Tag Archives: medical

The Health Benefits of Medical Cannabis

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“Few people may know this but cannabis, or marijuana, had been popular as a remedy since ancient times.

It was in 2727 B.C. when there was the first record of its use in China. It was also familiar to ancient Greeks, Romans and people from the Middle East.

It was only during 1600 when cannabis use began to be regulated and restricted…

It was only recently that the public knew that cannabis has many benefits which were previously unknown to many people. Cannabis has been legalized in some states because it is non-toxic, can be moderately used by adults and has some beneficial effects on health.

Medical Cannabis

Medical cannabis is the term used to refer to the use of marijuana, cultivated with medical seeds, and other cannabinoid substances for treating health problems. Marijuana is a mixture of green, brown, crumpled and dried leaves from the marijuana plant. This mixture of leaves are rolled up and smoked like a cigar or cigarette or smoked through a pipe. It can also be mixed with food and eaten. Its mode of administration to the user includes vaporizing or smoking dried buds, consuming extracts and the ingestion of capsules. Synthetic cannabinoids are even available in some countries such as dronabinol and nabilone. While in some countries the recreational use of marijuana is illegal, in some countries its medical use is legal.”

http://www.doctortipster.com/19879-the-health-benefits-of-medical-cannabis.html

Cannabis (Medical Marijuana) Treatment for Motor and Non-Motor Symptoms of Parkinson Disease: An Open-Label Observational Study.

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“The use of cannabis as a therapeutic agent for various medical conditions has been well documented…The aim of the present open-label observational study was to assess the clinical effect of cannabis on motor and non-motor symptoms of Parkinson disease (PD).

Analysis of specific motor symptoms revealed significant improvement after treatment…

There was also significant improvement of sleep and pain scores. No significant adverse effects of the drug were observed.

The study suggests that cannabis might have a place in the therapeutic armamentarium of PD.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24614667

Efficacy and safety of medical cannabinoids in older subjects: a systematic review.

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“This systematic review aims to integrate the evidence on indications, efficacy, safety and pharmacokinetics of medical cannabinoids in older subjects…

Although trials studying medical cannabinoids included older subjects, there is a lack of evidence of its use specifically in older patients. Adequately powered trials are needed to assess the efficacy and safety of cannabinoids in older subjects, as the potential symptomatic benefit is especially attractive in this age group.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24509411

Anandamide in primary sensory neurons: too much of a good thing?

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“The quest for possible targets for the development of novel analgesics has identified the activation of the cannabinoid type 1 (CB1) receptor outside the CNS as a potential means of providing relief from persistent pain, which currently constitutes an unmet medical need.

Increasing tissue levels of the CB1 receptor endogenous ligand N-arachidonoylethanolamine (anandamide), by inhibiting anandamide degradation through blocking the anandamide-hydrolysing enzyme fatty acid amide hydrolase, has been suggested to be used to activate the CB1 receptor.

However, recent clinical trials revealed that this approach does not deliver the expected relief from pain. Here, we discuss one of the possible reasons, the activation of the transient receptor potential vanilloid type 1 ion channel (TRPV1) on nociceptive primary sensory neurons (PSNs) by anandamide, which may compromise the beneficial effects of increased tissue levels of anandamide.

We conclude that better design such as concomitant blocking of anandamide hydrolysis and anandamide uptake into PSNs, to inhibit TRPV1 activation, could overcome these problems.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24494681

Cannabinoids, eating behaviour, and energy homeostasis.

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“Soon after the discovery of cannabis by western societies, its psychotropic effects overshadowed its medical benefits. However, investigation into the molecular action of the main constituents of cannabis has led to the discovery of an intercellular signalling system, called the endocannabinoid system (ECS).

The ECS comprises a set of molecular components, including enzymes, signalling lipids and G-protein coupled receptors, which has an outstanding role in modulating eating behaviour and energy homeostasis. Interestingly, evidence has shown that the ECS is present at the central and peripheral nervous system, modulating the function of the hypothalamus, the brain reward system and the brainstem, and coordinating the crosstalk between these brain structures and peripheral organs.

Indeed, the ECS is present and functional in metabolically relevant peripheral tissues, directly modulating their physiology. In the context of a global obesity pandemic, these discoveries are highly suggestive in order to design novel pharmaceutical tools to fight obesity and related morbidities.

