Chronic Health Glycerin Tinctures

Q:    What is a tincture?

A:     Tinctures are liquid forms of medication (or elixirs), most commonly based upon extractions from plants.  They are traditionally prepared using alcohol, vegetable glycerin, coconut oil, or other viscous medium.

Q:    Why use a tincture?

A:     Cannabis tinctures are typically taken sublingually – under the tongue.  When tincture comes in contact with the mucous membrane beneath the tongue, it diffuses through it. Because the connective tissue contains many capillaries, the medicine then diffuses into them and enters the circulation.

In contrast, substances absorbed in the intestines are subject “first-pass metabolism” in the liver before entering the general circulation.

Sublingual administration has some advantages over oral administration. Being more direct, it is often faster, and it ensures that the medicine will risk degradation only by salivary enzymes before entering the bloodstream, whereas orally administered medication must survive passage through the hostile environment of the GI track, which risks degrading them, either by stomach acid or bile. Furthermore, after absorption from the gastrointestinal tract, such drugs must pass to the liver, where they may also be altered.

Q:    Why use Vegetable Glycerin instead of Coconut Oil or MCT?

A:     Vegetable glycerin provides greater bioavailability – the amount of medicine that makes it into the blood stream – than longer chain molecules like MCT and Coconut Oil.  Vegetable-derived glycerin is a shorter molecule than most alternative mediums for tincture use.  It is further processed than MCT (medium chain triglycerides) and Palm Oil and is hence easier to digest and is easier on the gastro-intestinal (GI) tract.  Glycerin can also aid in relieving constipation, and can help limit dehydration. Vegetable glycerin provides excellent viscosity for maintaining cannabinoids and terpenes in medium, and not settling or sticking to the bottle.

Glycerin preserves herbal characteristics of the medicine due to its inherent stability that helps maintain the terpenes, cannabinoids & other phytonutrients and resists degradation.

Glycerin is a natural sweetener and is sometimes used as an alternative sweetener in foods for diabetics and a number of low-carbohydrate processed foods. It’s actually less sweet than sugar and has more calories, but because it falls into the same group of carbohydrates as sugar alcohols, it doesn’t affect blood sugar levels or affects them less than sugar. Glycerin is well absorbed by the body and then converts to glucose, however, so it may have an effect on blood sugar more similar to sugar than to sugar alcohols.

Glycerin is very shelf-stable.  Manufacturers add glycerin to foods, including baked goods, fudge, candy and nutrition and energy bars, to help maintain their water content. It can also help keep ice crystals from forming in reduced-fat frozen desserts. Other foods that contain glycerin include dairy products, soups, sauces, condiments, processed meats and seafood and water-based flavored drinks.

Q:    Where are these products sold?

A:     Our Glycerin tincture products are available only in Arizona

Q:    How are these new products infused?

A:     Our Hemp-based products are all made using very high quality CBD Oil extracted from the Hemp bud.  Our processes retain as much of the natural non-cannabinoid compounds as possible, thereby providing the same benefits from the “entourage effect” as cannabis-based alternatives.  Because we use the full spectrum of available cannabinoids, trace amounts of THC are still present in our Hemp CBD products, though the amounts are less than 0.5% THC and hence are insufficient to induce psycho-activity.

Q:    How is your THC tincture product different from your other tinctures?

A:     Our current products are made using concentrated extract from Indica and Sativa strains of the cannabis plant.  These infused products are “whole plant” based, in that they include a full range of cannabinoids, terpenes, and other phytonutrients present in the plant.  We manufacture two lines of products for Tinctures and Topicals that have a ratio
of either 1:0 THC:CBD (regular), or approximately 1:1 THC:CBD (High CBD). Note that “0” refers to trace amounts of  <0.5%.

Our Hemp-derived products are made from full-spectrum CBD Oil extracted from Hemp flower bud, and includes the total complement of natural Hemp-derived cannabinoids, terpenes, and phytonutrients present in Hemp.

Halo products are never infused using isolate or other refined compounds, and our products are always fully-infused and never sprayed on.  This ensures that the benefits of the whole plant — and not just THC or CBD — are received and that cannabinoids, terpenes, and other phytonutrients are absorbed by the body.

