Cannabis oil from marijuana is having success treating COPD

COPD

“COPD is the often used term for “Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease,” a rather clumsy and vague description for most of us. It includes a few different lung issues, such as emphysema, bronchiectasis and chronic bronchitis. The scary part is that it’s a mystery to our pharmaceutical-dependent medical system. And it gets progressively worse, often leading to death.

It’s third in disease death rates, behind only heart disease and cancer. COPD creates constricted airways in one’s lungs or renders small lung sacks inelastic and unable to fully accommodate breathing cycles; thus, there is obstruction.

COPD symptoms include some or all of the following: losing one’s breath with minor activity, chronic coughing, increased sputum, chest tightness or pain with difficulty breathing, increased lung infections and fatigue. It has been observed to have four stages. Many of those lugging oxygen canisters around are in the last two stages.

The pharmaceuticals prescribed for treating symptoms often have side effects that cause more problems. Big Pharma is still fishing for cures, while COPD diagnoses rates continue rising in our toxic environment.

Medical marijuana to the rescue once again

The treatment situation is so bleak and harmful with mainstream medicine that those desperate to breathe normally and cough up less mucus have desperately turned to medical marijuana for at least some relief without negative side effects.

Smoking marijuana cigarettes is shunned for obvious reasons, but many claim that vaping, or using a vaporizer to inhale cannabis, is useful for COPD without exacerbating the lungs’ inflammatory condition.

But better results have been achieved by ingesting cannabis, especially the potent, highly condensed oil extract that Rick Simpson pioneered in Canada and now in Eastern Europe. Many medical marijuana advocates, especially those in medical-cannabis-friendly states, have learned to make the oil and provide it to those in need.

Most of the cannabis treatment publicity has gone toward cancer, Crohn’s disease, chronic epileptic seizures and glaucoma. Even Parkinson’s disease and multiple sclerosis victims have experienced positive results from various cannabis products with THC applications.

Pharmaceutical-dependent mainstream medicine hasn’t been able to cure any of these diseases or even alleviate symptoms without creating complications, some fatal.

More COPD patients have hopped on the cannabis cure bandwagon with positive results lately. These results include folks with late-stage COPD and severe emphysema.

An anecdotal sampling

At the relatively young age of 36, Jeff Waters was diagnosed with COPD. Eight years later he had to be rushed to an ER during another bout with bronchitis.

Lung scarring was discovered, and his condition was raised to stage 2 COPD. While prescribing several pharmaceuticals, the doctor told him that it would continue to get worse and eventually kill him.

Jeff did continue to get worse. He was unable to climb a flight of stairs and he wound up with stage 3 COPD and an oxygen canister to prove it. Showering and shaving without his oxygen supply turned out to be almost too arduous of a task.

Then an allergic reaction to a prescribed high blood pressure medication put him on life support in ICU with severe pneumonia for a month. After his recovery, he resolved to handle his COPD without mainstream medical interventions.

Jeff found COPD sufferers online who had resolved their COPD issues with cannabis oil. He networked with them and found his own sources for cannabis oil.

After only two months of using the oil, Jeff went off oxygen and all the pharmaceuticals he had been prescribed. He now walks two to five miles daily and claims that cannabis oil has allowed him “to get his life back.””

http://www.naturalnews.com/044664_cannabis_oil_copd_marijuana.html

http://www.thctotalhealthcare.com/category/copd-chronic-obstructive-pulmonary-disease/

Smoking Marijuana Relieves Symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis in Patients, with Minor Cognitive Effects

marijuana

“Smoking marijuana has been shown to relieve muscle tightness, called spasticity, and painful symptoms in patients with multiple sclerosis, who have been resistant to conventional MS therapies, according to a new study.

“We found that smoked cannabis was superior to placebo in reducing symptoms and pain in patients with treatment-resistant spasticity, or excessive muscle contractions,” Researcher Dr. Jody Corey-Bloom, director of the University of California, San Diego Multiple Sclerosis Center said in a journal news release.”

http://www.medicaldaily.com/smoking-marijuana-relieves-symptoms-multiple-sclerosis-patients-minor-cognitive-effects-240433

“Smoked cannabis for spasticity in multiple sclerosis: a randomized, placebo-controlled trial.” http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3394820/

http://www.thctotalhealthcare.com/category/multiple-sclerosis-ms/

Marijuana Helps Relieve MS Pain

“Researchers from the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine have found that smoking marijuana can help relieve pain, and muscle tightness “spasticity” in individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS). The study is published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ).”

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/245430.php

“Smoked cannabis for spasticity in multiple sclerosis: a randomized, placebo-controlled trial.” http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3394820/

Marijuana can treat autoimmune diseases, scientific study states

“Weed enthusiasts are getting their case for nationwide decriminalization of marijuana bolstered considerably by a new scientific study that promises the controversial plant can treat multiple medical maladies.

Scientists at the University of South Carolina have discovered marijuana’s potential to treat autoimmune diseases — such as arthritis, lupus, colitis and multiple sclerosis — in which chronic inflammation plays a pivotal role.

The Journal of Biological Chemistry published the researchers’ findings that state marijuana’s potential key role in fighting these diseases lies in its capacity to suppress certain immune functions, most particularly inflammation.

