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Medical cannabis effective painkiller
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Category Archives: Pain
Medical Marijuana Helps Cure Chronic Disease
“The medicinal power of Marijuana is well documented throughtout history
Back in 2700 BC, According to Chinese lore, the Emperor Shen Nung, considered the Father of Chinese medicine, in 2700 BC ,discovered the healing properties of Marijuana as well as Ginseng and Ephedra.
Throughout recorded history, the use of Medical Marijuana has been linked to the ancient Egyptians, Persians, Greek civilizations, George Washington, Queen Victoria and even mainstream medicine by the 1840s.
From the 1850s to Y 1942, Marijuana was listed in the United States Pharmacopeia, an official public standards-setting authority for all prescription and over-the counter medicines, as a treatment for tetanus, cholera, rabies, dysentery, alcoholism, opiate addiction, convulsive disorders, insanity, excessive menstrual bleeding and many other health problems. My father was a Dental doctor and had a license to dispense the drug, pharmacies carried it back then.
During that same time frame prohibition gained popularity, that along with a growing “faith” in federal government.
By Y 1937, the United States passed its 1st federal law against Marijuana despite objections by the American Medical Association (AMA).
In fact, Dr. William C. Woodward, testifying on behalf of the AMA, told the US Congress:
“The American Medical Association knows of no evidence that Marijuana is a dangerous drug.”
He warned that a prohibition “loses sight of the fact that future investigation may show that there are substantial medical uses for Cannabis.”
Today, we see a growing trend of acceptance of Marijuana for its medicinal purposes.
Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN’s chief medical correspondent, reversed his Y 2009 opinion against Marijuana when he said, “We have been terribly and systematically misled for nearly 70 yrs in the United States, and I apologize for my own role in that.”
Now people including lawmakers are seeing the legalization of Marijuana in states like Colorado and Washington for “recreational” purposes. Most Americans are in favor of Medical Marijuana, and the legalization of this drug.
The Big Q: why does the federal government want to ban its usage?
The Big A: it is all about control and money, and there is a major market for it, plus it poses a major threat to the pharmaceutical industry.
Below are just a few of the many health benefits associated with Medical Marijuana:
1. It can stop HIV from spreading throughout the body.
2. It slows the progression of Alzheimer’s.
3. It slows the spread of cancer cells.
4. It is an active pain reliever.
5. It can prevent or help with opiate addiction.
6. It combats depression, anxiety and ADHD.
7. It can treat epilepsy and Tourette’s.
8. It can help with other neurological damage, such as concussions and strokes.
9. It can prevent blindness from glaucoma.
10. Its connected to lower insulin levels in diabetics.
Contrary to popular notions, many patients experience health benefits from Medical Marijuana without “getting stoned.””
http://www.livetradingnews.com/medical-marijuana-helps-cure-chronic-disease-55569.htm#.U6VjgZRX-uY
Role of ionotropic cannabinoid receptors in peripheral antinociception and antihyperalgesia
“Although cannabinoids have been used for millennia for treating pain and other symptoms, their mechanisms of action remain obscure.
With the heralded identification of multiple G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) mediating cannabinoid effects nearly two decades ago, the mystery of cannabinoid pharmacology was thought to be solved…
Despite the wealth of information on cannabinoid-induced peripheral antihyperalgesic and antinociceptive effects in many pain models, the molecular mechanism(s) for these actions remains unknown.
Although metabotropic cannabinoid receptors have important roles in many pharmacological actions of cannabinoids, recent studies have led to the recognition of a family of at least five ionotropic cannabinoid receptors (ICRs). The known ICRs are members of the family of transient receptor potential (TRP) channels and include TRPV1, TRPV2, TRPV4, TRPM8 and TRPA1.
Cannabinoid activation of ICRs can result in desensitization of the TRPA1 and TRPV1 channel activities, inhibition of nociceptors and antihyperalgesia and antinociception in certain pain models.
Thus, cannabinoids activate both metabotropic and ionotropic mechanisms to produce peripheral analgesic effects.”
Activation through cannabinoid receptors 1 and 2 on dendritic cells triggers NF-kappaB-dependent apoptosis: novel role for endogenous and exogenous cannabinoids in immunoregulation.
“Cannabinoids are compounds derived from the Cannabis sativa (marijuana) plant, as well as produced endogenously in the brain and by immune cells. Cannabinoids mediate their effect through cannabinoid receptors (CB), designated CB1 and CB2, which belong to a superfamily of G-protein-coupled receptors.
CB1 receptors are expressed at high levels in CNS, where they regulate psychoactivity. CB1 receptors are also expressed on immune cells. In contrast, the CB2 receptors are primarily expressed on immune cells and do not contribute to the psychoactivity. The presence of endogenous CB-ligand systems in immune cells suggests that they may play a critical physiological role, the precise nature of which remains to be characterized.
Cannabinoids can decrease the immune response… Cannabinoids have also been widely used in the treatment of pain and inflammation.
Moreover, preliminary studies have shown the possible use of cannabinoids in the treatment of autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis.
Recent studies from our lab demonstrated that Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) can trigger apoptosis in vivo in thymocytes and splenocytes, which may account for immunosuppression.
We demonstrate for the first time that THC and endocannabinoids such as anandamide can induce apoptosis in DCs through activation of CB1 and CB2 receptors.
These studies provide the basis for understanding the mechanism by which THC triggers immunosuppression and mediates anti-inflammatory properties.
Many studies have suggested the use of THC or related cannabinoids in the treatment of autoimmune diseases.”
The plant cannabinoid Delta9-tetrahydrocannabivarin can decrease signs of inflammation and inflammatory pain in mice.
