Saturday, March 24, 2012

Proven Facts on the Benefits of Marijuana For Arthritis Patients


Proven Facts on the Benefits of Marijuana for Arthritis Patients
Any number of marijuana users, whether medicinal or recreational, will tell you that "Mary J" is great for relaxation. In fact, you would probably receive a list of problems the drug has helped relieve or alleviate all together.
As an arthritis patient looking for alternatives to synthesized medicines, unable to use traditional medications or physically unreceptive to traditional medication, you may be skeptical. You may be disbelieving. You may, in fact, consider marijuana users to be a little lacking in the intelligence quotient, merely trying to make their drug use acceptable.
However, as the title of this article indicates, there is scientifically proven evidence that medicinal marijuana can, indeed, provide relief from arthritic pain.
What is Medicinal Marijuana?
First, it must be noted that there are two major differences between medicinal marijuana and commercial or "street" marijuana.
1. Commercial marijuana can come from any number of cannabis strains. Different strains have varying pain relieving, anti-inflammatory, etc. potencies. The potency of commercial marijuana can't be guaranteed. Medicinal marijuana strains, on the other hand, are chosen for specifically for their potency and effects.
2. Some commercial marijuana has been fertilized with unsafe fertilizers. These fertilizers may contain metal derivatives and other toxic substances or by-products. Medicinal marijuana is fertilized carefully, with the health of the patient in mind, with nontoxic fertilizers.
It is not recommended that one buy commercial marijuana (or marihuana) to replace a prescription for medicinal marijuana.
Proven Benefits of Marijuana for Arthritis Patients
Although the legal aspects in many countries, funding and other issues inhibit the number of studies on the therapeutic aspects of marijuana, there is still a surprising amounts of information available. The facts so far are clear:
- Marijuana has shown to be an anti-inflammatory

- The potential for cannabis use to help inflammation and muscle spasms have been proven for several illnesses

- Marijuana has been used as a pain treatment for hundreds of years, if not thousands (some records date back to B.C.)

- Studies suggest that marijuana may not only help inflammation, but may lower the actual growth of the disease itself
Dr. Tom Mikuriya, a member of Mensa and several well-known organizations studying medicinal marijuana, wrote in 2002:
"Clinical interviews of over 6500 members at cannabis buyers clubs and patients in my office practice lead to this generalization: Many illnesses or conditions present with both inflammation and muscle spasm. Cannabis is both an antispasmodic and anti inflammatory."
Well known and respected as an authority on the therapeutic uses of marijuana, Dr Mikuriya also states "Chronic inflammatory conditions like arthritis and lumbosacral disease responds well to cannabis compared with other analgesics."
In 2005, Rheumatology Advance Access online published a study by Dr. Blake et al of the Royal National Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases in Bath. Noted as "the first controlled trial of a CBM [cannabis based medicine] in the symptomatic treatment of RA in humans", the study was based on several facts:
- Marijuana has historically been used as a pain treatment for rheumatoid arthritis, although its therapeutic potential has never been evaluated in a clinical study.
- THC and CBD, the two main components of marijuana, have been recognized as "key therapeutic constituents that act synergistically together and with other plant constituents."
- THC has shown pain relieving abilities for both nociceptive and neropathic pain.
- CBD has shown the ability to block the progression of rheumatoid arthritis, while both THC and CBD have anti-inflammatory effects.
"In comparison with placebo, the CBM produced statistically significant improvements in pain on movement, pain at rest, quality of sleep, DAS28 and the SF-MPQ pain at present component. There was no effect on morning stiffness but baseline scores were low. The large majority of adverse effects were mild or moderate, and there were no adverse effect-related withdrawals or serious adverse effects in the active treatment group."
Due to the surprising responses, the researchers ended the study with a call for more studies. "We believe this to be the first controlled study of a CBM in rheumatoid arthritis, and the results are encouraging. The beneficial effects occurred in the context of a dosing regime restricted to evening dosing in order to minimize any possible intoxication-type reactions. However, 24-h dosing with this CBM (Sativex) using a self-titration regime in the context of multiple sclerosis resulted in only minimal intoxication scores [9]. Larger, more prolonged studies of CBM in rheumatoid arthritis are indicated."
In 2006, the Center of Drug Discovery in Boston, Massachusetts published a study entitled The Cannabinergic System as a Target for Anti-inflammatory Therapies. With habitual cannabis use proven to affect the immune system, endocannabinoid research has helped to understand the effects through cell-based or in vivo animal testing.
According to the study, these tests "suggest that regulation of the endocannabinoid circuitry can impact almost every major function associated with the immune system.... the results suggest therapeutic opportunities for a variety of inflammatory diseases such as multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, atherosclerosis, allergic asthma, and autoimmune diabetes through modulation of the endocannabinoid system."
Although many a naysayer mentions the potentials for overdose, it must be noted that there has never been one documented case of someone overdosing on marijuana, whether through recreational or medicinal use. As well, many are concerned about cancer-causing agents through inhaling the smoke, but a comprehensive study in 2006 could show no proof of marijuana causing lung cancer.
Finally, remember that medical marijuana should not be smoked. Using it in baking or with a vaporizer will offer the therapeutic benefits needed to alleviate arthritis symptoms.



