“Researchers said medical marijuana seems to be the only “alternative therapy” showing promise for helping those with multiple sclerosis.
Officials at Oregon Health and Science University said research shows therapies like massage and acupuncture aren’t as effective as medical marijuana.”
“The American Academy of Neurology has become one of the first medical organizations in the U.S. to endorse the use of medical marijuana.
In new guidelines published in the journal Neurology, the Academy said oral cannabis, medical marijuana pills and medical marijuana spray may help ease symptoms of muscle spasticity and frequent urination caused by multiple sclerosis (MS).”
“Controlled trial shows improved spasticity, reduced pain after smoking medical marijuana
A clinical study of 30 adult patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine has shown that smoked cannabis may be an effective treatment for spasticity – a common and disabling symptom of this neurological disease.”
“The “classic” endocannabinoid (eCB) system… An emerging literature documents the “eCB deficiency syndrome” as an etiology in migraine, fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome, psychological disorders, and other conditions. We performed a systematic review of clinical interventions that enhance the eCB system—ways to upregulate cannabinoid receptors, increase ligand synthesis, or inhibit ligand degradation.
Evidence indicates that several classes of pharmaceuticals upregulate the eCB system, including analgesics (acetaminophen, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, opioids, glucocorticoids), antidepressants, antipsychotics, anxiolytics, and anticonvulsants.
Clinical interventions characterized as “complementary and alternative medicine” also upregulate the eCB system: massage and manipulation, acupuncture, dietary supplements, and herbal medicines. Lifestyle modification (diet, weight control, exercise, and the use of psychoactive substances—alcohol, tobacco, coffee, cannabis) also modulate the eCB system.”
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3951193/#!po=4.79452
“Cannabis sativa has been cultivated throughout human history as a source of fiber, oil and food, and for its medicinal and intoxicating properties.
The availability of the Cannabis sativa genome enables the study of a multifunctional plant that occupies a unique role in human culture. Its availability will aid the development of therapeutic marijuana strains with tailored cannabinoid profiles and provide a basis for the breeding of hemp with improved agronomic characteristics.”
“The cannabis plant (Cannabis sativa L.) and products there of (such as marijuana, hashish and hash oil) have a long history of use both as a medicinal agent and intoxicant.
Over the last few years there have been an active debate regarding the medicinal aspects of cannabis.
This manuscript discusses the chemical constituents of the plant with particular emphasis on the cannabinoids…”
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16199061
“Δ(9)-Tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ(9)-THC), a major component of marijuana, has suggested to suppress atherosclerosis…. Δ(9)-THC seems to be attractive for the prevention of atherosclerosis…
In the present study, Δ(9)-THC was found to be a direct inhibitor for 15-LOX…
Furthermore, Δ(9)-THC-11-oic acid, a major and nonpsychoactive metabolite of Δ(9) -THC, but not another Δ(9)-THC metabolite 11-OH-Δ(9)-THC (psychoactive), was revealed to inhibit 15-LOX.
Taken together, it is suggested that Δ(9) -THC can abrogate atherosclerosis via direct inhibition of 15-LOX, and that Δ(9)-THC-11-oic acid is shown to be an “active metabolite” of Δ(9) -THC in this case.”
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20891010
“15-lipoxygenase inhibitors as anti-atherosclerosis agents.” http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/
“Cannabidiol (CBD), one of the major components of marijuana, is known to inhibit LOX activity…
15-LOX is suggested to be involved in development of atherosclerosis, and CBDD may be a useful prototype for producing medicines for atherosclerosis.”
http://dmd.aspetjournals.org/content/37/8/1733.long
“15-lipoxygenase inhibitors as anti-atherosclerosis agents.” http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/
“It is even more evidence of our need for the government to stop punishing patients for using this relatively safe and non-toxic treatment method … ”
“For years, many Americans with HIV/AIDS have used medical marijuana to relieve some common symptoms associated with the illness such as nausea, vomiting and appetite loss.
Now, a new study published last week in the journal AIDS Researcher and Human Retroviruses found that a daily dosage of marijuana’s psychoactive ingredient tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, may actually fight the HIV/AIDS virus itself.”
More: http://www.mintpressnews.com/hivaids-cure-may-be-found-in-marijuana-study/179398/
“Researchers are looking into the use of THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), the active ingredient in marijuana, to help stop the spread of HIV infection.
Hundreds of marijuana researchers have reported that THC was able to pierce the RIV virus in monkeys. That particular virus is almost identical to the HIV virus found in humans, so this news is very encouraging.
The greatest drawbacks to this excellent news are the current laws preventing testing on human candidates.
With the changing of these restrictive laws, HIV infections have a great chance of being cured, with cannabis as a real possible player in the race to stop the disease.”
More: http://guardianlv.com/2014/02/hiv-infections-cured-with-cannabis-a-real-possibility/