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A man arrived at the office of Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) Andrew Lewis Jr. in excruciating back pain. Visiting the practice for the first time, he explained that his daughter’s wedding was that weekend and hoped a spinal adjustment would at least help him stand tall. After Dr. Lewis performed the adjustments, the man was able to stand upright, further aided by hands-on treatment with a topical cannabidiol (CBD) used to help reduce inflammation.
“The patient was glad to report that on the following Monday… It was the CBD that really helped him go through the weekend,” explains Dr. Lewis, owner of New Dimensions Health and Wellness Inc. in Tallahassee.
CBD is a non-psychoactive compound extracted from the cannabis plant. Unlike medical cannabis, it is widely available and does not require oversight from a medical marijuana qualified physician. The only healthcare professional in Florida legally authorized to recommend medical cannabis treatment.
Chiropractic medicine focuses on relieving musculoskeletal and nerve-related conditions, particularly in the spine and joints, through physical adjustments. Chiropractors cannot prescribe pharmaceuticals, but some, including Drs. Lewis and Misty Green, incorporate CBD into therapies because of its anti-inflammatory properties.
“After each chiropractic adjustment, I use a topical application… I also educate [my patients] on other ways that they can do it. They can take cannabinoids orally under the tongue…that helps more from the inside out versus the topical is the outside in,” notes Dr. Green of Alabar Chiropractic & Rehab Center in Cape Coral.
Both doctors stress that CBD is not always appropriate. Decisions depend on patients’ health histories and conditions. They also only use products from reputable manufacturers with clearly listed ingredients and QR codes linking to certificates of analysis.
Dr. Lewis adds that patients who avoid medical marijuana due to THC’s effects can still benefit from CBD. “They get the therapeutic benefits without the psychotic side effects… I foresee chiropractic and CBD aligning.”
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