You're listening to your highness podcast. I'm your host, Diana crash and today I am joined by Dr. Pepper Hernandez, naturopath, transpersonal, psychologist and cannabis consultant. How are you doing today? Dr. Pepper? Can I call you Dr. Pepper? Do you prefer Dr. Hernandez?
Whatever you would like. Hi, Diana, thank you so much for having me on today. I'm very excited to speak with you.
Oh, I know it's been a long time coming. All right, we are going to start off this episode with a recurring segments like we do with every episode. And the segment is called Fade pot fade not pot where each of us discuss our current cannabis related and non cannabis related item that we're just like, really into right now. Doesn't have to be your favorite thing of all time. So I'm going to start with my favorite parts. And like I said, it's not my favorite thing of all time, but it's what I'm really feeling right now. And it is flour from rhythm, the company rhythm, and it's called Purple punch. And it's really high and lemonade. And you can even smell it, which is good, right? I mean, you want that. You want to be able to smell the terpenes. That's the whole point. But I'm a big fan of limonene. So I'm really liking this strain right now. Or I don't even know if that's what we're supposed to call it. Right. I've been seeing that we're not supposed to call them strains anymore. So flower, I like this flower. What's your favorite part right now?
Oh my gosh. So is cannabis related? Is it a consumable? Or can it be like an I? D?
Because see whatever you want it. Okay.
Every every day is a different cannabis idea. And right now I've been like, dug in to camp cannabis hyperemesis syndrome, just the idea and those patients, the cannabis patients who are coming to me, speaking with me, and I'm getting interviewed, like left and right on this particular topic. And so I think it's more of a topic for me right now than a cannabis product, honestly. And, but that's cannabis related, it just happens to be that I feel and hear me out on this because this is a quick little soapbox. But I feel that the cannabis hyperemesis syndrome, which for those of you listeners, who do not know, that's when someone cannot consume cannabis, because they get violently ill nauseous headaches, you know, vomiting, all of those things. I'm thinking that it's much more related to the chemicals that are used in the growing process and the production process of the edibles or smoke bubbles or topicals that a person is using.
I 100% agree with you everything I've ever done research about regarding labs and testing and just that mean, what we know to be true about what is being passed off to the consumer. It seems like that has to be the answer to it. Right? I mean, it doesn't have to be I shouldn't say that definitively. But it really does seem to me like it is the chemicals and the other unknowns. But yeah,
I agree with you. I guess. That's why I'm very big on pro cultivation, small home grows, as well as legacy farmers and supporting local growing organic and all those things, which we'll get into later.
So, yes, and but if we can't get your own home grow, like if you don't have access to growing it at home, which I don't because it's not legal in Maryland. So, you know, I've tried to make space for that as well. But I think that, like you said, when you don't have direct control over it, I mean, you just don't know You don't know what you're putting into your body, right? Agreed. My fave, not pot switching gears. I am going to pick a television show because why not? Because we all need something to escape for a little bit with our two we need some kind of entertainment to escape. I don't know if this is really an escapism type of thing, but it's a historical drama called gentleman jack on HBO. And I'm just going to read the description because it's really hard to explain, but it sets in the 1830s York Shire, and it's about a land owner and industrialists named Anne Lister, who apparently is a real person. The series is based on the collected diaries of her and it's really interesting. It documents a lifetime of lesbian relationships, but the main character, the person they're referring to is bucking all gender stereotypes. apes in gender roles and so I love that and it's really a good show it there's a lot of space in between the first and second season but if you haven't watched it yet it doesn't really matter now. But the second season just premiered on HBO so yes, if you like period dramas, check that one out. So what's your favorite not pot right now.
My favorite not pot right now is probably van life. I love van life. I watch videos. I have been watching videos for two years now. I manifested a van a year ago for road travel and to get to and from speaking events and educational events. And I love it. Oh, so
you're in the van. You're saying like you have a van now.
I'm not in one right this moment. I am actually in a beautiful home in Santa Fe where I'm going to be for a month because I'm working here doing a chakra series for seven weeks. So I'm doing that but in between locations because I travel quite a bit. I have a built out ProMaster Dodge RAM to 2500 Not to sound too geeky, but it is lovely. And if you don't know what I'm talking about, you should go and YouTube van life or go over to Pinterest and look them up. Mine is completely decked out it is so cute on the inside. And it literally looks like a Pinterest van life van. Oh nice. I'm one of those people and it has like a bed and a refrigerator and compost toilet like everything you would need and like a very small space. Plus it's also I'm able to drive it because you know it's a little bit smaller. So it's not it's kind of like RV living, but just on a kind of a more poppy level. I just love it and I manifested a year ago and so I purchased it shell there was nothing inside and a few friends of mine who had built him before kind of helped me out. And weekend by weekend you know we'd work during the week both he and I were both are both physicians. We would work during the week and then we'd meet up on the weekends and like build this fan out. So it has we did all the electric all the plumbing, all the woodwork. I mean yeah, it's really cool. I have a ton of photos over on my IG and on my FB.
