Thrilled to announce that the Holistic Cannabis Academy will be sharing the same stage as Dr. Raphael Mechoulam at the inaugural conference for the Institute of Cannabis Research at Colorado State in Pueblo. Cannabis researchers, educators, industry leaders and canna-curious consumers will gather at the Pueblo, CO campus for insights into the latest research findings.
The conference runs April 28-30 so check out the agenda and make your plans to attend. Please be sure to say hi to the HCA gals; they want to meet you.
Holistic Cannabis Academy co-founder Laura Lagano interviewed the grandfather of modern cannabis research Raphael Mechoulam on his experience with the ancient plant and what’s next.
Raphael Mechoulam shares his insights about how medical cannabis works. He’s adamant that there need to be more studies and trials to get more answers about the probable benefits of cannabis.
35 years ago, Mechoulam and his team did a clinical trial with cannabidiol (CBD). After testing on mice and seeing how it can help, they went on to treat humans and they were “amazed how good it was.”
“We found that out of the eight patients – eights patients that nothing was helping them anymore. Out of these eight patients, four had no attacks while they were given cannabidiol. Three patients had much less, and only one was not affected. That was 35 years ago.”
What has been happening for the past 35 years!
For over 30 years, nothing has happened since Mechoulam’s clinical trials. That is until parents caught wind of how it could help their children. This may be just the push that medical cannabis needs in order for clinical trials in the US to begin.
To learn more about the work of Raphael Mechoulam and clinical cannabis, read the full interview here.
Cannabidiol (CBD) could help individuals who suffer from anxiety, depression, and schizophrenia. But without clinical trials we don’t know the powerful effects CBD – a cannabinoid in cannabis – could have on the population. With various trials in countries such as Israel and Germany, it is time for the United States to take the leap and get started.Want to learn more about the ins and outs of holistic cannabis and helping others navigate their healthcare decisions? Then join us at the Holistic Cannabis Academy and let the learning begin!
As anyone with a chronic health condition will tell you, there are no easy answers.
Successfully preventing and treating health issues requires integrating various healing modalities such as nutrition, herbalism and aromatherapy.
Where can cannabis fit in? In a lot of places. Not a panacea, cannabis offers holistic therapeutic application in numerous symptoms and full-blown disease states.
If you joined us at the recent Women Grow Summit in Denver, you got a taste of the insights HCA co-founders and two other faculty members offered. If you couldn’t attend, here’s a little bit of what you missed.
The integration of nutrition and cannabis:
Cellular health is the foundation of health and wellness. The food choices you make have a direct impact on your cellular health. And, food and other lifestyle habits impact your endocannabinoid system – a vital physiological system that maintains balance in the body. Sugar, dietary fat, and stomach pH impact the effect of cannabis in the body. And, specific compounds in foods such as green tea, turmeric and soy can upregulate the endocannabinoid system, kicking healing into high gear. Of course, it’s helpful to know how to eat to optimize health and wellness. Cannabis terpenes: The aromatic scent molecules with therapeutic punch In examining the therapeutic value of cannabis, be sure to consider the critical importance of the plant’s aromatic molecules known as terpenes. Cannabis is a plant that contains terpenes such as—
· Caryophyllene – also found in carrots · Pinene – also found in pine needles · Linalool – also found in lavender · Limonene – also found in citrus · Myrcene – also found in mango Terpenes, or terpenoids, provide diverse therapeutic applications including antiseptic, antibacterial, and analgesic properties, underscoring importance in a true holistic healing lifestyle. Cannabis and health: Know your facts ‣ Cannabis works best when combined with holistic therapies such as massage, yoga, acupuncture, aromatherapy and meditation.‣ Embracing mind-body practices to deal with daily life stressors can optimize the impact of cannabis. Want to know more? Consider becoming cannabis competent through the Holistic Cannabis Academy, the only online cannabis education program focused on integrating cannabis with other holistic healing modalities.
Before you head to your friendly, neighborhood budtender for medical marijuana advice, take note: According to a small but telling new study conducted by Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research, “only 55% of the 55 dispensary workers they surveyed received any kind of formal training for their jobs, and only 20% had been trained on the health benefits of cannabis.”
While dispensary personnel can be helpful in determining what products may be best suited to meet the needs of adult cannabis users, medical marijuana patients living with one or more health conditions and potential medication interactions should consider consulting with a cannabis-trained healthcare professional.
