A naturopathic doctor, certified yoga instructor, and Stanford graduate, Dr. Kimani Borland focuses on women’s health through a whole self approach – body, spirit, mind, emotions, and environment. She offers in-person consultations, as well as telemedicine health chats, and yoga classes broadcasted around the globe.

Here’s what Kimani told us about cannabis and CBD for wellness…

How were you introduced to cannabis as medicine?

Kimani: So, because of how we were raised – with mommy and daddy as Rastafarians – that’s what we lived and that’s how we are. It was just normal. You have some mint tea and you have some ganja on the table – it was just normal. I was aware that it wasn’t normal outside of the household. We had issues around that. It was very commonplace for discrimination [against Rastafarians] to be out in the open. So anyway, I was introduced to cannabis as what it is – as a sacrament, recreation, used as a medicine, all of the ways that you could use it. It just wasn’t a big deal. Then going to school and learning about herbal medicines in the ways that I did, cannabis was just another one of those herbs.
As for my personal use, when something is normalized in a household, it reduces the sensationalism around it. You become a teenager and your friends begin to use it and they have to hide it from their family, and for me, it wasn’t that big of a deal – I never felt the need to dive in and experiment in any way that was problematic.

I do believe that cannabis use should be reserved for after a certain age based on brain development.
When using cannabis, and I didn’t learn this until after a couple of bad experiences, you have to be really careful about the strains and the dosage that you’re using. It took me a couple of years to really refine how to use cannabis. For example, one strain might be a really bad idea for your anxiety, versus another strain. I think this is the kind of science that we need to learn and use accordingly and that’s what I had to learn for my personal use.

In what ways do you think cannabis and CBD can assist in alleviating the maladies of quarantine?

Kimani: We have to understand that plants can be used as allies. In the same way you can call up your friend when you’re feeling lonely and feel better, or you can go for a jog when you’re depressed and then feel better. There’s a way we can use plants as our friends to be there for us at a time when we need them the most. When we’re in a position when we’re less able to do all the other things that allow us to feel connected or like we belong, isolation and loneliness are really problematic things to live in for a long time. In that way herbal medicines can come to the rescue and cannabis is one of our queen herbs.

There are herbs that we can use daily – most herbs we can use daily. But cannabis, because of how potent it is, can be used in singular, small doses and it would have its effect. For anxiety, in particular, we need to be cautious – if you use the wrong strain or the wrong form of cannabis, you can heighten the anxiety, because of how tweaked out you are. Either find the right type of cannabis, or try CBD, which will relieve anxiety without the side-effects of THC.

On the other hand, using the THC component, which is a really important part of the euphoria we experience from using cannabis, is where the medicine lies for someone with depression.
Cannabis can elevate you beyond your current situation and it can help you to get deeper into your creativity. It can help you to get deeper into the natural world and your connection to the divine. It can have a really important role to play in treating depression and anxiety without the problematic side-effects. It’s everything we need and want in medicine.

What ways can cannabis benefit women in particular?

Kimani: Anxiety and depression are at the top of the list. I think for women, the roles that we have to play in a society that is inherently patriarchal in energy and expectation, lead to stress, anxiety and depression. These are unique to the female experience. For example, many conditions that are caused by hormonal imbalances can be traced back to these underlying societal issues.

It’s kind of a difficult concept to explain – the endocannabinoid system. Cannabinoids help to create a healthier neurochemical balance. Let’s say that your brain experiences a reward from x amount of dopamine. Having a small amount of CBD or cannabis helps to regulate the internal state of the body allowing for a smaller amount of dopamine to experience the same rewards.

What advice do you have for people regarding Cannabis and CBD?

1 Firstly, I’d say start with CBD. If you’re newer or you don’t have a lot of experience with cannabis, then start with CBD. It doesn’t carry the jarring effects
of cannabis.

2 Next, when you’re comfortable experimenting, get familiar with different strains of cannabis. I’d prescribe different herbs for depression and different herbs for anxiety. Be aware of the kind of support you’re seeking from the plant, and try to match that desire to the strain of the plant.