The Benefits of THCa

Tetrahydrocannabinolic Acid (THCa) is a cannabinoid found in raw marijuana. THCa begins to convert to THC while the cannabis flower is still on the plant. Therapeutic properties can be attributed to THCa including pain relief and reducing inflammation. The non-psychoactive effects allow patients to take at a higher dose for treatment.

Eating raw cannabis by juicing or tincture will provide ample amounts of THCa. Lab results of the flowers containing THC actually show how much THCa will be converted to THC when heated. Generally, the THCa consists of 5-25% of the marijuana plant itself.

Studies have shown that THCa has anti-inflammatory properties that can help arthritis, multiple sclerosis, pain, and gastrointestinal problems. (Source) Tetrahydrocannabinolic Acid can improve and reduce the effects of neurodegenerative disease. (Source) The antiemetic properties in THCa also helps patients with HIV\Aids and cancer. (Source) And finally, research has shown that THCa can slow or stop cancer growth in the prostate. (Source)

Source:

https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/bpb/34/5/34_5_774/_article

https://ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22571976

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.2042-7158.1981.tb13806.x/abstract

 https://ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3570006/

The Benefits of the Terpene Borneol in Cannabis

The terpene borneol has been used traditionally in Chinese medicine for centuries. Borneol is found in cinnamon, thyme and the resin of cannabis. Borneol is a pleasing scent of camphor and earthiness which is a natural insect repellent.

The traditional use has been used with moxibustion, a form of acupuncture or burning directly on a patients skin. This approach has clinically shown help with breached babies.(Source) Used in Asia for cardiovascular disease it has been found to be an anticoagulant.(Source) Research has also shown that borneol helps with inflammation,(Source) elimination of odors and pain management.(Source)

One of the most beneficial uses of borneol is how it helps with wound healing. Borneol can reduce the blood brain barrier similar to the terpene myrcene. This allows other medications to penetrate and absorb more readily.(Source) This function allows for a profound increase in wound healing.(Source)

Fibrosis has been traditionally thought to be irreversible. It is the increase in tissue around wounds. Fibrosis can lead to benign tumors, Crohn's disease, cirrhosis and a precursor for cancer. New research has shown that borneol can reverse fibrosis.(Source)

Source:

http://maryjanesdiary.com/terpenes/

http://theleafonline.com/c/science/2015/01/terpene-profile-borneol/

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19267840

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18274938

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23717952

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18226358

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18711769

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borneol

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moxibustion

The Benefits of the Terepene Isopulegol in Cannabis

Isopulegol in Cannabis gives a minty odor and flavor. Found in eucalyptus it is a chemical compound formed from cintronellal to make a monoterpene. It's menthol properties gives a soothing taste and sensation that is calming.

Health benefits are minimal as it is usually found in low concentrations. The menthol scent can overpower the other medicinal properties.(Source) Isopulegol along with other menthol oils have shown to give a cooling effect, be anti-inflammatory, an emollient, aid in breathing and ease from aches and pains. It has the ability to target the nerve receptor TRPV1 to extend sensory feelings.(Source)

Research shows promising benefits with isopulegol for the gastrointestinal tract as well as reducing seizures. Ulcers were found to be improved by prostaglandins, K(ATP) channel openings and antioxidant properties.(Source) Seizures were found to be reduced for isopulegols ability to affect the GABA system and it's antioxidants.(Source)

Source:

https://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=295057

http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/296517/isopulegol

http://www.poseidonsciences.com/anti-inflammatory.html

http://planetofhealth.eu/uimage/product/MedicalSudiesOil77.pdf

http://www.google.com/patents/US6267974

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19479241

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19559770

The Cannabis Terpene Alpha Pinene

Alpha Pinene is the most common terpene in the plant world and also found in cannabis. Other plants such as basil, dill, parsley, pine needles, and rosemary are rich in α-pinene . Some of the cannabis strains that offer the most alpha pinene terpene are Bubba Kush, Chemdawg, Jack Herer, Super Silver Haze and Trainwreck.

Terepenes offer medicinal effects when consumed or used topically. Terepenes have shown to help in the biosynthesis for CB2 receptors in the endocannabinoid system.(Source) Alpha pinene works synergistically with THC to help regulate the psychosis effects when consuming cannabis.(Source) Alpha pinene is an organic compound offering medicinal value for many applications.

