Hi, I’m Lea: Vegan, plant-based recipe developer, and medical cannabis enthusiast.
I use whole, plant-based food and medicine to treat chronic pain, and this is where I document my journey.
In 2016, while at the peak of my physical fitness, I mysteriously tore several tendons in my hips, wrists, hands, neck and feet by doing simple things: Yoga, driving my car, turning the page of a book, and putting on a shoe.
After many failed tests left doctors shrugging their shoulders, a kind and observant physical therapist cracked the case. Turns out, I was the one in approximately 10,000 people in the United States suffering from a series of chronic disorders on the Hypermobility Spectrum.
These conditions are nutritiously difficult to diagnose, but as of this writing, doctors have labeled me as having Hypermobility Spectrum Disorder with high probability of Ehler’s Danlos Syndrome – a genetic connective tissue disorder identified by predisposition towards abnormal collagen production. This causes severe laxity in the joints, skin, tendons, ligaments and other tissues. (i.e., I’m too stretchy, which causes my tissues to be very fragile and tear easily if I don’t take really, really good care of myself).
That was four years ago, and life will never be the same. I now experience a plethora of chronic symptoms, but I don’t let it get in the way of my health, fitness, and desire to be the best possible version of myself – and this is largely (if not entirely) due to the help of a whole foods plant-based diet, daily gentle exercise, and medical cannabis.
I created this blog as a way to document my journey, share, and connect. Here, you’ll find everything from healthy vegan recipes and product reviews to interviews with professionals and experts in the cannabis space. I speak openly and honestly with hopes to shed light into the dark corners we tend to avoid asking about when dealing with chronic pain: Sex, the stigma around using natural medicines, coping with anxiety and depression, and the daily internal struggle of how to move forward when life throws a wrench in your plans.
Full disclosure: I’m not a medical professional. I’m just a vegan medical cannabis patient on a mission. Everything you find here is simply a culmination of things that have helped me in my tireless pursuit of wellness. But I hope that by sharing my experiences, I provide insight and inspiration for others who may be struggling with their health and still want to live their best lives. Maybe together, we can help one another reach our goals.
Welcome to my humble blog, friend. Join me at my table for a vegan treat, a strong cup of coffee, and a quirky, raw conversation around cannabis, cooking, and navigating the challenges of chronic pain.
Welcome, enjoy, and please let me know what you think!
♥ Namaste ♥
-Lea Marie
