31 12 07 - 21:16
Restless Leg Syndrome
David Neubauer, M.D. Wed, Jun 20, 2007
The medical community's recognition of restless legs syndrome (RLS) has evolved over the past few decades. For years, patients complained to their doctors that they experienced a very uncomfortable and distressing feeling in their legs in the evening when they tried to rest, and eventually their doctors considered RLS to be a disorder.
RLS often interferes with the ability to fall asleep easily. Usually, patients do not describe it as painful, but more like a "creepy-crawly" sensation that creates a strong and irresistible urge to move the legs. Moving does help, but only for brief moments.
Once people suffering with RLS fall asleep, they tend to have involuntary leg kicks.
The cause of RLS is not completely understood; however, it is thought to be associated with the function of dopamine, a nervous system ... (more)
31 12 07 - 21:09
M.S. - Personal comments from sufferers
MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS.
Comment
Cannabis relieves spasticity and other symptoms I continue to smoke or vaporize this product although not legal in my state because it significantly reduces my spasticity, muscle spasm symptoms as well as anxiety associated with my illness. I recommend being careful of source, ensuring no pesticide use and non mouldy storage and controlling its source best as possible
Comment
legalize it, change schedule to have medical value In my state, we have medicinal marijuana. It helps my spasms and pain as well as improves mood. (Vicodin does little for this kind of pain so I welcome the relief without the sedative effects.)
Comment
In a class of it's own for me! This is a good fix for instant pain relief and as the effects of it wear off within hours, so it is easy to find a balance between pain relief and being stoned all the time. ... (more)
31 12 07 - 21:01
Preventing damage to brain tissue
Cannabis counteracts the effects of strokes and may help prevent Parkinson's Disease and ALZHEIMER'S
A team led by the British-born biologist Aidan Hampson, at the US National Institute for Mental Health, in Maryland, has discovered that two active components of cannabis - compounds called THC and cannabidiol - will each act to prevent damage to brain tissue placed in laboratory dishes.
The experiments, reported in the proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, reveal an unexpected potential use for a drug known for centuries to have valuable medical properties.
The discovery is likely to increase pressure to make cannabis and its derivatives more widely available for use on prescription....
Dr Hampson's study has focused on cannabidiol, rather than the psychoactive chemical THC, because this substance has no side-effects. ..
Stroke victims suffer a blood clot that starves brain cells of glucose and oxygen, and sets off a cascade of ... (more)
31 12 07 - 20:49
Cannabis & inflamed bowel disease
- 10:28 01 August 2005
-
Cannabis-based drugs could offer treatment hope to sufferers of inflammatory bowel disease, UK researchers report.
Cannabis smokers with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have often claimed that smoking a joint seems to lessen their symptoms. So a group of researchers from Bath University and Bristol University, both in the UK, decided to explore the clinical basis for the claims.
“There is quite a lot of anecdotal evidence that using cannabis seems to reduce the pain and frequency of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, so we decided to see if we could find out what was going on there,” says Karen Wright, a pharmacologist at Bath University. “Historically, it was smoked in India and China centuries ago for its gastrointestinal properties.”
The chronic conditions, known collectively as IBD, are caused by an over-active immune system which produces severe inflammation in areas of ... (more)
31 12 07 - 20:36
Dr.Tod's list of conditions treated with cannabis
Chronic Conditions Treated With Cannabis - by Tod H. Mikuriya, M.D.
Encountered Between 1990-2000 - Dr. Mikuriya was one of the world's foremost authorities on the uses of medical cannabis. He has few peers in his clinical knowledge of cannabis' therapeutic uses, efficacy, history, culture, policies, routes of administration and potential for abuse. (1933 - 2007 R.I.P.) http://www.mikuriya.com/
AIDS Related Illness
Post W.E. Encephalitis
Chemotherapy Convalescence
Shingles (Herpes Zoster)
Radiation Therapy
Viral B Hepatitis, chronic
Viral C Hepatitis, chronic
bone disease
Lyme Disease
Reiters Syndrome
Post Polio Syndrome
Malignant Melanoma
Other Skin Cancer
Prostate Cancer
Testicular Cancer
Adrenal Cortical ... (more)
31 12 07 - 20:32
CBD levels the THC effect
Scientists have known for decades that THC is psychoactive and that peak blood levels of its primary active metabolite 11-OH-THC are occasionally associated with temporary feelings of dysphoria, paranoia, and even panic attacks. (These events, when documented, typically occur in cannabis naďve users.)
