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What is it?

The Ehlers-Danlos syndromes are a group of connective tissue disorders that can be inherited and are varied both in how they affect the body and in their genetic causes. I have hEDS, the hypermobile version that causes joint hypermobility (loose/unstable joints which are prone to frequent dislocations and/or subluxations) which causes joint pain and early onset of osteoarthritis. It also causes soft, super stretchy skin that tears or bruises easily, severe scarring, slow and poor wound healing. Connective tissue is found throughout the body, in skin, muscles, tendons and ligaments, blood vessels, organs, gums, eyes etc. For me that means I also have POTS, MCAS, IBS, TMJ, and Reynaud's Syndrome, just to name a few. 

(https://www.ehlers-danlos.com/what-is-eds/ )

Why am I sharing this information?

Because it is one of the the reasons VOS exists. The medical community doesn't have much to help those of us with hEDS aside from braces, kinetic tape, and physical therapy. Generally, surgeries and pain medications aren't all that successful. For me, most pain medications make me ill or aren't effective in the least. The most helpful information I have received has been from the Ehlers-Danlos Society website and from others who have hEDS and other co-morbidities (POTS, MCAS, IBS, TMJ, Reynaud's, and more). So I am sharing with my fellow zebras what has helped me. 

VOS was born in my search for something to help my infant daughters's eczema, Mya's Body Butter. Over the next several years we developed several non-toxic, natural, and organic products for skin, hair, and body care. In 2018, when CBD became available as a raw ingredient and I began formulating in hopes of creating a topical product to help address my joint pain. Little did I know that it would prove to be crucial in my personal story. 

Christmas eve 2018, my daughter and I were in a catastrophic car accident that would change our lives forever. I am eternally grateful that we were in a car that literally saved our lives. Thankfully, my daughters physical injuries were relatively minor but mine would prove to be more problematic. Not surprisingly, the specialists I saw didn't understand hEDS enough to provide me with much help with the nerve, fracture, and soft tissue injuries. The medications they prescribed didn't offer much help and the side effects only made the situation worse. 

Enter Arnica & 850mg CBD, the new product I had recently formulated. I became my own test subject and learned first-hand that the proof is literally in the pudding. I applied it to all of my injuries and found relief from the fracture pain, nerve pain, and soft tissue damage. Each time I applied it, I was amazed that it actually helped because, over my lifetime, nothing else had. It helped me recover, as much as I was able. Because of hEDS, my injuries became permanent sources of chronic pain but the CBD topical products go a long way in helping me manage it. 

It is important to know that CBD is not a panacea. My experiences are personal and anecdotal. But it is incredible to hear feedback from our customers about their positive experiences with CBD. 

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