Natural therapeutics

Cannabis is the oldest and most versatile medicine known to man.

Endocannabinoids

Endocannabinoids are produced by our own bodies.

Anandamide was discovered in 1992 and AG-2 was discovered in 1994-1995.

Human cells may have either of 2 types of endocannabinoid receptors CB1 and CB2. These receptors are present also in cells far away from the brain.

Many people may know the 2 most prevalent exocannabinoids, THC and CBD.

THC is produced from the raw THCA by a process called de-carboxylation. Basically means to heat the stuff over certain temperature.

THC is the psychoactive compound that brings the 'high' most recreational users are chasing but CBD has the most medical applications.

Internet is rife with stories about winning the battle against cancer with the help of exocannabinoids.

What does the science say?

Anti-proliferative - cannabis is against tumor growth
Anti-metastatic - cannabis is against cancer spreading to other parts in the body because of metastatic activity
Anti-angiogenetic - cannabis is against new blood vein growth to tumor
Apoptotic - cannabis causes cancer cells to programmedly kill themselves (apoptosis). Cannabinoids are however harmless to healthy cannabinoid receptor containing cells.

Additionally anecdotally true are

Cannabis works very well against the somatic and nonsomatic pains brought on by cancer
Cannabis can help maintain a good appetite, chemo or no chemo.

http://www.calgarycmmc.com/c.htm index into studies about the health benefits of cannabis, letter 'c' lists cancers for which studies have been done.

http://www.calgarycmmc.com/ a large compendium on medical cannabis sorted alphabetically by ailment.