Conversely, scientists have also been long aware of CBD's anxiolytic and anti-psychotic effects.
In fact, many experts speculate that it is the lack of CBD in Marinol (the synthetic THC oral prescription pill) that is responsible for the drug's enhanced psychoactivity…….. By contrast, CBD occurs naturally in whole-plant cannabis, and is believed to modify and/or diminish some of the psychoactive--ity associated with THC when cannabis is inhaled.
http://www.norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=6798
31 12 07 - 20:27
7,000 yrs of acceptance
Most Civilisations, tribes and cultures have recognised and revered Cannabis down through 7,000 years of World History as medicine, fuel, fibre, food, recreation and spiritual sacrament.
Sumerian/Babylonian - ka-na-ba
Persian - Kanab
China - ma
Sanskrit - canna and bhanga and gunjah (Hindu)
Hebrew - kaneh-bosm
Ancient Greek - kannabis
Latin - Cannabis
Arabic - kinnub, Qunbus
African - Dagga, iNtsangu
Teutonic/prehistoric German - Khanipiz or Khanapiz
(from this word comes the word hemp : k-hanip-iz)
Old English - hanep
Anglo-Saxon - henep
Middle Breton - Canap
English - hemp
Gaelic - Cainb
Irish - Cnaib
Dutch - hennep
Old High German - hanaf
Goth - hanfa
Modern German - hanf
...
(more)
30 12 07 - 22:25
Cannabis as an ANTI-CONVULSANT
1) Cannabis' power to control spasticity and convulsions has been applied in folk medicine for thousands of years.
The first European report of this effect was published in the 1830s by Dr. William O'Shaughnessy, who stated that "The [medical] profession has gained an anti-convulsive remedy of the greatest value." Dr. J. Russell Reynolds, who was Queen Victoria's personal physician for 30 years and administered cannabis to her, praised the anti-convulsive virtue of hemp. He wrote that "There are many cases of so-called epilepsy... in which India hemp (Cannabis Indica) is the most useful agent with which I am acquainted."
http://www.rexresearch.com/hhusb/hmphlth.htm#hhl
2) According to a survey on the recommendation of cannabis in California, cannabis is indicated for over 250 conditions. ... (more)
30 12 07 - 21:01
Interesting studies
Naturally Occurring Cannabinoids Trigger Feeding In New Born Mice
July 6, 2000 - Jerusalem, Israel
A scientist at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem has found that naturally occurring cannabinoids in newborn mice trigger feeding, and without these natural chemicals the animals frequently die within days of being born.
Cannabinoids are chemicals related to the active ingredient of cannabis that are produced naturally in the body.
Ester Fride, the scientist who conducted the study, injected newborn mice with a chemical that blocks cannabinoid receptors in the brain. None of these mice fed from their mothers and all either died within a week or developed slowly. Fride then treated the mice with enough of the active component of cannabis (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol) to override the effects of the cannabinoid blocker and the mice developed normally. ... (more)
30 12 07 - 20:39
Big Pharma's drugs linked with....
NASAL SPRAY UNDER REVIEW - LINKED WITH SEIZURES AND DEATHS.
A nasal spray designed to stop kids wetting the bed is under review by Australian authorities after US regulators linked it with seizures and death.
The drug, desmopressin, has been found to trigger potentially-fatal attacks in some people who have used the intranasal formulation.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has received 61 reports of serious adverse events, including two deaths, and warns it should no longer be used.