The study examined whether marijuana’s main active constituent, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), could affect DNA through “epigenetic” pathways.

The group of molecules with the capacity to alter DNA and the functioning of genes it controls is collectively referred to as the epigenome. It includes a group of molecules called histones, which are responsible for inflammation, both beneficial and harmful.

The research team, led by Mitzi Nagarkatti, Prakash Nagarkatti and Xiaoming Yang, found that THC can, indeed, affect DNA expression through epigenetic pathways by altering histones.

As recreational and medical use of marijuana become more acceptable in developed countries, more research is being conducted and more potential health applications are being uncovered.

Marijuana already has a variety of medical uses including treatment of chronic pain, nausea, vomiting and the wasting syndrome experienced by some AIDS patients.”

http://atlantadailyworld.com/2014/06/05/marijuana-can-treat-autoimmune-diseases-scientific-study-states/

Marijuana could treat autoimmune diseases: study

“The drug has potential to work on chronic inflammation, found in disease like arthritis, lupus, colitis and MS. It may work by suppressing immune functions.

 New findings suggest marijuana’s potential key role in fighting autoimmune diseases lies in its capacity to suppress certain immune functions, notably inflammation.

Building the case for the most widely used illicit drug in developed countries, researchers from the University of South Carolina have discovered marijuana’s potential to treat autoimmune diseases in which chronic inflammation plays a pivotal role.”

http://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/health/marijuana-treat-autoimmune-diseases-study-article-1.1816609

More Evidence Pot Treats Auto-Immune Diseases

“Researchers at the University of South Carolina have another clue as to why patients with auto-immune diseases like multiple sclerosis, psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritisCrohn’s and celiac disease sometimes respond to medical marijuana therapies, according to Science World Reports.

The main active ingredient in pot, THC, regulates gene expression in immune cells, effectively switching off runaway inflammation at the DNA level.

The researchers used mice cells in vivo and the results suggest that “THC activates the expression of a subset of genes while suppressing the expression of another subset of genes.” The net result is less inflammatory response, which can severely damage and kill cells.

Autoimmune diseases involve an abnormal immune response of the body, causing immune cells to attack healthy cells instead of pathogens. Autoimmune diseases — a collection of about 80 diseases — are the 10th leading cause of death of women in all age groups up to 65 years old.

Despite the safety and efficacy of medical cannabis, providers remain under attack across America. California senators Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein currently support the war on pot patients and providers. The Drug Policy Alliance has started a new campaign today to help citizens lobby Senators to defund the war on medical marijuana.”

http://www.eastbayexpress.com/LegalizationNation/archives/2014/06/03/more-evidence-pot-treats-auto-immune-diseases

Autoimmune Diseases Could be Treated With Medical Marijuana

More findings of the medical benefits of marijuana could result in a universal legalization of the drug.

“Researchers at the University of South Carolina conducted a study that analyzed the effects of THC in marijuana on patients with autoimmune diseases because the drug has previously shown to have an immunomodulatory activity.

Immunomodulatory means something is capable of modifying or regulating one or more immune functions, or can provide an immunologic adjustment, regulation, or potentiation. In this study’s case, the researchers found that the application of marijuana has the ability to suppress an immune response to treat autoimmune diseases, such as arthritis, lupus, colitis, multiple sclerosis, and others.”

http://www.scienceworldreport.com/articles/15145/20140603/autoimmune-diseases-treated-medical-marijuana.htm

Marijuana’s potential for treating autoimmune disorders

“A new study provides evidence that THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), a principal ingredient in marijuana, may be beneficial in treating those with autoimmune disorders.

The study is the first to explore how tiny, yet powerful molecules called microRNAs are influenced by THC. The ability to alter microRNA expression could hold the key to successful treatments for a whole host of autoimmune diseases, including arthritis and multiple sclerosis.”

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/11/131125121712.htm

Marijuana shows potential in treating autoimmune disease

“A team of University of South Carolina researchers led by Mitzi Nagarkatti, Prakash Nagarkatti and Xiaoming Yang have discovered a novel pathway through which marijuana’s main active constituent, THC, can suppress the body’s immune functions…

Marijuana is now regularly and successfully used to alleviate the nausea and vomiting many cancer patients experience as side effects to chemotherapy, combat the wasting syndrome that causes some AIDS patients to lose significant amounts of weight and muscle mass and ease chronic pain that is unresponsive to opioids, among other applications.

The university study has uncovered yet another potential application for marijuana, in the suppression of immune response to treat autoimmune diseases.”

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/06/140602150914.htm

Cannabis a Potential Treatment for Autoimmune Diseases, Study Finds

Cannabis found Drakelow in Kidderminster PIC: Reuters

“Cannabis has the potential to be used as a treatment for autoimmune diseases including lupus,colitis, multiple sclerosis and arthritis, scientists have said.

Marijuana is becoming increasingly accepted for its medical benefits, with a number of states in the US legitimising the drug for health purposes.

It is used to alleviate the side effects of chemotherapy including nausea and vomiting, as well as stopping Aids patients from losing weight, muscle mass and easing chronic pain.”

http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/cannabis-potential-treatment-autoimmune-diseases-study-finds-1451022