About The Author: Health Canada grants access to marijuana for medical use to those who are suffering from grave and debilitating illnesses and those with chronic conditions. Medicinal-Marijuana.ca helps connect qualified patients with designated growers across Canada, providing information, support and resources to all Canadians who would like to access the medical marijuana program of Canada. Visit online today.



Thursday, March 22, 2012

Why Do People Smoke Cannabis?

There's an issue that's frequently requested - so why do people smoke cannabis?

Globally, marijuana is easily the most generally used street drug. A 2007 survey discovered that 14.4 million folks the America alone had smoked cannabis at least one time within the last thirty days.

You will find a number of reasons that individuals take drugs and that we certainly do not have all of the solutions. However, you will find some classic mental reasons that individuals start and then smoke weed that people can explore.

Mental reasons

The mental causes of taking drugs could be like the reasons that individuals buy things, visit certain websites or choose an impulsive or momentary strategy at any particular time.

While dopamine transmitters constitute only one Percent from the brain they "are wired" in the most crucial parts.

Dopamine is generally connected using the "reward system", supplying feelings of delight and reinforcement to motivate someone to perform certain activities.

Dopamine is launched and rewards encounters for example food, sex, and drugs.

The purpose of dopamine transmitters is not fully understood however it could explain a number of "urges" in human behavior. We'll naturally be drawn to any action that delivers an incentive. It might explain why humans will require drugs to have an immediate reward whenever a long term negative effect is fully understood.

Here's an action flow diagram which might explain the procedure:

    Requirement for existence to alter > Do something > Receive benefit > Learn association

We are conditioned to look for food and therefore are compensated with nourishment in addition to a "dopamine reward" that is then learned therefore the process could be repeated. Drugs may also provide us with an optimistic experience (the "high") which combined having a "dopamine reward" that is then "learned" and encourages habitual behavior.

This could explain the circular causation that lots of addicts experience. They're bored (hunger), take drugs (nourishment), are compensated, discover the association, and so the the next time the positive associations are strengthened thus developing a habit.

So, everyone has dopamine transmitters only some people take drugs. What exactly would be the some other reasons?

To suit in / pressure from peers

Among the most powerful mental factors to describe behavior is famous by a number of expressions for example "monkey see, monkey do", "pressure from peers" and "social proof". This is often referred to like a copying or resembling of behavior we have seen around us.

For a number of reasons we're conditioned to complete as others around us do. So, simply enough, if you will find many people smoking weed around us, we will probably follow.

This pressure to suit in could be a more effective among more youthful people as everyone knows. However, taking drugs simply to easily fit in isn't the whole picture and will not be understood this way. However, it might be a contributory factor.

Copying of role model / hero

One more reason why people smoke weed is allied towards the previous reason for copying behavior. People naturally attempt to copy the behavior of people which are locked in esteem with a peer group. So copying the drug taking habits of celebs could be described in by doing this.

Alcohol

Probably the most natural part models for most of us are their parents. Many children "learn" to consume alcohol using their parents after which once the results of this drug aren't appreciated marijuana can appear an appealing alternative.

Rebelling

Similarly, with respect to the individual and also the "stage" in adolescence or youthful their adult years, smoking grass can appear just like a method of distinguishing themselves using their parents.

Relax

Existence for everybody could be demanding sometimes. Youthful individuals are particularly prone to sudden bouts of stress and smoking dope is visible like a temporary release out of this tension

Experiment / take risks

Youthful people, males particularly, could be vulnerable to taking greater risks and also to experiment a lot more than people of other age range.

Religious

Many religions stress the significance of smoking cannabis to locate yourself emotionally.

Medicinal

Marijuana is proven to be a discomfort reliever for a number of conditions. For youthful women it may be particularly useful in combating period pains.

Inherited

And finally, there might be some evidence that the inclination to become hooked on mind-changing substances might be hereditary.