Blog

It’s almost Mother’s Day! For last-minute gift-buyers, this means the pressure to adequately pamper whoever has been a mother figure in your life is mounting. Here are Farmulated’s thoughts for a sincere, CBD-based present that surpasses the typical candle-or-flower dilemma.

Today we’re highlighting Janette Eichenlaub, a Farmulated mall associate who has been with us since the beginning! Janette’s bright personality and openness to CBD make her a great fit to assist customers who are curious about our products’ benefits.

It’s no secret we at Farmulated are advocates of incorporating CBD into our daily routines, but that got us wondering: How many people maintain a routine to begin with? According to a 2021 study, the majority of Americans follow a set morning schedule, with 88 percent of respondents weighing in as pro repetitive mornings, so long as they can incorporate a few critical first steps.

Over the past few years, consumers seeking more balanced complexions have witnessed a rapidly growing commonality in the beauty sector: CBD-based skincare products. Why? We sat down with Pharmacist and Natural Wellness Expert Gina Ruffa to learn the details behind the topical CBD hype and get a few tips on what we can all do for healthier, more luminous exteriors. 

With data on the latest health practices constantly evolving, do modern wellness trends really come down to more than personal preference? We sat down with Pharmacist and Natural Wellness Expert Gina Ruffa for a little game of This or That in which she took on a few of the fads the health and wellness community is buzzing about, including our personal favorite, CBD.

Millennials are officially surpassing the young adult threshold and becoming the standard of social practices, consumer interests, and recently, startling health discussions. So what’s driving Generation Y's health decline, and which remedies are most effective for an age group entwined in a web of so many consumer health options?

To effectively neutralize a COVID-19 spike protein the body needs antibodies, which form either by vaccination or previous infection. However, emerging research shows there may be a new, equally effective method of spike protein neutralization, and it's rooted in natural wellness.

Ever been in a bad mood and couldn't quite pinpoint the reason? More often than not, the biology behind your grouchy mindset lies deep within your gut. So, what can you do to reach intestinal equilibrium that translates to a balanced brain and better attitude? Pharmacist and Natural Wellness Expert Gina Ruffa fills us in!

Today we’re highlighting Sue Gray, a Farmulated mall associate who became interested in CBD after chatting with Store Manager Julie Biby prior to the store's opening in July of 2020. Sue has been with us since the beginning, and describes herself as "very curious," making her the perfect person to spread the valuable insight she has gained along the way!

As we enter our third year of COVID-19, a surprising glimmer of optimism pervades 2022 health predictions. So, what can we expect on this year’s health agenda, and how can positive research surrounding natural remedies like CBD help us put our best thoughts forward amid a pandemic that feels never-ending? Here is what the experts and ongoing research have to say.

After nearly seven years, Administrative Assistant and Customer Service Representative Susan Gabriel is retiring from Troyer Inc. and Farmulated. Our entire team will miss her smiling face and dedication as she juggled so many critical company tasks.

What happens when the holidays, flu season and a rapidly spreading COVID variant collide? The short answer is stress, and lots of it. With Christmas only days away, how can you calm your nerves, boost your immunity and save your sense of the holiday spirit? A little bit of mindfulness and a daily dose of CBD may help push you in the right direction.

Still awaiting the arrival of Christmas presents you ordered online weeks ago? This holiday season, millions of Americans are experiencing the same frustrating delays due to supply chain imbalances happening around the world. Luckily, Farmulated’s vertically integrated model has allowed us to remain exempt from the persisting supply and demand hurdles.

We’re back with Pharmacist and Natural Wellness Expert Gina Ruffa and today we’re talking immunity! Along with the COVID-19 pandemic, cold and flu season is officially upon us and experts warn this year could return us to pre-pandemic case numbers. Following the 2020 all-time low of non-COVID viral infections, it may be time to buckle up your immunity belt to prepare for the many potential transmissible illnesses. How can we enhance our immunity? Gina fills us in.

Love living in a place with limited noise, plenty of foliage and visible stars? We at Farmulated do! Approximately 15 percent of Americans reside in the rural United States, and while living among the great outdoors comes with plenty of perks, it also brings about a wide array of access-related health barriers.

