We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Charlie Piermarini. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Charlie below.

Charlie, appreciate you joining us today. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

With many years of formal science and medical training, there was never once a mention of the Endocannabinoid System. So, while I was practicing Pain Management and witnessing patients using CBD and Cannabis products, I thought they just wanted to get high- not knowing the REAL science behind it. Like most medical professional my eduction was void of any training about Cannabis or our own Endocannabinoid System, so I didn’t know what I didn’t know.

It wasn’t until a specific encounter with a patient who had a stroke many years ago and was very limited in her communication and was suffering from chronic pain that my opinion changed. I had seen her every month for almost 2 years and most of the office visit was spent speaking with her adoring husband who was her caregiver and she would chime in a few words here or there, but there was no substantial conversations. I slowly noticed a change in her cognition and our conversations started to go from her one word answers to sentences and she was remembering details from our past conversations. After one of the visits I asked her husband what could have brought on this change and his answer was so simple, “We are using CBD oil.” Of course I was skeptical and asked what they really were using and he proceeded to tell me about the CBD oil and how they were taking it. I’ll never forget that I looked my patient in the eyes and she calmly spoke as clear as day, ” I know something is different and I feel better.” This was from a woman who spoke only a few words, and now has the ability to not only speak in sentences, but the self awareness that she seemed to be lacking.

It was after work that day that I went home and got on PubMed and searched Cannabis and CBD and behold there was thousands of articles about this Endocannabinoid System that I had never heard about and all of these documented reports about CBD and Cannabis helping with various aliments. I became obsessed with learning as much as possible about this system which lead to my creation of Restorative CBD and Restorative Cannabis Coaching. I wanted to be able to control the process and quality of the CBD products to ensure my customers were receiving quality products. I then received some formal Medical Cannabis training from a few institutions and started my Cannabis Coaching business because I witnessed a lot of people getting too high while using Cannabis and not utilizing it properly. I work with them on titrating up slowly and proper starting dosing to help manage their aliments.

The Cannabis and CBD world is growing so fast, but there is a lack of properly vetted CBD products and people peddling improper Cannabis use. My goal is to promote the safe use of Cannabis and CBD and help educate the public about how this amazing plant has some many healing properties. I authored my first book titled, ” What is CBD? CBD education from a medical professional” as a quick and concise way for people to understand what is CBD and how it works.

Charlie, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I graduated with my Master’s of Physiology and then obtained a dual Master’s of Physician Assistant Studies and Public Health. I have been a practicing Physician Assistant for 7 years and have practiced: Family Medicine, Pain Management, Urgent Care and Wellness. I was fortunate enough to work with Dr. Jyoti Patel as my first practice after graduating. She really instilled in me a blend of Western and Eastern medicine and to look at the patient as a whole. I had just graduated and passed my boards and was so excited to practice and use all the tools I had learned. But she would calmly ask me if had asked my patients about their sleep habits. their nutrition, supplements, mediation habits and I slowly realized medicine is about the whole patient.

I adopted this approach to medicine and utilize it every day while seeing patients. Western medicine is amazing for so many things, but it really lacks the whole patient approach and more and more providers are starting to realize this and seek out additional training.

Putting training and knowledge aside, what else do you think really matters in terms of succeeding in your field?

What has helped me be successful in my career is a combination of an unquenchable thrust for knowledge and genuinely caring for people. My wife will tell you that I am always looking something up, reading a new book or listening to a new podcast. I love expanding my knowledge about any subject, but usually it involves science medicine and entrepreneurship.

It may be cliche to say “Caring for people has helped me be successful”, but thats the truth. I see every patient and business interaction as if they are my family. I have seen some of my patients receive just such awful medical care because their providers are over worked, burnt out and a cog in the system. I think we need to get back to what medicine once was and actually care for our patients. It is slowly changing and patients are demanding more personalized care, but it also depends on the medical professionals to remember why we got into medicine in the first place.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

While in elementary school I was a late bloomer and had some difficulties with my reading and writing, to the point where the school wanted to hold me back a grade. My parents knew I just some extra attention and worked with me day in and day out for many years to give me the tools to succeed. I credit the love and support my parents gave me in my formidable years that helped to create such a strong foundation for hard work and success. I know with all of my heart that this set the stage and foundation for who I am today. With out my parents I love and support I wouldn’t have been able to achieve obtaining three Masters Degrees and starting multiple business.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.RestorativeCBD.com
• Instagram: @RestorativeCBD
• Facebook: Restorative CBD
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/charlie-piermarini-pa-c-mspas-ms-mph
• Youtube: /MedicallyAssistedCBD
• Other: www.RestorativeCannabisCoaching.com

Image Credits
Charles Piermarini