MEDICAL CANNABIS BLOG

Marijuana, cannabis, marijuana, pot, weed – no matter what it is called, marijuana has been demonized for years as being an evil drug. Despite positive research from universities of study in many countries, medical marijuana (not to be confused with cannabis for recreational use) is still a matter of strong debate. Oddly enough, the debate is hottest not between the general citizens of a country, but between the medical community and the relevant governments.

In places where using medical marijuana is legal, studies are ongoing and often produce results that surprise many in the medical community. Others feel the results only serve to enforce the belief that marijuana is not the demon plant propaganda has said it is.

Canadians and Crohn's Disease
Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis (related to Crohn's disease) are serious problems for more over 170,000 Canadians. In fact, Canada has one of the highest rates of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in the world. Sufferers may have persistent diarrhea, fever, cramping and abdominal pain, and rectal bleeding. Many lose their appetite, which can cause unhealthy weight loss, while some are plagued by nausea and vomiting. Crohn's disease can affect the joints, liver, skin and eyes, as well, and commonly causes great fatigue.

Crohn's disease is chronic; periods of remission are mixed with periods of intense activeness. Unfortunately, the medical community has been unable to find the cause of this disease, although they believe it has to do with an overactive immune system, initially triggered by outside influences. The Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA) states:

"Many scientists now believe that the interaction of an outside agent (such as a virus or bacterium) with the body's immune system may trigger the disease, or that such an agent may cause damage to the intestinal wall, initiating or accelerating the disease process. "

They further state that, "Because there is no cure for Crohn's disease, the goal of medical treatment is to suppress the inflammatory response. This step accomplishes two important goals: It allows the intestinal tissue to heal and it also relieves the symptoms of fever, Diarrhea, and abdominal pain. Once the symptoms are under control (this is known as inducing remission), medical therapy is used to reduce the frequency of disease flares (this is known as maintaining remission, or maintenance). " – CCFA

Medicinal Therapy for Crohn's Disease

Much of the traditional medication (the medical therapy referred by CCFA) used to treat Crohn's disease includes a mixture of anti-inflammatory, antibodies, immune modifiers / suppressants and corticosteroids. Indeed, traditional medical treatments have become a cornucopia of pharmaceutical concoctions.

As with most man-made medicinal products, each treatment also causes its own symptoms. For instance, the immunosuppressive drugs can cause nausea, abdominal pain, diarrhea and vomiting. Steroids also cause these symptoms, with the addition of anxiety and depression, as well as bone thinning, peptic ulcers and other issues with prolonged use.

Mesalamine, an anti-inflammatory, can cause mild side effects like hair loss, headaches and itching. However, it can also cause severe side effects such as pancreatitis, blood disorders, fatigue and tremors. Kidney dysfunction and IBD-like symptoms are also possible.

Medical Marijuana for Canadian Crohn's Disease Sufferers

Thanks to a number of organizations, medical institutions and studies, Canada has relaxed the laws on medical marijuana. It is legal for Canadian Crohn's disease sufferers to have a medical marijuana exemption with a written doctor's prescription.

Many studies have proven that medical marijuana helps as an anti-inflammatory. Users of medical marijuana for Crohn's disease found themselable able to reduce – if not eliminate – the need for steroid treatment and to reduce the immunosuppressive medications, as well as Mesalamine.

A study in 2005 by the University of Bath in England noted that "some extracts from cannabis, known as cannabinoids, closely resemble molecules that occur naturally in our body, and by developing treatments that target this system, we can help the body recover from some of the effects of these diseases. " Although the University does not condone or support the use of medical marijuana, they are focusing on more research to narrow down the actual effects of cannabinoids on Crohn's disease.

