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The October 31st Full Moon is a Blue Moon - second full moon in a month!
"Blue moon, you knew just what I was there for
You heard me sayin' a prayer for
Someone I really could care for"
- Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart

November is National Epilepsy Month (check out Nurse Lisa's blog)

Welcome To The NurseGrown Newsletter!

With harvest come and gone, the fields now lay empty, ready for the late season cover crop.

We give thanks for the abundance of beautiful flowers and the magic within them. After a long summer, with each day a new challenge, we are truly grateful to be cultivating the best possible cannabis.

This plant has taught us so much over the last few decades, we are forever full of gratitude for this amazing plant, this journey and for all of you.

- Jessilyn

Jessilyn Dolan, RN CMT
Co-founder, NurseGrown Organics
Founder, Vermont Cannabis Nurses Association
Vice President, American Nurses Association, Vermont

Harvest Is Complete!

NurseGrown Love for the Full Blue Moon

Did you know October was National Adopt a Shelter Dog month? Well we at NurseGrown did!
We are adding not one, but TWO puppies (shelter adoptions!) to our NurseGrown family!
From our furry loved ones to yours, we are offering 25% off PET CBD.

Starting on Halloween’s Full Moon until NOV 14 get 25% off PET CBD with coupon code: foreverhome

NurseGrown News - Coming Soon!

CBD:CBDa 5:1 1500mg total cannabinoids/1oz (30ml).

Organic hemp seed oil, organic sunflower lecithin, full spectrum Clean Green Certified hemp flower extract. Combining decarboxylated/active CBD with raw/acidic CBDA.
Includes calibrated dropper top and spray pump option to help maximize sublingual absorption.

From now until release on the New Moon-November 15, receive $10 off pre-orders with coupon code: raw

VTCNA Update

On Tuesday September 15, 2020 the Vermont House and Senate came to a final agreement on S.54, the Tax and Regulated Adult Use Cannabis Bill.

The bill was allowed to become law, without the governor’s veto or signature on October 7th. This bill has far to go, with forthcoming details being decided by a 5 member cannabis control board still to be appointed.

The bill promotes small craft licenses and includes social equity components, a small step in the right direction. More work lies ahead to protect Vermont’s medical patients, consumers, and cannabis workers.

With S.54 passing, the medical marijuana addendum, S.117, brings about some much needed changes for Vermont patients:

Eliminates the three-month requirement for a bona fide health care professional-patient relationship
Expands the definition of debilitating medical condition to include any disease, condition, or treatment as determined in writing by a qualifying patient’s health care professional
Increases a patient’s possession limit from two mature plants to three and from two ounces of useable marijuana to three
Aligns patient cultivation rules with cultivation rules for nonmedical adult use
Allows patients and caregivers to purchase marijuana and marijuana-infused products from any registered dispensary
Eliminates the requirement that patients with chronic diseases reapply annually to renew their medical card.

Jessilyn, NurseGrown Organics and VTCNA will continue to testify and advocate for patient access, affordability, and clean cannabis for all Vermonters.

NurseGrown Organics Consumer Testimonial

“I have been using NurseGrown massage and body aromatherapy oil for about 1 year or so now. I am a Licensed Massage Therapist. I love its smooth application and gentle fragrance. But mostly I like the response of my clients. They are now asking to purchase their own bottles for home use! The effectiveness of the oil is solid. The integrity that NurseGrown upholds is why I have chosen this brand over so many others! I personally use the CBD capsules for sleep. It works!”

- Joann D, Vermont

Cannabis Nurse’s Favorite Pick of the Moon
Pet CBD

“As an avid mountain biker myself, my dogs get quite the workout running by my side. NurseGrown Organics Pet CBD has been this nurse’s best friends' best friend! It helps them with post work out recovery, as well as with their separation anxiety when I work my long overnight nursing shifts. Happy, tired pups, make this nurse happy (and hey, as a night nurse, we are always tired!)”
- Dionne Heyliger, BSN, RN

Medical Marijuana in Vermont
Blueberry Muffins

As a medical marijuana patient, with chronic pain and migraines, we have searched far and wide for cannabis cultivars that resonate and work well for me. This is our second year growing Blueberry Muffins outdoors, and I am even more impressed than the first time!

Blueberry Muffins, from the Humboldt Seed Company, is a super terpene laden cultivar with loud, sweet and delicious aromas and flavors, as if fresh out of the oven.

