Natural therapeutics

Revision as of 10:40, 17 October 2018 by Jukeboksi (talk | contribs) (→‎Administering cannabis: splitting into subheadings)

Nature provides us with many healing agents but these are often pushed to the periphery of public knowledge to ensure big pharma profits.

Blackberries

 
Ripe, ripening and raw blackberries

Blackberries kill antibiotic resistant staphylococcus aureus bacteria[1]. Irish teen awarded prize for discovery.[2]

Cannabis

 
Female Cannabis indica plants. These are often good for pain relief producing a nice body stone.

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

Cannabis sativa and Cannabis indica are the main cannabis variants though most strains are mixes of these. A third cannabis line is the Cannabis ruderalis, a rugged northern cannabis that has adapted to flower even under northern long summer days.

The endocannabinoid receptors

Main article in wikipedia Endocannabinoid system

Human body contains 2 types of endocannabinoid receptors CB1 and CB2.

CB1 receptors

CB1 receptors predominantly located in the nervous system, connective tissues, gonads, glands, and organs[3].

CB2 receptors

CB2 receptors, primarily found in the immune system and also present in the spleen, liver, heart, kidneys, bones, blood vessels, lymph cells, endocrine glands, and reproductive organs[3].

Endocannabinoids

 
Anandamide, an endogenous ligand of CB1 and CB2

Endocannabinoids are produced by our own bodies from Arachidonic acid or Omega-6 fatty acid[4].

The two main endocannabinoids are Anandamide and 2-AG.

Anandamide

Anandamide was discovered in 1992 and it binds to both CB1 and CB2 receptors. The name comes from the Sanskrit word 'Ananda' meaning 'bliss' and amide from its chemistry.

It has been referred to as the endocannabinoid version of THC.

2-AG

 
2-Arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) is an endogenous agonist of the CB1 receptor.

2-Arachidonoylglycerol aka. 2-AG was discovered in 1994-1995.

N-Arachidonoyl dopamine

N-Arachidonoyl dopamine discovered in 2000.

2-Arachidonyl glyceryl ether

2-Arachidonyl glyceryl ether discovered in 2001.

Virodhamine

Virodhamine discovered in 2002

Lysophosphatidylinositol

Lysophosphatidylinositol is a contender to be the 6th endocannabinoid.

Further reading


Phytocannabinoids

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

List of known phytocannabinoids from Wikipedia:

THC

 
Tetrahydrocannabinol is a partial agonist of CB1 located mainly in the central nervous system, and the CB2 receptor mainly expressed in cells of the immune system.

Tetrahydrocannabinol was found in 1964[5] and it is the main psychoactive compound that brings the 'high' most recreational users are chasing.

THCA

Tetrahydrocannabinolic acid THCA is the what cannabis plants produce to fend off insects from harming it. In pure form THCA is a clear translucent crystalline of white color.

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

THCA found in raw marijuana apparently has some health enhancing properties. The issue is being researched.

CBD

 
Cannabidiol has very low affinity for the cannabinoid CB1 and CB2 receptors receptors but acts as an indirect antagonist of cannabinoid agonists.

Cannabidiol and it was isolated and identified from Cannabis sativa in 1940[5]. CBD is not psychoactive and it has the most medical applications of all phytocannabinoids.

“Cannabidiol has little affinity for CB1 and CB2 receptors but acts as an indirect antagonist of cannabinoid agonists.[6]

~ Wikipedia on Cannabidiol


CBDA

Cannabidiolic Acid is the raw form. Decarboxylating CBDA yields CBD.

CBN

Cannabinol is a sleeping aid and has also other therapeutic qualities.

CBG

Cannabigerol

“Cannabigerol has been shown to promote apoptosis in cancer cells and inhibit tumor growth in mice. It acts as an α2-adrenergic receptor agonist, 5-HT1A receptor antagonist, and CB1 receptor antagonist.[7] It also binds to the CB2 receptor.[7]

~ Wikipedia on Cannabigerol


CBC

Cannabichromene

CBL

Cannabicyclol

CBV

Cannabivarin

THCV

Tetrahydrocannabivarin can be used to inhibit appetite.

Links about THCV

CBDV

Cannabidivarin

CBCV

Cannabichromevarin

CBGV

Cannabigerovarin

CBGM

Cannabigerol Monomethyl Ether

CBE

Cannabielsoin

CBT

Cannabicitran


Cannabis therapeutics

 
Rare 11-leafer Cannabis sativa
 
Male Cannabis sativa plants in late flowering stages.

Cannabis can be applied to treat a wide assortment of illnesses. In this case it is called medical cannabis.

Due to the inbuilt default to always take the safe route and also to backup the back of your fellow MD colleague the Wikipedia does not yield the right infos on how useful and versatile a medication cannabis is.

