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Archive for January 5th, 2010

The humble little cannabis sativa plant is the center of one of the hottest issues between politics, religion, and medicine in all of history. Amidst all of the controversy and regardless of where they stand on the issue, medical professionals must find themselves curious about it. Is marijuana the miracle drug it is purported to be in some circles, or is this a lot of media hype? And likewise, is marijuana the dangerous, addicting road to drug-addled debauchery that the moral crusaders would have us believe, or is that, too, a lot of hype?

The claims about the medical benefits of marijuana, if all true, would instantly make it one of the most versatile drugs in history. So far, researches have proposed that it could treat Alzheimer’s disease, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, diabetes mellitus, dystonia, fibromyalgia, gastrointestinal disorders, gliomas, hepatitis C, hypertension, incontinence, osteoporosis, pruritis, rheumatoid arthritis, sleep apnea, and Tourette’s syndrome. The reports of new finding pour in every day. The latest claim is that cannabis extracts may shrink brain tumors and other cranial cancers by blocking the growth of the blood vessels which feed them.

Beyond medical treatment of existing ailments, marijuana is also claimed to be preventative of a whole larger spectrum of problems as well. It is supposed to prevent blindness, migraines, and depression. It is said that marijuana has both stalled the growth of and eliminated brain tumors in rats. Oh, and it fights hardened arteries and actually helps cleanse the lungs, preventing tumors. Come on, can it really be all that? What else, does it make whites whiter and colors brighter?

It could be argued that much of the news of marijuana’s health treatment uses are motivated by the desire to legalize it for recreational usage as well. After all, we are talking about a cheap, easily cultivated, low-dosage psychoactive narcotic with a mellow high, almost no side effects, and a low physical addiction rate.

Its effects can be felt merely by eating it, although smoking and, increasingly, vaporizing it are the preferred methods of recreational consumption. There have so far been no reported deaths or reports of permanent injuries sustained as a result of a marijuana overdose. There’s no sense fooling ourselves – people want to party, and those with a recreational motive might make up any fact they could get their hands on to justify their right to party.

A marijuana dosage and its associated high produce a group of psychoactive effects. The inebriated state is somewhat comparable to the effects of alcohol. Temporary impairment of memory functioning, motor skills, and cognition are all demonstrated. However, marijuana’s effects are largely dependent on the mood of the individual at the time of dosage. In short, a body at rest tends to stay at rest, and a body in motion tends to stay in motion. This variable effect is known as “set and setting”.

The illegality of usage and its demonized reputation as a gateway drug have created the flack in the opposite direction. Regarding international laws, it is legal for all uses in just under 10% of the world, decriminalized for medical use in about 50% of the world, illegal but unenforced in 10% of the world, and fully illegal in 30% of the world. Part of that is misleading, however – it is either decriminalized or legal for medical purposes in 18 states of the US as far as state laws go, but still illegal on a Federal level. Also, in parts of Europe, it is legal only in designated areas, so the whole country doesn’t really count.

Finally, “decriminalized” isn’t the same thing as “legal”, but only means that possession is punishable by a citation, confiscation, and a fine instead of by prison time.

It is probably logical to conclude that there is a substantial amount of propaganda and misinformation from both marijuana advocates and opponents due to the legal issues of marijuana, including the legal and political constraints on marijuana research, the firmly held beliefs of the public, and the religious beliefs against it. The most confounding factor in marijuana research is said to be the prevalent usage of other recreational drugs, including alcohol and tobacco, in the research subjects.

Such research complications demonstrate the need for studies on marijuana where stronger controls are used, and investigations into the symptoms of marijuana use that may also be caused by tobacco or other drugs. Much marijuana research in the United States is funded by government agencies that publish position papers which only cite research studies that report negative consequences of marijuana use. In light of this, some people question whether these agencies are making an honest effort to present an accurate, unbiased summary of the evidence, or whether they are slanting the results in favor of keeping it criminalized.

The medical field is caught in the middle of an ethical and scientific tug of war, which should be a familiar feeling to many. After the huge controversies over abortion, stem cell research, scientific findings pointing to evolution, cloning and gene therapy, cosmetic surgery, and artificial insemination, one could hardly blame medical researchers if they got disgusted and quit – or at least packed their bags and left the country for a place where they could do their job without quite so much politics getting in the way.

