of their products without providing scientific evidence to support these claims. Additionally, some companies use vague or misleading language to describe their products, such as using terms like “pure” or “organic” without any actual certification to back up these claims. There may be some truths to some of this in customer testimonies. Personal results do mean a tremendous amount. However, those are medical claims that aren’t scientifically proven.
My CBD Discovery Journey
If you’ve tuned into any of the podcasts I’ve been on, you’ve learned that my own journey to start Naked Warrior Recovery is not scientifically based. If you haven’t, here’s an episode I think you’ll like NAVY SEAL endorses CBD – NW RECOVERY FOUNDER WILLIAM BRANUM
I had a SEAL friend of mine share some CBD gummies with me, and I realized that my CBD use made a difference over time. CBD had a positive impact on my life by helping me turn down the noise in my head and become less angry (after 26 years of service as a Navy SEAL). Most career military men and women retire from the service with a list of conditions ranging from mild depression symptoms and chronic pain to post-traumatic stress disorder and other physical or neuropathic pain.
As a young SEAL, I had no idea one day, I would be using cannabis derived compounds to manage my pain after retirement
I discovered it helped me drink less as I was starting to self-medicate. I experienced no adverse effects, and I got better restorative and recuperative sleep. I began to notice that the pains I regularly felt in my body became less painful, so I did more research and started selling what I feel are the best CBD oil and CBD products on the market today.
I know CBD works. CBD oil is generally considered safe for most people when used appropriately and in moderation. This is because broad-spectrum CBD is a non-intoxicating compound found in the hemp plant, which is not known to cause significant side effects or harm to the body when used responsibly. It engages and supports our endocannabinoid system. The endocannabinoid system is what, according to Harvard Health Publishing, ” regulates and controls many of our most critical bodily functions such as learning and memory, emotional processing, sleep, temperature control, pain control, inflammatory and immune responses, and eating.”
The Endocannabinoid System (courtesy of Sona Pharmacy)
Many often wonder, “is CBD oil safe?” Research suggests and has shown that CBD has a good safety profile and can provide a range of potential health benefits, making it an increasingly popular choice for those looking to support their overall wellness naturally. However, it is important to note that CBD may interact with certain medications, so it is always advisable to consult with a healthcare professional before using CBD oil or any other dietary supplement.
I was aware of the state medical marijuana laws in Hawaii, where I reside, but I wasn’t sure if CBD was regulated under the controlled substances act. I decided to start selling broad spectrum CBD oil products that contain none of the psychoactive effects (THC found in marijuana), as CBD is derived from hemp plants (cannabis sativa plant). I relied on hemp derived CBD products to build and grow Naked Warrior Recovery.
Before You Buy CBD Oil Products
I often explain to people taking CBD oil or who want to take CBD products to consider this. The CBD industry is extremely saturated, and it’s not all quality, so be careful with what you buy. Having been doing a deep dive into this industry for the last three years, I can tell you that even if you see it at Whole Foods, that doesn’t mean it is a quality product. You can even buy CBD oil at convenience stores as well. So here’s something to consider…
If you’re a sushi lover, would you rather buy your sushi from a gas station or a restaurant? It’s the same thought process when buying CBD oil or CBD oil products. It doesn’t matter if it’s full spectrum CBD oil or broad spectrum CBD oil, further research should be conducted on your behalf, so you are purchasing pure CBD, not a product with a CBD label on it with additives and more carrier oil in it.
Before you buy CBD, be sure to do your research. Look for third-party lab test results, read reviews from other customers, and ask your doctor or pharmacist for recommendations. It’s also important to make sure that the company you’re buying from is reputable and transparent about its ingredients and processes.
Why Buy From Naked Warrior Recovery
Buying CBD oil and products from Naked Warrior Recovery is a good investment not only because of the associated health benefits but because our products are all third-party tested to ensure safety and quality. We are committed to providing research-backed CBD products that are designed to promote overall health and well-being. Our products are also free of harsh chemicals, so you can trust that you are getting only the best.
We also offer a variety of formulations and concentrations, making it easy for customers to find the right product for their needs. Lastly, we provide excellent customer service and support for our customers.
CBD might be the answer to your ailments such as high blood pressure, inflammatory and neuropathic pain, or anxiety disorders. I personally know a Navy SEAL battling multiple sclerosis who uses CBD oil as part of his treatment profile. Some people have also incorporated CBD oils for cancer treatment after speaking to their healthcare professional or healthcare provider.
My CBD discovery journey has been quite an eye-opening experience. I have learned about the numerous benefits of CBD and its potential to improve my overall well-being. From reducing anxiety and stress to managing chronic pain, CBD has helped me in ways that I never thought possible.
I have also come to understand the importance of using nonprescription CBD products responsibly. It is crucial to purchase from a reputable brand, like Naked Warrior Recovery, that has undergone third-party testing and to follow the recommended dosage instructions. Additionally, it is essential to consult with a healthcare professional before using CBD if you have underlying health conditions or are taking other medications.
Reduce anxiety with CBD (hemp oil) based products as dietary supplements to a healthier lifestyle
Nonprescription CBD products are widely available in the market, and it can be overwhelming to choose the right one. It is crucial to do your research and understand the different types of products available, such as tinctures, capsules, and topicals, to find what works best for you.
In summary, my CBD discovery journey has been an enlightening experience, and I am grateful for the benefits it has provided me.
