{"componentChunkName":"component---common-build-tags-template-js","path":"/tag/fibromyalgia/3","result":{"data":{"allArticle":{"edges":[{"node":{"id":"Article_2008-markdown","title":"Get Started with Cannabis: A Comprehensive Overview of Medical Marijuana","slug":"get-started-with-cannabis-a-comprehensive-overview-of-medical-marijuana","content":" You’ve finally decided to take the plunge and try medical cannabis. Perhaps you’ve received your [medical marijuana recommendation](www.hellomd.com),  but are wondering “Now what?” Patients are often confused and many do not know where to start. \n\nWe recently chatted with Brant Hindman, resident Patient Guide with [Herba Buena](http://herbabuena.com/), regarding his advice for new cannabis patients. Herba Buena is a California medical cannabis collective which \"creates artisan-crafted products for solution-based medicine\". [Brant and founder Alicia Rose](http://herbabuena.com/our-story/) interact with patients through their monthly [Social Clubs](http://herbabuena.com/the-social-club/) where members receive personalized consultations in a group setting. Social clubs allow for a tasting experience of Herba Buena's product line so each person finds the medicinal marijuana that is right for them. \n\nWe always suggest speaking to your doctor or a trusted advisor at a reputable dispensary or collective before ingesting medicinal marijuana for the first time. Below is some advice on how to obtain the right medical marijuana for you.\n\n**Find a Reputable Dispensary**\n\nIt's important to start with a reputable and knowledgeable dispensary. A reputable dispensary will do lab testing, which is important in the largely unregulated cannabis marketplace. Lab testing will check for pesticides, molds, fungus, and Ecoli among other substances that may negatively impact your health.\n\nA knowledgeable dispensary will also have people on staff capable of giving good advice. Brant says:\n\n>“In my experience, I do not believe that most people who advise in dispensaries take the time to really listen and give personalized advice to the patients who walk through the door. Finding the right dispensary should be like finding a trusted advisor. Call around, ask your friends, see who you get a good feeling from before you go in.  Go to the place that is going to take the time to listen to your questions and give you good answers that’s personalized to your specific needs. It’s also important to find a dispensary that carries a wide variety of medicinal marijuana, as not everyone can or wants to smoke to receive the effects of this amazing plant.”\n\n**Communicate Your Medical History & Symptoms**\n\nOnce you find the right dispensary, it’s important to clearly communicate your medical history (if necessary) and define the symptoms you are trying to treat. Are you looking for something to help with chronic pain, an anti-inflammatory or are you struggling with insomnia? If you have cancer are you trying to quell nausea or trying to eat more?\n\nTalk with a reputable ‘bud master’, the patient advisor within a dispensary, or doctor if available. A good advisor should be able to recommend an appropriate medicinal marijuana product for your condition. On this point, Brant says:\n\n>“When a new patient comes to us, we want understand symptoms they are experiencing, and what exactly they are trying to treat. We like to know as much as we can about their unique personal circumstance. How sensitive is their endocannabinoid system?  Have they had any bad experiences with medicinal marijuana before? What are their preferred or prescriptive methods of ingesting cannabis? We need to understand their medical history, as well as their symptoms, so the recommendations that are made are a pairing of both the most recent scientific research and the best organic medicine that can be found/created.” \n\n**Your Reaction to Cannabis is Unique**\n\nPeople respond to cannabis in different ways. Some people are more sensitive to THC, the psychoactive component within cannabis. Other people are less sensitive and can tolerate larger doses.  Before selecting a medicine, it is important to think about whether you are comfortable with the ‘high’ you may feel with a medicine that is THC-heavy. Some people prefer to ingest products that have zero psycho-activity.\n\n>“As an advisor, I strive to understand what experience the patient may be comfortable with. We always suggest that people new to marijuana start with an elixir (sublingual tincture) and then perhaps later they can move to a vaporizer, which is going to deliver more of a punch. We know that everyone has different sensitivity to cannabis and how his or her unique system reacts with cannabis will be different to the next person. The molecules from cannabis work differently in each person’s brain, so the result is not always consistent from person to person.”\n\n**Understand Cannabinoids and Their Effect** \n\nCannabinoids are what make the cannabis plant so unique. The two most prevalent cannabinoids in the marijuana plant are THC and CBD. THC is what makes marijuana psychoactive. CBD (cannabidiol) has been found to have analgesic, anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties, and it is not psychoactive. There are upwards of 100 cannabinoids within the cannabis plant, but CBD and THC are the biggest stars. \n\nWhat’s interesting about cannabinoids is that they all work together to provide a synergistic effect within the body’s endocannibinoid system.  Cannabinoids work together to create stability and optimal health within our body. Some refer to cannabis as an adaptagenic medicine due to its ability to balance the body’s internal system. \n\nWhen you ingest cannabinoids they travel through the body and end up in your brain, binding to one or both CB1 and CB2 receptors. Depending on which receptor the cannabinoid prefers, it will alter the kind of relief you may feel. Both CBD and THC work together to create a balanced system, in conjunction with the myriad of other cannabinoids. This is what is referred to as the ‘entourage’ effect, meaning that the different cannabinoids work together to produce an overall effect.\n\nDepending on your symptoms, you may want more THC or more CBD. To this point, Brant commented:\n\n>“If someone has cancer they may want to have a medicine that is higher in THC. There are studies that show [THC can target some types of cancerous tumors](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/55f4574a3366380006540000/government-cancer-study-shows-cannabis-kills-cancer-cells). It is also a well known treatment for the nausea associated with chemotherapy.  [CBD is also being used as a treatment for some types of cancer](https://www.projectcbd.org/cancer) due to its ability to attach to cancer cells, causing them to destroy themselves. Ultimately, finding the right forms and ratios of CBD to THC is important in the treatment of your condition.  \n\n>If a person has insomnia, they may think about a higher THC ratio. Personally, I’d recommend a product such as our low dosed [‘Lullaby’](http://herbabuena.com/product/lullaby-nighttime-cannabis-elixir/) which  is functionally dosed to be effective, yet does not leave any hangover effects the next day.  CBD, is just a wonder drug.  It can drastically reduce the amount of seizures people with epilepsy experience. CBD helps people from a pain and inflammation standpoint, people with arthritis and fibromyalgia and anecdotally, it has even shown promise as a treatment for some skin cancers as well.” \n\n**Look at Ratio of CBD to THC – It Matters**\n\nCBD is non-psychoactive and THC is psychoactive, and almost all products are a combination of these cannabinoids. Flowers or strains, will always display a percentage of THC to CBD. For the most part, dispensaries almost exclusively sell flowers that are THC-heavy. Other medicinal products such as tinctures, drinks and edibles will present products with a ratio in milligrams of THC to CBD. \n\nIf you are looking for a non-psychoactive product you will look for a high ratio of CBD to THC. Conversely, if you are OK with psycho-activity you will seek a product that either has an equal ratio or one where the THC is higher than the CBD. Brant commented: \n>“Sometimes people can feel anxious or paranoid with too much THC. CBD counteracts and is an antidote to THC. It does not lower the level of THC in your body but the THC becomes less impactful as a psychoactive. The CBD can actually ground you and your nervous system. Understanding the ratio of THC to CBD in your product will help you better understand the overall effect you may experience with the cannabis you ingest.”\n\n**You Don’t Need to Smoke Your Medicine-Necessarily**\n\nBrant says “People are often shocked that they don’t need to smoke flowers in order to imbibe with their medicine. [There is an enormous amount of choice](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/55b7e6426264330006310000/methods-of-administering-medical-marijuana) in the market today and all kinds of products a patient can choose from.” Among the myriad of choices are edibles-both food and drink, tinctures, sublingual (under the tongue) sprays, pills, topicals, among others. Some forms of medical cannabis are faster acting, such as smoking and sublinguals. [Edibles](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/55f44cbb33663800064d0000/essentials-about-edibles-that-you-need-to-know) can take as long as an hour to take effect, but can also last longer, sometimes up to 3-6 hours. When considering different types of medicine, consider that not all dispensaries offer a wide choice of products. In fact many dispensaries will only offer flowers (bud) for sale.\n\n**Microdose Your Medicine**\n\nBrant says his approach to dosage, is always to proceed with caution in the beginning. “At Herba Buena we are very big on micro dosing, or taking small doses at first until you find the right dosage for you.” As every person reacts differently to both CBD and THC, it is wise to start with a smaller amount and slowly ramp up to larger dosages. Brant says:\n\n>“Over time, finding your tolerance to THC is very important. When you start with a new product, start small. If it is a vaporizer, take a tiny puff and wait 15 minutes. Taking a one second puff is radically different from taking three or four puffs. If you are new to cannabis, you may suddenly find that you are extremely uncomfortable for a good stretch of time. It’s important to know what effect you ultimately want. We always suggest that first time users start with our elixirs (tinctures) as they have very small amounts of THC, so a person can work up from there.”\n\nAlthough cannabis products often come with recommended dosages, it is highly dependent on the person as well as that particular batch of medicine. The percentage of THC and CBD can vary from strain to strain, crop to crop and batch to batch. Lab testing has shown that not all products are accurately labeled. In addition, the FDA does not currently regulate cannabis products. Brant gives the following advice:\n\n>“Edibles are a great example of where microdosing is imperative.  A typical dose may be 85 mg but often a person will not tolerate more than 10mg. It can take up to an hour for an edible to take effect so often people will eat too much of a chocolate bar for instance, and then feel terrible for a 3 to 6 hour time period. Read the label, use caution and start small.”\n\n**Organic vs. Industrial Farming**\n\nAccording to Brant, it is important to know how your cannabis is grown. He says:\n\n>“Outdoor, organic farming creates a full flower medicine, which also equals healthier medicinal marijuana overall. The stars and the soil and the air are integrated systems, which help in the creation of that superior medicine. This is opposed to an industrial setting in an artificial environment, artificial lighting and hydroponics. Ultimately, this is a laboratory creation made on top of concrete.”\n\nThere is no doubt that non-organic, industrial farming sometimes relies on the use of pesticides and other dubious chemicals to produce larger more visually appealing buds. Brant says:\n\n>“Often non-organic flowers sell better because they actually look better. It is analogous to a body building competition. Before the competition the body builder will use more steroids, spray tan and artificially pump themselves up before going on display. This is the same with cannabis flowers for sale. We live in the age of Frankin-Weed. All of this can be avoided, by finding the right collective to join and trusted advisors to guide you along your way.” \n\n**Do Your Homework**\n\nIn summary, doing your homework and proceeding with caution will most likely result in finding the best medicinal marijuana for you.  