The Benefits of Cannabis and Phantom Limb Pain

Phantom Limb

Phantom Limb is the sensation of a limb that has been amputated. Nerve endings from the area of the amputation send signals to the brain. This can result in pain that is sharp or throbbing. Cannabis is unique in treating the perception of pain. (Source)

Phantom Limb Syndrome is a result of neuropathic pain. Cannabis has been shown to be a neuroprotectant and reduce nerve pain.(Source) Most phantom limb pain subsides six months after the amputation. Pain that prolongs can be more difficult to treat. Brain perception of pain has been shown to be improved with the use of cannabis.(Source)

Their is lack of substantial research to support treatment of phantom limb pain with marijuana. Research shows a variety of patient responses to different therapies. Veterans that self medicate with cannabis have been the leading advocates of the benefits of cannabis for phantom limb.

Source:

http://www.webmd.com/pain-management/guide/phantom-limb-pain

http://www.iom.edu/Reports/2011/Relieving-Pain-in-America-A-Blueprint-for-Transforming-Prevention-Care-Education-Research.aspx

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23237736

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2430692/

http://www.researchgate.net/profile/Catherine_Mercier/publication/23951085_Training_with_virtual_visual_feedback_to_alleviate_phantom_limb_pain/links/0912f50f7fc6372406000000.pdf

Testimonial - Thought I would Never Try Marijuana

Medical Marijuana Testimonial	After spending 24 years in the military I never thought I would ever use marijuana. I even voted against it. After being prescribed various medications for a number of my conditions I didn't see any improvements.I did research on all my medications and the side effects were disturbing. Read about medical marijuana, tried it and I am glad I did. It truly helps me.
Strains you Like	green crack, blue dream, fruit loops, mango kush, cotton candy, sour diesel, girl scout cookies
Conditions	Arthritis Gastrointestinal Migraine
Symptoms	Inflammation Muscle Spasms Pain: MuscleJoint Pain: Neuropathic Pain: Phantom Limb

How Cannabis Effects the Endocannabinoid System

Cannabis has a profound effect on our body due to it's influence on our endocannabinoid system. The origin of its name comes from the cannabis plant. It is a system of lipids and receptors that maintain health creating a homeostasis environment in the body. The endocannabinoid system is found throughout our body in the brain, organs, connective tissues, glands and immune cells. The prevalence of the endocannabinoid system in the body is the reason cannabis can treat many diverse diseases and symptoms.

Environmental factors can cause disruption in the bodies health. Stability is brought back with the endocannabinoid system. The goal for the lipids and receptors are to stabilize numerous body functions including appetite, pain, inflammation, mood, memory, muscle spasms, protect nerves, immunity, and bone density. Cannabis would be the closest cure-all for its ability to affect so many functions in the body.

The endocannabis system is made up of ligands like anandamide and 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG). The cannabinoid CB1, CB2, TRPV1 and G protein-coupled receptors are part of the endocannabinoid system. Together these ligands and receptors control the stabilization of the body.

Cannabis can encourage more endocannabinoids and receptors to be made by the body. First-time users of cannabis may not feel an effect from cannabis. As the body increases cannabinoids it responds more effectively to a cannabis treatment. Smaller doses have larger effects for the receptors to respond to marijuana.(Source)

Source:

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

http://norml.org/library/item/introduction-to-the-endocannabinoid-system

Cannabis Begins it's Medicinal Benefits with Cannabigerolic acid (CBGa)

CBGa is Cannabis in the Raw

All cannabinoids start out as cannabigerolic acid (CBGa). Eating raw fresh cannabis that contains CBGa has medicinal benefits with different effects than other cannabinoids. As a result of it's non-psychoactive nature CBGa can be consumed in larger quantities than THC.