Bottom line: the new study found that dispensary workers, or so-called budtenders, are, in most cases, woefully under and improperly trained to dispense medical advice. The study concluded that some recommendations were simply wrong or inappropriate when asked for advice about medical conditions. Compare these low-wage earners to personnel in health food stores who frequently provide inaccurate nutrition advice.
According to LiveScience, this new study found that “35 percent of the dispensary staff members had received customer service training; 26 percent had received business training; 20 percent, medical training; and 13 percent, scientific training. Twenty percent had received some other type training that might have involved learning about cannabis. Yet 94 percent of the study participants said that they had provided advice to customers. That included recommending which marijuana strains customers should use and advising customers on the benefits of marijuana for particular symptoms.
The staff members in the study said that the most common symptoms reported by their customers were chronic pain, insomnia and anxiety. Of all staff members in the study, 62 percent said that they always or often checked in or followed up with their customers after their purchases, to ask about their health conditions, according to the study, published Dec. 1 in the journal Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research. Overall, the staff members were more likely to recommend marijuana with an equal ratio of THC to CBD for people with anxiety, PTSD or trauma and Crohn’s disease, rather than recommending marijuana that is high in THC, the researchers found. This is in line with what experts recommend, the researchers said.
Staff members were also more likely to recommend marijuana with high levels of CBD and equal ratios of CBD to THC for customers with ALS, epilepsy and muscle spasms, rather than recommending marijuana high in THC. For people with epilepsy and the other conditions, this recommendation is also in line with research suggesting that CBD may indeed benefit patients.
However, some staff members made recommendations that were not in line with what is thought to be effective for a given condition, the researchers said. For example, 10 percent of staff members said they had recommended marijuana with high levels of CBD for people who wanted to increase their appetite, but research has shown that it is THC, and not CBD, that may help patients increase appetite, the researchers said.”
The study surveyed workers in Colorado, California, Arizona, Oregon, the District of Columbia, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Maine and included staff from both medical and non-medical dispensaries.
Does it matter that 13% of workers were recommending high-THC products to treat anxiety and another 7% recommended THC instead of CBD to treat epilepsy? Does it matter that well-meaning, but uneducated staff are providing health-related recommendations without the proper training or knowledge? Of course, it matters!
And that’s why we are in complete agreement with the Nancy Haug, study author and professor of addiction medicine at Palo Alto University in California when she says her finding underscores the need for dispensaries to properly train their staff members, and that the training should be based on current scientific literature involving marijuana.
Next question: where can dispensary staff, holistic practitioners, caregivers, patients, and the canna curious find comprehensive, science-based cannabis information? Enter the Holistic Cannabis Academy.
The Holistic Cannabis Academy is an education, training, and mentoring program founded by two registered dietitian nutritionists who have always been ahead of the curve. First, in food and nutrition communications before the field became saturated with media dietitians. Second, in culinary nutrition before the field was even invented. Third, in functional medicine, which remains an emerging area of practice. And now, in cannabis as medical marijuana leads the way in natural medicine.
To meet the demand for comprehensive medical cannabis education, the Academy is staffed with an esteemed, diverse faulty of knowledgeable and experienced leaders in the holistic cannabis world. Meet neurologist Dr. Ethan Russo, the researcher who developed the concept of clinical endocannabinoid deficiency and tone. Neuroscientist Michele Ross will wow you with her scientific review of both cannabis for mood disorders and for women’s health. Two clinicians who integrate cannabis therapeutics with functional medicine – Doctors Debbie Malka and Joe Cohen – will reveal their real-world clinical successes and challenges. These are just a few of the Academy’s 30-member faculty who are part of this ground-breaking holistic medical cannabis program.
The Holistic Cannabis Academy was created to help holistic health practitioners, caregivers, patients, dispensary professionals, and the canna-curious understand, learn, and confidently answer these and other critical questions:
What are primary cannabinoids in cannabis and what does the research show about their application in health and wellness? You’ll be amazed about what this ancient plant the therapeutic possibilities for improving symptoms and feeling better.
What is the endocannabinoid system and clinical endocannabinoid deficiency? It’s a foundational for improving understanding how cannabis can modulate health and wellness.
What questions should you ask for buying safe, quality cannabis products? Understand testing procedures and labeling is vital for savvy shopping recommendations.