Seek out a trusted advisor, whether that is your primary care doctor, a medical cannabis doctor, a naturopath or a reputable dispensary with a knowledgeable bud master. Taking the time to find the right medicinal marijuana for your symptoms can often give excellent results and be a pleasurable rather than confusing experience.\n\nIf you are interested in attending one of [Herba Buena’s Social Club](http://herbabuena.com/the-social-club/) events in the San Francisco Bay Area, [become a member](http://herbabuena.com/the-collective/membership-application/) of the collective. \n","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/png;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.3333333333333333,"src":"/static/6288c614ce32cdaa67777c207901c230/ee604/8cf1582f55fcc601be0b5d5817cca422.png","srcSet":"/static/6288c614ce32cdaa67777c207901c230/69585/8cf1582f55fcc601be0b5d5817cca422.png 200w,\n/static/6288c614ce32cdaa67777c207901c230/497c6/8cf1582f55fcc601be0b5d5817cca422.png 400w,\n/static/6288c614ce32cdaa67777c207901c230/ee604/8cf1582f55fcc601be0b5d5817cca422.png 800w,\n/static/6288c614ce32cdaa67777c207901c230/f3583/8cf1582f55fcc601be0b5d5817cca422.png 1200w,\n/static/6288c614ce32cdaa67777c207901c230/f90fa/8cf1582f55fcc601be0b5d5817cca422.png 1365w","srcWebp":"/static/6288c614ce32cdaa67777c207901c230/58556/8cf1582f55fcc601be0b5d5817cca422.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/6288c614ce32cdaa67777c207901c230/61e93/8cf1582f55fcc601be0b5d5817cca422.webp 200w,\n/static/6288c614ce32cdaa67777c207901c230/1f5c5/8cf1582f55fcc601be0b5d5817cca422.webp 400w,\n/static/6288c614ce32cdaa67777c207901c230/58556/8cf1582f55fcc601be0b5d5817cca422.webp 800w,\n/static/6288c614ce32cdaa67777c207901c230/99238/8cf1582f55fcc601be0b5d5817cca422.webp 1200w,\n/static/6288c614ce32cdaa67777c207901c230/5e0b8/8cf1582f55fcc601be0b5d5817cca422.webp 1365w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_1912-markdown","title":"Top 14 Marijuana Strains for Different Kinds of Pain","slug":"top-14-marijuana-strains-for-different-kinds-of-pain","content":"Two studies paint a grim picture of the American landscape when it comes to pain and pain management. \n\nAccording to the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies, approximately [100 million Americans suffer from chronic pain](http://www.nap.edu/read/13172/chapter/2), defined as pain that lasts for weeks or months. Often this is due to an underlying medical issue such as inflammation, migraines, fibromyalgia or spinal injury, to name a few.\n\nMeanwhile, the Centers for Disease Control report that between 2001 and 2003, there was a [three-fold increase in the total number of deaths from opioid overdose](http://www.drugabuse.gov/related-topics/trends-statistics/overdose-death-rates), often prescribed as pain relievers. \n\nFOLLOW US ON [FACEBOOK](https://www.facebook.com/pg/hellomdcompany/posts/) & [INSTAGRAM](https://www.instagram.com/hellomd_com/?hl=en)\n\n### Clinical Trials Show Marijuana Reduces Intensity of Pain\n\nThe good news is that an increasing number of medical organizations acknowledge the benefits of medical marijuana for pain management. \n\n* A 2011 UCSF study led by Dr. Donald Abrams observed the effect of cannabis when combined with certain opiates  and found that [after being exposed to vaporized cannabis for four days, participants reported increased pain relief](http://www.ucsf.edu/news/2011/12/11077/ucsf-study-finds-medical-marijuana-could-help-patients-reduce-pain-opiates) even though morphine levels in the bloodstream decreased, while oxycodone levels remained unchanged.\n* In a study conducted by Dr. Kevin Hill from Harvard Medical School, six trials suggested that [medical marijuana was an effective pain reliever](http://jama.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=2338266) on patients suffering from chronic pain, neuropathic pain and multiple sclerosis. \n* In his study at the McGill University Health Centre and published by the _Canadian Medical Association Journal_, Mark Ware found that [an inhalation of 25 mg\nof medical cannabis with 9.5% THC helped reduce the intensity of pain](http://www.cmaj.ca/content/182/14/E694.abstract) over four years for patients suffering from non-cancer pain. \n\n### So Which Type of Marijuana Is Best for Pain Relief? \n\nGenerally, cannabis strains with high percentages of cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), are most effective at pain relief. \n\n![Blueberry Kush](https://hellomd-development.s3.amazonaws.com/articles-562150d03232620006450000-e182ab45-d6e7-4f4a-bed1-147a7b35724f/original.jpg)\n**Blueberry Kush**\n\nBlueberry Kush is a hybrid strain that features a blueberry aroma and dark green buds and has been widely used as part of a pain management regimen. \n\n![White Widow](https://hellomd-development.s3.amazonaws.com/articles-562150d03232620006450000-28da2679-f8ef-49d5-926d-eb8f5458d08f/original.jpg)\n**White Widow**\n\nAnother strain that's been getting attention when it comes to generalized pain is the Auto White Widow. The strain is also helpful for those suffering from insomnia and depression.\n\n### Try Grand Daddy Purple or Blue Dream for Migraines\n\n![Grand Daddy Purple](https://hellomd-development.s3.amazonaws.com/articles-562150d03232620006450000-fbc47669-a0e9-4095-8ff8-82ecfa007120/original.jpg)\n**Grand Daddy Purple**\n\nTo treat migraines, Grand Daddy Purple is an indica strain that delivers cerebral euphoria to relieve headaches. \n\n![Blue Dream](https://hellomd-development.s3.amazonaws.com/articles-562150d03232620006450000-2fa7b263-e137-45a2-8621-de65ffb6fb38/original.jpg)\n**Blue Dream**\n\nSimilarly, many migraine sufferers swear by the pain-relieving properties of Blue Dream. This hybrid strain can ease the user into cerebral invigoration and body relaxation.\n\n### Master Kush & AK-47 Help Treat Arthritis\n\n![Master Kush](https://hellomd-development.s3.amazonaws.com/articles-562150d03232620006450000-72472879-c2b4-4d8e-868d-99656083af9e/original.jpg)\n**Master Kush**\n\nMaster Kush has been doing wonders for patients suffering from arthritic pain. This strain provides a visual high before gradually providing full-body relaxation.