Q:    Why THC and Who Needs a THC Tincture?

A:   THC is strongly psychoactive and can be intoxicating even in small amounts. Consequently, THC can alter your behavior and cause you to lose some control of your faculties, properties that contribute to its recreational appeal. Nonetheless, THC has desirable medical applications and has been shown to be effective as a moderate-strength analgesic (a type of drug that offers relief from pain) and an effective form of treatment for the symptoms of many diseases including AIDS, multiple sclerosis (MS), ALS, Crohn’s disease, epilepsy, cachexia and cancer.

Studies show that THC activates pathways in the central nervous system, which work to block pain signals from being sent to the brain. Likewise, cannabis has been shown to be especially effective against neuropathic (nerve related) pain.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is another common reason to use medical cannabis. Recent studies confirm that oral doses of THC can help relieve a variety of PTSD related symptoms including flashbacks, agitation and nightmares. Among its many other benefits, research has demonstrated that THC:

• Reduces nausea and vomiting
• Acts as an appetite stimulant in patients with cancer and HIV-associated wasting syndrome
• Can stimulate weight gain in patients with anorexia
• May improve breathing in asthmatics
• Reduces intraocular pressure and resulting symptoms in glaucoma sufferers
• Provides sedative effects – some strains induce sleep
• May improve night-time breathing and reduce sleep interruptions caused by sleep apnea

Q:    What is Whole Plant Therapy?

A:   Cannabinoids are the unique compounds that bind to the human endocannabinoid system and instantly modulate or “balance” any inconsistency they find. This “homeostasis” property is further aided by other compounds present in the plant.

Cannabis is full of terpenes and phenolic compounds, which are also found in many other plants and are responsible for their bright colors, strong aromas and medicinal properties.  While hundreds of studies on marijuana compounds like THC and CBD have shown significant efficacy, isolated compounds are just the beginning when it comes to the plant’s true healing potential. We truly believe in the whole plant.

It is now commonly recognized that the interplay of all these different compounds (known as the Entourage Effect), is really what makes medical marijuana so effective as a medicine.  Whole Plant Therapy refers to the use of the full complement (or spectrum) of these compounds.

Q:    What is the recommended dose?

A:     First, a little about dosage:

Chronic Health Tinctures are ½ and 1 ounce and contain approximately 300 and 600 drops respectively.  Each drop is therefore approximately 0.75 milligram.

We recommend brand new patients begin with on a few milligrams or 3 drops or less.  After administering sublingually – placing the drops on the inside of the mouth beneath the tongue – wait 10 minutes.  Repeat again as needed.

For experienced patients, we recommend a staring dose of 10 milligrams.  This is about 13 drops, or roughly ½ dropper.   As will new patients, after dosing, wait 10 minutes and repeat as needed.  Duration of medication is 1 – 2 hours, dependent on the patient and their individual physiologies.

Q:    Are there any known side effects from THC?

A:     Because THC is the principal compound found in Marijuana, it’s no surprise that the same side effects associated with Marijuana are also applicable to THC.  It affects everyone differently, but some people may experience one or more of the following side effects:

• Drowsiness
• Dry Mouth or Thirst
• Giddiness
• Hunger
• Insomnia
• Red Eyes
• Respiratory Issues
• Short‐Term Memory Loss
• Uneasiness or Anxiety

Some studies suggest that THC can interfere with the metabolism of some prescription drugs.  It is important that patients always discuss their medication their use of THC (and CBD) with their healthcare professional to evaluate any potential drug interaction.

 

Q:    Does THC affect diet?

A:     THC can increase appetite in some people (aka “the munchies”).  This property makes it effective for individuals with poor appetites or suffering from wasting syndrome.  Despite conjecture however, studies do not support the idea that consuming marijuana (and THC) actually lead to weight gain.

 

Q:    What is Full Spectrum Cannabinoid Therapy?

A:     Full Spectrum Cannabinoid Therapy refers to the capturing of the full range of cannabinoids (and other compounds) when infusing products.

At Halo Infusions, our processes and methods employ extraction, storage, and infusion techniques that significantly help minimize the loss of key compounds.  And while no method is foolproof, we strive to deliver cannabinoid and terpene profiles that are as complete as possible and truly representative of the original plant and its benefits.