I want to tell you ladies a little about my best friend. She's often misunderstood, and in some eyes, morally reprehensible and reckless. But in my life, she's proven to be the dependable, down-to-earth, wellness-savvy confidant I didn't know I needed. Some of you may have met her back in college during your wilder days, and others may even indulge in her company every now and then today. However you've made your acquaintance with her, I'm about to fill you in on some of the little-known facts about my homegirl Mary Jane.
*Cue Rick James' "Mary Jane"*
Walking into your local high-end beauty store, you may notice that new products have emerged on the market that are cannabis-infused. But let's be clear, Mary Jane is a multifaceted woman with many different sides. Although many people are probably familiar with the psychoactive properties of cannabis, which are produced by THC, many people haven't been introduced to the magical world of CBD.
Cannabidiol, otherwise known as CBD, is normally derived from a cousin of the marijuana plant, the hemp plant. Although it doesn't get you high, the health properties of CBD are numerous. CBD products can have benefits to many people suffering from medical conditions including but not limited to:
- Anxiety and Depression
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome
- Acne
- Chronic Pain and Muscle Spasms
- Insomnia
- Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
- Epilepsy
- Swelling and Inflammation
Cannabinoids have antifungal and anti-inflammatory properties that can not only control the amount of sebum produced and help your acne, but studies have also been done that show that it can help with certain neurological disorders and chronic pain. The studies that have been done on the medical effects of CBD are not definitive enough to make claims of "curing" anyone, but cannabidiol has also been said to help with the side effects of chemotherapy.
Now that I've convinced you that CBD should definitely be a part of your self-care and/or beauty routine, I can answer the question that's been festering in your mind since the beginning of the article. Is it legal and where on earth can I get some of this magical oil?
To answer the first question, yes. Technically, CBD is legal in all 50 states, but here's where it gets tricky. CBD is legal nationwide in the form of oils, tinctures, edibles, and topicals if, and only if, the active ingredient is derived from a hemp plant. This means that although selling CBD products derived from marijuana plants is completely okay in the 10 states where weed is legal both recreationally and medicinally, it can be considered a crime in others. To be completely sure that you're in compliance with your state's marijuana laws, it's never a bad idea to do a quick Google search to brush up on the details.
Now, where can you snag a taste of this trendy tincture? The simplest answer is the nearest Ulta Beauty. It's expected that since CBD-infused beauty products has taken fire in the beauty industry (thanks to more and more women honing in on methods of holistic wellness), the CBD oil market will reach $22 billion by 2020. That's a lot of plants, y'all.
Click through the gallery below to learn more about the broad selection of CBD-infused beauty products you can get your hands on today!
Mazz Hanna Skin Salve
Mazz Hanna
Featured image by Getty Images.
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RELATED
Camesha created the organization after her struggles with mental health and the lack of community she experienced. The Chicago native explains how she created Sista Afya to be rooted in “culturally grounded care.”
pixelheadphoto digitalskillet/ Shutterstock
“So at my organization, Sista Afya Community Care, we focus on providing mental health care through a cultural and gender lens,” she tells xoNecole. “So when we think about the term intersectionality, coined by Kimberlé Crenshaw, we think about the multiple identities that lead to certain experiences and outcomes as it relates to Black women.
“So in the context of culturally grounded care, being aware of the cultural history, the cultural values, and then also the current issues that impact mental health outcomes.”
Words like “strong” and “independent” have long been associated with Black women for some time and many of us have begun to embrace the soft life and are using rest as a form of resistance. However, some of us still struggle with putting ourselves first and overall shedding the tainted image of the “strong, Black woman” that had been forced on us.
Camesha shares that while there’s more and more communities being created around empowerment and shared interests like running, she still questions, “are Black women really comfortable with being vulnerable about sharing their experiences?”
Being vulnerable with ourselves and others play an important role in healing the instinctive nature of always being “on” for everyone. “I'm currently facilitating a group on high functioning depression, and yesterday, we talked about how when Black women may be struggling or have shared their concerns with other people. They may be minimized, or they're told to just be strong, or it's not so bad, or I went through something worse back in Jim Crow era, so you should be thankful,” she explains.
“So I think there's a challenge with Black women being able to be honest, to be vulnerable and to receive the support that they need in the same capacity as how much they give support to other people. So that is probably a very common theme. I think we've made a lot of progress when we talk about the superwoman syndrome, the mammy stereotype, the working hard stereotype, the nurturing stereotype. I think we're beginning to unpack those things, but I still see that we have definitely a long way to go in that area.”
I think there's a challenge with Black women being able to be honest, to be vulnerable and to receive the support that they need in the same capacity as how much they give support to other people.
Roman Samborskyi/ Shutterstock
While we’re unpacking those things, we know that we’re still women at the end of the day. So as we continue to serve in various roles like mothers, daughters, sisters, and caretakers, we have to make caring for ourselves a priority. Camesha reveals four ways we can still care for others without abandoning ourselves.
Trust
First things first, trust. Camesha explains, “Some of the burdens that Black women have can be linked to not feeling like you can trust people to carry the load with you.
“It's hard because people experience trauma or being let down or different experiences, but one of the things that I found personally is the more that I'm able to practice trust, the more I'm able to get my needs met. Then, to also show up as my best to care for other Black women.”
Know Your Limitations
Another thing Camesha highlighted is Black women knowing their limitations. “The other thing that I would like to bring up in terms of a way to care for yourself is to really know your limitations, or know how much you can give and what you need to receive,” she says.
“So often, what I see with Black women is giving, giving, giving, giving, giving to the point that you're not feeling well, and then not receiving what you need in return to be able to feel well and whole individually. So I really think it's important to know your limitations and know your capacity and to identify what it is that you need to be well.”
Don’t Take On A Lot Of Responsibilities
Next on the list is not taking on so many responsibilities, sharing herself as an example. “The other thing is taking on too much responsibility, especially in a time of vulnerability.
“One thing that I personally struggled with was being so passionate about community mental health for Black women, and saying yes to everything and taking on so much responsibility,” she reveals. “That affected me to do well in serving Black women and then also impacting my own well being.”
Practice Self-Care
Lastly, she notes the importance of practicing self-care. “The last thing is really practicing regular self care, regular community care, so that it's embedded into your daily life. So for me, having prepared meals, going to the gym, getting eight hours of sleep, spending time with friends and family, all of those things are part of my self care that keep me at my best,” she explains.
“Then community care, leaning into social networks or social groups, or spending time with other interests or hobbies. That's a part of my community care that keeps me going, so that I can take care of my needs, but also to be able to show up best in care for others.”
Find out more about Camesha and Sista Afya Community Care at communitycare.sistaafya.com.
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