These are the questions and answers for the Fight Doctors Product and General Facts page
Are Your Products Safe?
Absolutely! Our manufacturer uses all-natural ingredients in all of our products. Even the carrier oils in our tinctures are common ingredients like extra virgin olive and MCT oil (fractionated coconut oil).
Regarding our main ingredients of CBD and Delta 8 THC — these are derived from hemp oil extracted from the hemp family of the cannabis plant. Because this hemp oil is plant-based, it is easily tolerable to most people. To our knowledge, there has never been a reported injury from an overdose of any CBD or Delta 8 THC product. The most common side effects from overuse are minor, such as feelings of lethargy or diarrhea.
We also take great care to ensure that our products are free from any toxins or unhealthy elements. There are three main steps we take to accomplish this.
- We only use hemp grown in the United States. Hemp can pull heavy metals, pesticides, and other toxins from the soil it is planted in. Because of this, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has set strict guidelines for American hemp farmers to follow. These guidelines mandate that U.S. grown hemp is grown in clean soil and without the use of pesticides. Imported hemp may be grown in countries that do not follow these guidelines. Therefore, hemp grown in other countries may contain heavy metals, pesticides, and molds that you don’t find in American hemp. Because these toxins are so prevalent in imported hemp, they tend to make their way into the final product. For this reason, we will never use imported hemp to create any of our products.
- We use scientifically advanced extraction techniques. The extraction methods used are expensive, but by utilizing techniques like Supercritical CO2 extraction, there is nothing left behind but pure hemp oil. Cheaper extraction methods use solvents or hydrocarbons to separate the hemp oil from the plant material. Unfortunately, these methods tend to leave residual solvents in the final product, which is why they don’t use this technique.
- We test every one of our products through an independent laboratory. This testing shows the number of cannabinoids in each of our products. Additionally, it alerts us to any unhealthy toxins in those products. This way, we have independent proof that our products are completely safe for you to use. We even make those laboratory reports available to you, the consumer, so that you can verify the purity of our products as well.
What Is CBD?
The cannabis plant produces many beneficial elements. Along with other components such as terpenes and flavonoids, one classification of those elements found in the cannabis plant is known as phytocannabinoids. Cannabidiol (CBD for short) is the most common phytocannabinoid found in the hemp family of the cannabis plant.
In 1992, it was discovered that mammals have what is known as an endocannabinoid system (ECS). This is a complex system of neurotransmitters that are located throughout the body. This system plays an important role in regulating several bodily functions like mood, physical comfort, and sleep.
Your body produces its own endocannabinoids that work within this system to attach and detach themselves to the CB1 and CB2 endocannabinoid receptors to regulate normal functions and how your body reacts to stimuli. It has been shown that by introducing phytocannabinoids, like CBD, into the body, those external phytocannabinoids can assist the body’s endocannabinoid system in performing functions and maintaining homeostasis.
Can I Combine Various CBD Products?
Yes. We actually recommend it. When you think about it, if you were to smoke hemp flower, you are already inhaling a combination of cannabinoids. So combining CBD products is not that much different, other than the levels of the cannabinoids you are consuming.
There are other combinations of CBD products that also work together well. For example, if you feel the discomforts of aging or physical exertion, CBD taken throughout the day can help alleviate those symptoms. However, if you have a particular area of your body that feels especially bad, then you can apply a CBD salve to bring more concentrated relief to that area. Thus, combining these two CBD products brings both overall relief throughout the day and concentrated relief to problem areas when you need it.
In addition, CBD is an all-natural substance and is easily tolerated by the body. Therefore, if you combine CBD products and get more CBD than your body is comfortable with, you will only experience minor side effects like lethargy and diarrhea.
What Is the Recommended Dosage for Delta 8 THC Products?
The results you experience with our Delta 8 THC products will vary, depending on several factors. Your weight, body chemistry, and ability to tolerate intoxicants all play a part in how much of an effect you will receive from a certain dosage. Therefore, it may take a little trial and error to find the correct dosage for yourself.