It said children were particularly at risk of the seizures, which are caused by hyponatremia, or an abnormally low concentration of sodium in the blood.
A spokeswoman for Australia's Therapeutic Goods Administration said the authority "was aware of the issue" and would review the product in light of the new reports. ... (more)
24 12 07 - 19:31
So, this is Christmas - parody
(Parody of ‘So this is Christmas/War is Over’ - John Lennon)
So this is Christmas,
And what has this country done?
To ensure justice and fairness,
Instead of a war that can’t be won.
And so this is Christmas,
With Politicians having fun,
Hunting down the near and the dear ones,
The old, the sick and the young.
We want a seizure free Christmas,
And a pain free New Year,
Without persecution,
Without any fear.
And so this is Christmas,
The weak are crushed by the strong.
The rich now enslave the poor ones,
The ‘fair go’ road is so long.
And so, unhappy Christmas,
For sufferers of AIDS, neurolepsy and cancer,
Who now suffer Police raids.
COPYRIGHT: D.Nentwig 13th Dec. 2007
23 12 07 - 08:59
Medical Cannabis Awareness Campaign
Day 1 of Medical Cannabis Awareness in Coffs Harbour, NSW. - High Street (see photos at end of article).
The day far surpassed what we even expected. In the first 2 hours over 100 people stopped and read our display boards (containing studies, quotes, statistics, various illnesses and how medical cannabis is a benefit to them, etc.) with the majority wanting to ask questions and learn more. We did not have even one negative response. Practically everybody had either used or was using Medical cannabis for themselves to help them manage their illnesses/disorders, or they knew of people who were (close family members, other relatives, friends, acquaintances etc).
One elderly man told me that although he didn't use it, if he feels he needs it to control (for instance) pain in the future, then he believes he should have the option to do so. Two ex-nurses separately stopped to tell us that Cannabis was the best therapeutic medicine ever and that it ... (more)
22 12 07 - 03:01
Quotes.
Merck Institute. USA.
“The main goals of drug development are effectiveness (efficacy) and safety. Because all drugs can harm as well as help, safety is relative. The difference between the usual effective dose and the dose that produces severe or life-threatening side effects is called the MARGIN OF SAFETY. The wider the margin of safety, the more useful the drug. If a drug's usual effective dose is also toxic, doctors do not use the drug unless the situation is serious and there is no safer alternative. http://www.merck.com Note: Cannabis has a safety margin of 1:40,000
Journal of the American Medical Association. ... (more)
21 12 07 - 21:34
Don't 'Dis' my ability
N.S.W. Government and the Dept. of Aging, Disability and Homecare is supporting a month long campaign called: “Don’t Dis- my Ability”.
It’s about time that Disabled people were recognised for who they are and not just for ‘what they are’. However, all the above have ‘dissed’ medical sufferers when it comes to a vital medication.
1) They’ve DIS-MISSED medical cannabis and its beneficiaries.
2) They’ve DIS-ALLOWED individuals to choose vital medication that truly benefits them.
3) They’ve DIS-CRIMINATED against disabled people for their choice.
4) They’ve DIS-APPROVED of medical cannabis no matter the proven benefits or improvement of quality of life for its beneficiaries.
5) They’ve DIS-COURAGED any positive research and application in favour of the ‘take our drugs only’ policy.
"When wealth replaces health, there’s a problem. When greed takes the place of need, there’s a problem. ... (more)
21 12 07 - 21:29
'Reefer Madness'?-Dr.P.Leveque
Dr. Phillip Leveque has spent his life as a Combat Infantryman, Physician, Toxicologist and Pharmacologist. - Be sure to go to Salem-News.com and read other things he has written. He specifically deals with the subject of Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome, but the principle is the same for any disorder (see after article)
(MOLALLA, Ore.) - I must belatedly congratulate previous witch-hunter Harry Anslinger and the Hearst Newspapers for thoroughly demonizing cannabis/marijuana which has been used safely as medicine for at least 5,000 years.