In fact, a cannabinoid-based first generation of drugs was developed and marketed. Their failure, due to central side-effects, is leading to a second generation of these drugs unable to cross the blood-brain barrier, as well as other ECS-focused strategies that are still in the pipeline. In the next few years we will hopefully know whether such an important player in energy homeostasis can be successfully targeted without significantly affecting other vital processes related to mood and sense of well-being.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24375977

Marijuana treatments for autoimmune disorders

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“Researchers from the University of South Carolina say that tetrahydrocannabinol, the principal constituent of marijuana, may have another medical use – treating those with autoimmune disorders.

Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is known to have analgesic effects so can be used to treat pain. It also aids relaxation and can reduce feelings of nausea and stimulate appetite…

Now, a new study, published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry, explores how analgesicmicroRNAs are influenced by THC.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small, single-stranded, non-coding RNAs that play a vital role in regulating gene expression. And the authors claim that the ability to alter miRNA expression may be the key to successful treatment for many autoimmune diseases, including multiple sclerosis, arthritis and type 1 diabetes.”

More: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/269432.php

Non-Hallucinogenic Cannabinoids Could Cure Cancer: Is A Cheap Anti-Cancer Drug On The Way?

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Non-Hallucinogenic Cannabinoids

“Studies that support marijuana’s medicinal properties are met with a great deal of skepticism due to cannabis’ hallucinogenic effects. Researchers from St. George’s University of London have isolated six non-hallucinogenic cannabinoids that could lead to the development of effective anti-cancer medication.

“This study is a critical step in unpicking the mysteries of cannabis as a source of medicine,” explained the study’s lead researcher, Dr. Wai Liu. “The cannabinoids examined have minimal, if any, hallucinogenic side effects, and their properties as anti-cancer agents are promising.””

More: http://www.medicaldaily.com/non-hallucinogenic-cannabinoids-could-cure-cancer-cheap-anti-cancer-drug-way-259962

“GW Pharmaceuticals Commences Phase 1Clinical Trial of GWP42006” (to be marketed as “Epidiolex”),”as a Potential Treatment for Epilepsy”

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EPIDIOLEX

“GW Pharmaceuticals plc (Nasdaq: GWPH, AIM: GWP, “GW”) announced today it has commenced a Phase 1 clinical trial of product candidate GWP42006 for the treatment of epilepsy.

Over the last five years, GW has conducted an extensive pre-clinical cannabinoid research program in the field of epilepsy in collaboration with the University of Reading in the United Kingdom. This research has led to the emergence of a number of promising cannabinoid therapeutic candidates showing anti-epileptic effects.

GWP42006, one of the most promising of those candidates, is a non-psychoactive cannabinoid extracted from specific chemotypes of the cannabis plant which has shown the ability to treat seizures in pre-clinical models of epilepsy with significantly fewer side effects than currently approved anti-epileptic drugs1.

“We are pleased to have advanced GWP42006 to first dose in man, a significant milestone in the development of this novel product candidate. The decision to progress into Phase 1 follows several years of highly promising pre-clinical research,” stated Dr. Stephen Wright, Director of Research and Development at GW. “We believe that GWP42006 has the potential to become an important advance in the treatment of epilepsy, a condition for which there remains a substantial unmet medical need.””

More: http://www.gwpharm.com/Phase1Epilepsy.aspx

“GW Pharma Commences Phase 1 Clinical Trial Of GWP42006 For Treatment Of Epilepsy… GWP42006, is a non-psychoactive cannabinoid extracted from specific chemotypes of the cannabis plant which has shown the ability to treat seizures in pre-clinical models of epilepsy with significantly fewer side effects than currently approved anti-epileptic drugs.” http://www.nasdaq.com/article/gw-pharma-commences-phase-1-clinical-trial-of-gwp42006-for-treatment-of-epilepsy-20130918-00037

“A Study of the Safety and Tolerability of GWP42006 in Healthy Subjects…This study is currently recruiting participants.” http://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT01918735

“Driving directions to GW Pharma Limited and product information about EPIDIOLEX is provided. EPIDIOLEX is a product created by GW Pharma Limited in  Porton Down Science Park , Salisbury, , SP4OJR. The EPIDIOLEX  is a product related to Pharmaceutical and veterinary preparations and substances for the treatment of epilepsy, convulsions, seizures, Dravet syndrome, Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, intractable childhood epilepsy with generalized tonic-clonic seizures, generalized epilepsy with febrile seizures plus, Doose syndrome and chromosome disorders; pharmaceutical preparations and substances for the treatment of pediatric epilepsy; herbs for medicinal purposes; medicinal herbs; medicinal oils; medicinal infusions for the treatment of epilepsy; pure extracts of medicinal plants and herbs used for the treatment of epilepsy, convulsions and seizures; herb teas for medicinal purposes. The EPIDIOLEX product is now being marketed in the United States for sale. The EPIDIOLEX is in the category of  Pharmaceutical Products..

