The use of cannabis for medical treatment

Neurological disorders – multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease (a neurodegenerative disease), epilepsy (seizure disorder), Tourette’s syndrome (a hereditary neuropsychological disease), Huntington’s disease (an inherited neurodegenerative disease), neuropathic pain, migraine, “Cluster headache” (cyclic paroxysmal pain head), dystonia (such as in cerebral palsy) and brain trauma and spinal cord.

Diseases associated with the response of the immune system – allergy, asthma, atopic dermatitis, Crohn’s disease (autoimmune inflammation of the colon), or rheumatoid arthritis.

Oncological diseases, which have been safely treated and demonstrated the positive influence of cannabis, such as cancer of the prostate, skin, breast, brain, and other types. Efficacy of treatment, however, varies according to the type of tumor. Unique is a relief from the side effects of conventional anti-cancer treatments (chemotherapy and radiotherapy).

Psychiatric disorders such as depression, obsession, anxiety, ADHD (hyperkinetic disorder) or psychosis (positive effect of cannabidiol – CBD), cannabis can be used to try to influence, but always in combination with psychotherapy.

Other diseases: diabetes, hypertension, skin diseases, anorexia (in Israel not only palliative – the goal is to relieve the patient from death at the stage where its catabolic metabolism is set, and the process can not be stopped), anorexia (adjunctive therapy in oncology, organ transplant or during antiviral therapy in AIDS), insomnia, obesity, burns, infections (antibiotics and antiviral activity) and glaucoma – glaucoma (increased eye pressure).

Uses of Medicinal Cannabis

The resin contained in it, and the active substances are not very soluble in water, but polar solvents such as oil or other fats, alcohol, benzene, ether, butane, etc. This results in the following ways possible therapeutic applications.

External Applications

If you want to positively influence the processes occurring on the skin or mucous membranes, it can be used a decoction of the leaves in the bath (the water does not dissolve cannabinoids, but as there are terpenes and chlorophyll). Affected areas should be treated with tincture or ointment, in which the resin was dissolved. It is also possible to apply pure cannabis resin in the form of an extract.

Internal Administration by Inhalation

Historically, in many countries for treatment with cannabis it is used in the form of cannabis cigarettes. When smoked there also occurs absorption of active substances through the lung tissue and into the blood, but at the same time is inhaled carcinogenic smoke. And especially when burning cannabis cigarettes for about 60% of the material lost in the outgoing smoke. A much better way is to inhale it through the vaporizer which only the green material is heated (120-220 ° C) and the active ingredient vaporized. The material is so used in up to 90% and inhalation of steam is clean and well tolerable for non-smokers. This method is suitable for use in asthma, pain states, nausea etc.

Inhalation of the active substances has noticeable effect within 15 minutes and lasts for up to 3 hours.

Internal Applications In Food

We can consume fresh leaves and flowers or dried flower powder. The leaves and flowers can make excellent tea. It is also possible to dissolve the resin in butter or other fat, or homemade plum brandy, and these products use drop or a teaspoon or baked in cookies. In the case of the use of higher doses it can be eaten alone as a resin in the form of the extract.

Within this application of eating the effect starts much more slowly, from one to three hours, in exceptional cases even longer (for example, when ingested on an empty stomach). Overall, the effect lasts approximately 5-6 hours, higher doses of up to 12 hours.

Internal Application Suppositories

It is suitable to use in diseases of the stomach and lower abdomen: Crohn’s disease, inflammation of the bladder, prostate or vaginal cancer in the abdomen, genitals, including pre-cancers of the cervix, cancer of the prostate, bladder, etc.. Using suppositories helps absorb active substances in close proximity to the affected area.

When using the same high doses in food and in the suppository (e.g., 100 mg of THC) is the difference in the psychoactive effects of THC. This dose dose in food causes a strong and long lasting buzz and when used in cancer may be no effect of THC in the brain recorded.
dosage

For home treatment is always advisable to start the smallest possible dose (a few drops of oil or tincture, powder or butter on the tip of a knife) and slowly and gradually increase the dose to avoid unexpected psychoactive intoxication. In some diseases it is advisable to set the dosage regularly – even several times a day (neurological disease).

The active substances in cannabis resin operate at very small doses worth micrograms, for example in the form of a tea decoction, inhalation of asthma, or ointment for skin diseases.

A slightly higher, but still very low dose, which does not necessarily cause a narcotic effect – milligrams, are highly active, for example Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s disease, multiple sclerosis and other neurological diseases. They also work well with glaucoma, allergies, autoimmune diseases, affecting insomnia, pain or appetite.

Much higher doses – tens of milligrams – can cause narcotic effects and are effective for many diseases (such as diabetes, epilepsy, Crohn’s disease, inflammatory disorders, drug addiction, etc.).

However, you can use a very high dose – hundreds of milligrams to grams – and especially for serious diseases such as cancer. Since there is no known case of overdose deaths cannabis, and despite very strong and sometimes unpleasant narcotic effect this is even relatively safe therapeutic use. There may be a risk of developing a psychotic condition (especially if in a family, there are cases of schizophrenia or psychosis) and is therefore very suitable in such cases consult with a specialist.

A very important component of cannabis treatment is sufficient fluid intake, preferably in a clean and healthy water. Sometimes, patients may experience short-term worsening of disease symptoms and cannabis can also run a total detoxification of the body, it is also suitable in this respect to meet the their physical needs (diet).

Possible Physical Symptoms of Cannabis Use

Muscle relaxation, reduction in blood pressure (taking medication for high blood pressure it is suitable to consult with a doctor or a reduction of the dose), fast heart rate, body temperature changes, dizziness, nausea, fatigue, drowsiness or a higher activity of insomnia (according to the genetic variety – sativa / indica), perfusion conjunctivitis, dry mouth, diarrhea. In the beginning it is possible to use a temporary worsening of symptoms.

Psychological Symptoms after Ingestion

Changes in perception, sharpening the senses, increased sensitivity, the change in the thinking process, differing perceptions of the passage of time, changes in mood, euphoria, changes in attention (increased attention on one object, “the phenomenon of absorption”), strengthening the imagination, spontaneity, impaired short-term memory and recall.