As Aristotle’s famous saying explains, the whole, finished product is often greater than the sum of the parts that contributed to its creation. When examining our own physiological chemistry, the synergistic coupling of vitamins, minerals and supplements like CBD tend to work in a similar manner.

What’s in a breed? For humans like my pawrents, companionship is the number one priority. I am their very best friend, after all. For others, common traits of working breeds—intelligence, athleticism and high energy levels—are admirable. Regardless of your four legged friend's specific genetics, many good boys and girls often require a little extra help remaining calm. Here's what to do.

We're back with Pharmacist and Natural Wellness Expert Gina Ruffa, and this week, we're discussing the impact of oxidative stress. What is it, and how do antioxidants and supplements like CBD help curb its havoc-wreaking properties on the human body? Gina fills us in!

Today is World Heart Day, an annual day of awareness for cardiovascular disease. In the United States, heart disease is responsible for one out of every four deaths each year, making it the number one cause of death among people of nearly all racial and ethnic groups.  Luckily, there are many simple health practices and supplements that can be incorporated today to lessen the risk of heart disease, one of which is CBD.

The autumnal equinox arrived this past Wednesday, which is good news for the 29 percent of Americans who rank fall as their favorite season. Whether or not you favor the more moderate temperatures, warm-toned tree lines and festive, pumpkin-packed events (and drinks, food and scents), here are three fall facts to keep in mind – and mindful of – as the days turn crisp.

Today we’re highlighting Debbie Schoentag, a Farmulated CBD mall associate who has been with us since we first launched our Millcreek Mall store. Debbie will be leaving Farmulated after over a year of dedicated service and we can’t thank her enough for contributing to the helpful, hands-on attitude of our wonderful associates.

While most of us are familiar with what it means to have a healthy body, we may question what health means when explicitly examining a structure as multifaceted as the brain. To find out, we called up Pharmacist and Natural Wellness Expert Gina Ruffa to learn more about how the brain functions, what nutrients it needs to thrive and how substances like CBD may contribute to better brain health.

Meet Tammy Weary! Tammy is one of Farmulated CBD’s friendly Millcreek Mall store associates who is always ready to assist customers curious about the benefits of CBD.

Although the rolling hills and picturesque plots of farmland paint the United States as a country of plant-based abundance, our national dietary choices tell a very different story. Regardless of produce availability, estimates show approximately one-third of the U.S. population is at risk of a vitamin deficiency. As a longtime crop farmer, Farmulated CBD Owner Mark Troyer understands for some, the distance between farm and table can be especially long.

As we continue through the latter half of 2021, the ebb and flow of the COVID-19 tide of case counts keeps our emotional wellbeing poised to shift positions. Meanwhile, our daily habits have followed a winding path that parallels COVID-19 trends. Dietary choices, de-stressing hobbies and new routines such as logging in from home, morning walks and taking supplements like CBD are all a part of a collective mental shift. So, are we currently moving towards more positive or negative mindsets?

We're back with Pharmacist and Natural Wellness Expert Gina Ruffa, and today we're talking about one of many people's favorite routine necessities: sleep. For those who struggle to fall and stay asleep, what can natural supplements like CBD do for not only a better night's rest, but also for long-term health outcomes? Gina fills us in.

Meet Julie Biby! Julie is Farmulated CBD’s dedicated Millcreek Mall store manager who keeps our product line fully stocked and customers happy and well-informed while shopping in our store’s beautiful, welcoming environment.

It’s World Chocolate Day, a time to celebrate the luxurious, plant-based candy so many of our “sweet tooth” receptors instantly salivate over. When combined with our premium quality CBD, a decadent dose of dark chocolate may actually be the daily health boost your body not only desires for taste, but also needs for nourishment. Sometimes your cravings are actually decent food guides.

While you’ve been basking in backyard barbecues, days spent at the pool and warm evenings on the porch, what also arrived with the incrementally later sunsets was a surplus of vitamin D. At Farmulated CBD, vitamin D intrigues us as it does all sun-lovers, but its benefits also bear a surprising resemblance to those of our favorite hemp plant extract, CBD.

In our latest chat, Pharmacist and Natural Wellness Expert Gina Ruffa dives into mental health: What are its root causes? Which natural remedies actually work? Read on to learn how internal and external factors influence anxiety and depression and the holistic steps to take to begin full-body healing today.

