Goodbye Buddy

He's just a dog they said. Just a dog? Apparently they had never known this kind of love. 

Constant companion, bringer of laughter, playmate, protector, pain reliever, soft snuggler, blanket warmer, tear licker, travel partner, beach walker, pitbull ambassador, and joy giver but never 'just a dog'.

Today is a hard day as we let go if our best buddy. He has been with us for over 10 years and has joined us on so many adventures in life. To let him suffer another day the ravages of cancer is unacceptable. We lay him down with all the dignity and honor such a loving companion deserves. 

There was a graphic floating around Facebook awhile back that asked 'would you live in a tent to keep your dog?'.  It reminded me of the time for several months that Ben, Echo and I lived in a hotel while looking for a rental that would allow our dog. It was an easy choice. 

I can't tell you how many people have said over the years 'I don't normally care for pitbulls but I really love Echo'. That's the kind of dog he was throughout his life. He loved people and they couldn't help but love him back. 

As good dogs go, Echo was the Greatest Greydux!

We will miss you buddy!  See you on the other side. 

Cannabis & Lavender Fizzy Bath Bombs

Today I'm making another batch of these fragrant bath bombs. These are a patient favorite for relaxing after a stressful day & easing pain as well as softening & moisturizing the skin.  

We've experimented with several different scent combinations, but by far the lavender is the one my patients prefer so I wanted to share that recipe with you all today so you can make your own.


What you will need:

• 1 Cup Baking Soda
• 1/2 Cup Citric Acid (found with the canning supplies)
• 1/2 Cup Corn Starch
• 1 Tablespoon Witch Hazel (found at the pharmacy)
• 3 Tablespoons Cannabis Coconut Oil (melted)
• 20 drops of Lavender Essential Oil 
• 5-6 drops purple food coloring
• A large mixing bowl
• a sieve
• latex or other gloves
• 2 small Dixie cups (the ones they make for bathroom dispenser)
• a spoon for mixing
• a cookie sheet lined with wax paper
• measuring cups and spoons

How to do it:

1. In a large mixing bowl sieve together the baking soda corn starch and citric acid.
2. In a separate bowl add melted coconut oil, witch hazel and lavender oil. These will not blend together at this point but that is OK.
3. Put on your gloves.  Slowly add the wet ingredients into the large mixing bowl and begin to blend together with your gloved hands.  Add a little at a time to prevent the citric acid from reacting and foaming up.  If it foams a little bit it will still be fine.  Keep adding and kneading the wet and dry ingredients together until you have a well blended mixture.  It will be a damp powder.  You will know when it is fully mixed when the entire mixture has a uniform lavender color.
4. Loosely measure out 1/4 Cup of your mixture and place in the small Dixie cup.
5. Pack this tightly using a small spice jar to press it into the cup.
6. Invert the cup onto your wax paper lined cookie sheet. Then if necessary tap the bottom of the Dixie cup to release the bath bomb.  Repeat this step until you've used all of your mixture and your cookie sheet has 10-11 bath bombs.
7. Set the cookie sheet aside somewhere where these can dry and set up.  Depending on your humidity this can take 1-3 days.
8. After your Cannabis & Lavender Fizzy Bath Bombs have dried, store them in a resealable jar in a cool place or package them individually and share with your friends. 

 **Note: If you live in a warm climate or keep your house very warm you may want to store these in the fridge as the coconut oil will melt at around 72-73 degrees F

How To Use Them:

Run yourself a warm bath.  Drop in a Cannabis & Lavender Fizzy Bath Bomb. Soak in the tub for at least 20 minutes. Relax and enjoy!

I hope you will enjoy this recipe.  I'm always looking for new and innovative ways to incorporate cannabis medicine into my life and that of the patients that I work with. If you make & use these please leave a comment and let us know how they worked for you. Also if you enjoy this recipe consider subscribing to the blog on the top right hand side to ensure you don't miss any future posts and cannabis recipes.

Stay Lifted!

Cannabalm Lotion Bars

Here's a topical that I made at the request of a patient suffering from rheumatoid arthritis.  I've made these in a roll up tube that I found on ebay for ease of application, but you could make the same recipe in any kind of a container with a resealable lid and just apply by hand as well.

Here's what you'll need:

1-2 whole cayanne peppers
1/4 Cup of plain coconut oil
1/4 Cup of Cannabis infused coconut oil
1/2 Cup of Shea Butter
2/3 Cup of shredded unbleached bee's wax
5 drops lemongrass essential oil
1 drop geranium essential oil
1 drop ylang ylang essential oil
3 drops tea tree essential oil
A small sauce pan
resealable container or empty roll on tubes
sieve or cheese cloth


Here's how to do it:

First off we will infuse the plain coconut oil with Cayenne pepper. Cayenne pepper is known in the herbal community to help mitigate pain.  Check out this link for a bit more information: Learningherbs.com

To infuse the plain coconut oil with Cayenne pepper first slice the pepper the long way to open it.  Place pepper and 1/4 Cup of plain coconut oil in a small sauce pan.  Over low heat melt the coconut oil.  Leave on low-medium heat for approximately 30 minutes (you can go longer for a stronger infusion) to infuse the coconut oil with the pepper stirring occasionally.

Using the sieve or a cheese cloth, strain the pepper, seeds & stems from the melted coconut oil. Return the infused coconut oil to your pan and discard the pepper.

Next add your cannabis coconut oil & Shea butter to the pan.

Return pan to burner on medium low.  Heat until all of your oils are melted.  Add in the bee's wax shreds.  Continue heating until the bee's wax is melted and well incorporated.

Remove pan from heat.

Add in all of your essential oils.

Stir well.

Allow to cool slightly until warm but not solid.

Pour mixture into your roll up containers or your resealable container.

Allow to cool on counter or in refrigerator until solid.

Once cooled completely, place lids on containers.

To use:

This balm can be applied to swollen joints or anywhere you are feeling pain.  It will help with inflammation as well as pain. Just be sure not to apply to eyes, nostrils or any other tender areas ;) as the cayenne pepper will give a burning sensation on these sensitive areas.

Note: I have been using this on my psoriasis and it doesn't seem to give a burning sensation.  Try it on a small area of your skin first and see how it feels for  you.

I hope you will enjoy this recipe and that it can help you to find relief as well.

Comment for questions or just to let me know how the recipe works out for you.  Also if you find it to work well for a certain medical problem let me know so I can share that with other patients who may also find relief.

Enjoy!

Cannabis Foot Soak Recipe

Here's a quick and easy topical cannabis recipe. A cannabis infused foot soak will refresh sore tired feet. This recipe combines the antifungal qualities of both tea tree oil and cannabis making it an effective treatment for athletes foot. The peppermint oil leaves feet refreshed and the Epsom salts and coconut oil will soften rough and cracked heels. 

What you will need:

1 Cup Epsom Salts

2 Tablespoons cannabis coconut oil 

6 drops tea tree essential oil

6 drops peppermint essential oil

1 clean jar with lid

To make:

Melt cannabis coconut oil until liquid. Allow to cool until tepid but not solid. 

Place Epsom salts in a quart mason jar with lid. Add the essential oils and seal jar. Shake jar vigorously to mix in the essential oils. Next pour in your melted oil. Return lid to jar and shake vigorously until well mixed 

To use:

Add 1/4 Cup of mixture to your foot bath. Soak feet in the bath for at least 20 minutes. 

To store:  

Keep mixture in a sealed jar in a dark cupboard. 

Enjoy!

THChristi