\n \n![AK-47](https://hellomd-development.s3.amazonaws.com/articles-562150d03232620006450000-6fee646a-f238-47c4-856b-45a418d93619/original.jpg)\n**AK-47**\n\nAlso used for arthritis, AK-47 is a popular strain with a high THC content. This sativa-dominant strain provides alertness along\nwith pain relief. \n\n### Combat Menstrual Cramps With Acapulco Gold or Alaskan Ice\n\n![Acapulco Gold](https://hellomd-development.s3.amazonaws.com/articles-562150d03232620006450000-39afbcc3-79a3-410e-955b-d79e029627e0/original.jpg)\n**Acapulco Gold**\n\nAcapulco Gold is widely used by women suffering from menstrual cramps. This plant, whose buds resemble gold, has a 23% THC content.\n\n![Alaskan Ice](https://hellomd-development.s3.amazonaws.com/articles-562150d03232620006450000-ab1c3bf3-b63b-4795-a5dc-09cbbf7c946e/original.jpg)\n**Alaskan Ice**\n\nAlaskan Ice is another option to consider when it comes to relieving the pain associated with menstrual cramps, as this potent sativa strain provides a euphoric high.\n\n### Critical Mass & Ace of Spades Help With Fibromyalgia\n\n![Critical Mass](https://hellomd-development.s3.amazonaws.com/articles-562150d03232620006450000-99c1c352-0594-4ef2-8749-7db2562ad7fe/original.jpg)\n**Critical Mass**\n\nCritical Mass is a combination of Skunk #1 and Afghani strains and has a THC level of 19-22%, making it a good choice for treating fibromyalgia pain. \n\n![Ace of Spades](https://hellomd-development.s3.amazonaws.com/articles-562150d03232620006450000-e89e3e9c-96d2-4500-a95d-e7a901c5659a/original.jpg)\n**Ace of Spades**\n\nAce of Spades is another strain to consider using for a wide range of medical symptoms and conditions including fibromyalgia\npain.\n\n### Spinal Injury Sufferers Should Try Purple Haze or Khalifa Kush\n\n![Purple Haze](https://hellomd-development.s3.amazonaws.com/articles-562150d03232620006450000-49c3df0c-19a9-43da-964a-368070739a51/original.jpg)\n**Purple Haze**\n\nPatients suffering from spinal injury will like the euphoria-inducing effect of Purple Haze. This purplish plant has green and orange undertones with an earthy smell. \n\n![Khalifa Kush](https://hellomd-development.s3.amazonaws.com/articles-562150d03232620006450000-3ae5c67f-6637-4f76-b869-aa498f5855f8/original.jpg)\n**Khalifa Kush**\n\nKhalifa Kush is also a good option for those who want to be up and running all throughout the day, as it provides an energy boost. This medical cannabis also leaves the patient with distinct cerebral buzz to help alleviate the pain.\n\n### Start With Mendo Purps & Bhang Skywalker OG if You Have MS\n\n![Mendo Purps](https://hellomd-development.s3.amazonaws.com/articles-562150d03232620006450000-284f313d-9e74-4f81-ba40-34906bfde07f/original.jpg)\n**Mendo Purps**\n\nMendo Purps is an indica-dominant cannabis strain used to treat the symptoms of multiple sclerosis. It can also help relieve muscle spasms and fatigue. \n\n![Bhang Skywalker OG](https://hellomd-development.s3.amazonaws.com/articles-562150d03232620006450000-efe04a89-3972-462b-9ba1-0c2e8abd7e57/original.jpg)\n**Bhang Skywalker OG**\n\nIf you’re new to medical marijuana and want the therapeutic effects of the plant, you can\nalso try Bhang Skywalker OG, a strain with coconut oil that's infused with 25-35% THC, making it a strong sedative and a popular pain reliever.\n\nA growing body of scientific data now backs up the anecdotal evidence that medical marijuana relieves pain, helps folks stay focused and improves their overall quality of life. It may\nalso be an important weapon in the fight against opioid addiction. The key is finding the right strain to combat your pain so that you can live your best life—pain free.\n\n[Main Photo Credit](https://www.flickr.com/photos/16210667@N02/9048590552/in/photolist-eMAoHW-bMntm-pQK2Ky-6J712H-8GpStT-9ZfBdP-8YgykV-jKBJtD-cq5vN7-eQ8SWp-7zF9jE-obwhvp-qYjA-3fCcUW-83KDDP-aLLLFc-nmqGR2-b5c3wM-6aMj5E-gH5cK4-gH59cn-pEU9mf-qhCRBQ-5YLeJp-62gr3v-aihCSC-9542b3-4tQDV1-aihCUy-9vCsAM-9EAdyE-ftq9RZ-TtxC2-dx6zu6-gjQqwC-m1HWCQ-95oQHQ-eDFDHf-9Pr2c7-ayqLuo-8Z4Ze9-rZERyb-83NLT9-83KExK-5J6NHw-5p4bNo-69hHvm-69dwor-NUCJL-7Cycuq)\n\nIf you’re new to cannabis and want to learn more, take a look at our [Cannabis 101](https://hellomd.com/articles/cannabis-101-your-quick-guide-to-medical-marijuana) post. [HelloMD](https://www.hellomd.com/) can help you get your medical marijuana recommendation; it's easy, private and 100% online.  ","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.5151515151515151,"src":"/static/7a0066590e4356496a55e825f2576f74/14b42/e9096d4eb8f9047db354a090a9ef9252.jpg","srcSet":"/static/7a0066590e4356496a55e825f2576f74/f836f/e9096d4eb8f9047db354a090a9ef9252.jpg 200w,\n/static/7a0066590e4356496a55e825f2576f74/2244e/e9096d4eb8f9047db354a090a9ef9252.jpg 400w,\n/static/7a0066590e4356496a55e825f2576f74/14b42/e9096d4eb8f9047db354a090a9ef9252.jpg 800w,\n/static/7a0066590e4356496a55e825f2576f74/47498/e9096d4eb8f9047db354a090a9ef9252.jpg 1200w","srcWebp":"/static/7a0066590e4356496a55e825f2576f74/58556/e9096d4eb8f9047db354a090a9ef9252.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/7a0066590e4356496a55e825f2576f74/61e93/e9096d4eb8f9047db354a090a9ef9252.webp 200w,\n/static/7a0066590e4356496a55e825f2576f74/1f5c5/e9096d4eb8f9047db354a090a9ef9252.webp 400w,\n/static/7a0066590e4356496a55e825f2576f74/58556/e9096d4eb8f9047db354a090a9ef9252.webp 800w,\n/static/7a0066590e4356496a55e825f2576f74/99238/e9096d4eb8f9047db354a090a9ef9252.webp 1200w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_1951-markdown","title":"Cannabis 101: Your Quick Guide to Medical Marijuana","slug":"cannabis-101-your-quick-guide-to-medical-marijuana","content":"You’ve finally decided to try cannabis. Some of you may have secured a [medical cannabis recommendation](https://www.hellomd.com/). Whether you have or not, you may be confused as to what you need to know before you make your first purchase. This isn’t uncommon for new cannabis consumers seeking to try marijuana to improve their health and wellness.\n\nBelow is a quick guide that will help put you on the path to finding the right medicinal marijuana for you.\n\n### Know Which Symptoms or Condition You Want to Treat\n\nIf you have a serious medical condition which medical marijuana may help, always consult with a doctor first. Meanwhile, a knowledgeable cannabis consultant should be able to advise you on which products will help with specific symptoms. \n\n* Different cannabis strains help with different symptoms.\n* Sativa is commonly known to be uplifting.\n* Indica is commonly known to be more of a sedative.\n* Seek the advice of a reputable cannabis consultant, or budtender—the patient advisor at a dispensary or shop.\n* A reputable dispensary or shop should have in-depth knowledge on all of its products.