As we prepare to enter the official summer season, “getting into better shape” permeates many conversations, typically driven by a desire to lose weight and feel better throughout the long, sunlit days. But what if shedding winter weight for a leaner physical appearance and heightened energy levels isn’t entirely a product of diet and exercise? According to extensive research on sleep and insomnia, it’s not.

As we begin to retire phrases like “the new normal,” gradually pull down our masks and step into the light of full-capacity restaurants, the effects of COVID-19 beyond obvious physical health concerns linger. One of which is anxiety, with 4 in 10 adults reporting symptoms amid the pandemic.

Being born into a farming family in the 1960s was being absorbed by an ever-changing natural world, with calloused hands perpetually etched in soil and a sun-up-to-sun-down mentality bred from a sharp decline in U.S. farms from the 1930s Dust Bowl era. The Troyer family, however, set firm roots and today farm over 2,500 acres of produce, the latest of which is hemp.

We’re back with Pharmacist and Natural Wellness Expert Gina Ruffa, and today’s chat focuses on options for managing chronic pain, which estimates show roughly 28 percent of U.S. adults suffer from. Gina fills us in on lifestyle factors that may be contributing behind the scenes, and easy changes to make today.

It’s spring, which means warmer days, lighter evenings and a world dipped in vibrant colors. Unfortunately, seasonal allergy sufferers know on the flipside of green leaves and pastel flowers looms lengthy bouts of coughing, sneezing and itching. When OTC remedies aren’t effectively easing symptoms, one study shows CBD may be an alternative.

Today is National Epilepsy Awareness Day, a marker of a complex neurological condition that affects approximately 1.2 percent of the U.S. population. In recent years, cannabis has emerged as a potential solution to some of epilepsy’s most troubling symptoms, particularly for pediatric epilepsy patients.

Gut health: It’s one of the trendiest focal points in the health community, flanked by influencers sipping kombucha and writing off gluten and dairy. So where does the buzz stem from, how does CBD fit into the mix and do you really need to say goodbye to bread and cheese? We consulted with Pharmacist and Health and Nutrition Coach Gina Ruffa to learn more.

Today is the day! Bring on the cuddles, walkies and extra helpings of CBD pet treats because four years ago, I entered the world as one of the cutest bundles of joy my humans would ever lay eyes on.

As we enter a post-opioid era, many researchers and drug-averse consumers have related concerns with CBD products, concerned that even a natural alternative could replicate the problematic dependencies of the past few decades. A new study of CBD, however, shows just the opposite, finding a large dose of CBD did not alter reward-related regions of the brain in study participants.

By now, you’ve probably watched a few national news media interviews in which someone poses the burning question, “How long before things get back to normal?” To answer such a question definitively would require knowledge of many impossibly futuristic factors, but one guess has emerged between the seasonal lines of loosening restrictions: COVID-19 will likely become endemic.

It’s Presidents’ Day, a date selected in conjunction with our first ever president’s birthday: February 22, 1732. Beyond original policymaking, something notable George Washington also enjoyed was growing hemp at his Mount Vernon estate.

Who were the other presidents rumored to dabble in Farmulated's favorite plant?

2020 was certainly a year that emphasized the importance of preventive health care. While many of us took to Google to search how to boost our immune systems, what type of mask is best or how far a sneeze can travel, we may have neglected the issues beyond COVID-19. Here are six things Pharmacist Gina Ruffa says to pay attention to in 2021.

In an exhausting, double-edged exchange, pharmaceutical companies have made appeals for federal incentives to create new antibiotics just as the government encourages reduced antibiotic use to mitigate the hovering crisis. Thankfully, there’s good news on the horizon for consumers already grappling with a viral pandemic: A new study shows CBD can kill bacteria.

What’s in a name? For health-conscious Americans, that’s a loaded question. The hyper-aware ingredient curiosity began well before CBD’s reemergence in American culture. “Take 7-Up for instance. It used to have lithium in it,” Pharmacist Gina Ruffa noted, “and even with things like lithium, a mineral, people are just now finding out it has benefits.”

The green wave, a term used to reference the increasing acceptance and use of cannabis, has only spread since the onset of COVID-19. A recent study from Aclara Research shows approximately 20 percent of consumers are using more CBD products in response to the pandemic.

