CBD and Collagen Supplements: The Wellness Wild West

7-29-2025

By Dr. Howard Friedman MD | Veteran | U.S. Army Medical Corps | Internal Medicine | HHOM LLC

CBD oils and collagen supplements line the shelves of today’s 'Wellness Wild West'—where promises are bold, but science often lags behind

They came in bottles, tinctures, creams—

With promises spun from golden dreams.

Relieve your pain, restore your glow—

Just one scoop and health will grow.

But truth gets lost in markets loud—

And science stands behind a cloud.

—Dr. Howard Friedman, MD

Introduction – The New Snake Oil Show

The wagons are gone. The pitchmen now wear lab coats on Instagram, selling “science-backed” miracles in pastel packaging. Collagen for youth. CBD for calm. Natural. Safe. Revolutionary. The wellness industry is booming with CBD and collagen supplements, marketed as natural, safe, and revolutionary—but are they really backed by science?

It feels convincing because we want it to be true. But the evidence? Paper thin. Real medicine moves slower, anchored to data and hard-won clinical proof. The wellness industry moves fast, fueled by testimonials, hype, and clever marketing that leaves facts choking in its dust.

This is the Wellness Wild West—a frontier where promises outpace proof, and hope sells better than truth. Out here, you need more than faith; you need a filter sharpened by physiology, not fantasy.

Section One – CBD: Belief Outrunning Biology

Among the most popular wellness fads, CBD and collagen supplements are sold as balms for stress, pain, sleep, inflammation, and mood. It’s in gummies, lattes, seltzers, lotions. It’s the modern cure-all.

But strip away the marketing, and you’re left with a single proven use: Epidiolex, an FDA-approved drug for rare childhood epilepsies. Beyond that? The research is spotty, inconsistent, often showing no measurable benefit. Dosage is a guessing game. Labels are unreliable. What you buy might not even contain what’s promised.

CBD isn’t inherently bad—but treating it like a magic bullet is. Without solid evidence, it’s belief dressed as biology. That’s the new snake oil: not a deliberate scam, but a blind leap over the canyon where science should be standing.

Section Two – Collagen: Selling Structure Without Science

Collagen is essential. It holds you together—skin, joints, bones. So when the industry promises you can swallow youth and strength in a powder scoop, it’s an easy sell. Here’s reality: once you digest it, collagen is broken down to amino acids—no different than what you’d get from chicken, beans, or fish. Your body decides how to use those building blocks; there’s no pipeline delivering them straight to your crow’s feet or aching knees.

The FDA doesn’t regulate supplements like drugs. No standardized dosing, no quality control, no long-term studies showing real benefit. What you’re left with is marketing magic, not medical truth.

Want strong collagen? Eat well. Mediterranean-style meals. Fruits, vegetables, healthy fats, lean proteins. Skip smoking, manage stress, avoid too much sun and processed junk. That’s what science supports—not a $50 jar of hope powder.

Section Three – The “Wellness Wild West”

In medicine, safety comes first. Evidence drives prescriptions. But step outside that protected circle and you’re in a lawless marketplace. Here, health products launch before proof, claims swell unchecked, and only lawsuits rein in the worst offenders.

Veterans especially are targeted—pain, sleeplessness, trauma are easy entry points for clever ads promising instant relief. But too often, these “solutions” are smoke in your lungs, untested potions in your gut, and dollars drained from your wallet while real healing remains untouched.

This isn’t about cynicism. It’s about self-defense. Out here, marketing has a gun on its hip, and medicine is often unarmed.

Conclusion – The Bottom Line

If a product truly delivered the miracles it promises, you wouldn’t need an influencer to tell you. Your doctor would be prescribing it, and the science would speak for itself. Before spending hard-earned money on CBD and collagen supplements, remember that true health comes from real, evidence-based choices, not hype.

Health isn’t found in a gummy bear, a powder, or a tincture with soft lighting and big claims. It’s built slowly, meal by meal, habit by habit, grounded in patience and real physiology.

The wellness industry profits from pain and uncertainty. Don’t hand over your health—or your money—to snake oil dressed in modern packaging. In the Wild West of wellness, discernment isn’t optional. It’s survival. Thank you for reading.

—Dr. Howard Friedman MD

Board-Certified | Internal Medicine | Veteran | U.S. Army Medical Corps

Founder of Howard’s House of Medicine (HHOM LLC)

https://www.hhomllc.com

Frequently Asked Questions:

Q: Do CBD products really work for pain and anxiety?

A: Some people report feeling relief, but outside of FDA-approved treatments for rare epilepsy, research on CBD is inconsistent and often inconclusive. Many over-the-counter products are mislabeled or under dosed, making their effectiveness uncertain. Real medicine requires proven results, not just testimonials.

Q: Can collagen supplements actually make my skin look younger?

A: There’s no solid scientific evidence that oral collagen directly firms skin or strengthens joints. Once digested, collagen is broken down just like any other protein, and your body decides where those amino acids are used. A balanced diet and healthy lifestyle remain the best way to support your skin and connective tissues naturally.

Q: How can I avoid wasting money on unproven wellness products?

A: Look for treatments backed by strong clinical evidence and recommended by qualified medical professionals. Be wary of vague promises, influencer marketing, or products claiming quick fixes for complex health problems. In the “Wellness Wild West,” skepticism is your strongest protection.