\n\n### The Importance of Cannabinoids\n\nCannabinoidsare what makes the cannabis plant so unique. There are over 100 known cannabinoids. \n\n* Cannabinoids react with our body’s own endocannabinoid system.\n* Cannabinoids bind to either the CB1 or CB2 receptor in our brain.\n* The two most well-known cannabinoids are THC and CBD.\n* Tetrahydrocannabinol THC is a psychoactive cannabinoid.\n* Cannabidiol CBD is a non-psychoactive cannabinoid.\n* High-CBD products are a great option for people who don’t want to get high.\n* CBD counteracts the psychoactivity of THC.\n* THC and CBD—along with a number of other cannabinoids and terpenes—work together synergistically to treat illness. This is called the entourage effect.\n\n### The Percentage or Ratio of CBD to THC\n\nIt’s important to consider the ratio of CBD to THC as they influence the plant’s effects on your body.\n\n* Marijuana flower will list the ratio of THC to CBD by percentage.\n* A large majority of marijuana flower (bud) is very high in THC, the psychoactive component.\n* If you’re seeking a non-psychoactive flower, ask for a high-CBD strain.\n* Products other than marijuana bud most often list the ratio of CBD to THC and will be in milligrams.\n* If shown in a ration, CBD comes first, followed by THC in California. For example, a 1:1 ratio is most often somewhat psychoactive, and an 18:1 ratio would not be psychoactive at all.\n* Meanwhile, THC precedes CBD in New York formulations.\n* Always read the instructions on packaged products, and know what you’re purchasing. Make sure the products you buy are lab tested; this is important for your safety and health.\n* Although products may be labeled, the information may be inaccurate depending on the product manufacturer.\n\n### Reactions to Cannabis Differ\n\nEvery person is unique when it comes to marijuana, and how you react may be different to how your friend or family member reacts.\n\n* Reactions differ to not only the main cannabinoids, but to different products as well as dosages.\n* Before you begin, know if you’re comfortable with the feeling of getting high.\n* Start with a small dose. If you smoke, take a half-second puff and wait 10 minutes to see how your body reacts.\n* If you buy a product, such as an edible, read the label carefully and take a quarter to half the recommended dose the first time. It can take anywhere from 45 minutes to two hours to feek the effects of an edible.\n* Always wait to see how your body reacts before ingesting more marijuana.\n* Different products take longer to take effect. Also, a number of other factors—like what and when you ate, your gender, mental state and more—can influence the onset of marijuana’s effects. So, be patient. \n* Microdosing is key—start small and work your way up to the recommended dosage.\n\n### Many Forms of Marijuana Available\n\nThe world of cannabis has been blown open with a wide array of shapes and forms. You don’t have to smoke your medicine anymore.\n\n* Flowers, or strains, refer to the unprocessed green marijuana flower you can buy at the dispensary.\n* Pre-rolls are joints made from different cannabis strains.\n* Edibles encompass all foods and technically drinks that can be taken orally.\n* Concentrates come in the form of cartridges for vape pens as well as oils, waxes, kief, hash and rosin.\n* Capsules are pills that can be taken; these are often high in CBD.\n* Vape pens allow you to ingest marijuana from an oil cartridge with a discreet pen.\n* Sublingual cannabis come as tablets, sprays, tinctures and strips to dissolve in your mouth or under your tongue, and can take effect quite quickly.\n* Marijuana-infused topicals include oils, creams, lotions, balms and salves—all of which provide localized relief.\n* Meanwhile, cannabis transdermal patches release small amounts of medicine into the bloodstream over a long period of time.\n\n\n### Outdoor-Grown, Indoor-Grown or Greenhouse Marijuana\n\nMarijuana is primarily grown indoors, outdoors or in a greenhouse.\n\n* Indoor-grown cannabis typically sports higher prices than outdoor-grown marijuana does, because it costs more to grow cannabis indoors. As well, the controlled environment of an indoor grow can result in higher-quality cannabis.\n* Outdoor-grown marijuana may be less “kind” than indoor plants because its exposed to the elements. However, outdoor marijuana also takes advantage of the natural light to produce more complex terpene and cannabinoid profiles.\n* Greenhouse marijuana is grown in a partially controlled environment and hovers somewhere between indoor and outdoor in terms of quality. \n* In any case, before you buy medical marijuana, the end product should be lab tested for chemicals and bacterial growth that may be hazardous to your health.\n\nIf you’d like to receive your medical marijuana recommendation, [HelloMD](https://www.hellomd.com/) facilitates an online doctor's consultation with one of our knowledgeable cannabis doctors. The process is easy, private and 100% online. ","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.5151515151515151,"src":"/static/2bec6249f2cf54b28d132f3e66371c6b/14b42/e8922d670aa93df20d7369910ba89d2d.jpg","srcSet":"/static/2bec6249f2cf54b28d132f3e66371c6b/f836f/e8922d670aa93df20d7369910ba89d2d.jpg 200w,\n/static/2bec6249f2cf54b28d132f3e66371c6b/2244e/e8922d670aa93df20d7369910ba89d2d.jpg 400w,\n/static/2bec6249f2cf54b28d132f3e66371c6b/14b42/e8922d670aa93df20d7369910ba89d2d.jpg 800w,\n/static/2bec6249f2cf54b28d132f3e66371c6b/47498/e8922d670aa93df20d7369910ba89d2d.jpg 1200w","srcWebp":"/static/2bec6249f2cf54b28d132f3e66371c6b/58556/e8922d670aa93df20d7369910ba89d2d.