How do the anti-inflammatory benefits of cannabis help with chronic pain? Learn about the other conditions for which cannabis has been approved in various states.
Why use cannabis with other modalities such as nutrition, aromatherapy, yoga, acupuncture, breath work, chiropractic care, and meditation? Plain and simple – so-called complementary and alternative modalities can upregulate the impact of cannabis.
Offers compressive online medical cannabis training and education options for healthcare practitioners, caregivers + cannabis curious individuals
Allows you or your dispensary staff to begin on your timeline and complete in accordance with a schedule convenient to you
Provides an opportunity to earn a certificate of competency as a Holistic Cannabis Practitioner™ or Holistic Cannabis Coach
Delivers content vetted by both medical marijuana and functional medicine clinicians and researchers plus cannabis attorneys and growers
Provides a turnkey education program with a cannabis education toolkit that includes references, client handouts, and presentation materials
“The integrity of what we provide our students rests squarely on who we are – holistic-minded health practitioners, first and foremost, says integrative clinical nutritionist Laura Lagano, MS, RDN, CDN, co-founder of the Holistic Cannabis Academy. “While other cannabis education programs are available, many are produced by business people who have little or no hands-on patient experience. We are our target audience – health and wellness professionals committed to holistic healing.”
End the Knowledge Gap and Become Cannabis Competent!
If you or your staff are in search of reliable, up-to-date training in medical marijuana and the holistic use of cannabis to help address the needs and concerns of others seeking advice, learn more about the Holistic Cannabis Academy’s two online programs: the Practitioner Program and the Counselor Program. Each are designed to offer you exactly what you need and the ongoing support you want.
Reposted with permission from Holistic Cannabis Academy faculty, Ezra Parzbok
A client recently came to me for a consult asking advice about her son with autism. He is a bright, cautious, and sometimes overly anxious 14 year old who like many, has had a negative and debilitating response to SSRIs (anti-anxiety and anti depression drugs.)
To date, many conventional medications had been tried on her son with little success. Since many adults successfully treat anxiety, depression, and mood disorders with an appropriate, and effective dose of marijuana, and as someone who (in her college days) had personally experienced the calming and focusing effects of cannabis, this mom thought that perhaps an alternative, natural drug for her son’s anxiety might be worth a try.
But, being a concerned and informed mom, she found the drug facts web page from the National Institute of Drug Abuse. Although she was open to having her son explore cannabis medicinally, she sheepishly brought me the literature and expressed how “alarming” the data was on the “harmful effects” of cannabis.
Without going in to too much detail, phrases like, “altered perceptions,” “impaired coordination,” “difficulty with thinking and problem solving,” “disrupted learning,” “lost cognitive abilities,” “psychosis,” and talk of lost IQ points for heavy users are naturally alarming to any parent. (Luckily, “life-threatening” is not on the list.)
In my research, or in explaining when and how to use marijuana, I have a basic rule; take the conventional medication used to treat the symptom and compare its harms and benefits side by side with the data on cannabis. Then, with your family and doctor, make an informed, objective decision about which is the better treatment.
There has been more research confirming the potential for marijuana to lead to psychosis in users, so firstly, I wanted to know the definition of substance-induced psychosis.
“Psychosis manifests as disorientation and visual hallucinations.[1] It is a state in which a person’s mental capacity to recognize reality, communicate, and relate to others is impaired, thus interfering with the capacity to deal with life demands.”
Psychosis is a scary word, but it’s definition is less scary. Many patients’ experience of their own anxiety, depression, and mood disorders could be defined in a similar way. As a marijuana advisor, I would also say that if you are experiencing the above symptoms using marijuana, alcohol, recreational drugs, or conventional medications such as Benzodiazepines, (Benzos) then you need to re-evaluate your dosage and usage.
The fact is, Benzos (despite being known to be addictive and potentially leading to psychosis) are widely accepted and used to treat mood disorders in adolescents. Why? Because it’s felt that the benefits far outweigh the negative side effects.
So the question is, do the benefits derived from treatment using medical marijuana not only outweigh any negative side effects but possibly match or surpass the efficacy of the Benzo currently being used?