“The phytocannabinoid, Delta(9)-tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV), can block cannabinoid CB(1) receptors… THCV can activate CB(2) receptors… THCV can activate CB2 receptors and decrease signs of inflammation and inflammatory pain in mice partly via CB1 and/or CB2 receptor activation…
Because there is evidence that THCV can behave as a CB1 receptor antagonist in vivo, it would also be of interest to explore the possibility that this compound can suppress unwanted symptoms in animal models of disorders in which symptoms can be ameliorated by a combination of CB2 receptor activation and CB1 receptor blockade…” http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2931567/
Cannabinoids in pain management: CB1, CB2 and non-classic receptor ligands.
“The available commercial cannabinoids have a narrow therapeutic index. Recently developed peripherally restricted cannabinoids, regionally administered cannabinoids, bifunctional cannabinoid ligands and cannabinoid enzyme inhibitors, endocannabinoids, which do not interact with classic cannabinoid receptors (CB1r and CB2r), cannabinoid receptor antagonists and selective CB1r agonists hold promise as analgesics…
Expert opinion: Regional and peripherally restricted cannabinoids will reduce cannabinomimetic side effects. Spinal cannabinoids may increase the therapeutic index by limiting the dose necessary for response and minimize drugs exposure to supraspinal sites where cannabinomimetic side effects originate. Cannabinoid bifunctional ligands should be further explored. The combination of a CB2r agonist with a transient receptor potential vanilloid (TRPV-1) antagonist may improve the therapeutic index of the CB2r agonist. Enzyme inhibitors plus TRPV-1 blockers should be further explored. The development of analgesic tolerance with enzyme inhibitors and the pronociceptive effects of prostamides limit the benefits to cannabinoid hydrolyzing enzyme inhibitors.
Most clinically productive development of cannabinoids over the next 5 years will be in the area of selective CB2r agonists. These agents will be tested in various inflammatory, osteoarthritis and neuropathic pains.”
[Tetrahydrocannabinol for treatment of chronic pain].
“Even in the last century cannabis was used in the treatment of chronic pain. The main active component of cannabis Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) has been increasingly used in the treatment of nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite and depression. It is also recommended in the treatment of chronic pain. We present our first experiences with THC in the treatment of patients with chronic pain.”
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11810357
Cannabis, pain, and sleep: lessons from therapeutic clinical trials of Sativex, a cannabis-based medicine.
“Cannabis sativa L. has been utilized for treatment of pain and sleep disorders since ancient times.
This review examines modern studies on effects of Delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) on sleep. It goes on to report new information on the effects on sleep in the context of medical treatment of neuropathic pain and symptoms of multiple sclerosis, employing standardized oromucosal cannabis-based medicines containing primarily THC, CBD, or a 1 : 1 combination of the two (Sativex).
Sleep-laboratory results indicate a mild activating effect of CBD, and slight residual sedation with THC-predominant extracts. Experience to date with Sativex in numerous Phase I-III studies in 2000 subjects with 1000 patient years of exposure demonstrate marked improvement in subjective sleep parameters in patients with a wide variety of pain conditions including multiple sclerosis, peripheral neuropathic pain, intractable cancer pain, and rheumatoid arthritis, with an acceptable adverse event profile.
No tolerance to the benefit of Sativex on pain or sleep, nor need for dosage increases have been noted in safety extension studies of up to four years, wherein 40-50% of subjects attained good or very good sleep quality, a key source of disability in chronic pain syndromes that may contribute to patients’ quality of life.”
Therapeutic benefits of cannabis: a patient survey.
“Clinical research regarding the therapeutic benefits of cannabis (“marijuana”) has been almost non-existent in the United States since cannabis was given Schedule I status in the Controlled Substances Act of 1970.
In order to discover the benefits and adverse effects perceived by medical cannabis patients, especially with regards to chronic pain, we hand-delivered surveys to one hundred consecutive patients who were returning for yearly re-certification for medical cannabis use in Hawai’i. The response rate was 94%. Mean and median ages were 49.3 and 51 years respectively. Ninety-seven per cent of respondents used cannabis primarily for chronic pain. Average pain improvement on a 0-10 pain scale was 5.0 (from 7.8 to 2.8), which translates to a 64% relative decrease in average pain. Half of all respondents also noted relief from stress/anxiety, and nearly half (45%) reported relief from insomnia. Most patients (71%) reported no adverse effects, while 6% reported a cough or throat irritation and 5% feared arrest even though medical cannabis is legal in Hawai’i.
No serious adverse effects were reported.
These results suggest that Cannabis is an extremely safe and effective medication for many chronic pain patients. Cannabis appears to alleviate pain, insomnia, and may be helpful in relieving anxiety.
Cannabis has shown extreme promise in the treatment of numerous medical problems and deserves to be released from the current Schedule I federal prohibition against research and prescription.”
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24765558
Full text: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3998228/
Therapeutic Satisfaction and Subjective Effects of Different Strains of Pharmaceutical-Grade Cannabis.
“The aims of this study are to assess the therapeutic satisfaction within a group of patients using prescribed pharmaceutical-grade cannabis and to compare the subjective effects among the available strains with special focus on their delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol content…
One hundred two patients were included; their average age was 53 years and 76% used it for more than a year preceding this study. Chronic pain (53%; n = 54) was the most common medical indication for using cannabis followed by multiple sclerosis (23%; n = 23), and 86% (n = 88) of patients (almost) always experienced therapeutic satisfaction when using pharmaceutical cannabis.
These results show that patients report therapeutic satisfaction with pharmaceutical cannabis, mainly pain alleviation. Some subjective effects were found to differ among the available strains of cannabis, which is discussed in relation to their different tetrahydrocannabinol/cannabidiol content. These results may aid in further research and critical appraisal for medicinally prescribed cannabis products.”