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/2bec6249f2cf54b28d132f3e66371c6b/61e93/e8922d670aa93df20d7369910ba89d2d.webp 200w,\n/static/2bec6249f2cf54b28d132f3e66371c6b/1f5c5/e8922d670aa93df20d7369910ba89d2d.webp 400w,\n/static/2bec6249f2cf54b28d132f3e66371c6b/58556/e8922d670aa93df20d7369910ba89d2d.webp 800w,\n/static/2bec6249f2cf54b28d132f3e66371c6b/99238/e8922d670aa93df20d7369910ba89d2d.webp 1200w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_1954-markdown","title":"Auntie Dolores: The Forefront of the Gourmet Edibles Movement","slug":"auntie-dolores-the-forefront-of-the-gourmet-edibles-movement","content":"[Auntie Dolores](http://auntiedolores.com/), a gourmet cannabis edibles company, was founded by Julianna Carella in 2008. The idea was hatched in the ever popular Dolores Park in San Francisco during a time when the cannabis industry was still in its infancy. Except for the ubiquitous home made ‘pot brownie’ and the odd gummy bear, Julianna was hard pressed to find other edible choices in the marketplace. Inspired by the gourmet foods movement in her hometown, Julianna surged forward to provide gourmet edibles to a sophisticated crowd of cannabis patients and enthusiasts. Auntie Dolores took off quickly and is now represented by hundreds of dispensaries across California with big plans for future expansion. HelloMD spoke with Julianna to get to know more about her company and the philosophy behind it. \r\n\r\n\r\n**When you launched Auntie Dolores, what were your first products offered?**\r\n>The first unique product that became very popular was the savory pretzel. They are vegan and low glycemic. After the pretzels became popular, we developed our chili lime peanuts and the caramel corn. We’ve always had brownies and cookies, which are a staple in most dispensaries. Yet our brownies are vegan, low glycemic, and made with coconut oil and coconut sugar. We wanted to make something that not only tasted great, but was healthier than other products out in the market. We wanted to appeal to a wider clientele with both great flavors and new savory products. At the time we started Auntie Dolores, everything was made with white sugar and white flour and with extremely unhealthy ingredients.\r\n\r\n\r\n**I read on your website that the Latin root of Dolores is ‘Dolore’ which means pain. Naming your company Auntie Dolores is meant to represent anti-pain. When you created your company were you thinking about targeting the medicinal community?**\r\n>Absolutely, there are many, many people who are using cannabis as medicine and we wanted to reach those people. However, we also want to appeal to a wide array of people, whether they are using it for pain management, anxiety, epilepsy, or just to feel good.\r\n\r\n**Is it fair to say that you are aiming to create gourmet foods that are also healthy?**\r\n>Yes. The first thing we always start with is the flavor of our foods. Cannabis can usually be tasted so we are interested in finding ingredients that can mask the flavor of cannabis really well. We have found that the savory products do a great job of that. We also include super-foods in our products because it is a way of making edibles an overall healthier experience. \r\n\r\n>Coconut oil, which is a common ingredient for us, and cannabis have a lot of the same health benefits and they work well together. A lot of the super-foods, like cacao for instance, are really good for you and have a strong flavor that helps to mask the cannabis flavor, so that is an example of how we might select an ingredient. Almost all of our products have coconut oil in them. We love coconut oil! \r\n\r\n**It sounds as if you were ahead of the coconut oil movement which is so popular now.**\r\n>Coconut oil used to get a bad wrap as a saturated fat, but it has a lot of health benefits, as we all know now. It also does a great job of extracting cannabinoids because of the high fat content. We use CO2 extracted cannabis oil infused into coconut oil to bring cannabis into our products.\r\n\r\n\r\n**What is good about CO2 extracted cannabis oil?**\r\n>It is so concentrated so you can really achieve a better flavor with that product, because you are using such a small amount. You end up with high potency, without the flavor of cannabis, which is ideal. With CO2 cannabis oil, you’re using a lot less oil because it is so concentrated which creates more consistent potency and an overall better flavor. \r\n\r\n\r\n**Elderly patients are beginning to discover cannabis as a form of medicine for a variety of ailments. How do you educate  a less experienced patient population on how to use your products effectively and safely?
**\r\n>Over the years we have gained insight into the elderly community and how they use our products. For instance, I recently heard from an elderly woman who told me that she eats one caramel corn a night right before bed to help her sleep. A lot of elderly patients choose to use our products for arthritis, and they tend to only need one or two savory crackers at a time because their tolerance is fairly low. \r\n\r\n>Our products are designed so you can eat a little bit or a lot, but it also depends on the person’s tolerance level. The dosage is on the package, each pretzel has 3 mg so you may only need 3 or 4 of those pretzels to give you a 10 mg dosage, which is often enough. You can experience the analgesic effects without feeling high, if you know how to regulate your dosage. I think people who have had difficulty with edibles, who have had a bad experience with them, find our products a lot easier to work with because they can eat 2 pretzels and have the effect they are looking for. It’s important to start slowly as everyone is different but we do state dosages on our packaging very clearly.\r\n\r\n**You have some new CBD (cannabidiol) products coming out, can you tell me a little about that?**\r\n>We have secured a great source for CBD and it took us a long time. Now that we have a consistent source, we are in the process of developing new products. We hope to sell our CBD edibles worldwide. \r\n\r\n**Is the CBD hemp derived?**\r\n>Yes, the CBD we use for our international products is derived from Hemp.  We chose to use hemp-derived CBD so that we can sell this product outside of California, being that it is below the legal THC threshold. That way, if someone is interested in the CBD products, you will perhaps have better access to those products. Also, you can independently mix them with THC if you want. Our 50mg CBD brownie and our 10mg THC brownie combined will create a 5:1 ratio (CBD:THC) or you can take a 100mg THC brownie and our 50mg CBD brownie for a 1:2 ratio (CBD:THC). The brownies are small and low in calories and many patients combine to get the effect they are looking for.  There are many different combinations you can create or you can just have the CBD brownie on its own. \r\n\r\n**Are the hemp derived CBD products as effective as cannabis derived CBD products on the market today?