This is info on Benzos from an adolescent drug addiction website:
“Doctors prescribe benzodiazepines to treat anxiety, panic attacks, seizure disorders, and insomnia… [They] can result in a variety of negative side effects, including amnesia, drowsiness, dizziness, blurred vision, slurred speech, irritability, disturbing dreams and hostility, confusion, forgetfulness, depression, insomnia, lightheadedness, mood changes, tremors, muscle cramps and weakness, staggering, dry mouth, menstrual changes, sexual dysfunction, anorexia, hypotension, and problems with urination. Withdrawal from benzodiazepines is long and unpleasant, and can be life threatening. A teen can die if he or she stops using benzodiazepines too quickly.” Talk about “alarming.”
My heart goes out to the parent who has to choose between Benzos or SSRI’s for their child’s mood disorder, but cannot even consider marijuana for treating the above ailments. This mom, however has a choice. Should she ultimately make an informed choice about using medical cannabis for her son, her son will need to be on board about that decision as well.
All drugs should be held to the same standard. But, we should not be fooled in to thinking that cannabis is a dangerous psychosis-inducing drug and that conventional medication prescribed every day to children is not dangerous.
Parzbok is a medical marijuana consultant in Northampton, MA. He has advised + guided hundreds of patients and their families about the appropriate + effective use of cannabis in all forms.
A veteran educator with a Masters from Bard College, Ezra set out to fill the cannabis education gap. His goal for patients is to reduce symptoms, increase quality of life and decrease harmful medications.
He seeks to elevate the field, as well as the dialogue surrounding it, to create a holistic and healthful approach.
The criminalization of cannabis has lead to the creation of a synthetic cannabinoid analogue black market that is far more dangerous than the cannabis plant, a new study reveals.
A revealing new study published in the journal Clinical Toxicology shows that people under the influence of synthetic cannabinoids (also known as “spice”) undergo far greater impairments than those using marijuana. In the study, entitled “Differential physiological and behavioural cues observed in individuals smoking botanical marijuana versus synthetic cannabinoid drugs,” researchers sought to measure performance and behaviour by reviewing arrest reports generated by law enforcement drug recognition experts (DRE) to evaluate motorists arrested for impaired driving.
Researchers used the following study methods:
Data were from a retrospective, convenience sample of de-identified arrest reports from impaired drivers suspected of using synthetic cannabinoids (n = 100) or marijuana (n = 33). Inclusion criteria were arrested drivers who admitted to using either synthetic cannabinoids or marijuana, or who possessed either synthetic cannabinoids or marijuana; who also had a DRE evaluation at the scene; and whose blood screens were negative for alcohol and other drugs. Exclusion criteria were impaired drivers arrested with other intoxicants found in their drug or alcohol blood screens. Blood samples were analyzed for 20 popular synthetic cannabinoids by using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and THC-COOH were quantified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Statistical significance was determined by using Fisher’s exact test or Student’s t-test, where appropriate, to compare the frequency of characteristics of those in the synthetic cannabinoid group versus those in the marijuana group.”
The results were reported as follows:
16 synthetic cannabinoid and 25 marijuana records met selection criteria; the drivers of these records were arrested for moving violations. Median age for the synthetic cannabinoid group (n = 16, 15 males) was 20 years (IQR 19-23 years). Median age for the marijuana group (n = 25, 21 males) was 20 years (IQR 19-24 years) (p = 0.46). In the synthetic cannabinoid group, 94% (15/16) admitted to using synthetic cannabinoids. In the marijuana group, 96% (24/25) admitted to using marijuana. Blood was available for testing in 96% (24/25) of the marijuana group; 21 of these 24 had quantitative levels of THC (mean + SD = 10.7 + 5 ng/mL) and THC-COOH (mean + SD = 57.8 + 3 ng/mL). Blood was available for testing in 63% (10/16) of the synthetic cannabinoid group, with 80% (8/10) of these positive for synthetic cannabinoids. Those in the synthetic cannabinoid group were more frequently confused (7/16 [44%] vs. 0/25 [0%], p ≤ 0.003) and disoriented (5/16 [31%] vs. 0/25 [0%], p ≤ 0.003), and more frequently had incoherent, slurred speech (10/16 [63%] vs. 3/25 [12%], p = 0.0014) and horizontal gaze nystagmus (8/16 [50%] vs. 3/25 [12%], p = 0.01) than those in the marijuana group.”
