About

I have a passion for understanding the therapeutic properties of plants and how to incorporate them into our daily lives so that we can lessen our reliance on non-natural, toxic substances that are commonly found in the products and pharmaceuticals we use on a regular basis, many of which carry numerous adverse side effects.  I am also an advocate for the use of medical cannabis which has multiple therapeutic properties and benefits.

My formal journey of alternative medicine began in 2015 when I was introduced to essential oils.  I was intrigued with the idea of using plant essences instead of pharmaceuticals for common day to day ailments, but I wanted to fully understand the science behind those sacred oils so that I could make informed decisions on how to incorporate them into our daily lives.

A significant component of both aromatherapy and cannabis therapeutics is understanding the chemistry and science of botanicals. Weather, soil conditions, altitude, and other factors affect a plant’s chemical make-up.  It is important to obtain laboratory analysis on each batch of essential oil, tincture, etc., not only to ensure purity but to understand which chemical constituents are prevalent from a therapeutic standpoint. Wherever possible, a certificate of analysis for Intrinsic Blends products will be available to you, the consumer.

Interestingly enough, one of the requirements to become certified in aromatherapy is to write a research paper.  Well, my paper was on the therapeutic effects of Cannabis sativa L (cannabis).  Fast forward a few years and here we are.  My passion for botanical alternatives has led me to crave an understanding of cannabis and how our bodies can benefit from a plant that has been used for medicinal purposes for over 5,000 years.

I’m going to be blunt and, for some, controversial.  Cannabis is the single most important plant known to support our bodies endocannabinoid system (ECS).  For those of you who are unfamiliar with the ECS, it’s primary function is to maintain a stable internal environment and to prevent disease.  Cannabinoids, which are found in cannabis, are also naturally produced by the ECS.  Innate cannabinoids are created on demand and stimulate cell receptors CB1 and CB2 located throughout our bodies and help to maintain a state of homeostasis, or balance.

Cannabis is the only plant known to contain cannabinoids, which are technically referred to as phytocannabiniods. The body’s endocannabinoid system also creates metabolic enzymes that break down our endogenous cannabinoids, which are technically referred to as endocannabinoids.  Those metabolic enzymes are, however, not able to break down phytocannabinoids, so when we introduce them to our bodies, the overabundance of cannabinoids create a longer-lasting therapeutic effect than those felt from endocannabinoids alone.

After an extensive search, I have found the phytocannabinoid rich products that I am proud to put my seal of approval on.  I use them, my family uses them, and I am confident that you will like them and benefit from their nutritive and therapeutic properties too.

I hope you will visit Intrinsic Blends often, not only to shop for premium botanical products that can be beneficial to your overall well-being but to use this site as a resource to broaden your understanding of aromatherapy and phytocannabinoid therapeutics.  As an informed community we can take the stigma out of cannabis and, in turn, educate others about the therapeutic benefits this amazing plant has to offer.

– Petra