The Wellbeing Prescription: Restoring the Whole Patient

Many patients present not with specific, acute conditions, but rather with a general lack of wellbeing. How a comprehensive protocol bolstered by science-backed supplements can tame pain and inflammation, improve sleep, restore ease and support a healthy, active life.

The human body is designed to exist in a state of balanced health, energy and vitality characterized by sound sleep, minimal pain, ease of physical activity, stable mood and a general sense of wellbeing. But modern influences, including processed foods, sedentary lifestyle habits, persistent stress and environmental toxins, tamper with the body’s natural equilibrium, driving inflammation and pain, disturbing sleep, dampening mood and devastating overall enjoyment of life. What’s more, these various aspects are interwoven in a complex relationship, each informing and exacerbating the others—for example, stress and pain interfere with restful sleep. Sleep deprivation in turn triggers excess cortisol, fueling stress and promoting inflammation. Higher inflammation intensifies pain, which disrupts sleep, which amplifies stress. Meanwhile, age-related factors like declines in melatonin production and chronic, low-grade inflammation, further complicate treatment protocols. The result: a frustrating cycle of connected but elusive influences, diminished vitality, accelerated aging and a less-than-robust life.

Conventional medicine has few answers to these core issues that hinder health and wellbeing, and no comprehensive approach. As a growing body of evidence focuses on natural interventions, the pivotal role of the endocannabinoid system (ECS) is emerging. The ECS is intimately involved in regulating various physiological processes and maintaining homeostasis of the internal environment, and studies demonstrate its profound effects on inflammation, pain, stress, sleep and mood. Common lifestyle factors, like poor diet, insufficient sleep, lack of physical activity and chronic tension impair the ECS, disrupting its ability to preserve balance and stability. While research continues, botanicals shown to modulate the ECS are a particularly promising target for protecting against detrimental influences and restoring vitality and wellbeing.^{1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6}

Diet and Lifestyle Cornerstones.

Dozens of studies support the efficacy of nutrition, exercise, stress-reduction and other natural interventions for taming inflammation, alleviating pain, enhancing sleep and promoting an active, robust life. Some highlights:

• Plant-rich diets. Whole, plant-based eating patterns, with moderate inclusion of animal products and avoidance of processed foods and sugars, are associated with less pain and inflammation, greater longevity and significant improvements in physical and mental quality of life. Conversely, excessive consumption of animal products, especially red meat and processed meat, is linked with higher inflammation and elevated risk of disease and death from all causes.^{7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13}
• Caloric restriction. Reducing calories without limiting essential nutrients exerts a powerful anti-inflammatory effect, and even moderate caloric restriction has been shown to decrease markers of chronic inflammation,  modulate pain pathways, restore autophagy, bolster antioxidant defenses and protect cells from age-related oxidative damage. Intermittent fasting demonstrates similar results, and both are thought to potentially increase lifespan.^{14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19}
• Strategic workout plans. Research shows regular physical activity blunts inflammation, lowers pain thresholds, supports restful sleep, improves sense of wellbeing and may significantly extend life expectancy. But a few hours of after-work exercise won’t offset the damaging effects of prolonged periods of sitting. A strategic plan that incorporates movement throughout the day and includes a blend of moderate exercise, vigorous aerobic activity and strength training yields the greatest benefits.^{20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25}
• Mindfulness practices. Meditation and mindfulness regimens are known to lower cortisol levels, alleviate inflammation, ease pain, reduce stress reactivity, support sleep and improve quality of life. Regular mindfulness routines that emphasize meditation techniques have also been shown to boost serotonin production, regulate mood, promote emotional resilience and increase overall sense of wellbeing.^{26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32}
• Yoga and breathwork. Deep, slow breathing impacts the autonomic nervous system and brain, mitigating stress and anxiety and enhancing sleep, cognition and mood. Yoga practices, especially those that incorporate breathwork, have a strong influence on inflammatory markers and are shown to decrease inflammation, modulate pain signals, improve pain perception and relieve chronic pain. Other research links a consistent yoga practice with significant reductions in the rate of cellular aging.^{33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39}
• Sleep optimization. Insufficient sleep triggers the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines, amplifying pain and diminishing the body’s natural pain-relieving mechanisms, and persistent sleep deprivation is known to exacerbate mood disturbances, increasing anxiety, anger, depression, fatigue and lack of vigor. Deep, restful sleep is associated with enhanced cognitive function, emotional balance and regulation, resistance to disease and improved quality of life. Yoga is particularly beneficial for sleep, and studies link a regular practice with better sleep latency, duration and efficiency.^{40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45}

Science-Backed Supplements.