Research has been held back by arcane laws even as cannabis is the oldest medicine known to man and it should be gladly appreciated and not outlawed because of big pharma interests.


Alzheimer's disease and cannabis

Cannabis has been found to be beneficial for Alzheimer's sufferers. Especially true this is for THC which inhibits the formulation of toxic beta amyloid protein plaque on braincells which causes Alzheimer's disease.


Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and cannabis

Cannabis helps with Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) also known as Lou Gehrig's disease and motor neurone disease (MND).


Asthma and cannabis


Autism and cannabis


Autoimmune diseases and cannabis

Cannabis helps with many autoimmune diseases due to its anti-inflammatory and other properties.

Links about autoimmune diseases and cannabis


Rheumatoid arthritis and cannabis

Cannabis helps with Rheumatoid arthritis.

Links about Rheumatoid arthritis and cannabis


Lupus and cannabis

Cannabis helps with Systemic lupus erythematosus


Coeliac disease and cannabis

Cannabis helps with Coeliac disease.


Psoriasis and cannabis

Cannabis helps with Psoriasis and eczema when applied externally.


Type 1 diabetes and cannabis


Multiple sclerosis (MS) and cannabis

Cannabis is very good against Multiple sclerosis. Prince Charles knew of this way back in 1998[8].


Cancers and cannabis

Key things everyone needs to know about cancers and cannabis

Warning: Smoking the cannabis as the method of cannabinoid delivery the smoke contains quite a few carcinogenic substances i.e. cancer inducing substances. See the section administering cannabis for alternatives to smoking it.


Internet is rife with stories about winning the battle against cancer with the help of phytocannabinoids. What does the science say?

Cannabis is...

  1. Anti-proliferative - cannabis is against tumor growth [9]
  2. Anti-metastatic - cannabis is against cancer spreading to other parts in the body because of metastatic activity[9]
  3. Anti-angiogenetic - cannabis is against new blood vein growth to tumor[9]
  4. Apoptotic - cannabis causes cancer cells to programmedly kill themselves via Apoptosis. [9]
  5. Pain relief - cannabis works very well against the somatic and nonsomatic pains brought on by cancer.
  6. Appetite stimulator - cannabis helps maintain a good appetite.
  7. Anti-nauseatic - cannabis helps with the chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting if you receive chemotherapy. World's first study of cannabis for chemotherapy's negative effects is underway in Australia. [10] [11]

Phytocannabinoids are harmless to healthy cannabinoid receptor containing cells.


Links about cannabis and cancer in general

"Official" information

Cannabis and cancers advocacy

Testimonies about cannabis and cancer

Scientific studies and papers about cannabis and cancers in general

Learn from videos by experts in phytocannabinoid treatment of cancers

Info: Cristina Sánchez is a molecular biology research scientist who did her doctorate on cannabinoids and cancers. She is the leader of all time in researching the anti-cancer qualities of cannabinoids. Another molecular biology researcher working on researching the potential of cannabis as a cancer medication in the Complutense University of Madrid is Dr. Manuel Guzmán

Videos


See also: Cancers and turmeric (intra-article link)


Leukemia and cannabis

There are 2 main types of Leukemia:

Links about Lympoid and Myeloid leukemia and cannabis

Links about Lymphoid leukemia and cannabis

Links about Myeloid leukemia and cannabis


Prostate cancer and cannabis

Cannabis helps with prostate cancer.


Brain cancer and cannabis

A glioma is a type of tumor that starts in the glial cells of the brain or the spine. (Wikipedia) A blastoma is a type of cancer, more common in children, that is caused by malignancies in precursor cells. (Wikipedia)

Glioblastoma is the most aggressive form of brain cancer, but it may potentially be treated with cannabis.[12]

In 2018 Insys Therapeutics announced the the FDA has given CBD an orphan drug designation (ODD) to CBD for treating gliomas.[13]

Liver cancer and cannabis

Skin cancer and cannabis

Lymphoma


Crohn's disease and cannabis

Study shows THC helps with Crohn's disease.


Epilepsy and cannabis

 
Full extract cannabis oil in a syringe for easy dosing and travel is usually administered in drops to the gums or under the tongue.

Cannabis can be used to treat epilepsy.


Migraines and cannabis

It has been suggested that clinical endocannabinoid deficiency syndrome (CEDS) may be causing migraines. Many studies found medical cannabis as an effective prophylaxis against migraine attacks, especially the high CBD strains.

Pain treatment with cannabis

“You just don't feel like thinking about the pain.”

~ Apotheker Jukeboksi on somatic pain relief with cannabis


“There is more to it than that.”