Oh, well, I'm excited to check out this Pinterest. I mean, that sounds really like something that I would love to do at some point.
If it scares some people, like it scares the living daylights out of some people but those others who are like super nomadic, and I am just so grateful that that shift the pandemic, the COVID issue, like was so good to me, I like shifted to be able to have more access because I went online with a lot of patients, cannabis patients and students. And so I actually it propelled me into more of a nomadic lifestyle. I still have a private practice out in Humboldt County, California, but it's it's just really opened a huge door for me to travel. And so I needed a ban.
That's amazing. I love that for you. Switching gears a little bit. We talked about accessibility and health care a lot on this show and how naturopathic medicine should be more available to everyone. I know from writing about it, that there is a lot to understand about the naturopathic practice. And it isn't as simple as using plant medicine alone and involves a very detailed intake, a very thorough workup and extensive follow through that is not seen in mainstream Western medicine. Can you explain what a naturopath does? For those who don't know?
Oh, goodness, Diana, this is a this is very broad. Every naturopath is different, just like every MD is different. Each naturopath is you know dialed in, or geeks out if you will, on a particular sphere of medicine. But for the most part, I can speak of myself. I am very much holistic. I look at the mental, the physical, the spiritual and the emotional components of wellness and that's very well rounded. Not all natural paths. Do all of those things. So again, you know, do your research, check them out, see what they're doing in their reality, but an example of naturopathic medicine Medicine. If someone's just scouting that out specifically, more than likely they'll find that naturopathic practitioner to do things having to do with dietary changes, lifestyle changes, people would go to them for like stress reduction, herbs and supplementation, which is what you had mentioned, homeopathy, there may be exercise therapy or talk therapy, practitioner guided detoxification, or even elimination diets, choosing the right diet for someone depending on their goal. Even psychotherapy and counseling, I mean, there's so much in a naturopathic medicine tool bag, but you just have to find out what that particular practitioner is really passionate about and dials into and see how many years they have in their practice, you know, that's going to tell you a lot about their education.
So not every naturopath is going to approach it holistically, or as holistically as the others maybe.
I mean, the idea is that you look at it more in that way. But for the most part, a typical naturopath, if it's a traditional naturopath, they're just blending traditional medicines and conventional health care. So you want to go and find someone who has maybe trained traditionally and also maybe classically, meaning they've chosen a lot of different realms to do their research in. That's why the, the the older the naturopath or the one who has the more years of study typically is going to have a broader spectrum just like anything else. Right?
Right. Absolutely. So you recently wrote a fascinating article about cannabis in the nervous system for verbage. Didn't even say that correctly. Herb
is Oh, you're so yeah, I've written for I write for like six publications. But I did write that one recently. Yes.
Yes, you do. I I have looked through every well as much as I was able to read. I know there is a lot to unpack. But could you summarize how cannabis can help with neuropathy?
This is a great question. There's a lot of research done specifically on particular cannabinoids within the cannabis plant. So what we have to understand is the cannabis plant like any other plants, such as like basil, or lavender, or what have you, they all have terpenes which are the aroma, and they have medicinal properties. Cannabis itself has not only terpenes but it also has cannabinoids and Knapp and noids actually help with the central nervous system. Plenty of research done, go over to PubMed, check that out, or look at anyone's, you know, articles or, or whatnot who have referenced resources. So when cannabis helps the nervous system, how does it do that? It actually does that through easing pain and inflammation and controlling seizures, spasms and such. Now I'm writing on that one particular article because I've had seizures for the last 20 years. And I use cannabis to do so. But it's not just any cannabis, I have to dial in, or I've had to over the last 20 years dial in the correct cannabinoids, flavonoids, terpenes, and application and dosage method for myself. And that's what I geek out. And so that's what I spent the last decade doing for myself writing articles and dealing with other people is finding that five pieces which I call the cannabis fingerprint, in order to help with a particular person's body system now, to give you geekier and deeper into that, how does it actually work with the nervous system? Our body has an endocannabinoid system and without having and I'm not saying cannabis is the only thing I'll mention a couple things in a moment. But without having cannabinoids to help balance homeostasis within the body, the body's nervous system is really misfiring. So that can lead towards not only spasms but seizures or uncomfortability and variety, PTSD, stress all of those kinds of indicators. So if you find a cannabis, just for those listeners, just you know, this is a broad statement here with a small liability. Not all cannabis works for everyone. But if they were wanting to start looking into it, they could look this is what I did specifically and this is what I use. I went in looking at just juicing the leaves of cannabis. And then on top of that utilizing cannabis that was in coconut oil as extracted cannabis that was from a particular two different Cannabis cultivars or strains, as you had mentioned, in order to help, the nervous, it's cultivars.