One of the variables in how you experience the effects of our Delta 8 THC products is whether you take that product with food or not. All of our Delta 8 products are taken orally. With oral products, whether you take the product with a meal or not will determine how soon you will feel the effects and how long it will last. For example, if you take the product on an empty stomach, it will likely enter your bloodstream faster but not last as long. Conversely, taking the product with a meal may delay the effects, but those effects will last much longer than on an empty stomach. Therefore, we recommend deciding on which scenario works best for you and sticking to it to get consistent results.
Another important note. As you figure out your proper dose, please wait until the recommended three to four hours before taking an additional dose. You may not feel the effects of ingesting Delta 8 THC for as much as four hours. Therefore, taking an additional dose before that much time has elapsed may overlap the doses and cause you to have far too intense of an experience.
Tinctures – We recommend that you start with 5 to 15 milligrams per dose. You will need to do a quick calculation to figure out how many milligrams are in a milliliter dose by dividing the number of milligrams in the bottle by the number of milliliters in the bottle. For example, our Zkittlez Tincture in the 30-milliliter bottle contains 855 milligrams of Delta 8 THC. Therefore, each milliliter dropper contains 28.5 milligrams (855 mg/ 30 ml = 28.5 mg/ml). Use this as your guide when determining your dosage.
Depending on if you take your tincture on an empty stomach or with a meal, you should begin feeling the effects between 30 minutes and two hours. The full effect, however, may not kick in until three to four hours. So wait at least three to four hours and, if you are not receiving the benefits you expect, take another 5 milligrams. Repeat this process until you reach your desired results.
Edibles – All of our edibles are in a gummy form, so we recommend starting by biting into just one-third of the gummy. Wait for three or four hours to see how you feel, then enjoy another third of the gummy if you are not experiencing your desired results. Repeat the process until you find the amount of edible that gives you the benefits you are looking for.
Capsules – Our Delta 8 THC capsules carry a whopping 30 milligrams of Delta 8 THC per capsule. This is likely to be plenty to get you the results you are looking for. However, if after four hours you require additional support, take another capsule.
Can I Combine Delta 8 THC and CBD Products?
Yes! In fact, CBD and other cannabinoids actually work better together than separately. In addition, anecdotal evidence has suggested that one cannabinoid-based product will actually enhance the positive and diminish the negative effects of another cannabinoid product.
Let’s take, for example, the cannabinoids CBD and Delta 8 THC. Delta 8 THC is psychoactive and used for a number of different purposes, including lifting one’s mood. CBD also is known to improve mood as well as reducing anxiousness and carrying other wellness improvement benefits. By taking CBD in the normal course of the day, users have reported that not only did their mood improve throughout the day when they did take Delta 8 THC, but the effects of that cannabinoid were also enhanced.
How Is Delta 8 THC Produced?
Delta 8 THC is an extremely helpful cannabinoid, and sales of Delta 8 THC products have skyrocketed in recent years. However, the problem with this cannabinoid is that it is only found in small quantities in the cannabis plant. Unlike CBD, which is found in around 10% of the plant’s dry weight, the level of Delta 8 THC in a hemp plant is less than 1%. Therefore, in order to be commercially viable, we must convert CBD isolate and other more abundant cannabinoids into Delta 8 THC. Fortunately, this is a fairly easy process.
Converting CBD into Delta 8 THC
Step 1: Take a CBD or other cannabinoid isolate and dissolve it into a solvent. For this conversion to be effective, this solvent must be a non-polar organic solvent like heptane.
Step 2: Add a Lewis acid such as hydrochloric acid or p-toluenesulfonic acid to the solvent mixture and stir. You have to keep the temperature of the mixture at 100 degrees Celsius as you are stirring. You have to stir the mixture for up to 18 hours then continuously.
Step 3: At the end of the stirring time frame, once the reaction is complete and the mixture has converted to Delta 8 THC, you must wash the mixture to neutralize it and stop the reaction. Sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) is the most popular choice here.
Once all of these steps are taken, the resulting solution is pure Delta 8 THC.
