Cannabis as Medicine [INFOGRAPHIC]

Authored by: Editor

Cannabis-Medicine-Infographic

Share and Discuss: (Copy Paste This Code)

 

Spread the Words

The following content is text taken from the above infographic and provided to you in an easy copy and paste format. Please feel free to use it in any writing that references this article.

To smoke or not to smoke, that is the question

From an infused breakfast to perfectly rolled joints, how you ingest marijuana will alter how the medicine affects your body & mind

  • The Many Methods of Madness
    • Smoking: Roll it, light it, hit it
      • Smoke the dried flowers from a pipe, water bong, or cigarette
        • Pros
          • Minimally processed
          • Instant effect
          • Easy to regulate dose
        • Cons
          • Smoke can be harmful to lungs
          • Not recommended for people with pulmonary damage
        • Vaporizing: For the sophisticated user in all of us
          • Heats the cannabis just below the combustion point so the plant doesn’t burn
            • Pros
              • Easier on lungs than smoking
              • Delivers clean inhalation
              • Less smell than smoking
            • Cons
              • Vaporizers can be expensive
              • Equipment needs to be cared for & maintained
            • Edibles: Foodies can go nuts too
              • A base of fat or oil absorbs active ingredients & can be used for cooking
                • Pros
                  • Lasts longer than inhaling
                  • Easy to incorporate into your eating routine
                  • Good for people who can’t smoke
                • Cons
                  • Effects can take a long time to work
                  • Difficult to judge dose
                  • Someone might accidentally eat a whole tray of brownies
                • Tinctures: Like the village herbalist used to make
                  • Grain alcohol extracts active compounds for a potent liquid solution
                    • Pros
                      • Easy to judge amounts
                      • Great for small doses
                      • Preferred method for children
                    • Cons
                      • Requires a lot of cannabis
                      • Can be very expensive for high doses

 

But how does it work?

  • A Match Made In Nature: Cannabinoids Are Produced in the Body & Also Found in Cannabis Plants
    • The Endocannabinoid System
      • Network of receptors in the body that bind with cannabinoids
      • CB1 & CB2: 2 main receptors control where compounds activate throughout body
    • 80+ Cannabinoids Are Found In Marijuana Plants
      • THC: delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol
        • Most abundant cannabinoid in marijuana
        • Binds to CB1 receptors in the brain & reproductive organs
        • Produces a psychoactive effect by releasing dopamine in the brain
          • Getting “high” is a sense of euphoria & well-being
        • Good for
          • Moderating pain
        • CBD: cannabidiol
          • 2nd most abundant cannabinoid
          • Binds to CB2 receptors in the immune system
          • Non-psychoactive, reduces mental effects of THC, & has more medicinal properties
            • High CBD & THC amounts create a clear head high
            • Low CBD levels will produce a hazier, foggy feeling
          • Good for
            • Inflammation
            • Migraines
            • Arthritis
            • Muscle spasms
            • Epilepsy
            • Shown promise at fighting cancer cells

92% of patients agree that medical cannabis works for them

  • Why The Grass Is Always Greener
    • Epilepsy: Cannabis may help reduce seizures in children with severe forms of epilepsy
      • <.3% THC is in the cannabis tincture given to epileptic children with severe childhood epilepsy
      • 60% of children achieved 50+% reduction in number of seizures
      • 10% became seizure free
    • Chronic pain: Helps relieve physical discomfort of diseases like arthritis, fibromyalgia, & spinal cord injuries
      • 5% THC & 2.5 grams/day given to test groups
      • Cannabis user’s symptoms improved “significantly” quicker than control group
      • No adverse effects on kidney, liver, or hormonal function
    • Depression: Replenishes endocannabinoid levels that are depleted from chronic stress
      • 75% reduction of PTSD symptoms
      • States where medical cannabis is legal see a dip in male suicide rates
        • 11% ages 20-29
        • 9% ages 30-39
    • Cancer: Early tests indicate cannabis may destroy the walls of cancer cells & aid current cancer treatments
      • CBD shown to inhibit cell growth of human carcinoma breast cells
      • Supports chemotherapy by reducing nausea, pain, indigestion, & increasing appetite

More About MesotheliomaTreatmentCenters.org

Authored By: Editor