The researchers concluded:
Drivers under the influence of synthetic cannabinoids were more frequently impaired with confusion, disorientation, and incoherent, slurred speech than drivers under the influence of marijuana in this population evaluated by drug recognition experts.”
This study drives to the heart of the problem that results from criminalizing of marijuana, namely, the subsequent creation of a burgeoning black market of synthetic cannabis analogues. The synthetic “spice” market is a direct result of the effort to evade laws that make possessing and using marijuana plants illegal. The novel new synthetic cannabinoids exist in a legal loophole:
There are many different structures of synthetic cannabinoids because the Controlled Substance Act has outlawed certain structures. A chemist can alter an already known structure by changing a minor detail creating a new legal drug.” [Source]
In the study, motor vehicle crashes occurred in 31% (5/16) of the cases involving synthetic cannabis users and in only 4% (1/25) of the cases involving marijuana users. While the sample size of the study was small, it may be an indication relative degree of impairment between the two substances is significant. This is also reflected in the fact that disorientation and confusion occurred, respectively, in 31% and 44% of drivers under the influence of synthetic cannabinoids, but did not occur in any of the drivers under the influence of marijuana. Also, incoherent speech and horizontal gaze nystagmus [an involuntary jerking of the eye] were 4 to5 times more common in those under the influence of synthetic cannabinoids.
Comparisons between synthetic cannabis and marijuana users.
The inherent therapeutic value of cannabis and its many natural cannabinoids is becoming more commonly recognized (use our cannabis database to view the first-hand research) and on a state-by-state basis, the fundamentally irrational criminalization of cannabis for both medical and recreational use is being overturned. One positive result of this shift may be a deceleration of the concerning increase in the use of synthetic cannabinoids.
Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of GreenMedInfo or its staff.
One thing’s for sure – getting old is never easy. In fact, it’s quite painful. How painful? According to a 2014 report published by Time Magazine last year, “Americans (both men and women) filled 4.3 billion prescriptions and doled out nearly $374 billion on medicine in 2014 – hitting the highest level since 2001.” This dollar figure, according to new data from the IMS Institute for Healthcare Informatics, is up 13% in 2014 compared with the year before.
Is pain big business? You bet.
As a result, many of these people seek out conventional treatments to address these ever-increasing aches and pains. And by conventional, we mean pharmaceuticals and surgery, of course.
Yet for others – and a growing number at that – the real lifesaver is medical cannabis.
Consider: the rate at which 55 to 59 year-olds are using this ancient plant for various health concerns associated with aging has tripled from 2002 to 2008, according to NBC News. Many of these older healthcare consumers are specifically seeking out cannabis alternatives to address and combat their growing levels of eye-related discomfort and concerns.
How important are your eyes?
Try walking around for five minutes without any sight, and you realize just how important eye health truly is.
Unfortunately, as we age, our eyes – like other organs in the body – become more susceptible to degenerative disease. Often, these degenerative diseases – despite conventional medical intervention and treatment options – can lead to permanent disability. In fact, according to The National Academies Press, following cataracts, glaucoma is a primary cause of blindness around the globe, impacting 60 million people.
Common eye diseases include –
Uveitis Uveitis is the name for a group of diseases that cause inflammation of the uvea, or the middle layer of the eye. The uvea is where most of the blood vessels of the eye reside. According to WebMD, “These diseases can destroy eye tissue and even cause eye loss.” People with immune system conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, ulcerative colitis and AIDS are often susceptible to uveitis, experiencing blurred vision, eye pain, eye redness and light sensitivity.
Cataracts Cataracts are cloudy areas that develop within the eye lens. They form slowly and when they begin to affect vision, are often successfully removed through surgery.
Glaucoma Glaucoma is the name of a group of diseases that affect the nerve of the eye. While some pressure in the eye is normal, the optic nerve can become damaged when there is an attack on the cells in the eyes’ retinas. This can happen slowly and progressively over time (the most common form), or acutely due to trauma to the eye, blocked blood vessels or any number of inflammatory disorders in the eye.
Retinal Disorders As a thin lining on the back of your eye, the retina is made up of cells that collect images and pass them along to the brain. Retinal disorders prevent this transfer. Common retinal disorders include:
Macular Degeneration Age-related macular degeneration (ARMD) causes a breakdown of a small portion of the retina called the macula.