B-Myrcene, a-bisabolol, and B-caryophyllene are the 3 dominant terpenes. Razzleberry crossed with Purple Panty Dropper, Blueberry Muffins produces large uniform colas that are highlighted by beautiful purple accents throughout.

Blueberry Muffins tests in the 14-22% THC with 0.5% CBD ranges respectively and has a fast flowering time, perfect for outdoor grows in short season climates like Vermont.

Blueberry Muffins, upon inhalation, is energizing, uplifting and powerful, but never overwhelming.

NurseGrown Yoga Tip Of The Moon
Take A Bath!

While relaxing in a tub might not seem like a traditional yogic technique, a good hot soak - be it in water or something more exotic like castor oil - is an active part of Ayurvedic practices. In Sanskrit, Ayurveda means “The Science of Life.” It's the traditional form of medicine practiced on the Indian subcontinent and goes hand-in-hand (or breath-in-breath) with the eight limbs of yogic practice.

Bathing is considered an important part of a person's daily routine, and is said to:

Relax muscles
Open clogged pores and remove dirt and toxins from skin
Restore moisture to tissues
Improve mental clarity
Relax the mind and balance the emotions

Tips for a great bath:

Take your time
Make sure your water is pure
Practice deep breathing
Massage yourself with a nice oil like raw organic sesame oil or NurseGrown Massage Oil.
- Learn more about traditional Ayurvedic self-massage by watching this great video.
Don't use soap (stinky pits are an exception)
Rinse off in cool water to close your pores
Pat yourself dry

Read more about the benefits of bathing at VPK.

Cannabis Consultant's Tip Of The Moon
Balm And The Knees

These knees don’t lie. Many of the joints in our bodies take a hit when it comes to wear and tear. Your knees absorb typically one-and-a-half times your body weight. That’s a lot of impact and we don’t necessarily focus on joint health, until it’s a problem.

You know what happens when people are trying to stay sane during a pandemic? They start trying things they haven’t done in a while or they may even get stuck in repetitive activities due to the limited available outlets.

Many are hitting the trails, parks and other fitness options to stay motivated during this time. Topicals have become a very popular solution for many of the clients I’ve seen this month who are experiencing localized pain.

A recent client who is a running enthusiast came seeking relief of her knee pain. It was causing discomfort even when she wasn’t running and she was seeking solutions to get back on the trails. By day 2 of applying balm to her knee, she was back to running. Supporting inflammation, leads to pain reduction.

"Topicals are shown to be effective on smaller joint areas such as hands, feet, elbows, ankles and knees. Some patients get relief from topicals.”
- Bonni Goldstein, MD (Cannabis is Medicine)

Here’s some tips to keep those knees happy as you age:

Change up your exercise. Repetitive impact can cause increase pain.
Find restorative stretches and practices such as yoga.
R.I.C.E. It! - Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation
Try a balm!

- Sandra Guynes, MSN, RN The Kush Nurse

Cannabis Nurse Cannabis Tip Of The Moon
CBDA

Looking for even more antiinflammatory benefits from the cannabis plant? Let me introduce you to CBDA, a cannabinoid that Nurse Grown now carries.

The cannabis plant is full of cannabinoids that provide medical benefits and although we haven't studied CBDA as much as CBD and THC, studies have shown it has promise as an anti inflammatory, anticonvulsant, antidepressant, and may stop nausea in its tracks. It’s known as the raw or acidic form of CBD and can be found in cannabis plants grown for CBD before the plant material has been heated or exposed to too much sunlight.

Why am I so excited about CBDA? Because it gives my patients even more opportunities to replace damaging pharmaceuticals with plant medicine. Pharmaceutical Cox-2 inhibitors and anti-inflammatories often cause significant gastrointestinal distress and can possibly increase a person’s chance of heart attack or stroke.

Nausea is one of the hardest conditions to treat and many patients who take pharmaceutical anti-nausea medications are left feeling sedated and groggy. CBDA is a cox-2 inhibitor as well, so If CBD didn’t do the trick, CBDA may be exactly what patients need.

P.S. If you grow your own hemp, don’t throw away those leaves... instead throw them in the blender with some frozen fruit to get your daily dose of CBDA, an up and coming cannabinoid.

- April Hatch, MSN, RN

Epilepsy Awareness Month: One Nurse's Story

I am a warrior for all those suffering from this too often-misunderstood diagnosis.