Along with diet and lifestyle, a variety of evidence-based ingredients have been shown to reduce inflammation, alleviate pain, encourage sleep and promote vitality and wellness. Those that work by interacting with the ECS to mitigate harmful influences and restore equilibrium are gaining prominence, and specific compounds in hemp oil are especially promising for supporting a healthy, active and robust life.

Derived from the seeds of the hemp plant—a variety of Cannabis sativa with low TCH concentrations—hemp oil has been used for thousands of years for both food and medicinal purposes. It’s rich in an array of nutrients, including polyunsaturated fatty acids, phenols, tocopherols, carotenoids and other constituents. Certain types of hemp oil extracts also contain bioactive compounds like CBD and beta-caryophyllene, a type of terpene, known to play a role in modulating the ECS and maintaining physiological balance.^{46, 47, 48, 49}

Phytocannabinoids, through their influence on the ECS and additional activities, are being extensively studied, and research confirms their significant therapeutic potential for a wide range of physical and mental health conditions. ^{50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56}  

A number of trials demonstrate CBD’s effects on chronic inflammation—considered a major unmet medical need—stress, anxiety, mood balance, sleep regulation and pain relief, and studies suggest CBD treatment protects against age-related declines and markedly improves quality of life. Terpenes like beta-caryophyllene also exhibit powerful antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory and other properties, with the potential for managing stress, pain and sleep disturbances. Hemp oil rich in these bioactive compounds shows great promise for restoring homeostasis and preserving health, vitality and wellbeing.^{57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68}

But generic hemp oils vary widely in efficacy, potency and purity, so choosing a high-quality product is crucial. “For botanical supplements, the concept of seed to bottle is vitally important,” says Chris D. Meletis, Naturopathic Physician. ” In short, not all plant material is created equal. Harvesting, processing, storage and extraction methods impact the final product, and extraction or processing can also either add unwanted adulterants or fail to capture the desired active constituents. Each step of the process must be tightly controlled and monitored, and the end product must always be tested to ensure label claims are met or, better yet, exceeded. ”

Another factor: certain hemp oil components, specifically CBD, have limited oral bioavailability—its low solubility in water and susceptibility to first-pass metabolism in the liver restrict the amount of CBD that reaches systemic circulation, and individual rates vary considerably. Proprietary technologies designed to improve absorption and bioavailability can bypass these hurdles.

“VESIsorb CBD is a broad-spectrum hemp extract with 10-plus phytocannabinoids, including CBD, beta-caryophyllene (BCP) and other terpenes,” says Meletis. “VESIsorb offers a unique self-assembling colloidal system to enhance absorption by promoting the ability of the hemp extract to dissolve readily in an aqueous environment. Compared to a standard MCT oil formulation, a single 25 mg dose of CBD in the VESIsorb delivery system significantly enhances bioavailability, absorbs into the bloodstream three times faster and increases peak plasma levels four-fold.”

Research confirms the superior bioavailability of VESIsorb formulations. A human study found CBD using advanced absorption technology was 4.4 times more bioavailable than CBD not using the technology, demonstrating significant increases in CBD plasma values, faster absorption and measurable improvements in the oral bioavailability of beta-caryophyllene.^{69, 70}

In addition to advanced delivery systems, supplements that blend hemp oil with validated, supportive ingredients that address such factors as pain, inflammation and sleep, can maximize its benefits. Melatonin has been shown to regulate circadian rhythms, improve sleep latency and duration and enhance overall quality of sleep. It’s especially effective in combatting age-related declines in melatonin production, with studies suggesting melatonin supplementation significantly increases sleep efficiency and reduces night wakings. Curcumin, widely recognized for its potent anti-inflammatory effects, is known to alleviate joint discomfort and relieve pain that can interfere with sleep and may also have direct impacts on sleep through other mechanisms. Because curcumin is poorly absorbed, its inclusion in high-absorption hemp oil extracts increases its bioavailability.^{71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76}

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