CBD is a widely popular health product getting a lot of buzz and attention from people looking for natural alternatives to harsher drugs. For that reason, it makes sense I get a lot of questions from patients asking if I recommend CBD oil or medical marijuana as part of my program.
The answer really depends. It is not that I don’t believe that CBD or medical marijuana may reduce symptoms for people with certain conditions. It very well might. But my issue is that I don’t practice natural medicine. To understand why not, it helps to understand what I do practice.
What CBD Does
CBD (cannabidiol) oil is a non-psychoactive hemp or marijuana extract that many people have found to be effective at reducing symptoms of certain conditions, such as anxiety, inflammation, seizures, depression, sleeplessness, and more.
Many people have found it to be a natural alternative to harsher drugs prescribed to treat the same conditions, such as antidepressants or painkillers. However, like any other medication, CBD creates a symptomatic change. It does not change the root cause of any of the conditions it treats.
Dependency on any product is exactly that — dependency. I want you to be dependent on yourself, not a medication. Even a natural one.
When CBD Works
If you’re going for a symptomatic change, CBD could be a fine option. For example, if you want to have less anxiety or less pain or less information, maybe CBD helps you. Great.
If you are using some other type of pain medication, I would always prefer you to be on CBD as opposed to an opioid drug (like Oxycontin). If you are going to get the same type of pain relief using CBD, awesome. Do that. It won’t fix your problem from the source, but it could help you significantly reduce your harm in the interim. I would always accept that.
My Healing Approach
CBD may help with your symptoms or help you get off a harmful drug, but my goal for you will always steer you away from relying on any substance at all, even if it is natural. A symptomatic change is never the end goal, although it might be part of your process.
My goal will always be to get rid of your symptoms entirely so you aren’t reliant on anything, even CBD. I don’t want you dependent on any medication. I want you dependent on yourself. I want you to be responsible for the people you love. I don’t want you to be dependent on them.
Dependency is never a good thing, no matter what avenue of life we are talking about. While I am not against CBD, I don’t think it is a fix. I think it is a band-aid.
Start Your Journey to a Symptom-Free Life
Ready to start your journey to a life without the symptoms that make you dependent on medications and supplements? Contact me to start testing and working on a comprehensive plan to get you to a permanent health solution. Schedule your initial appointment today.
Are you ready to restore your life?
Dr. Jay Goodbinder ND DC DABCI is a doctor in Kansas City, MO who serves patients in the surrounding Kansas City areas, cities across the United States, and in several countries around the world.