by Dr. Wendy Askew
Dr. Wendy Askew started using CBD oil to heal her psoriasis. Her journey has led her to become an advocate for Alethiah’s products. Here’s her story…
PSORIASIS DIAGNOSIS
I was diagnosed with psoriasis after my first child was born in 1999. Psoriasis is a chronic autoimmune disease that causes skin cells to multiple ten times faster than normal. The built up layer of skin cells organize into red bumps and silver scales replacing normal skin, most often on the back of the forearms, the knees or the scalp. While there are many treatments available, psoriasis has no cure.
In the beginning, my case was a mild one, with just a few areas of my body involved. The itchy plaques would become sore and bleed if I picked at them, but they responded well to the topical ointments my doctor prescribed. The red bumps and silver scales that I had developed were always present, but a few days of topical prescription ointments was usually all I needed to calm down the angry, flaky patches.
After the birth of my second child, my psoriasis flared up with a vengeance. With every day that passed, I saw more and more of my skin change into the familiar silver and white plaques. They covered my legs, back, arms, scalp, and nearly my entire body except for my abdomen and face. Throughout this process, I learned a lot about the different treatment options available for psoriasis. Some low-risk treatments, like light therapy and dietary modifications, were available but not easy to incorporate into my busy life. Other treatments, such as biologic medications and steroid injections, are fraught with concerning side effects. I tried many of these treatments, and declined to try others. Some of them were painful, some had limited success, and some only worked for a short time. I remained hopeful that I would find a better way to control my disease, and so I looked into investigational treatments and alternative options.
CBD OIL – EFFECTIVE TREATMENT, NO SIDE EFFECTS
I became aware of CBD’s effectiveness at treating autoimmune conditions and inflammation while attending a medical conference. I learned that CBD has essentially zero side effects and zero health risks, unlike so many of the other psoriasis treatments out there. Such a promising treatment was worth a try, so, like any good scientist, I decided to experiment on myself.
I tried many brands of CBD oil, and watched in awe as the patches on my skin began to heal and disappear. None of the brands I tried gave complete healing, but they did enough for me to know that I was definitely moving in the right direction with my treatments. As I started looking into the differences between CBD products, I learned that not all cannabidiol products are alike. CBD is not currently considered a pharmaceutically produced product, so the FDA does not regulate its testing. This means that there can be significant differences in the contents of cannabidiol products, even within the same brand, strength, and batch of production. To complicate matters further, patients respond to cannabidiol differently, so one product may effect two people differently.
ALETHIA ADVOCATE
When I learned about Alethiah’s phytocannabidiol products, I was impressed. Alethiah provides an incredibly consistent product, which is not the case with any other CBD brand I had encountered. Results show just how important that degree of consistency is for providing reliable results for patients.
Within two weeks of switching to Alethiah, my skin was clearer than it had been in over 19 years. Even the most stubborn areas of my skin healed within a matter of days. I realized that the right CBD oil does a better job controlling my psoriasis than anything else, including some of the strongest (and most dangerous) prescription medications. Alethiah has given me back my healthy skin and self-confidence. It’s given me consistent, predictable results, and a freedom from worries about the potential risks and side effects that go along with long term use of injectable biologic agents.
As a doctor, I love being able to share how cannabis medicine is improving my life, and the lives of so many others. Experiencing healing personally is always more impactful than reading about an effect and simply understanding how it works. I hope that, by sharing my story, I can help patients diagnosed with psoriasis find relief in a natural, holistic product that is extraordinarily safe. Going forward, I want to see more physicians approach plant-based treatment options with an open-mind, especially knowing that Alethiah can give them consistency, along with safety and efficacy.
Dr. Wendy Askew, MD
San Antonio, Texas
Dr Wendy Askew, MD, is a Diploma of the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology. She earned her medical degree from The Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Maryland, and successfully completed her residency in obstetrics and gynecology at Wilford Hall Medical Center/Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling and spending time with friends and family, including her two children.