I am always missing the word the right word of the moment. But yeah.
So I've told no, no no. So I chose cultivars that were high in CBD and high in CBG, which are cannabinoids that that are non psychoactive. And then also chose a terpene linalyl, which is also in lavender. So it's very calming and relaxing for the nervous system. So not only do those receptor cells absorb any cannabinoids that are brought into the body to create homeostasis. But now also, I'm dialing deeper into that and looking at the terpenes that actually relax the body and which of those cannabinoids relax the body. If I were to do high THC, smokeable concentrate that also had say limonene or terpineol, that would send me the other direction, so it wouldn't help my nervous system. But with that, with that combination that I have found works really well for me. And then on top of that, utilizing magnesium and all of its forms.
So someone could actually contact you. And you can help them pick out their perfect fingerprint for their body, like with the all the things that you just said, The Five print.
That's what I have been doing for, you know, close to a decade now. And I mean, this was way before. I mean, because I been practicing the last decade in Humboldt County where some of the best weed in the whole entire world has grown locally organic, full sun. And so I've been able to kind of have a maybe a step forward in the on that path, because I've been able to have that research right there at my fingertips. So yes, the answer is yes, I will help someone, guide them, depending on their location and what they have available. But I love the education.
Right. I just love that you added that because I was just going to ask that very thing. I mean, it is so different, depending on where you are. Because what you're saying just sounds like heaven, you know, but here we are eons away from that and Maryland. So if ever, you know. I don't know what's gonna happen here anytime soon. But anyway,
yeah, this is the exciting thing. Diana though is that I have patients or cannabis patients around the world. And I can suggest them something like a very whole plant extract CBD, which for the farm bill is completely legal. But the cultivars that were made for this CBD product could be the highest cultivars with the best terpenes and the best cannabinoids, so it's legal to ship, but it's real cannabis. It's not isolated compounds of CBD, or just you know, the stocks of a hemp plant or something like that. real, it's real cannabis that has I think it's point 3% THC, under that is legally available to ship in the United States. So there are products like that. It's just like people have to be aware of them. But there are plenty of things like that. And there's a lot of good cannabis. hemp products out there too. You just have to know which ones actually work and which ones don't. Anything side note here, anything isolated compounds, you know, major distillate kind of things just kind of avoid that and look more towards the whole plant. Just the way nature intended it, that's all
Sure. Absolutely. I mean, I think that broad spectrum and full spectrum, whatever you can do full plant or plant, right. That is the goal, but it sometimes isn't always accessible. But like you said, with the hemp bill, there are a lot of really great companies out there offering whole plant products. So can you talk about how cannabis plays into your work as a nutritionist?
Oh, yeah, if we haven't already kind of touched on that. Yeah,
I was going to say you did just really talk about it a lot, but
it's a good way to wrap it right. Yeah, it's a good way to wrap it around for sure. I don't think that cannabis is the only thing but I have been a you know, a raw foodist in my life for a decade. I've been a nutritionist a raw vegan for life plant nutritionist for a very long time. And so I always look for plants as he laying in any way possible because the universe has blessed me with so many, you know, I wouldn't say challenges, I would say more like obstacles to overcome health wise in, you know, in my four decades of life. And so I've always been able to manage to and I'm not knocking pharmaceuticals because they are extremely handy when needed. And I appreciate that realm of the world as well. But I've been able to find what I needed in a natural space. And so as a nutritionist it is what it is it's nourishing the body, mentally, physically, spiritually, and emotionally. Now, I'm not a dietitian, right, I don't make a diet for someone, and they have to have this amount of, you know, carbs in this much eggs or dairy. But that's not what I'm talking about. I'm talking about truly nourishing the physical body and soul
that is really impactful. I mean, it's something I'm still learning, and I have Crohn's disease. So I really am very interested in in what you're talking about. And I know that hopefully someday I'll be able to incorporate cannabis leaves into my diet more but I know that that's the next step. Doing things like juicing that
yeah, when you have that available, you know, when you can grow your own organic leaves. I was lucky enough to be like I said in a space six years ago, or maybe eight years ago now. This is before seat this says CBD fad is what I call it. This is before we knew anything about CBD, we just knew different cultivars that were grown, and I knew which ones I liked to consume and which ones I did not. Now I'm big into non psychoactive, but there is a place for psycho activity, you know, end of life care, chronic illness, those kinds of things. But for me, I was running a practice there. I was teaching classes I was doing my life. And there was no way I could use THC for the illness that I had manifested. I had what I call the cancer scare. And so what I did was I just went to farms, friends farms, who I knew were organic, who loved their plants and fruits and vegetables, and they were growing them all synergistically together. And I just asked if I could start juicing them and eating them because I was already a juicer I had been a raw foodist for a decade before that. So I was used to juicing. And so they allowed me to have that. And I can happily say that in I believe it was six to eight months, whenever I went back to I had gotten, you know, a semi diagnosis, I got my bloodwork done, it was visually there for me, but I didn't want to diagnose myself or allow myself to believe that that was what was going to happen because there's such a stigma around the C word. And here I am a naturopath like helping other people through that using cannabis. And it just there's no way it should have happened to me is what I thought in the moment. But it was more than I ideal, because I got to walk the talk, as they would say or something, something like that, whatever that phrase is, yeah, and I juiced in six to eight months later, my ca 125 indicators were nothing compared to what they had been. And I had been able to move through just with juicing the cannabis plant alone, non psycho actively, I was able to move through that cancer scare with no radiation and no chemotherapy, and no, you know, synthetic, bioavailable hormones that they were going to suggest that I was going to have later. I mean, the whole treatment plan that multiple physicians who were colleagues had put out for me, I avoided all
of it. That is incredible.
