illustration of gut and intestines

The Endocannabinoid System’s Intriguing Role in Gut Health

by Chris D. Meletis, ND, and Kimberly Wilkes Cannabis has been used medicinally for centuries in people suffering from disorders associated with the gastrointestinal tract (GI), including abdominal pain, cramps, diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting.1,2 An extensive amount of recent research offers justification for the traditional use of not only cannabis but also other phytocannabinoids such…

Overfed and Undernourished

Do You Need a Multivitamin? Read This and Find Out. I often get asked the question of whether a multivitamin is necessary and, if so, what is the best type of multivitamin to take. This is a particularly important question because as a Westernized nation, we’re overfed and undernourished. We’re eating heavily processed foods that…

Reviewing the Many Applications of Cannabinoid-Rich Hemp Oil and the Role of the Gut-Brain Axis

by Chris D. Meletis, ND, and Kimberly Wilkes This is the third and final installment of a series of articles discussing cannabinoid-rich hemp oil and a new certification program for dietary supplement manufacturers and healthcare practitioners offered by the International Center for Cannabis Therapy (ICCT). As Chief Medical Officer–USA of the ICCT, a Czech Republic-based…

man in doctor's office for treatment

Evidence for the Clinical Use of Cannabinoid-Rich Hemp Oil in the Management of Pain, Inflammation, and Stress

by Chris D. Meletis, ND, and Kimberly Wilkes In last month’s Townsend Letter, Dr. Chris Meletis discussed the International Center for Cannabis Therapy (ICCT) cannabinoid certification programs for dietary supplement manufacturers and healthcare practitioners. As the Chief Medical Officer–USA of the ICCT, a Czech Republic-based partnership of qualified doctors and scientists who specialize in the…

Dr Meletis on cover of Townsend Letter

New Certification Program for Hemp Oil Benefits Manufacturers, Healthcare Practitioners, and Consumers, Part 1

Cannabinoid-rich hemp oil has emerged as a promising botanical therapeutic with both clinical experience and published studies to support its use. The Stanley brothers are largely credited for first awakening the public to its benefits. The six Colorado siblings developed a hemp extract low in Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive component in marijuana, and high in…

woman with hand on chest and neck

Beyond Cholesterol

by Chris D. Meletis, ND and Kimberly Wilkes In pursuit of disease management, the status quo of the westernized medical model all too often becomes myopic in regards to risk management. One of the best examples of this is cardiovascular disease, which encompasses so much more than cholesterol management. Yet billions of dollars per year…