Which Athletes Are Using CBD?
It’s not surprising that there are many athletes in a variety of sports that are using CBD. They have been advocating for its legal use throughout the sporting community for years. Finally, in 2017, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) lifted its restrictions on the use of CBD in competitions and sports. As a result, the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games will be the first international Olympic tournament where the competing athletes are allowed to use CBD. Here are just a few athletes you may recognize who use CBD.
Fighters
Nate Diaz – UFC Fighter. Crowned The Ultimate Fighter 5.
Gina Mazany – Female UFC Fighter
Yair Rodriguez – UFC Fighter
Mike Tyson – First heavyweight to hold IBF, WBC, and WBA titles simultaneously. Undisputed world heavyweight champion from 1987 to 1990.
Alex Montagnani – British Mixed Martial Arts (BMMA) known as the “Mean Albatross.”
American Football
Terrell Davis – Running back for Denver Broncos 1995 to 2001 and all-time leading rusher for that team
Rob Gronkowski – Played for the New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, three Superbowl wins, NFL’s 2010 All-Decade Team, NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team
David Ahrens – Retired NFL linebacker
Eugene Monroe – Former offensive tackle for the Jacksonville Jaguars and Baltimore Ravens
Rugby
Dominic Day – Saracens, Toyota Verblitz, Melbourne Rebels, and other teams with multiple international wins
George Kruis – Five seasons with the Saracens, now with Panasonic Wild Knights
James Haskell – Retired from Rugby with 78 senior England caps
Ben Franks – New Zealand teams Crusaders and the Hurricanes, English teams London Irish and the Northampton Saints, two Rugby World Cup titles, and almost 50 caps for the All Blacks
Soccer
Megan Rapinoe – FIFA U-19 Women’s World Championship 2004, U.S. Women’s National Team gold medal 2012 Olympics, FIFA Women’s World Cup 2015 and 2019
Golf
Lucas Glover – Winner of the 2009 U.S. Open
Charley Hoffman – Four PGA tour wins to date, and six international competition wins.
Bubba Watson – Masters Tournament winner 2012 and 2014, 2nd place in the Official World Golf Ranking
Olympic Games
Gabby Douglas – First African-American Olympic gymnast to win Individual All-Around Champion
Lolo Jones – Track and Field and Bobsled
Other Sports
Kieran Kevan – Bodybuilder and UK Drug-Free Bodybuilding Association British champion
Thomas Wolf – Bodybuilder and UK Bodybuilding Fitness Federation (UKBFF) Northwest champion
Paul Pierce – National Basketball Association (NBA). Captain of the Boston Celtics, 10 All-Star selections, and four-time All-NBA team member
Eddie Hall – 2017 World’s Strongest Man
Albee Layer – Pro Surfer
Ross Rebagliati – Men’s Snowboarding Gold medal winner 1998 Winter Olympics
What Services Do You Provide?
HIV/HepB/HepC
This panel of blood tests looks for the presence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and the hepatitis B and C variants. These are bloodborne diseases, so they can easily be passed from one fighter to the other. This is why all state fight commissions require this test. We can order this panel of tests for you and then review the results with you.
Optometrist or Ophthalmologist Exam
Depending on the state commission you fight under and your age, you may be required to have an optometrist or ophthalmologist exam before you are cleared for a fight. This checks for any eye damage or other factors that may either keep you from fighting effectively or determine if you may be prone to permanent damage should you move forward with the fight.
Neurological Exam for clearance
Some state commissions require this exam before you receive clearance to fight. This exam checks for neurological deficiencies that may hinder you in a fight or cause further permanent or fatal damage after a fight. We can do these exams either in our office or over the internet via video conferencing.
MRI Scan Review with Report
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is a type of radiology imaging performed at a radiology center. These can be head scans or scans of the extremities, and they are used to identify severe problems that could lead to serious illness or death.