Epilepsy is the fourth most common neurological disorder and affects people of all ages.

According to the Epilepsy Foundation, “Public misunderstanding of epilepsy causes challenges that are often worse than the seizures.”

The public, and even those in the medical profession, do not understand this disease like one could hope.

I had been a nurse for many years and yet never witnessed a seizure. I dispensed seizure medications at work, but never actually saw one until I saw it as a mother, with my own son. What a wake-up call to put it lightly.

Of course, as a nurse and a Mom, I started researching, diligently and daily. I wanted support and I wanted answers. I was given very little of either. I wanted to stop his seizures. I wanted to save my son. Well, I tried and am still trying and will keep trying until either one of us takes our last breath.

- Lisa Powers RN MSN

Read Lisa's whole story on our blog !

Cannabis Nurse Herbal Tip Of The Moon
Fire Cider

Fire Cider has a long tradition of being used by herbalists as a prevention for winter colds and flus. It can be made with simple ingredients from the grocery store or local farm stand.

One tablespoon a day is for prevention, with up to 3 tablespoons per day if one if feeling sniffly. In many families, fire cider is used as a marinade for meats, a spicy vinegar over greens, or tossed into stir fries.

The basic ingredients are citrus fruits (choose organic whenever possible- either way wash the skins), garlic, onion, horseradish, hot peppers of any kind, and apple cider vinegar. Chop all ingredients, place in a jar and cover with vinegar.

Close the jar with a plastic lid (or plastic wrap under the ball jar lid), and store in a cool dark place. After a few weeks, strain the ingredients out, warm the vinegar gently and add honey to taste.

Check out this video on making fire cider!

- Heather Shelton BSN, RN

A Team NurseGrown Welcome!

Shonda Broom, HHP NHC, has over 12 years of experience as a Registered Nurse. She has worked in a variety of health care settings, including the homecare agency she owned for 10 years.

As Shonda's path transitioned more towards holistic services, she became a Holistic Health Practitioner, Herbalist and Spiritual Advisor.

Shonda is the Founder and CEO of Coram Deo Holistic Center, with a goal to provide holistic, natural and plant based products for the mind, body and spirit. She offers Mind~Meditation classes and workshops, Body~Holistic/Natural Health Consults, Spirit~Spiritual Consults and online classes, and CBD and Cannabis education and workshops.

Shonda is a member of the American Cannabis Nurses Association, Cannabis Nurses of Color, American Holistic Nurses Association, and Chapter Founder & Leader of the Bayou Region Of Southeast Louisiana Chapter.

A Team NurseGrown Welcome!

For Dedee Culley, her work as a cannabis nurse is far more than a job or career: It's a calling. Dedee grew up wanting to become a nurse and a teacher.

Over 20 years ago, she was able to combine those two passions by becoming an RN and seizing opportunities to teach whenever she could. As an RN, she saw how patients benefited from medical cannabis use when more advanced medications failed.

In 2014, Dedee searched for a way to better manage the chronic pain and anxiety she'd dealt with for years and discovered that more holistic and naturopathic therapies, including cannabis, offered more hope than prescription medications had.

In 2018, she learned that cannabis helped children with various forms of epilepsy. Later that year came her biggest personal challenge: Her husband was diagnosed with a glioblastoma, terminal brain tumor. She researched day and night to find what would provide the best hope. Again, she found cannabis.

Dedee's personal experiences have driven her passion exponentially to provide best practices and most successful methods to all medical cannabis patients.

Dedee is a Cannabis Sommelier Interpener with the Trichome Institute and owner of 2Leaf Nurses, offering medical cannabis education workshops for social groups and community organizations in Missouri, as well as cannabis education sessions for health care professionals, agencies, and organizations of all sizes and backgrounds.

Congratulations to Dedee for being elected to the Missouri Nurses Association for 2021 and 2022!

Laugh Of The Moon

Photo by Cas Holmes on UnSplash

Botanical Tip of the Moon

Bill H.878 was introduced into Vermont Legislative session in early 2020, proposing to decriminalize certain drugs commonly used for medicinal, spiritual, religious, or entheogenic purposes (psilocybin, peyote, ayahuasca, and kratom).

Both the Senate and House of Representatives adjourned on September 25, 2020 and unfortunately due to COVID 19, this bill will not be addressed this legislative session.

We will continue to advocate for botanical medicine, and work to see this bill reintroduced in 2021.