They coined the term "Reefer Madness" and apparently the side effects of an overdose of this medicine has stuck in the brains of many people including DEA brainwashed robots and many physicians (marijuana is bad because patients can grow their own but we doctors would prefer they visit our office and use really dangerous drugs like Oxycontin, a real "killer")
Any drug/medicine can be dangerous. ... (more)
21 12 07 - 21:23
Doctor's response to questions-medical cannabis
Excerpts from the response of Jeffrey Hergenrather, MD, a former family practitioner who has been conducting cannabis consultations in Sebastopol since 1999. - by Fred Gardiner
Q. How many patients will have received your approval to use cannabis through October 2006?
A. 1,430
Q. What percentage had been self-medicating with cannabis prior to consulting you?
A. 99%
Q. With what medical conditions have they presented? List top five and approximate percentage (total can exceed 100%).
Chronic pain (62%), Depression and other mental disorders (30%), Intestinal disorders (12%), Harmful dependence (10%), Migraine (9%) are the most common conditions being treated.
Q. What results do patients report? How does cannabis appear to work in treating their symptoms?
A cannabis specialist soon becomes aware of two remarkable facts. The range of conditions that patients are treating successfully ... (more)
21 12 07 - 21:13
Staying in touch
If you would prefer to send an email to us at Medical cannabis Awareness, rather/or as well as posting a comment online,
please feel free to write to us at
coffsmedcan@yahoo.com
We promise to write back a.s.a.p.
Perhaps you have some questions you would like to ask, or some websites, articles, etc. you would like to add.
Thankyou for your interest. Looking forward to hearing from you.
We would especially like to hear from Medical cannabis users in Australia as Medical cannabis needs to be made more of a positive issue here. We've been campaigning for 4 years now (and others for even longer) and it appears to be quite safe to campaign, write to Politicians etc. with your real name and even address, or even take a Campaign out to the streets (which we have done, and will be doing again). ... (more)
21 12 07 - 00:36
Cataplexy helped by Cannabis-testimony
From the age of 3, after a fall followed by a 20 minutes seizure, I have had some form of neurological problem. I was diagnosed with maladies such as epilepsy (petit mal and grand mal), body migraines and anxiety attacks until 20 years old when I was diagnosed with full blown cataplexy.
I would like to start my statement with what Cataplexy is and how it affects my life.
A very basic description of Cataplexy is: ‘A neurological disorder that involves sudden, temporary loss of muscle tone but not loss of consciousness‘. It is a part of Narcolepsy, but I do not have the sudden dropping to sleep part, instead my body goes into partial or full paralysis and I drop to the floor, conscious but unable to communicate. During a full Cataplectic seizure….. to another person it looks as though I am either in a coma or dead. This can last anywhere from a few minutes to 25 minutes with me. ... (more)
19 12 07 - 02:41
Testimonies,data,reports
http://www.rxmarihuana.com/
(Lester Grinspoon - Testimonies from Medical Cannabis users & other articles).
http://www.cannabismd.org/
(reports, data, stories)
19 12 07 - 01:22
Cannabis helps epilepsy
Epilepsy is a neurological condition which affects approximately 1 in 100 people. Depending on how wide spread in the brain the neuroligical disturbance is (the focus), there are a range of possible seizures from lapses in consciousness (absence) or convulsions (Grand Mal) to grimacing or repetitive movements (temporal) to just odd sensations (auras).
Epilepsy is as individual as the people who have it and everyone has their own patterns of seizures. There are sometimes triggers for seizures such as sleep loss, low blood sugar, stress or even boredom. Some common causes of epilpsy include head trauma, birth injury, hormonal imbalances, and viral attacks.
Some kinds of epilepsy can be well controlled by anti-convulsant drugs, but a few forms do not react well to these.