When examining the brain, an MRI shows the entire brain anatomy and makes it easy to spot abnormalities like tumors, swelling, or bleeding. When examining the body, an MRI can reveal tumors or inflammation in the spinal cord after a traumatic event like a car accident or sports injury. An MRI can also evaluate the heart for defects such as tears and aneurysms.
Our service is to order an MRI for you, review the results and give you the appropriate State form report.
CT Scan Review with Report
Computer Tomography (CT) scans are less detailed than MRIs, but they allow a view of the entire body. As a result, they are effective in diagnosing bone injuries, cancer-related issues, or problems with the lungs.
Our service is to order a CT scan for you, review the results and give you a full report..
Physical Exam
We can do a complete physical exam for you in our office as mandated by the state commission before being cleared for a fight. We will check for injuries or other deficiencies that may hinder you in the fight or become worsened due to the fight. If we determine that you are in acceptable physical shape to proceed, we will clear you to fight.
EKG
An electrocardiogram (also called an EKG or ECG) checks for signs of heart disease. The test is safe, quick, and painless, as small electrode patches are attached to the skin of your legs, arms, and chest. With this test, a doctor can check your heart rhythm, if you have poor blood flow to your heart muscles, detect significant electrolyte abnormalities, and check for other abnormalities such as a thickened heart muscle.
We can arrange an EKG scan for you and give you a report.
Why Is It Important to Run Some of the Tests You Provide?
Depending on the state commission you fight under, many of the tests we provide are required before you are cleared to fight. Some of these tests, like the neurological exam, can be performed remotely through video conferencing. Others we can order for you and review those results with you before a fight.
But the most important reason to run these tests is for the health and wellbeing of the fighter. Serious or fatal injury can occur if a condition goes undiagnosed before a fight. So giving a fighter a full physical exam that includes some of our more specialized exams can help ensure our fighters’ safety.
In the case of the HIV/HepB/HepC tests, these test for the presence of the human immunodeficiency virus and two strains of hepatitis. These are bloodborne diseases and can easily be passed from one fighter to another by the nature of the sport. Therefore, these tests also protect the opposing fighter from being exposed to these diseases.
Why Are Athletes Using CBD?
Millions of people find the same benefits as competitive athletes when it comes to the reasons for using cannabidiol (CBD). While athletes find specific reasons for using CBD, the general population of users can enjoy these benefits as well, even if for slightly different reasons.
Pre-Competition Nerves – Most any athlete gets nervous before a competition. They have trained for this specific competition, likely for months or years. So when it comes down to the big day, it is hard not to feel nervous as the pressure builds before the event they’ve worked so hard to win. CBD is known to elevate mood and has a calming effect throughout the body. This has helped athletes combat the jitters before any big competition.
Weight Management – Weight has a lot to do with almost any athletic event. In some events, classifications are determined by weight. In others, extra weight is a distinct disadvantage. One of the many functions CBD assists the body with is appetite control. Athletes find that CBD assists these competitors in sticking with diets because it levels off impulses like “the munchies.”
Physical Discomforts – Muscle and joint aches are just a natural part of being an athlete. The very nature of sport is to push your body to its very limits. Athletes have found that CBD taken regularly eases these discomforts, and products like CBD salve can provide concentrated relief to specific areas when needed.
Digestive System Support – A stomach cramp is inconvenient for any of us, but it can be devastating to an athlete during competition. CBD has been shown to support digestive health, normalize appetite, and even improve mood through a fully supported digestive system.
Sleep – Sleep is important to all of us. However, sleep is essential to an athlete as it gives their body the time it needs to recover from training or competition. CBD has been shown to relax the body and encourage the ability to fall asleep and sleep soundly throughout the night.
Supports the Body’s Natural Systems – The human endocannabinoid system (ECS) is one of the main bodily functions of maintaining homeostasis throughout the body. CBD is a phytocannabinoid found in the cannabis plant, which has been known to support and even enhance the functioning of the body’s endocannabinoid system.
Increased Recovery Speed – The speed at which an athlete is able to recover from an exercise, competition, or injury is critical. Many athletes use CBD to increase the speed of that recovery.