Diabetic Retinopathy Diabetic Retinopathy causes damage to the blood vessels of the retina due to diabetes.
Retinal Detachment Retinal Detachment results from a separation of the retina from the layer beneath the retina.
Back in the day…
While there was early buzz in the 1970s, regarding the therapeutic use of marijuana and THC in particular to reduce intraocular pressure (a key contributor to glaucoma) the medical establishment has been quick to suggest that marijuana as an effective medication, isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.
Why? Because until recently, the primary use of cannabis to treat glaucoma and study it’s use in the treatment of glaucoma used strains of marijuana that contained high levels of THC.
As a result, short-sighted conclusions regarding the potential efficacy of cannabis as a treatment for glaucoma have been drawn.
According to the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, “Glaucoma ranks among the most frequently cited reasons for using medical marijuana and is one of the indications for which the federal government once granted permission for compassionate marijuana use (see Chapter 2 and Chapter 11). Yet, the The National Academies Press goes on to state:
“ There is no question that marijuana-based medicines can be used to lower IOP. But like several other glaucoma medications that have fallen into disuse, their drawbacks outweigh their benefits. Marijuana reduces blood pressure and produces psychological effects that some people —particularly the elderly—find intolerable. Several patients in these studies also reported that their hearts pounded or raced and that they felt uncomfortably anxious after taking cannabinoids. All of these effects could prove especially problematic for people at risk for cardiovascular disease and stroke; moreover, reduced blood pressure could decrease blood flow to the optic nerve, counteracting the benefits of reducing IOP. Finally, their short duration of effect means that marijuana-based medicines must be taken up to eight times a day, which most patients are unlikely to do.
However, they go on to say, “It is possible that future research could reveal a therapeutic effect for isolated cannabinoids other than THC or produce synthetic cannabinoid analogs that last longer and have fewer side effects. But the most promising line of research for treating glaucoma lies in the development of therapies that can protect or rescue the optic nerve from damage or that can restore its blood supply.”
Are they ruling out cannabinoids as a therapeutic agent? No, they’re not, but they didn’t call for more research at the time either.
And it was only three years ago in 2014 that a blog post from the Glaucoma Research Foundation, stated “Although marijuana can lower the eye pressure, recommending this drug in any form for the treatment of glaucoma at the present time does not make sense given its side effects and short duration of action”
Time and time again, the medical establishment continues to take the stance that, although “marijuana has shown efficacy in treating glaucoma and other eye related diseases, the downside of THC negates its therapeutic value.
That, it seems, is their story… and they’re sticking with it.
Well thankfully, ‘the times, they are a changin’… as is the research and the negative attitudes towards cannabis.
Today: Can cannabis treat and prevent eye disease?
If they haven’t done so already, it’s fully expected that all 29 states and the District of will all include glaucoma as a qualifying condition, giving you the right to use medical cannabis for the relief of your glaucoma.
The Huffington Post reveals: “It’s long been accepted that marijuana has direct benefits for glaucoma patients, but a new study suggests that pot may also prevent blindness for sufferers of another disease.
That disease is retinitis pigmentosis, a degenerative condition that destroys the millions of microscopic light sensors (known as photoreceptors) in the human eye and has no known cure.
Now, researchers at the University of Alicante in Spain believe medical cannabis may be able to “significantly slow down the destruction of those light sensors.”
Age-Related Macular Degeneration: Cannabis can help
Age-related macular degeneration, or AMD, is another eye disease commonly associated with aging that affects the macula – the part of the eye that sees all the wonderful fine detail in life.
The macula enables us to enjoy activities such as reading, browsing on computer screens, driving around town, and even recognizing faces.
AMD is a gradual and sneaky disease that destroys sharp, central vision making it difficult to see everyday objects with clarity, causing 90% of legal blindness cases.
It’s believed that cannabinoids can significantly help reduce MD symptoms. How? Cannabinoids reduce ocular pressure – they’re anti-inflammatory, and anti-angiogenesis. Cannabinoids have also been shown to protect cells, have anti-aging properties, are neuro-protective, lower blood pressure, protect retina cells, relieve depression and inhibit VEGF growth. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a signaling protein that promotes the growth of new blood vessels.
Clearly, more research and efficacy studies need to be done, but the initial results of cannabinoid research are indeed, very promising.