**\r\n>Yes, CBD is CBD. There are a lot of misconceptions about CBD. We have sourced a superior form of CBD that is free of heavy metals and other contaminants. Usually the concentrations of THC in marijuana are going to be hard to take out, but if you start with CBD in hemp, where there is no THC present, it is easier to get a pure CBD product. It is advantageous to have both CBD and THC in a product, but that is not something we can ship it across the country. \r\n\r\n**What is most exciting development within Auntie Dolores right now?**\r\n>We are extremely excited about launching our line of CBD products. We’ve only had the CBD brownie out for a few weeks and the response has been overwhelming. We are also looking forward to when the price of CBD comes down to the price of THC. CBD has a lot of great applications but it can be 4 times as expensive as THC, so we are having to charge so much more for our CBD products. We look forward to the day when we can give access to everyone who wants CBD products at a fair and balanced price point.","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.2903225806451613,"src":"/static/e4c93fc5ad37b4bf5dbf809664de85da/33aa5/d3512a02960b3efad954ba0d9204eebd.jpg","srcSet":"/static/e4c93fc5ad37b4bf5dbf809664de85da/f836f/d3512a02960b3efad954ba0d9204eebd.jpg 200w,\n/static/e4c93fc5ad37b4bf5dbf809664de85da/2244e/d3512a02960b3efad954ba0d9204eebd.jpg 400w,\n/static/e4c93fc5ad37b4bf5dbf809664de85da/33aa5/d3512a02960b3efad954ba0d9204eebd.jpg 768w","srcWebp":"/static/e4c93fc5ad37b4bf5dbf809664de85da/7f8e9/d3512a02960b3efad954ba0d9204eebd.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/e4c93fc5ad37b4bf5dbf809664de85da/61e93/d3512a02960b3efad954ba0d9204eebd.webp 200w,\n/static/e4c93fc5ad37b4bf5dbf809664de85da/1f5c5/d3512a02960b3efad954ba0d9204eebd.webp 400w,\n/static/e4c93fc5ad37b4bf5dbf809664de85da/7f8e9/d3512a02960b3efad954ba0d9204eebd.webp 768w","sizes":"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_1924-markdown","title":"Methods of Administering Medical Marijuana","slug":"methods-of-administering-medical-marijuana","content":"The number of methods of administration for cannabis can be daunting to patients who are new to the medication, but the availability of various methods of administration helps set medical marijuana apart from traditional pharmaceuticals.  Each administration method can be used for different condition or desired effect. \r\n\r\nSmoking\r\n-------------\r\nSmoking is the traditional method of marijuana administration.  Different strains can be chosen based on the desired outcome, but all products, when smoked, provide an almost immediate effect.  Due to the quick onset, it is easy to control the dosing when marijuana is smoked because the patients are able to feel the effect quickly and adjust dosing accordingly.  There are some concerns that have been sparked about smoking, due to the potential negative effects on the respiratory system when any product is smoked.  This concern can be decreased when patients use high potency products so less smoking is necessary to get the desired benefits of the medication. \r\n\r\nVaporization\r\n-----------------\r\nVaporization has quickly gained traction as a healthy alternative to smoking marijuana.  Vaporizing is less harmful than smoking because there are less byproducts due to the lower temperature used in the vaporizer. Vaporization provides the same quick relief as smoking because the product can enter the blood stream quickly. Vaporization is similar to the administration of an inhaler.  Both smoking and vaporization are good options for patients who need instant relief from issues such as pain from PMS, chronic pain, Fibromyalgia, and many other conditions.\r\n\r\nCannabis Oil/Tinctures\r\n------------------------------\r\nCannabis oils and tinctures are concentrates of marijuana that can either be added to products, such as food or drink, or be consumed on their own. Some oils are added to pill capsules and are swallowed like traditional medication.  Quality is very important in concentrates, particularly in oils. Until recently, methods for oil extraction often contaminated the oils with harmful products.  Now the cleanest method of oil extraction uses CO2, which results in a pure cannabis oil product.  Oils tend to be the method used to give high CBD medications to people with conditions like epilepsy because they can be very accurately dosed if they are properly made.  Tinctures, a concentration made with an alcohol base, tends to be slightly less potent than oils.  Tinctures and oils can be helpful for quick relief, accurate dosing, and to get the medication more directly to the gastrointestinal tract without consuming an edible. \r\n\r\nEdibles \r\n--------------------\r\nEdibles can be a tricky method of administration for medical cannabis.  It can be as long as one to two hours after consumption for the effects of a edible to be felt. Due to the slow onset time, and inaccurate labeling of products, edibles can be very hard to dose.  Most edibles do not contain the percentage of THC/CDB that is listed on the package, so edibles should be dosed in small amounts and patients should be cautious about consuming more of the edible if they do not feel effects as rapidly as they expect. Edibles, however, do tend to have longer lasting effects than other administration methods.  Edibles are often used for people with loss of appetite in Cancer, Anorexia, or AIDS to promote appetite. \r\n\r\nTopical\r\n-------------------\r\nTopicals are one of the lesser known forms of medical marijuana on the market, but they are very helpful for people with inflammation and pain.  Topicals are absolutely free from any physco-active properties, making them a great choice for first time users.  Topical products allow people to experience the pain relief from cannabis without the potential side effects of ingesting too much of a cannabis product. Topicals are particular helpful for people who have Arthritis, Fibromyalgia, or similar pain issues.  \r\n\r\n[Photo Credit.](https://www.flickr.com/photos/46434953@N07/8617919882/in/photolist-e8x6ky-4fQ6Jq-92P4iu-948wrL-tCmafT-aYS9JR-9cWQdE-fs5xq-7ZrYJi-5qyoom-pXUKSd-jSDaqu-5QVWPQ-fsA5BG-nXTjv9-hiiggS-p5Su1e-9jjEYG-b6C4ZR-4ntqiQ-gVfpJw-fQwnYj-mckKnT-dNgyA5-oaQebG-9Bcfce-6ysF1-nQMNQC-7LFiK8-t1QbRT-sG4B-67Jrva-agXYLE-aRuzG-8WGDYA-4AZ1nY-auuTZD-agXYPL-baSgkD-4HbUS-8t8jA4-qEW2J7-ox93kw-iYrqbE-6kTS1G-cs8HdL-sVb1u-4dzSTz-mtVXTR-b1DMqP)","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.5037593984962405,"src":"/static/04fe4f63053246345a2c57e2f06b0ccb/14b42/f0e7ff81ac2c98bc31814c39127602d9.jpg","srcSet":"/static/04fe4f63053246345a2c57e2f06b0ccb/f836f/f0e7ff81ac2c98bc31814c39127602d9.jpg 200w,\n/static/04fe4f63053246345a2c57e2f06b0ccb/2244e/f0e7ff81ac2c98bc31814c39127602d9.jpg 400w,\n/static/04fe4f63053246345a2c57e2f06b0ccb/14b42/f0e7ff81ac2c98bc31814c39127602d9.jpg 800w,\n/static/04fe4f63053246345a2c57e2f06b0ccb/47498/f0e7ff81ac2c98bc31814c39127602d9.jpg 1200w","srcWebp":"/static/04fe4f63053246345a2c57e2f06b0ccb/58556/f0e7ff81ac2c98bc31814c39127602d9.