Which Combat Athletes Do You Sponsor?
We currently proudly sponsor the following athletes:
Tanner Saraceno – Professional MMA Fighter
Joel Madak – Professional MMA Fighter
Brandon Glanton – Professional Boxer
Are the Fight Doctors Really Doctors?
Yes, we are. The founders of our organization and staff include neurosurgeons, surgeons, anesthesiologists, and physicians of obstetrics and gynecology. Our passion for medicine and taking care of our patients is what has led us to create this company with the aim of taking care of combat sports fighters.
What Kind of Doctors Are You?
We have a range of physicians from several disciplines.
Dr. Christopher Chittum – Neurosurgeon and founding member of Fight Doctors
Dr. Mark Kaitner – Anesthesiologist
Dr. Ari Kramer – Surgeon and founding member of Fight Doctors
Dr. Bobby Pereyo – Physician of obstetrics and gynecology
Dr. Tony Sanchez – Orthopaedic Surgeon
Dr. Timothy Monroe – Neurosurgeon
Do You Offer Wholesale?
Yes. We offer wholesale on bulk shipments. See our website for more details.
Are Your Products Legal?
Yes. All of our products are legal on a federal level.
In 2018, the Agricultural Improvement Act (commonly known as The Farm Bill of 2018) was signed into law. This Act made all hemp products legal for sale and consumption on a federal level, as long as those products are derived from hemp and not marijuana, and that the THC content of those products is not above 0.3% by dry weight. This legalization gave birth to the CBD and Delta 8 THC products we know today because those products are derived from hemp. CBD is legal because it meets all of the requirements of The Farm Bill.
However, states have the ability to either follow the federal laws and guidelines on a particular substance or create their own. So far, all of the states in the U.S. follow the legal status of CBD set by the federal government. However, a few states like Idaho will only allow CBD if it is THC-free. In addition, states like Iowa will only allow CBD for patients who qualify for the state’s medical-marijuana program.
Delta 8 THC also has some challenges on a state level. The wording of The Farm Bill specifies that the THC content cannot be more than 0.3% THC. The THC they refer to in the Bill is Delta 9 THC. This is the THC molecule found in high levels in marijuana that famously creates an intoxicating effect in the user. Because of the wording of The Farm Bill, Delta 8 THC is placed in the same category as CBD and is therefore federally legal.
However, once again, states have the ability to follow federal guidelines or not. In the case of Delta 8 THC, 17 states have made it illegal or restricted to sell or use within their borders. Although flawed, their reasoning is that because Delta 8 THC must be created by converting CBD and other cannabinoids into Delta 8 THC, it doesn’t fall under the protection of The Farm Bill of 2018. A handful of other states are reviewing the legality, so it is advised to check the laws in your state before purchasing or using Delta 8 THC products.
Delta 8 THC is currently banned or restricted in Washington, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, Michigan, New York, Vermont, Rhode Island, Delaware, Utah, Colorado, Arizona, Alaska, Arkansas, Mississippi, Iowa, and Kentucky. In addition, as of July 18, 2021, legislation is pending in Oregon, Illinois, Oklahoma, and Alabama.
What Is the Difference between Delta 8 THC and Delta 9 THC?
Both Delta 8 and Delta 9 THC are cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant. While these two cannabinoids are molecularly similar, they interact differently with the human endocannabinoid system and produce dissimilar results.
Delta 9 THC is found in abundance in the marijuana family of the cannabis plant. This is the THC molecule well known for creating the feeling of being high in the user. Delta 9 THC has also been known to cause side effects such as paranoia and anxiousness after prolonged use.
Delta 8 THC is found in far lower levels in the cannabis plant and must be created by converting CBD isolate into Delta 8 THC to be economically viable. This cannabinoid does produce a psychotropic effect in the user, but it is far less than with Delta 9 THC. Users of Delta 8 THC report that this intoxicating effect is more of an overall feeling of wellbeing throughout the body than the head high experienced with Delta 9 THC. Users also claim they do not suffer the same side effects as with Delta 9 THC.