Alpha pinene has shown to give anti-inflammatory properties(Source). This allows for uses in arthritis, celiac disease, crohn's disease, joint pain and multiple sclerosis where a reduction in inflammation can aid in pain relief. Memory retention is increased with alpha pinene for it's ability to inhibit acetylcholinesterase activity in the brain.(Source)

Currently research is being conducted to show the benefits of alpha pinene slowing cancer tumor growth. A 2013 study showed how cancer cells were reduced with pinene on neurblastoma cells.(Source) A 2014 study using an anti-tumor drug concluded that pinene mitigated hepatoma carcinoma.(Source)

Many patients seek cannabis strains high in alpha pinene for it's benefits in asthma treatment and infections. Pinene has shown to be a bronchodilator. It helps to open the airways of the upper respiratory system.(Source) Pinene also has been found to be anti-microbial with the ability to treat bacteria as well as virus infections. Certain bacteria infections have shown positive results with pinene. Pinene has also been found to treat the infectious bronchitis virus. This virus is much harder to treat than bacterial infections.(Source)

Source:

http://theleafonline.com/c/science/2014/10/terpene-profile-pinene/

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1476-5381.2011.01238.x/abstract

http://www.revistas.usp.br/rbcf/article/viewFile/44190/47811

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15740071

http://link.springer.com/article/10.2478%2Fs11756-013-0230-2#page-1

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3165946/

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24815485

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12122569

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21350392

Cannabis Treatment for Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease that affects the joints. The symptoms are pain, inflammation and stiffness. Doctors treat RA by reducing pain, inflammation and slowing down joint damage.(Source)

A study in 1998-2002 found that illicit cannabis in the U.K. greatly reduced rheumatoid arthritis pain. The survey found that 100% of the RA sufferers found cannabis reduced symptoms “much better” (72%) or “a little better” (28%).(Source) A study in 2006 with the Cannabis Medicine Savitex showed significant improvement in pain and reduced disease activity.(Source) A 2005 survey of medical cannabis patients in Australia showed that 25% used it to treat rheumatoid arthritis.(Source)

Cannabis helps treat rheumatoid arthritis because of it's ability to reduce joint pain, inflammation and increase immunity. The endocannabinoid system affects receptors in the nervous that target joint tissue and immune cells.(Source) Cannabinoids affect the activity of the COX-2 enzymes which contribute to inflammation from arthritis.(Source) Cannabinoids also have immunosupressive properties which curtail inflammatory molecules called cytokines.(Source)

Souce:

http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Rheumatic_Disease/rheumatoid_arthritis_ff.asp

http://rheumatology.oxfordjournals.org/content/45/6/781.1.full

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16282192

http://www.harmreductionjournal.com/content/2/1/18

http://www.arthritistoday.org/arthritis-treatment/natural-and-alternative-treatments/remedies-and-therapies/medical-marijuana.php

http://www.researchgate.net/publication/51088411_Evaluation_of_the_cyclooxygenase_inhibiting_effects_of_six_major_cannabinoids_isolated_from_Cannabis_sativa

http://www.cannabis-med.org/data/pdf/2001-03-04-5.pdf

Harlequin Strain

Harlequin Marijuana Strain is High in CBD

Harlequin strain is for patients of medical marijuana looking for high pain relief. Harlequin is known for its high potency of the cannabinoid CBD. A ratio of 5:2 CBD to THC gives medication that is low in psycho-active sedation. Having some THC allows for the analgesic to be more effective than other strains that are void of THC. Harlequin is 75% sativa dominant which gives the effects of alertness while giving the ability to relax.

The Harlequin strain is a cross between the Columbian Gold, Swiss and Thai sativa with a Nepalese Indica Landrace strain. The smell has been described as sweet and tropical while the taste is fairly bland to sweet. The buds are thick with trichome orange hairs which overtake the green in the bud. Most strains while being cultivated increase in CBD while maturing. Harlequin is unique in that its highest concentration of CBD is earlier and diminishes with maturity.

OUTCO typically stocks Harlequin as a tincture for patients. Our staff in El Cajon just outside of San Diego is knowledgeable and compassionate to care for their members needs. Patients describe Harlequin for helping pain, seizures, anxiety, stress, nausea and muscle spasms. Please stop by or contact us for individual attention to your questions and needs.