While massive retail chains are likely to make it past the one-year mark of an international health crisis, small businesses may not be so fortunate. As a brand new CBD company, we are so grateful to the loyal patrons who purchased our products in 2020, and in turn, have a few suggestions for spreading the “Shop Local” love.

How do you celebrate the promise of 2021 while away from friends and family? Our suggestion: a reverse New Year’s Eve.

Today we welcome Gina Ruffa, health and nutrition coach and registered pharmacist with over 37 years of experience. Gina will be contributing to the Farmulated CBD team as a natural wellness expert. 

Tensions are high! And I mean high. Have you ever had a standoff with the delivery human every day for weeks on end? Here's what happens.

It’s mid-December, which means the winter wellness jokes are in full swing: prepping your “winter body” with a few extra pounds, consuming Christmas cookies and hot cocoa as a form of self-care, sipping red wine by a fire to self-isolate from COVID-19. While these are all wonderful ways to celebrate the holiday season, putting health on the backburner until spring may not be so merry and bright.

If you already feel the strain of a lack of time and money amid the holiday season, then the compounding anxiety of maneuvering a health crisis has probably wreaked havoc on your expectant holiday cheer. Our tip for achieving a sense of peace and joy? CBD.

This holiday season, nix the weekends spent weaving through retail stores and #ShopLocal with Farmulated CBD. We've composed the Ultimate Gift-Giving Guide for friends and family who may be tricky to buy for.

If you are still planning on joining your loved ones for a delicious plate or two of grub, we’ve compiled a few options for how to enjoy a more relaxed, less hectic holiday of thankfulness.

It’s National Rural Health Day, a time to address the unique healthcare needs of about 15 percent of the U.S. population. While living in rural America certainly contributes to a peaceful, nature-oriented lifestyle, it also presents geographic challenges.

Following numerous studies on the exciting potential of CBD, new research from the Cleveland Clinic shows melatonin is a top alternative contender for staving off COVID-19. In a study of nearly 27,000 individuals, those consistently given melatonin were 28 percent less likely to test positive for the virus.

As U.S. biopharmaceutical company Pfizer pushes forward with a coronavirus vaccine currently shown to be 90 percent effective, ongoing medical research has unveiled the groundbreaking potential of CBD. 

In our K-9 companions, osteoarthritis not only causes physical strain, but also leaves them uneager to play and easily exhausted. The good news: A recent study led by researchers at Baylor College of Medicine shows CBD may be effective in treating dogs with arthritic pain.

When we envision farmers, we often see the picturesque tillage or the rough, dirt-etched palms, but not the marketing insight required to ensure a smooth transition from purchasing raw materials to bringing a successful, fairly priced product to market. Farmulated CBD Owner Mark Troyer, however, was raised on the full potential of agriculture.

When Pennsylvania took steps to legalize hemp growing in 2017—ushering in a comeback for what had been a staple crop in colonial times—Mark Troyer saw an opportunity.

Homeostasis is the body’s natural tendency to maintain equilibrium, or a stable internal environment. French Physiologist Claude Bernard originally called this the “internal milieu,” and noted the process was the sole reason for “a free and independent existence.” But what happens when these processes we so mindlessly rely on go awry?

Meet Chad Jantzi, Pharm D., who recently toured our Farmulated CBD facilities in Waterford, PA. Chad is a Corry, PA native and a current pharmacist at Your Hometown Pharmacy in Erie, PA.

A study being performed by two Israeli research and development companies suggests a mixture of CBD and terpenes could be at least two times more effective at reducing the inflammatory cytokine storms associated with COVID-19 as dexamethasone.

Ready to hit the open road with a more relaxed four-legged friend? Here are a few things you should consider before you pack your bags.

Along with the familiar physical aspects of aging—wrinkles, aches and pains, weight gain—one critical, often overlooked component of accumulating trips around the sun is increased inflammation. In fact, inflammation may not just be a side effect of getting older, but a contributing factor of how quickly our bodies age.

May is National Mental Health Awareness Month, a time to observe the complicated, often silent challenges mental illnesses pose. Studies conducted prior to the pandemic showed over 19 percent of U.S. adults suffer from mental illnesses, with anxiety disorders among the top-cited.