Diabetic Retinopathy: New hope on the horizon
Diabetic retinopathy is the leading cause of blindness in working-age adults, affecting nearly 16 million Americans, according to Oregoneyes.net.
Again, medical cannabis may have application.
“Early studies indicate cannabidiol works as a consummate multi-tasker to protect the eye from growing a plethora of leaky blood vessels, the hallmark of diabetic retinopathy,” says Dr. Gregory I. Liou, molecular biologist at the Medical College of Georgia.
Dr. Liou, who recently received a $300,000 grant from the American Diabetes Association, wants to intervene earlier in the process, as healthy relationships inside the retina first start to go bad.
In fact, he hopes “the compound in marijuana may one day be given along with insulin to stop the early changes that set the stage for damaged or destroyed vision.” The Science Daily article goes on to state “Cannabinoid receptors are found throughout the body and endogenous cannabinoids are produced to act on them.” According to Dr. Liou, “Their function is very different from organ to organ but in the central nervous system, cannabinoid receptors are responsible for the neutralization process that should occur after a nerve impulse is finished.”
Glaucoma: The eyes have it
Eye disease has been identified as one of the top 10 diseases where cannabis can have a profound medicinal impact. A recent CNN story explains: “Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of blindness. Scientists have looked at THC’s impact on this disease on the optic nerve and found it can lower eye pressure, but it may also lower blood pressure, which could harm the optic nerve due to a reduced blood supply. Will only non-THC cannabis compounds prove to be the “answer”?
Perhaps. But not so fast.
Scientists are currently looking into cannabinoid therapies applied directly to the eye, as an alternative to systemic administration via inhalation and injestion. This could negate the potential issues surrounding optic nerve damage due to reduced blood pressure.
In addition, THC has not only been found to be anti-inflammatory, but has also been found to preserve the nerves, according to another recent small study.”
“Cannabis use may temporarily relieve intra-ocular pressure, but it does not cure glaucoma. Although cannabis use has been shown to decrease IOP and has a favorable safety profile in general, its use is limited by:
the fact that it only works for a few hours before another administration is needed, which is important because psychoactive effects may decrease the ability to perform certain duties necessary in daily life, such as driving, and certain side effects that impact the heart and must be carefully considered or avoided in patients with heart issues.
Additionally, other therapies for glaucoma may be more or equally effective and have fewer side effects than whole-plant cannabis use, due partially to their direct application to the eye (rather than systemically) and a subsequent reduced potential for negative or inconvenient side effects.
However, for patients experiencing certain negative side effects from standard therapies, whole-plant cannabis use may be an alternative option for managing high intra-ocular pressure and potentially certain symptoms, as well. Due to the potential for whole-plant cannabis use to decrease blood pressure and therefore blood supply to the optic nerve (potentially resulting in damage), as well as its potential to cause other negative side effects (especially for patients with heart issues), use should be carefully considered with and monitored by a healthcare professional. Increasing research on the use of cannabinoids in topical treatments may one day lead to new therapies for reducing intra-ocular pressure in patients with glaucoma.”
Tomorrow: So what’s the take-away?
As legalization continues to spread across the United States and around the globe, researchers continue to uncover and test therapeutic cannabis compounds that both prevent and treat a wide variety of degenerative and painful diseases – including those related to the eye.
We need to study the details and treat the individual. Just as each human body is different, so too is the optimal mix of therapeutic cannabinoids. The trick is to find what works for each person being treated. One size, one color, one shape, does not fit all.
What needs to be studied? Nearly every aspect of this ancient plant and its interaction with individuals; Synergistic effects, dosing, strains and co-morbidities just to name a few factors and variables. Fully funded and extensive research will ensure ongoing progress in this growing field of holistic cannabis.
And as we continue to study, dissect and harness the power of this ancient herb, we believe that as one human race, we will finally be able to holistically address the wide range of the maladies we, as unique individuals, face as we grow and age.
The great news is, there is real hope for all of us who will invariably face these mounting health concerns. To be sure, we’ve only just begun.
Be the change you want to see
The Holistic Cannabis Academy has been established to continue to shed light on the holistic use of cannabis to improve the lives of people everywhere. The Holistic Cannabis Academy provides comprehensive medical cannabis education wherever you are, whomever you are, giving you the knowledge and credentials you need to help yourself and others manage their health concerns naturally using medicinal cannabis.