Fresh and raw cannabis typically breaks down CBGa into other cannabinoids quickly after harvest. Some industrial hemp strains have shown to have CBGa that doesn't convert to other cannabinoids. It has been speculated that these strains hold a recessive gene which doesn't allow this conversion. If a strain has a high CBGa content then smoking it will add heat and change it to CBG.(Source)

CBGa has been found to interact with a different cannabinoid receptor than THC. Ruth Ross from the University of Aberdeen found that CBGa was an antagonist for the cannabinoid receptor GPR55. She found that CBGa and CBDa were 2-4 times stronger in affecting GPR55 than CBD and CBG.(Source) GPR55 has shown to target inflammatory pain, neuropathic pain and aid in bone development.(Source)

Dr. William Courtney ,a leading physician advocating the use of raw cannabis, says:

“If you heat the plant, you get decarboxylated THCa – THC, and you will have psychoactive effects with only 10mg of THC. If it is not heated, you can take from 500 to 600 mg of THCa, use it as essential nutrient and enjoy the antioxidant and neuroprotective properties that these high doses offer you.”

In the raw form cannabis gives a powerful dietary component of essential fatty acids, essential aminoacids, fibers, enzymes, vitamins, minerals, flavonoids, carotenoids, terpenes and of course phytocannabinoid acids. (Source)

Source:

http://www.medicaljane.com/2013/08/03/cannabigerol-cbg-is-a-minor-cannabinoid-with-major-impact/

http://www.jbc.org/content/287/1/91.full.pdf

http://grantome.com/grant/NIH/R01-DA023204-08

http://www.alchimiaweb.com/blogen/dr-courtneys-raw-cannabis-juice/

CBD Tinctures

CBD Tinctures at OUTCO

OUTCO offers CBD Tinctures at the El Cajon Dispensary or Free Delivery for your convenience. Patients describe Cannabidiol (CBD) as treatment for pain, depression, anxiety, muscle spasms, and inflammation. Clinical research has shown CBD to be anti-bacterial, reduce cancer cells, a bone stimulant and a neuroprotectant. CBD is the cannabinoid in marijuana that has the most known benefits without a psychotic effect.

Typically patients use the tincture by putting 1-3 drops under their tongue. More drops can be used as needed. OUTCO has a proprietary method of extracting the CBD to a high concentrated form. Tinctures come in a choice of glycerin or alcohol. Glycerin patients describe as tasting better, while alcohol seems to provide more immediate relief.

Cannabis and Pain Management

One hundred million Americans suffer from chronic pain.(Source) Three to four percent of the global population suffer from neuropathic pain. (Source) Pain contributes to feeling depressed, concentration, energy level, ability to sleep well and enjoyment of life. (Source) Cannabis has been found to be an effective treatment in neuropathic pain, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis and pain from cancer. Cannabis has been found to be safer with less side effects than opiate medication.(Source)

Cannabis has been found to effectively relieve neuropathic pain. Both Cannabis and Opiates target the G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). These receptors effect the Central Nervous System CNS using the CB1 and CB2 Receptors, which effect pain-sensation, and mood notably. (Source)

Fibromyalgia is a muscleskeletal pain resulting in fatigue and pain in the neck, spine, shoulder and hips. Three to six million Americans suffer from fibromyalgia. In 2006, a study in Germany giving THC to patients showed a significant relief in symptoms. A study in 2008 with 40 patients gave a synthetic cannabinoid and showed significant improvements in pain. And in 2011 a study in Barcelona and the patients reported significant relief in pain, stiffness, relaxation, somnolence and feeling of well-being.(Source)

Cannabis has been found in studies in Australia and Britain showed that 20% of patients suffering from Rheumatoid Arthrites (RA) used medical marijuana to help treat their symptoms.(Source) Cannabis is an anti-inflammatory and helps to turn off pain-sensations in the nerves from the interactions it has with CB1 and CB2 Receptors. Results in a study in Britain showed that their were significant improvements in pain, sleep and inflammation.(Source) Cannabidiol CBD found in marijuana has shown to stop the progression of Rheumatoid Arthritis and protected joints. (Source)

A research study showed that advanced cancer patients were able to reduce their pain by 30% using a THC:CBD extract. In the study, with 177 patients, opiate medications did not provide the necessary relief. The placebo and THC alone had similar results to the opiate medication where the THC:CBD cannabis extract showed a noticeable relief in pain.(Source)