~ Science on above quote


Cannabis is anti-inflammatory which helps relieve some of the pain. Pain is a signal of inflammation so counter-acting inflammation causing things cannabis naturally helps lower the pain.


Parkinsons disease and cannabis


Non-somatic issues with cannabis

Cannabis can help with various non-somatic problems such as psychiatry, depression and PTSD.

PTSD and cannabis


Administering cannabis

There are various other ways to administer cannabis methods besides smoking it:

Vaping

  • Vaping (short for vaporizing), a method where the plant material is heated hot enough for the cannabinoids to become gaseous but cold enough that the plant matter does not combust and thus avoiding the carcinogens that come from burning the plant matter.

Oral

  • Edibles, tinctures and cannabis oil may be administered orally. Cannabinoids are soluble to alcohol and to fat and cannabis can be infused into many forms of edibles, but the problem is with efficiency as your stomach acids will destroy a lot of the cannabinoids.

Rectal

  • Rectal - some doctors recommend taking cannabis rectally as this is method of administering allows you to take very large doses efficiently.[14]

Topicals

  • Topicals - for some skin affecting conditions this is a good way to administer the medicine. Many skin condition sufferers praise the combination of cannabis and coconut oil to make a topical to apply to the affected skin.

Cannabis research and information organizations

External links about cannabis as medicine

Literature about cannabis as a medicine


Pineapple

 
Pineapple is effective cough medicine due to its Bromelain content.

Pineapple fruit and it's stem contain Bromelain, an enzyme with anti-cough properties.

In vitro and in vivo studies demonstrate that bromelain exhibits various fibrinolytic, antiedematous, antithrombotic, and anti-inflammatory activities.[15] Bromelain accounts for many therapeutic benefits like the treatment of angina pectoris, bronchitis, sinusitis, surgical trauma, and thrombophlebitis, debridement of wounds, and enhanced absorption of drugs, particularly antibiotics.[15]


Stevia

 
Stevia rebaudiana

Stevia works against the Lyme disease.[16]


Turmeric

 
Turmeric (Curcuma Longa) of genus Curcuma.
 
Turmeric, used as spice, medicine and dye is made of ground roots of Curcuma Longa.

Turmeric contains curcumin, a curcuminoid.

Cancers and turmeric

Curcumin has been found to have anti-cancer properties. Curcumin interferes with cancer via multiple cell signaling pathways, including cell cycle, apoptosis, proliferation, survival, invasion, angiogenesis, metastasis and inflammation[17].

See also: Cancers and cannabis (intra-article link)

Alzheimer's and turmeric

See also: Alzheimer's and cannabis (intra-article link)


Information sources on natural therapeutics

References

  1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28270804
  2. https://www.hygiene-in-practice.com/publication/student-discovers-blackberry-antibiotic-for-multi-resistant-pathogens/
  3. 3.0 3.1 https://patients4medicalmarijuana.wordpress.com/2017/07/06/how-and-why-your-brain-makes-its-own-cannabinoids/
  4. https://wakeup-world.com/2014/09/08/the-endocannabinoid-system-and-how-thc-cures-cancer/
  5. 5.0 5.1 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tetrahydrocannabinol
  6. Mechoulam, Raphael; Peters, Maximilian; Murillo-Rodriguez, Eric; Hanuš, Lumír O. (2007). "Cannabidiol – Recent Advances". Chemistry & Biodiversity 4 (8): 1678–92. PMID 17712814. doi:10.1002/cbdv.200790147. 
  7. 7.0 7.1 Cascio, MG; Gauson, LA; Stevenson, LA; Ross, RA; Pertwee, RG (2010). "Evidence that the plant cannabinoid cannabigerol is a highly potent α2-adrenoceptor agonist and moderately potent 5HT1A receptor antagonist". British Journal of Pharmacology 159 (1): 129–41. PMC 2823359. PMID 20002104. doi:10.1111/j.1476-5381.2009.00515.x. 
  8. https://www.theguardian.com/uk/1998/dec/24/monarchy.ameliagentleman
  9. 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 https://herb.co/news/health/cannabis-kills-cancer/
  10. https://herb.co/news/health/world-first-cannabis-chemotherapy/
  11. https://www.medicinalcannabis.nsw.gov.au/clinical-trials/chemotherapy-trial
  12. https://www.medicaldaily.com/marijuana-just-might-help-cure-one-deadliest-forms-brain-cancer-410947
  13. http://wphealth.cc/2018/10/11/fda-approves-cannabis-for-brain-cancer-treatment/
  14. https://hightimes.com/health/science/doctors-orders-put-marijuana-in-your-butt-dont-smoke-it/
  15. 15.0 15.1 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3529416/
  16. https://www.healthspiritbody.com/lyme-disease-treatment/
  17. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0304383508002310