The medical marijuana controversy has reached a particularly poignant milestone just recently. The case is one Ms. Angel Raich, who is a long-term and terminally-ill medical cannabis patient in California. Ms. Raich is an Oakland mother of two who suffers from scoliosis, a brain tumor, chronic nausea and other ailments and complications.

On her doctor’s advice, she eats or smokes marijuana every couple of hours through the day to ease her pain and bolster her appetite as conventional drugs did not work. In spite of this, the hospice where she was staying got raided, and she faces criminal prosecution. Her doctor has protested that marijuana is the only thing keeping her alive, and the federal appeals court has now handed down the decision that she is to be prosecuted by the law – anyway!

Not only that, but this is not even the first time that medical marijuana has been denied as a treatment option, even to those terminally ill and even in states where it is legal for medical usage. This sobering state of events highlights the bind that the medical profession is in. There has seldom in history been such a case where criminal law and the Hippocratic Oath have been at such odds with each other.

There is a little-known natural solution to curing oneself of arthritis pain, which I discovered several years ago. During my nursing career I was never able to find relief for my arthritis pain until I turned to the field considered natural or alternative medicine.

To get the arthritis pain relief you’re seeking it’s helpful to understand how arthritis works. Arthritic joints appear to be larger, are stiff and painful, and usually feel worse the more they are used as the day progresses. Arthritis pain can be experienced whenever a stiff or swollen joint is used.

The cartilage is slippery tissue that coats the ends of the bones. In young people, cartilage is about 85% water and in older folks about 70% of cartilage is water. The ability to make repairs to cartilage becomes limited as cartilage cells age.

Researchers report a higher incidence of osteoarthritis between parents and children or between siblings than between husbands and wives. The cause of arthritis (osteoarthritis) and the factors leading to the deterioration of cartilage in osteoarthritis is still not understood. Possible causes of arthritis include lesser known: bleeding disorders, like hemophilia, which causes bleeding to occur in the joint; disorders such as avascular necrosis, that block the blood supply closest to the joint; and conditions like hemochromatosis, that causes iron build-up in the joints.

Some people swear by morning drinks of raw apple cider vinegar and honey for arthritis pain relief. Try avoiding the eight most allergic foods, wheat being the most allergenic; they are wheat, corn, eggs, milk, peanuts, fish, shellfish and some nuts, not all. Some people swear by glucosamine and/or chondroitin and others say it didn’t help at all.

Many have told me that going off dairy products and gluten containing foods relieved their arthritis pain entirely. Making a ginger tea, by adding a thin slice or two of fresh gingerroot to hot water, is helpful to many people I know. For snacks, choose raw nuts without salt instead of lifeless roasted nuts.

The first step in managing your arthritis is to change your diet; I think all experts would agree on this. Dried Montmorency tart cherries seem to be helpful for arthritis pain also.

Make smoothies with fruit only using a base of two bananas, adding a cup of frozen or fresh blueberries and mango chunks or substitute any other fruit and add an energy boost of two tablespoons of coconut oil; add one or two leaves of kale for another highly nutritional boost — no one will ever know. Many arthritis sufferers have changed their diets and noticed significant or total improvement.

Even the lightest exercise can go a long way to maintaining your joint mobility and overall health. Sign up for water aerobics classes at your local community center. If weight is an issue, try to use exercises that will help you in losing weight such as walking. A good exercise routine is the key to beating arthritis and arthritis pain.

Keep a bedside basket of arthritic aids for arthritic hands (theraputty, hand grips, Taiji chime balls, etc.) to be used at bedtime or while watching television. Fight arthritis through proper exercise! Stretching and warming up the joints should always be the first step in your exercise routine to make your joints more flexible.

Only you know which treatment option is best for you. Drugs commonly used for arthritis pain can cause ulcers, heart disease and liver or kidney damage.
Let your doctor and pharmacist know about any other drugs, herbs or other supplements you’re taking, to ward off any adverse drug reactions that might occur from the combining of different drugs or supplements.

Your treatment plan should include an anti-arthritis diet, exercise, and a positive mental attitude. I got rid of my arthritis pain years ago when I stopped eating dead food and changed my diet to all living foods; you can do it too. Begin your treatment program with a diet change, exercise and weight loss plan to see results and pain relief fast.