The Benefits of Cannabis with Tuberculosis

For thousands of years cannabis has been used as a folk medicine to treat tuberculosis.

Cannabis is a powerful medicine for its anti-microbial properties. Marijuana can treat infections that have shown drug resistance such as TB, pneumonia and MRSA.(Source)

Tuberculosis is a highly contagious bacterial infection that is transmitted through airborne particles. TB needs oxygen and therefore proliferates in the lungs. It causes a chronic cough, weakness, fever, weight loss and sometimes death. It is common to become a carrier of the disease without showing symptoms. A weak immune system increases susceptibility to the disease.

TB is second only to HIV/AIDS as the greatest killer worldwide. In 2013, there were 9 million new cases of tuberculosis worldwide with only 9,582 cases of TB in the US. This same year 1.5 million died from the disease.(Source)

Cannabis has been used as a folk medicine for TB worldwide. In India, cannabis is grown in the location where a cobra snake was killed. They believe this gives the plant stronger medicinal properties.(Source) The Zulu's of South Africa use cannabis with hot water infusions as medicine to treat TB and other respiratory ailments. It is still commonplace in Mexico to smoke cannabis to treat TB.

Dating back to pre-WWII in Czechoslovakia, it is often produced as a recipe of ground hemp seed steeped in warm milk. A 30-year study for this remedy shows significant improvement in symptoms and cures for TB. It is believed that the high protein content of edestin in hemp seed helps in the treatment as well as immunity. The high content of linoleic acid in cannabis has shown to destroy TB bacteria.(Source)

Source:

http://www.cdc.gov/tb/publications/factsheets/statistics/tbtrends.htm

http://www.who.int/features/factfiles/tuberculosis/en/

http://sensiseeds.com/en/blog/cannabis-treatment-tuberculosis/

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

The Benefits of Cannabinol – CBN

Cannabinol - CBN

Cannabinol is a cannabinoid in marijuana that aids in sleep, anti-bacterial and skin problems. Cannabinol target receptors in the body to administer the medicinal characteristics. The way cannabis is grown and stored affects the concentration of Cannabinol.

One of the main benefits for Cannabinol is treatment for insomnia. Many of the studies are from research with a drug containing cannabis named Nabilone. Nabilone is a cannabinol derivative of cannabis.(Source) Nabilone was found effective in helping with sleep for patients with fibromyalgia (Source).

CBN is superior to THC for absorbing through the skin making a great topical application. The anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties can help skin and protect against bacterial infections. Studies have shown that CBN can protect against MRSA(Source) and aid in skin burns and psoriasis.(Source)

Cannabinol CBN is mildly psycho-active. CBN effects the CB1 receptors very slightly and targets the CB2 receptors more. The effects of cannabinol are very low compared to THC however it can give different treatment results. (Source)

Trace amounts of Cannabinol is found in cannabis. It is created through metabolized THC or aged through oxidation. There are a couple ways to achieve a higher concentration of Cannabinol. You should harvest the cannabis plant late to allow the oxidation to occur and increase the CBN. Cannabis purchased at a dispensary should be left out in air and light to age. A higher concentration of THC will result in more CBN.(Source)

Source:

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

http://www.medicaljane.com/2013/08/19/cannabinol-cbn-will-put-you-to-bed/

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18681481

http://drsircus.com/medicine/transdermal-medical-marijuana-skin-cancer-treatment

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1204278

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20007734