I don't know, I think I was a little bit. I'm so glad that I was so naive, right. And I was so headstrong, because I'm not certain if I could do the same now. Because there was maybe so because there was no support. No one I knew back then, you know, no one I had known ever had done anything like that back then. And I didn't tell anyone. I didn't tell a single soul what I was going through. Because it not even my I don't even think I told my family. I just just did it. It was very strange.
Yeah. That's incredible. And it's also so powerful because when you have someone who is helping you with your health, who has been through something like that, it just is a completely different experience that I can't even put in Two words. But as a person who has autoimmune diseases, I can't state enough how much it really moves me when I meet people like you, who are really like you said, you're doing the work, you are walking the walk and talking the talk and doing it all. And so that is amazing. And in that vein, you have the cannabis holistic Institute. Can you talk about that?
Oh, thank you so much for asking about it. It's, it's such a precious thing that I am devoted all of my time, too. It's about educating individuals, specifically, the health care professionals on how to go about cannabis as medicine, and how to look at it and how to scientifically dissect it, if you will. And the, you know, we created the program back in 2012. And out of Humboldt County, I was, like I said, I was practicing. I have private, private practice there. And I gathered a lot of physicians and colleagues and people who I thought would benefit from cannabis knowledge. And I asked the farmers who had been working with this plant for decades, sometimes generations to come into town, come into our little small town, come into my office and teach us about cannabis. And it kind of that's how it began. It was 12 students, we had 12 teachers that came in from the hills. And these were people who were either legacy farmers, they hadn't transitioned into the market, yet. They were sharing information with us. It was a very, you know, in some cases, it was very tight knit and quiet. Because these people didn't, you know, you don't talk about back then. You know, over a decade ago, you didn't talk about cannabis openly, more or less how you know, pro cannabis like you did, but it was just it was rare.
Even if you don't talk about it openly. I think it's in Maryland, you don't talk about it openly. Isn't it? So strange? It is go back to where where are you are? You know, it's like, yeah, I think that even in California, it was so kind of taboo still, even a few years ago in California.
I think I think the only piece in California a decade ago would have been taboo was if you weren't doing it legally, right? If you weren't growing it legally, because everybody was in cannabis in some way, shape, or form. Everybody, whether you talked about it was a whole different thing. So that that was you know, that was how the program was created in meditation. One day, the universe just dropped cannabis holistic Institute name, it was like a name drop from the universe. And I was like, okay, like, what do I do with this. And so that's kind of how it began. And now, we're very, very selective of the students that we bring in because the first few years it was for physicians only. And then we chose to bring in nurse practitioners and holistic health practitioners. And then students from my holistic health practitioner program we bring over and then in the last couple of years, due to a surge in internet usage, we chose to kind of open it up to people who were in the cannabis industry, who wanted to make a difference for the betterment of the medicine, you know, and so we have under 100 students, but it's because I handpick them. And I only choose about 10 a year, sometimes 12 depending we have some international students who've been hand picked. And the reason we do this is because I want everyone to learn from one another and it's more of a network than just to get a piece of paper and and move forward. Because there's 3030 courses, there's live feeds, were over on clubhouse, if anybody wants to check us out, it's free to go over there. We're over on YouTube, all that content is free. We're just we're trying to hit a lot of platforms for giving out free content. And we choose students who want to them become speakers and educators because it's really about getting that momentum and movement happening. So it's an awesome thing. I love that it's taken on its own life, and I just kind of listened to the universe guiding me to bring these people together. And yeah, I guess it's a without saying too much more people can go over and check out my website for information on the school and how we go about the interview process and moving forward and stuff like that.
