Tag Archives: medicinal

Cannabis Finds Its Way into Treatment of Crohn’s Disease.

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“In ancient medicine, cannabis has been widely used to cure disturbances and inflammation of the bowel. A recent clinical study now shows that the medicinal plant Cannabis sativa has lived up to expectations and proved to be highly efficient in cases of inflammatory bowel diseases.

In a prospective placebo-controlled study, it has been shown what has been largely anticipated from anecdotal reports, i.e. that cannabis produces significant clinical benefits in patients with Crohn’s disease. The mechanisms involved are not yet clear but most likely include peripheral actions on cannabinoid receptors 1 and 2, and may also include central actions.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24356243

“In their prospective study, Naftali et al. used THC-free Cannabis as placebo with no other cannabinoids present. However, we should consider that also other ingredients of Cannabis, such as cannabidiol, cannabigerol, and tetrahydrocannabivarine (THCV), all of them non-psychotropic components of Cannabis, have proven antiinflammatory effects in experimental intestinal inflammation. Their actions partly involve non-CB receptor mechanisms via, for instance, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPAR) and transient receptor potential cation channels subfamily V receptors (TRPV) and should be regarded as additive beneficial effects of Cannabis in the improvement of colitis in addition to THC-mediated effects.

 …an 8-week treatment with THC-rich Cannabis caused a decrease of the Crohn’s disease activity index (CDAI) in 90% of patients without producing significant side effects…

In summary, in agreement with the ancient use of Cannabis in intestinal disturbances and one decade of animal research, Cannabis was shown in a clinical trial to reduce symptoms in patients with CD. This elegant translation should be followed by larger trials confirming these results and by trials establishing the involved mechanisms to open a promising direction for future treatment of IBD.”

Full-text: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4076530/

A controlled family study of cannabis users with and without psychosis.

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“Several studies suggest a link between adolescent cannabis use and schizophrenia. An understanding of this link would have significant implications for legalization of cannabis and its medicinal value. The present study aims to determine whether familial morbid risk for schizophrenia is the crucial factor that underlies the association of adolescent cannabis use with the development of schizophrenia…

There was no significant difference in morbid risk for schizophrenia between relatives of the patients who use or do not use cannabis.

 

CONCLUSIONS: The results of the current study suggest that having an increased familial morbid risk for schizophrenia may be the underlying basis for schizophrenia in cannabis users and not cannabis use by itself.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24309013

Breast Cancer Patients Helped With Marijuana

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breast cancer

“Marijuana has become more widely studied recently for its medicinal properties, but the area is no longer limited to people suffering from pain, nausea, vomiting, anxiety, sleeplessness or disease-induced anorexia. It has now been discovered that breast cancer patients are helped with marijuana through direct anticancer actions that the cannabis species is able to provide.”

More: http://guardianlv.com/2013/12/breast-cancer-patients-helped-with-marijuana/

The oral administration of trans-caryophyllene attenuates acute and chronic pain in mice.

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“Trans-caryophyllene is a sesquiterpene present in many medicinal plants’ essential oils, such as Ocimum gratissimum and Cannabis sativa. In this study, we evaluated the antinociceptive activity of trans-caryophyllene in murine models of acute and chronic pain and the involvement of trans-caryophyllene in the opioid and endocannabinoid systems…

 These results demonstrate that trans-caryophyllene reduced both acute and chronic pain in mice, which may be mediated through the opioid and endocannabinoid systems.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24055516

Around-the-clock oral THC effects on sleep in male chronic daily cannabis smokers.

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“Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) promotes sleep in animals; clinical use of THC is associated with somnolence (sleepiness)…

These findings suggest that tolerance to the somnolent effects of THC may have occurred…

Somnolence from oral THC may dissipate with chronic, high-dose use.

This has implications for patients who may take chronic oral THC for medicinal purposes, including cannabis dependence treatment.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23952899

Marijuana cannabinoids found to help combat autism

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cannabinoids

“(NaturalNews) The cannabinoid compounds naturally found in many varieties of cannabis, also known more commonly as marijuana, may help children with autism spectrum disorders experience dramatic behavioral improvements, and potentially even full recovery from their symptoms. These are the findings of a new study published in the journal Nature Communications that help reinforce the growing body of evidence which shows that medicinal cannabinoids hold incredible potential in both treating and potentially curing chronic illness…
 

Can non-psychoactive cannabinoid compounds actually cure chronic illness?

Though the researchers were quick to deny that cannabinoids hold any potential at actually curing autism, which more than likely was a politically-motivated denial rather than a factual admission, other research and actual case studies suggest that cannabinoid compounds are, indeed, powerful enough to mitigate many or all of the symptoms associated with autism, as well as many other diseases.”

 

Medical Marijuana is Being Used to Successfully Treat the Symptoms of Lupus in Patients

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“Cannabis is considered an ideal medication to help Lupus patients cope with the symptoms of the disorder like nausea and pain. It’s also known to be an anti-inflammatory, suppressing certain parts of the immune system.”

“By lowering the levels of the inflammation-promoting protein interleukin-2, and raising levels of the anti-inflammatory protein interleukin-10, cannabis shows that it may be beneficial for treating autoimmune disorders where inflammation is the main complication.”