Source:

http://www.leafly.com/sativa/harlequin

http://www.marijuana.com/news/2013/08/harlequin-marijuana-strain-review-and-photos-high-in-cbd-low-in-thc/

CBD Helps with Intervertebral Disc Degeneration

  

Intervetebral Disc Degeneration

On December 17^th, 2014 a study was published on how cannabis can benefit Intervertebral Disc Degeneration. This study was a small sample done on mice. The results coincide with other findings that cannabis helps with inflammation in cartilage such as rheumatoid arthritis.(Source)

 Intervertebral discs are in between the vertebrae of the spine. The discs are a cartilage joint that allows movement in the spine. They serve a crucial purpose to absorb shock and act as a ligament to hold the vertebrae together.(Source)

  Disc degeneration is caused from inflammation, metabolism of cells and neo-innervation. Cannabidiol CBD has shown to have anti-inflammatory properties, reducing metabolism of bone cells and a nerve protect-ant. This new study is the first to explore the use of CBD in helping disc degeneration. The results concluded that the higher dosage of CBD showed improvement in the Invertebral Discs.(Source)

Source:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4269422/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intervertebral_disc

http://norml.org/library/item/rheumatoid-arthritis

How Cannabis Treatment Reduces Multiple Sclerosis Symptoms

Cannabis and Multiple Sclerosis

Inflammation in multiple-sclerosis (MS) show positive results with cannabis. Symptoms benefiting from cannabis treatments are muscle spasms, pain, sleep, interocular pressure and incontinence.(Source) MS is a long-term disease that effects the brain, central nervous system and optic nerves. This disease makes the immune system attack a fatty material called myelin. This fatty tissue wraps around the nerve fibers to protect them. The scar tissue of myelin called sclerosis causing inflammation.(Source)

Cannabis has shown to prevent inflammation in the central nervous system. Dr. Ewa Kozela of Tel Aviv University, Israel says "Inflammation is part of the body's natural immune response, but in cases like MS, it gets out of hand". In the Journal of Neuroimmune Pharmacology he shows how cannabis can regulate inflammation.

In Dr. Kozela's study the cannabinoids tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) found in marijuana reduced inflammation associated in MS. The cannabinoids when administered reduced the inflammatory molecules, notably interleukin 17 (IL-17). The researchers say the inflammatory molecule "is strongly associated with MS and very harmful to nerve cells and their insulating covers,". They concluded:

"The presence of CBD or THC restrains the immune cells from triggering the production of inflammatory molecules, and limits the molecules' ability to reach and damage the brain and spinal cord." (Source)

Source:

http://www.webmd.com/multiple-sclerosis/guide/what-is-multiple-sclerosis

http://www.neurology.org/content/65/6/812.abstract

http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/view.resource.php?resourceID=000884

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/267161.php

Marijuana Antioxidant Benefits

Antioxidants are compounds naturally made by your body and acquired through diet to stop or slow the oxidation degeneration of cells in the body. An example would be a browning apple, the oxidation decomposes the cells. Many typically know that adding lemon juice to the apple as an antioxidant slows down the browning process. Cannabis has been shown to have powerful antioxidant properties.

The science behind the oxidation occurs with free radical damage in which paired electrons are unpaired making an atom or molecule unstable. The unstable molecule creates other molecules around it to become unstable as well, leading to a chain reaction of mutations and decomposition.

DNA as a result to the free radical damage gets broken apart and the body will repair the DNA successfully, or unsuccessful with a resulting mutation.

Antioxidants work in many ways to stop the chain reaction of damage, making it important to consume it in many forms and ways. Some antioxidants stop the damage before happening, while others stop the damage that is occurring. Cannabidiol (CBD) in Cannabis has been found to be 30-50% more effective than the antioxidants Vitamin C or E.

Cannabis, especially in the form of cannabidiol (CBD) is a powerful antioxidant that is an anti-inflammatory agent, and goes beyond to suppress the chemical that creates inflammation. Cannabidiol has been shown in tests to reduce tumor cells while not harming normal healthy cells. It has also been shown to have neuro-protective properties in which it stops damage in nerve cells. This protective barrier has results in reducing seizures in patients. Studies have shown that for brain injuries, cannabidiol repairs the nerve cells within the brain. Applied topically it has been found to stop the very contagious MRSA virus that has been very resistant to normal antibiotics.

OUTCO is San Diego's only legally licensed medical marijuana dispensary offering FREE Delivery and Accepting Debit Cards.

Source: http://www.truthonpot.com/2012/11/01/cannabis-a-powerful-antioxidant/