A woman who fell into a dark hole of post-natal depression during lockdown said cannabis oil helped her recovery.
Natasha Doran, from Moreton, suffered from depression and anxiety following the birth of her son Isaac in May 2019, but says she was helped on the road to recovery by a "super strong" grade of CBD oil.
She said: "I wasn't going out; I'd go to the shops but I was scared to take my son. I was really nervous to speak to people. I just went into myself and overthought everything. CBD oil helped me relax. It just made my whole mindset change and I came back to how I used to be."
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Natasha, 33, said she didn't want to take prescribed pills for her problems, and wanted to explore natural remedies - which led her to look into CBD oil as a possible alternative. CBD, short for Cannabidiol, is a chemical extracted from hemp and cannabis plants. Cannabis products like CBD oils and food supplements have become popular in the treatment of issues including pain, nausea, anxiety and insomnia.
According to the NHS, there's no guarantee that cannabis-based products that are available to buy online are of good quality or provide any health benefits.
Natasha said: "My partner suggested CBD, so we began trying different types and grades together — to help my conditions and also his body aches from going to the gym. The more we researched and experimented, the more we realised it’s a minefield out there, with lots of low grade products from sellers out to jump on the bandwagon.”
Unable to find a type of oil which suited her, the mum-of-one contacted suppliers across the globe and began experimenting with different grades and ingredients herself. After a year of research and lab testing, she concocted a "super strength" 9000mg CBD blend, mixed with hemp seed oil.
CBD products have become so popular in recent years that the market is estimated to be worth £690 million in the UK alone. But questions remain over the controversial trend and the health and wellbeing benefits users say they experience after taking CBD.
The FSA, which regulates the food industry, said there is still a lot we don't know about CBD extracts and there has been very little research about the effects they may have. The FSA advises healthy adults to think carefully before taking any CBD products and not to take more than 70mg a day, unless a doctor agrees more.
Those who are pregnant, breastfeeding or taking any medication are advised not to consume CBD products at all.
She shared her creations with friends and family, and after being encouraged by them, she decided to set up her own CBD oil business, Hemp Aid, in November 2022.
She said: “We knew we were onto something special but the way it’s exploded is crazy. We’ve been overwhelmed with orders and have had people with all sorts of conditions giving amazing feedback.
“It’s important to mention that we cannot state we have a ‘miracle cure’ and we cannot give medical advice, but CBD has been proven to help with a range of conditions — from anxiety to pain to addiction. Many charlatans have jumped on the bandwagon and are selling low grades with bold claims. We sell high grade CBD and let our customers do the talking.”
After six months of trialling her products with local gyms and salons, Hemp Aid is about to go wholesale, offering 12 different strengths of CBD in three different bottle sizes. Natasha said: "I'm proud it's taken off really well; we're getting interest and helping a lot more people.
"Some people might be hesitant to try it, because the older generation hear the word cannabis and think it's illegal - but it's all the good, natural parts of the plant. It doesn't get you high. The only way to know it works is to try it for yourself."
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