“There is no doubt that cannabis has some medicinal benefits, and helps patients to cope with symptoms of Lupus. On the contrary, medical cannabis is only legal in a number of states. The naturally grown “drug” remains illegal on a federal level, so one should consider the law and its consequences before deciding to self-medicate. Even if you live in a state where cannabis is legal medicinally, always consult your doctor before using cannabis to treat your condition.”

More Helpful Medical Marijuana & Lupus Resources:

  • http://www.mcsocal.com/blog/plaquenil-rheumatoid-arthritis-lupus-and-marijuana-cannabis
  • http://cure4lupus.org/store/index.php?main_page=page&id=164&chapter=1
  • http://www.thelupussite.com/
  • http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/info/lupus/
  • http://www.lupus.org/newsite/index.html
  • http://lupus.webmd.com/news/20030415/cannabis-may-suppress-immune-system
  • http://www.webmd.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/features/autoimmune-disease-and-ra
  • http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/lupus/DS00115/DSECTION=alternative-medicine

More: http://www.medicaljane.com/2013/01/07/lupus-and-medical-marijuana/

Medicinal Cannabis Does Not Influence the Clinical Pharmacokinetics of Irinotecan and Docetaxel

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“For the past 4,000 years, patients and doctors of each era have resorted to cannabis when conventional treatments were ineffective or lacking. Indeed, in oncology beneficial effects have been reported for cancer-associated anorexia, chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, and palliation…

The only U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved medicinal cannabis products are an oral formulation containing dronabinol (Marinol®)… the synthetic version of delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main pharmacologically active cannabinoid, and capsules containing nabilone, an analog of dronabinol (Cesamet®)…

…many patients claim (subjectively) that a whole or partially purified extract of Cannabis sativa L. offers advantages over a single isolated ingredient…

We anticipated an increased use of medicinal cannabis concurrent with anticancer drugs, and undertook a drug-interaction study to evaluate the effect of concomitant medicinal cannabis on the pharmacokinetics of irinotecan and docetaxel…

Conclusion. Coadministration of medicinal cannabis, as herbal tea, in cancer patients treated with irinotecan or docetaxel does not significantly influence the plasma pharmacokinetics of these drugs. The evaluated variety of medicinal cannabis can be administered concomitantly with both anticancer agents without dose adjustments.”

Full text: http://theoncologist.alphamedpress.org/content/12/3/291.long

Marijuana for migraines – USAToday

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“Does marijuana have medicinal value for migraine headaches and other maladies?

“There is no question that cannabis is beneficial medicinally,” Bearman says. With migraines, “some people say it makes the pain go completely away or can prevent migraines from coming on. Others say it lessens the pain and allows them to focus on other things to get their work done.”

What cannabis does to alleviate migraines is complicated and not completely understood. “But it works on serotonin and dopamine receptors, and has anti-inflammatory activity,” says Russo, who is just finishing a paper for the Journal of Cannabis Therapeutics.

“Basically, it is a multi-modality agent that works on various aspects of migraine in a way that’s really unique. And it’s not just the THC — tetrahydrocannabinol, the psychoactive chemical — that does it. It appears now that it’s the result of the interaction of a combination of other cannabinoids and also the essential oils in the plant.”

Unlike most headache medications, cannabis is unique in that it works as both a preventive agent and an analgesic. “At any point in the migraine, they could use cannabis by smoking, vaporizer, etc., and about 80% of these people get significant or total relief,” he says. “And, if someone has a chronic migraine, daily use in whatever form will often lead to a complete remission.””

http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/health/doctor/lhdoc227.htm

Marijuana May Be Legitimate Treatment for Alzheimer’s Disease, Report Says

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“Researchers at the Roskamp Institute in Florida recently published a study in the journal Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience revealing that cannabinoids could delay the effects of Alzheimer’s disease, and could quite plausibly terminate the disease entirely.”

medical marijuana alzheimers Marijuana May Be Legitimate Treatment for Alzheimers Disease, Report Says

“Corbin Bachmeier, Ph.D, lead researcher of the study, declared that Alzheimer’s disease is “the result of impaired Aβ [Amyloid-β protein] clearance from the brain”. According to this particular study, cannabinoids can resolve this problem, which makes it a prospective treatment.

Bachmeier’s examination determined that “modulation of the cannabinoid system was shown to reduce Aβ [Amyloid-β protein] brain levels and improve cognitive behavior in Alzheimer’s disease animal models.”

The study’s abstract states that the objective of the study was to “investigate the role of the cannabinoid system in the clearance of Aβ across the blood–brain barrier (BBB).”

For the first time in recorded history, the study in question establishes that the cannabinoid system does indeed play a role in the transit of Amyloid-β protein across the blood-brain barrier.

Bachmeier concluded that his discoveries “provide insight into the mechanism by which cannabinoid treatment reduces Aβ [Amyloid-β protein] burden in the AD [Alzheimer’s disease] brain and offer additional evidence on the utility of this pathway as a treatment for AD.”

This is good news for individuals suffering with this specific ailment and for their loved ones. Cannabinoids seem to be boundless in respect to the medicinal benefits they have to offer.”

http://ivn.us/2013/07/24/marijuana-may-be-legitimate-treatment-for-alzheimers-disease-report-says/