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/04fe4f63053246345a2c57e2f06b0ccb/61e93/f0e7ff81ac2c98bc31814c39127602d9.webp 200w,\n/static/04fe4f63053246345a2c57e2f06b0ccb/1f5c5/f0e7ff81ac2c98bc31814c39127602d9.webp 400w,\n/static/04fe4f63053246345a2c57e2f06b0ccb/58556/f0e7ff81ac2c98bc31814c39127602d9.webp 800w,\n/static/04fe4f63053246345a2c57e2f06b0ccb/99238/f0e7ff81ac2c98bc31814c39127602d9.webp 1200w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_1870-markdown","title":"Relief from Fibromyalgia Symptoms: the Case for Medical Marijuana","slug":"relief-from-fibromyalgia-symptoms-the-case-for-medical-marijuana","content":"A new medical research study from Spain indicates that medical marijuana\r\nmay be effective in helping to ease the symptoms of fibromyalgia,\r\nparticularly in reducing overall pain, alleviating stiffness, enhancing\r\nrelaxation, improving rest and fostering a sense of well being. That's\r\none of the conclusions from a report published in the Public Library of\r\nScience, \"[Cannabis use in patients with\r\nfibromyalgia](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21533029): effect on\r\nsymptoms are relief and health-related quality of life.\"\r\n\r\nAlthough fibromyalgia has been studied for over a century, the journal\r\n[Current Pain and Headache\r\nReports](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15361321) states that in the\r\npast this disease was conflated with rheumatism. The public has really\r\nonly begun to appreciate the scope and public health costs of\r\nfibromyalgia over the past 20 years. With over 12 million sufferers,\r\nfibromyalgia is now considered the second most common musculoskeletal\r\ncondition in the US after arthritis. Women are at particular risk, being\r\n10x more likely than men to suffer from fibromyalgia.\r\n\r\nThe most common symptoms of fibromyalgia are diffused as well as\r\npinpoint muscle and joint pain. Patients also commonly suffer from\r\nanxiety, difficulty sleeping, incapacitating fatigue, chronic headaches,\r\nrestless leg syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome, depression and a very\r\nlow pain threshold.\r\n\r\nFibromyalgia has proven very difficult to treat - according to a study\r\nfrom the Tufts University School of Medicine, [only 35% of\r\npatients](http://www.uptodate.com/contents/treatment-of-fibromyalgia-in-adults-not-responsive-to-initial-therapies)\r\nare able to obtain relief with traditional medication. Additionally,\r\ntraditional medications like Lyrica, Symbalta and Savella often have\r\nserious side effects. This is a significant concern, as many patients\r\nwith fibromyalgia are also prescribed anti-depressants.\r\n\r\nIn support of the Spanish research, a [National Pain Foundation\r\nstudy](http://nationalpainreport.com/marijuana-rated-most-effective-for-treating-fibromyalgia-8823638.html)\r\nof more than 1,300 fibromyalgia patients reported that 62 percent of\r\npatients taking medical marijuana found cannabis to be effective in\r\nrelieving their symptoms. The endocannabinoid system in these patients\r\ndoes not provide enough of a feedback loop to decrease or stop pain\r\nsignals. Perhaps a result of increased sensitivity, a defect in\r\nneurotransmitter release or the blockage of pathways that the body\r\nemploys to inhibit pain signals is highly problematic. It is\r\nhypothesized that the cannabinoids in medical marijuana can \"reset\" or\r\nblock this to decrease the symptoms. Oral tablets tend to be the\r\npreferred delivery method for patients looking to achieve timed release\r\nfor longer lasting effects, while inhalation of cannabis smoke tends to\r\nprovide more rapid pain relief because the medicine enters the blood\r\nstream more directly.\r\n\r\nThe use of cannabinoids for pain relief and reducing stiffness represent\r\nareas of research where modern science agrees with the ancient healing\r\npractice. For fibromyalgia sufferers, marijuana can provide pain relief\r\nwithout the negative side effects of commercial pharmaceuticals.\r\n\r\n[Photo Credit.](https://www.flickr.com/photos/mislav-marohnic/5233928419/in/photolist-8Yvfza-5vZUca-4uLvdu-73Kiyy-8Ga7wH-7Y1isf-4emb3T-2zEhNw-8svFP7-a6Bhnx-aLLHbk-8fs4o8-7UDvCS-mDPKmX-9muCe5-4cSVvk-9BwjCn-7EnYCE-7Ej7ZR-eoa7Wu-7EnVs7-bLfiog-nWQU8j-cHn3Co-rUnSdZ-azRCM-j3rjy-uB1Sy9-ab78S1-WMXcV-5fU7SU-3CKKdA-7Ej5Qc-7Ej5xn-sKAw4B-atvP6c-8zaRfX-3j9jQK-drHutt-2mrLzB-9zZAAM-eMAo8u-DuHFr-beAksK-9DScPh-9sSm6Y-pbFyns-4BGhHi-6N85SL-2o5NQ5)","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.5037593984962405,"src":"/static/b1717da6e3959652534f018eaaaca94b/14b42/277e8be1309985c922ad5341e2df2530.jpg","srcSet":"/static/b1717da6e3959652534f018eaaaca94b/f836f/277e8be1309985c922ad5341e2df2530.jpg 200w,\n/static/b1717da6e3959652534f018eaaaca94b/2244e/277e8be1309985c922ad5341e2df2530.jpg 400w,\n/static/b1717da6e3959652534f018eaaaca94b/14b42/277e8be1309985c922ad5341e2df2530.jpg 800w,\n/static/b1717da6e3959652534f018eaaaca94b/47498/277e8be1309985c922ad5341e2df2530.jpg 1200w,\n/static/b1717da6e3959652534f018eaaaca94b/a6974/277e8be1309985c922ad5341e2df2530.jpg 1536w","srcWebp":"/static/b1717da6e3959652534f018eaaaca94b/58556/277e8be1309985c922ad5341e2df2530.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/b1717da6e3959652534f018eaaaca94b/61e93/277e8be1309985c922ad5341e2df2530.webp 200w,\n/static/b1717da6e3959652534f018eaaaca94b/1f5c5/277e8be1309985c922ad5341e2df2530.webp 400w,\n/static/b1717da6e3959652534f018eaaaca94b/58556/277e8be1309985c922ad5341e2df2530.webp 800w,\n/static/b1717da6e3959652534f018eaaaca94b/99238/277e8be1309985c922ad5341e2df2530.webp 1200w,\n/static/b1717da6e3959652534f018eaaaca94b/d5052/277e8be1309985c922ad5341e2df2530.webp 1536w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}}]}},"pageContext":{"limit":12,"skip":24,"numPages":3,"currentPage":3,"id":5252,"name":"Fibromyalgia","slug":"fibromyalgia","country":"US"}},"staticQueryHashes":["3949754563","4179947113","4202924991"]}