Background
At Western MA Hemp, we seek to revitalize the forgotten remedies of our past by merging them with hemp. With a focus on tradition, our products harness the therapeutic effects of full spectrum CBD oil and strengthen them with local whole-plant herbal extracts.
Our Process
We begin handmaking our herbal extracts by first gathering the botanicals. Our main technique is foraging the plants in their wild habitat. We travel across Massachusetts to forests, fields, woods, and wetlands on a quest to find the freshest medicinal plants available. Massachusetts is the home of some of the most powerful and beneficial herbs on the planet including wintergreen, dandelion, and echinacea, all of which you will find in our products. What we are not able to forage, we either organically cultivate ourselves or source them from local herb farms in Massachusetts.
Once we have gathered the botanicals, we then extract their medicinal compounds using traditional extraction methods. Rather than using distillation to create essential oils, we use decoction and hot oil extraction. Unlike essential oils, the resulting whole-plant extracts provide a broad spectrum of phytocompounds that help our bodies uptake the therapeutic compounds and distribute them throughout the body.
We then carefully infuse the extracts into our products to create synergistic effects with our CBD oil. This allows us to craft remedies that generate stronger effects that are tailored towards specific symptoms. For example, we infuse a decoction of analgesic herbs into our Recovery lotion to make a potent and effective pain relieving topical.
Our Herbs
Blue Lettuce
Scientific Name: Lactuca biennis
Origin: North America
History: Referred to as “opium lettuce” due to its powerful pain relieving and sedating effects
Medicinal properties: pain reliever
Product found in: Recovery Topical
Burdock
Scientific Name: Arctium lappa
Origin: Europe and Asia
History: Traditionally used in teas and extracts to cleanse the body, treat stomach problems, and purify the blood
Medicinal properties: tonic, diuretic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant
Product found in: Daily Wellness Capsules
Chicory
Scientific Name: Cichorium intybus
Origin: Europe and Asia
History: Used as a substitute for coffee due to its bitter taste and medicinally as a tonic and treatment for everything from wounds to tumors
Medicinal properties: tonic, diuretic
Product found in: Daily Wellness Capsules
Comfrey
Scientific Name: Symphytum officinale
Origin: Europe and Asia
History: Ancient healing herb given the nickname “knitbone” for its past use as a mender of broken bones
Medicinal properties: pain reliever, anti-inflammatory, promotes new cell growth
Product found in: Recovery Topical and Daily Wellness Capsules
Dandelion
Scientific Name: Taraxacum officinale
Origin: Europe
History: The leaves and roots have been used throughout history as a treatment for digestive issues, inflammation, and kidney problems
Medicinal properties: tonic, diuretic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant
Product found in: Daily Wellness Capsules
Echinacea
Scientific Name: Echinacea purpurea
Origin: North America
History: The leaves and roots have been made into teas for centuries as a preventative and remedy for the common cold and flu
Medicinal properties: stimulates the immune system, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant
Product found in: Daily Wellness Capsules
Ginger
Scientific Name: Zingiber officinale
Origin: Asia
History: A key ingredient in Chinese herbal medicine, it is used traditionally to “warm” the body and relieve digestive issues
Medicinal properties: tonic, stimulant, aid digestion
Product found in: Daily Wellness Capsules
Turmeric
Scientific Name: Curcuma longa
Origin: Asia
History: Ancient plant used for thousands of years due to its versatility as a dye, food, and medicine
Medicinal properties: anti-inflammatory, antioxidant
Product found in: Daily Wellness Capsules
Tea Tree
Scientific Name: Melaleuca alternifolia
Origin: Australia
History: Used traditionally as an all-around topical to treat wounds, burns, and other skin conditions
Medicinal properties: antiseptic
Product found in: Recovery Topical
Wild Mints
Scientific Name: Mentha
Origin: United States and Europe
History: Used by civilizations for thousands of years as a remedy for digestive issues, to freshen breath, and whiten teeth
Medicinal properties: pain reliever, aids digestion, antispasmodic
Product found in: Recovery Topical
Wintergreen
Scientific Name: Gaultheria procumbens
Origin: North America
History: Centuries ago, Native Americans used the leaves in teas to treat rheumatic symptoms and other aches and pains
Medicinal properties: anti-inflammatory, pain reliever
Product found in: Recovery Topical