For actual Crohn's disease sufferers, however, the evidence is overwhelming. A pilot study by the Society of Cannabis Clinicians, reported at the International Association for Cannabis as Medicine with the following results:

"For all signs and symptoms [of Crohn's disease] evaluated in the study, the patients described marked improvements with the use of cannabis. that cannabis use rejected in weight gain, fewer stools per day and fewer flare-ups of less severity. "

Medical marijuana has been used to increase appetite, decrease depression, anxiety, vomiting and weight loss, as well as used as a pain suppressant for many individuals with other diseases. Multiple sclerosis, chronic pain sufferers and cancer patients have all found these benefits with the use of medical marijuana. Therefore, it is no surprise that cannabis is also being used by Canadians who suffer from Crohn's disease for the same symptoms.

Source by Bonnie Pranger

The thought of penis pain can be quite troubling for any guy. In most cases, penis pain is quite fleeting. It often comes from a source a man knows well, such as excessive masturbation, rough sex or even an infection that can be cleared up with antibiotics. Good penis care is often enough to get a man back on track.

But the pain of kidney stones is a whole other beast. Though kidney stones can cause pain and pressure in all parts of the midsection, they can cause serious penis pain as well, especially during the time the stone is actively passing out of the body. Here’s what a man needs to know when he is confronted with the pain of kidney stones.

What are kidney stones?

If a man suffers from certain medical conditions or simply doesn’t drink enough water, the minerals in the foods he eats can collect in the kidney, where they form tiny stones. These stones might be in the kidney for years and never cause any problems. However, when they do begin to migrate, they do so by moving into the ureter. This is the thin tube between the kidney and the bladder.

Often the kidney stones are too big to pass through the ureter, so they become stuck there. This can lead to serious pain in the side and back, as well as other areas of the midsection.

Why do they cause penis pain?

Sometimes a man will suffer what is known as referred pain. This happens when the kidney stone lodges somewhere, but the pain is felt somewhere else. For instance, a kidney stone that lodges in the ureter might actually lead to testicle or penis pain.

Penis pain from kidney stones might also be more direct. This can happen when the stone is passed. It must go through the penis to get out – it is usually expelled during urination – and it might occasionally lodge in the shaft. This can lead to penis pain that won’t be relieved until the stone is gone.

What can a man do to ease the hurt?

Kidney stones are no joke – in fact, many people consider the pain to be worse than even the pain of childbirth. At the first sign of serious pain, most people who have on their way to the hospital to figure out what’s wrong.

Kidney stones can be removed in a few ways. The doctor will first order x-rays, CT scans or ultrasounds to find the figure out how big they are. Some are too big to pass; in that case, they will be broken up by sound waves. Some doctors will choose to use a scope, inserted into the urethra, to pull the stones out. And in serious cases, surgery will be required.

In almost all these cases, a man will first be offered significant pain medication for immediate relief. (Hear that? It’s a big sigh of thanks from men everywhere!)

Avoiding kidney stones

To avoid kidney stones in the first place, a man can drink plenty of water, at least 60 ounces each day. He should also avoid sodas and other carbonated beverages, as these up the chances by 23 percent. Interestingly, drinking more coffee and orange juice might stop the stones from forming.

Whenever a man is dealing with penis pain, it is a good reminder to exercise the best possible penis care. A specially formulated penis health crème (health professionals recommend Man 1 Man Oil, which is clinically proven mild and safe for skin) is a great way to ensure the penis skin is always smooth and supple. Applying it every day can also help a man remember to examine his manhood quite carefully on a regular basis, so he can spot problems that might arise. Look for a crème with powerful ingredients, including vitamins A, D and C, as well as amino acids to keep the penis as healthy as possible.

Source by John Dugan

Hemp is one of the oldest industries on the planet, dating back more than 10000 years to the beginnings of pottery. Hemp is cannabis grown specifically for industrial use and then contains very low levels of cannabinoids (THC). Used worldwide in clothing and increasingly in cosmetics it is also used to make paper, textiles, building materials, food, medicine, paint, detergent, varnish, oil, ink, and fuel.

Hemp Oil is rich in Omega 3 and 6, and is absorbed straight into the skin, giving all sorts of benefits. Research has shown that Hemp Oil, rich in essential fatty acids and nutrients, assists the body's natural ability to heal. Because of its ability to restore and moisten the skin, the oil has become increasingly popular for cosmetics and body care products.