Get in contact with the owner, GW Pharma Limited of this EPIDIOLEX, or visit them at their place of business in the map. Write a review about the product with this EPIDIOLEX.

Or, contact the owner GW Pharma Limited of the  EPIDIOLEX trademark by filing a request to communicate with the Legal Correspondent   for licensing, use, and/or questions related to EPIDIOLEX. The correspondent of the EPIDIOLEX is  MICHELLE L. VISSER of RADER, FISHMAN & GRAUER PLLC, 39533 WOODWARD AVE STE 140, BLOOMFIELD HILLS, MI 48304-5098 “.

http://www.trademarkia.com/map/epidiolex-86007888.htm

No Association Between Frequency of Marijuana Use and Health or Healthcare Utilization

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“Researchers from Boston Medical Center (BMC) and Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) have found frequency of marijuana use was not significantly associated with health services utilization or health status. These findings currently appear online in the Journal of General Internal Medicine.

As marijuana’s legal status changes across the US, its impact on health has become of great interest. Marijuana is the most commonly used illicit drug, yet its impact on health and healthcare utilization has not been studied extensively.

The researchers studied 589 adults who screened positive for drug use at a primary care visit. Those patients were asked about their drug use, their emergency room use and hospitalizations, and their overall health status. In addition, information about other medical diagnoses was obtained from their medical records. They found the vast majority of the study sample (84 percent) used marijuana, 25 percent used cocaine, 23 percent opioids and eight percent used other drugs; 58 percent reported using marijuana but no other drugs. They also found no differences between daily marijuana users and those using no marijuana in their use of the emergency room, in hospitalizations, medical diagnoses or their health status.

According to the researchers it is common for users of illicit drugs to use both marijuana and another drug; therefore, knowing the incremental effects of marijuana on health in that circumstance is important.

“Even though we could not compare marijuana users to those who used no drugs at all, our findings suggest that marijuana use has little measurable effect on self-reported health or healthcare utilization in adults using drugs identified in a primary care clinic,” said lead author Daniel Fuster, MD, a postdoctoral scholar from the Clinical Addiction Research and Education Unit at BMC and BUSM.”

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/09/130923143638.htm

“No Detectable Association Between Frequency of Marijuana Use and Health or Healthcare Utilization Among Primary Care Patients Who Screen Positive for Drug Use.” http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24048656

 “Cannabis Consumption Has No Negative Effect on Health, According to New Study” https://thejointblog.com/cannabis-consumption-negative-effect-health-according-new-study/

Curing Cancer with Cannabis

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“Repeal Archaic Anti-Marijuana Laws”

cannabis
“Although cannabis has been used in medical treatment for thousands of years in China and India, it became illegal in most of the western world in the first half of the twentieth century. This was thanks to an early corporate conspiracy involving DuPont, William Randolph Hearst, the Mellon Bank and Secretary of the Treasury Andrew Mellon. The major problem with hemp was its immense versatility. Most paper and nearly all plastics were made of hemp fiber, while hemp oil was a major fuel. Dupont was trying to promote their own petroleum-based plastic, Hearst his wood pulp paper factories, and Mellon his friends at Standard Oil. See The Politics of Hemp.

Recent research, mainly out of Spain and Italy (such research is  illegal in the US), reveals that treatment with a cannabis metabolite cannobidiol (CBD) has a marked effect on immune function and is useful in the treatment of breast, bowel and other metastatic cancers, diabetes, epilepsy, glaucoma, high blood pressure, chronic pain and a host of other medical conditions…

Below is a link to a groundbreaking lecture on the medical benefits of cannabis by University of California-San Francisco oncologist/AIDS specialist Donald Abrams, MD. Abrams contends that smoking cannabis actually reduces your chances of lung cancer, owing to its anti-inflammatory and immune effects.

More: http://open.salon.com/blog/stuartbramhall/2013/08/30/curing_cancer_with_cannabis