Diversity of abilities, we are taught, gives us the highest chance of producing the greatest outcome. A popular cannabis concept called the entourage effect also abides by this principle, theorizing that the interaction between multiple components of the cannabis plant creates the most powerful concoction of healing properties.

It’s National Public Health Week, which falls at a conflicting time given the state of our nation as we battle the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. But taking a moment to reflect on our overall health is critical, especially as many of us have a little – or in many cases, a lot—of extra time on our hands. For us at Farmulated, this is a time to assess where our products fit into the broader health landscape.

The mistreatment of chronic pain in the United States is what triggered the opioid addiction crisis, and what led health experts to seek alternative, nonaddictive treatments. Of these natural alternatives, CBD emerged as having the potential to treat the effects of chronic pain.

National Ag Week is a chance to recognize the farmers behind the products we buy. Farmers comprise less than 2 percent of the U.S. population, and a single farm feeds 166 people on average. Agriculture is responsible for nearly everything we consume and use on a daily basis, yet only in times of crisis such as the current COVID-19 pandemic does the impact of agriculture truly resonate.

Ten years ago, if you asked the average consumer if they were inclined to try CBD the response probably would have been a puzzled, “Try what?” As cannabis becomes commonplace across health products, beauty lines, and political discussions, we can’t help but wonder when and how this seemingly overnight transition in opinions occurred.

Out of all the wellness routines science says you should implement ASAP, a good night’s sleep is one of the most powerful. According to NIH Expert Michael Twery, getting adequate sleep “affects almost every tissue in our bodies.”¹

It’s the best day of the year! National Love Your Pet Day is today, and what better way to love your pet than to help improve their health, which, just like humans, includes stress management.

A Beginner’s Guide to Choosing CBD Isolate vs. Full-Spectrum Hemp Oil

 Making an Informed CBD Purchase

Making your first CBD purchase can be an intimidating experience, especially when faced with questions concerning the type of product, desired dosage, and the dizzying decision between CBD isolate or full-spectrum extract. To make the most informed purchase for your health needs, we have broken down some of the confusing product terminology so you can enter the CBD world with consumer confidence.

As gut health has been pushed to the forefront of modern health discussions, research has shown the bacterial microbiome once exclusively associated with digestive disorders is actually linked to whole-body health concerns. Everything from heart disease to acne to mental health conditions could be impacted by an unbalanced gut, or one in which the “bad” bacteria are not adequately controlled.¹

Along with cannabinoids like THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (cannabidiol), cannabis’ sticky resin glands secrete terpenes. These 5 carbon isoprene units are what make up essential oils. If you have taken an interest in the science behind hemp and marijuana, you have probably heard of terpenes and are aware of the important role they play in the character of each strain.

To all the deer in Northwest PA, here’s a tip: Stop running out in front of moving vehicles. I get it, it’s a rough season for you guys. The woods must be full of anxiety. First arrows fly past, now gunshots ring out, but let’s be honest.

If you are a pet owner, especially the owner of a pet with health issues, chances are you’ve heard the buzz about the positive effects of CBD oil. Perhaps you’ve read up on it and learned that CBD is believed to have a variety of medicinal and therapeutic properties. In contrast to THC, cannabis’s other primary component, you may have read that CBD will not get users high. Both of these statements are accurate. On the other hand, maybe you discovered www.farmulatedcbd.com and are hoping for answers. Either way, it’s great to have you here as we strive to share the best information available regarding CBD products and our four legged friends.

CBD research is in its infancy, and there is limited information about CBD specific effects. It should be noted, too, that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has only approved one CBD products for the treatment of two rare forms of epilepsy.

While some are searching for specialty stores and distributors, others simply want to know what people are using it for. More importantly, they want to know if it works. To shed some light on current research regarding its potential benefits, we’ve put together some of the latest studies and information.

Super-critical Co2 processing is widely accepted as the safest method of cannabinoid extraction today, both for consumers and those doing the processing. Other methods require hemp flower to be suspended in harsh solvents such as low-grade alcohol or butane which can irritate the lungs and leave behind contaminants such as chlorophyll. Not only do these introduce potential health risks to the consumer, they are extremely volatile substances which greatly increase the likelihood of accidents in the workplace. Co2 acts as a solvent without the dangers of being one.