Increasingly Hemp is making its way into the best selling natural cosmetic products in the UK. Below is a review of the UK's best selling Hemp products:

Hemp Hand Protector – This product is non-toxicic and safe to use and comes in a ultra stylish tube. This product sinks into the skin almost immediately and also forms a barrier to protect your hands too. Used on even the most dry hand (mine!), The positive effects are visible within hours. I have had clear hands by the end of the day after using this cream. Intense therapy for moisture-starved skin, hands down. With hemp seed oil and glycerin to soften and reverse dryness, plus lenolin to help lock it all in.

Hemp Body Butter – Hemp contains the necessary fatty acids that provide moisture, with this in the body butter, it helps to get rid of dead skin cells and replace it with good cells that will help lock in the moisture.It also contains shea butter and cocoa butter which are excellent for smoothing skin and also helping any scars or stretch marks that you may have to fade quicker.

Hemp Lip Conditioner – Hemp Lip Conditioner a very useful and soothing product for dry lips in any season. Containing beeswax and enriched with hemp seed oil this balm claims to soothe and moisturize very dry skin. An added benefit is you can apply this product, drink a cup of coffee, and still feel the protective film on your lips, unlike other lip balms which end up on the rim of the cup this one stays firmly in place. The product will last a long time, even when applied twice daily.

Back in 1998, the launch of Hemp products at The Body Shop caused Home Office minister Ann Widdecombe to say it was "making a joke of drug-taking" as Anita Roddick handed out Hemp seeds during the launch. They responded back by stating Hemp is the "misunderstood cousin of marijuana" and you would need to smoke a joint the size of a telegraph pole to get high!

Since then Hemp cosmetics have been used more and the benefits in skin care have seen these products grow in the UK and Wordwide to flagship products for The Body Shop. These products will always carry a little joke when referred to friends due to the cannabis connection but the jokes are usually halted when users see the real benefits.

Source by Edward Redfern

Every day, it becomes more difficult to deny the benefits of medical marijuana. Ask anyone who’s used it for pain management relating to a life-altering illness – Cancer, AIDS, Glaucoma, Multiple Sclerosis, and Crohn’s disease, among others – and they’ll tell you how it’s changed their lives.

How smoking or ingesting a natural herb has made managing their pain and side effects a revelation. That when compared to any variety of chemically enhanced pharmaceutical offerings, the little white pills simply don’t measure up.

Take side effects, for instance. Most prescription drugs come with a multi-page rider of possible bad things that might happen with regular use – liver damage is almost synonymous with long-term use. Compare that to marijuana, which studies show have almost no permanent damage with long-term use, and many patients choose not to smoke. Baked goods, butters, oils, and other natural means make marijuana the easiest medicine to swallow.

And medical marijuana doesn’t only benefit debilitating illnesses. It has also been found to ease the discomfort surrounding arthritis, chronic pain, and nausea. Many women report success when using marijuana to treat menstrual cramps, and menopausal women have found great success in using marijuana to battle hot flashes, mood swings, and chills. Currently there are studies being done which indicate that medical marijuana might have a positive effect on depression and other anxiety related disorders.

The “bunch of stoners” stereotype has followed responsible marijuana users around for far too long. Like any other beneficial drug, marijuana can be abused. Unlike every other beneficial prescription drug out there, it is virtually impossible to “overdose” on marijuana. Classifying marijuana as a dangerous drug in the first place is a little like outlawing black cohosh or ginseng or any of the other herbs routinely used in different cultures for healing and pain management. It is an alternative medical course, as legitimate as chiropractic medicine, and often used hand in hand to great results. Chiropractic philosophy lines up perfectly with that of medical marijuana – your body, and nature, has the power to heal.

Ultimately, that’s the number one benefit marijuana has to offer: it is an herb, grown from the earth. It is not processed or refined or chemically enhanced. It does not contain an endless list of unpronounceable ingredients designed to carefully manipulate the symptoms of your illness. Marijuana is a natural medicine whose potential applications have not yet begun to scratch the surface.

Source by Mike Samson