Anti-convulsant drugs have potentially serious side-effects, including bone softening, reduced production of red blood cells, ... (more)
18 12 07 - 04:29
Fibromyalgia & Cannabis
Dr. Phillip Leveque has spent his life as a Combat Infantryman, Physician, Toxicologist and Pharmacologist. He has other articles on the subject of Medical Cannabis that are well worth reading also.
(MOLALLA, Ore.) - Fibromyalgia is a very painful, complex disease causing spasm of muscles and accompanying nerves and has been a contentious puzzle to both victims and their doctors.
It seems nobody has the slightest idea what causes it and its symptoms and signs can be so diverse that it has been called the "invisible disease" with no specificity except the victim's typical statements that, "I hurt all over."
Most doctors reaction or response to a patient presenting with the above just responded with "It's all in your head," or alternatively "You just want drugs." This is and was incorrect, they wanted relief!
The self-hypnosis of many doctors was usually that depression ... (more)
13 12 07 - 10:16
Cannabis-Ancient History
A good read from: http://mercycenters.org/links/can_hist_med.htm
The ancient use of marijuana as medicine has been documented in a great number of cultures, including Greece and Africa and medicinal use of cannabis was recorded in Egypt in the 16th century BC. Ashes from a fourth-century tomb near Jerusalem suggest that marijuana plants may have been used in the ancient Middle East to help childbirth. Apparently, cannabis was burned for use as an inhalant to aid in delivery, researchers said, noting that a 19th-century medical publication said it strengthened contractions while reducing labor pain.
This comes as no surprise to some. The experience of the 1960's might lead one to surmise that marijuana use spreads explosively. ... (more)
12 12 07 - 06:29
Cannabis-good medicine
523 HIV positive subjects were asked about cannabis use with an anonymous questionnaire in the UK. 143 (27 per cent) reported using cannabis for treating symptoms.
Patients reported improved appetite (97%),
muscle pain (94%),
nausea (93%),
anxiety (93%),
nerve pain (90%), d
epression (86%),
and paresthesia (85%).
(Source: Woolridge E, et al. J Pain Symptom Manage 2005;29(4):358-67)
----------------------------------
Researchers at the Columbia University in New York investigated the effects of 10, 20, and 30 mg of oral THC and cannabis cigarettes of different potencies (1.8, 2.8, and 3.9 percent THC) on food intake in two groups of HIV positive cannabis smokers in eight 7-hour sessions. ... (more)
09 12 07 - 06:17
Testimonies - M.S. sufferers
I've had these testimonies in my book for a while and, unfortunately, I did not take down the place I found them. We usually like to put the www. of the articles we publish, but we hope the people whose testimonies appear here will forgive us for using them - but they are such excellent testimonies and can only further the cause.
G. P. -
Some days I would be semi-ambulatory. Most days I was completely bedridden. My eyesight became very blurred and I lost all ability to focus. Unable to walk, read, or be with my family, I became very depressed. . . One evening some old friends came to visit and we smoked several joints. When my friends got up to leave, I stood up to say goodbye. Everybody in the room suddenly stopped talking and stared at me. At first I could not understand what was wrong. Then I realized
I was standing, I had spontaneously stood up, unassisted, as if standing up was a perfectly natural. . . . ... (more)
09 12 07 - 06:02
Multiple Sclerosis-growing amount of data
2.5 Million+ people living with Multiple Sclerosis Worldwide.
Multiple Sclerosis - a painful, debilitating, and sometimes fatal disorder of the central nervous system. MS is the most common debilitating neurological disease of young people, often appearing between the ages of 20 and 40. Symptoms vary considerably from person to person; however, one frequently noted is spasticity, which causes pain, spasms, loss of function, and other problems.
Many MS patients report that cannabis has a startling and profound effect on muscle spasms, tremors, balance, bladder control, speech and eyesight.
Many wheelchair-bound patients report that they can walk unaided when they have smoked cannabis.
A House of Lords report states that the British Multiple Sclerosis Society (consisting of some 35,000 MS-suffering patients) estimates that as many as 4% of their population already use cannabis for the relief of their symptoms ... (more)