Cannabis has been found to have less side effects than opiate medication. A study has found that states that have legal medical marijuana has less mortality rates due to overdose in pain medication. (Source) Cannabis has been found to help patients addicted to opiate drugs withdraw from addiction by replacing with medical marijuana, and perceived to help pain more.(Source) Pain sufferers that have achieved a tolerance with opiate medication can feel a better relief by replacing treatment with cannabis.(Source) Cannabis can be used with opioid therapies to help lower the dose of opiates, thereby reducing their side effects. (Source)

Source:

http://books.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=13172&page=1

http://www.prweb.com/pdfdownload/8052240.pdf

2006 Voices of Chronic Pain Survey. (American Pain Foundation)

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

http://ajh.sagepub.com/content/28/5/297

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=25154332

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=19896326

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22880540

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=22048225

http://www.humboldt.edu/hjsr/docs/fwhjsrparagraph/Issue%2035%20Second%20Article%20Peters.pdf

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=19857996

http://rheumatology.oxfordjournals.org/content/45/1/50.abstract

http://norml.org/library/item/rheumatoid-arthritis#3

Cannabis as a Treatment for Diabetes

Diabetics can have many reasons to use cannabis as a way to reduce diabetes related problems. Here is a bullet point list of the problems that diabetics face and how marijuana can help from letfreedomgrow.com:

• Increases Blood Flow to Extremities - Cannabis inhibits the overproduction of prostoglandins, a hormone that dilates and constricts blood flow. Cannabis is a vasodialator that helps blood flow. Marijuana is a powerful antioxidant which helps decrease free radical damage and helps inflammation. For these reasons it allows cannabis to be a great treatment for arterial inflammation, common in diabetics. Topical creams on the extremities can help with instant relief.


• Over Time Reduces Blood Pressure – This is in conjunction with the previous from being a vasodialator. If cooking butter and oil is replaced with Cannabis oil and butter, the saturated fats from the old method of cooking will be eliminated and replaced with essential fatty acids.


• Muscle Cramps and Gastro Intestinal Upset – Many diabetics have these symptoms which are helped by cannabis for its ability to be neuroprotective. Cannabis helps the nerve covering from inflammation. Cannibidiol form of cannabis is best known for counteracting spasms.


• Blood Sugar Levels - One problem with research on cannabis is the criminalization of the drug that inhibits proper research to find if a treatment is conclusive or not. Sugar level may be regulated through cannabis from a reduction in Catecholamines. This is a hormone from the adrenal gland that produces epinephrine ( adrenalin ), norepinephrine and dopamine from emotional stress. Cannabis cookies can be used if in moderation to help control blood sugar levels.


• Restless Leg Syndrome RLS – Many diabetics suffer from restless leg syndrome and the cramping of the muscles that may be a result from the nervous system can be reduced by Cannabis in the way it controls the prostoglandins to relax muscles and it's neuroprotective properties. Using a nightime vapor or smoking before sleeping can reduce the symptoms, with the strains of Oregon 90, Lemon Haze, and White Berry being the best.

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

Source:
http://www.letfreedomgrow.com/cmu/diabetes_5.htm

The Hypocrisy of Marijuana as a Schedule 1 Drug

Cannabis, or Marijuana is a schedule 1 drug, along with ecstasy, heroin, and LSD. The definition of a schedule 1 drug is that it is dangerous and has no foreseen medical use with a high abuse rate. The government of the United States who applied this category also holds a patent ( US6630507 B1 ) for Cannabis as an antioxidant and neuroprotectant. By their very own definition, the classification of marijuana is not correct.

People have been found to have died from overdoses of alcohol, nicotine, caffeine, but so far not one reported case of cannabis. Cannabis has been found to reduce cancer tumors, help treat diabetes, restlessleg syndrome, symptoms of schizophrenia, Parkinson's, Glaucoma, Celiac Disease,  help with pain and nausea and improve cardiovascular function.

Sanjay Gupta recently aired a documentary on CNN called “WEED” where he speaks of the benefits, and this video sums up real quickly the hypocrisy of cannabis.

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