The Benefits of Medical Marijuana Include The Placebo Effect

The Health Benefits of Medical Marijuana Include, “The Placebo Effect”.

The health benefits of Medical Marijuana include something known as the placebo effect. The placebo effect is a phenomenon where a patient’s belief in the treatment or medicine will change his/her condition. When the patient’s condition improves, we can then say that the treatment or medicine had a therapeutic effect. In reality, the patient’s pill may have been inert, one without medicine in it- a fake medical intervention.

Case in point, many years ago I coached a freshman Cross-Country team. One of the biggest obstacles in distance events is the mental aspect, breaking through the fatigue factor. This may remain even after many strenuous work-outs. The day of our first race, I could tell that my athletes were extremely nervous and lacking confidence. This was in spite of excellent work-outs and training habits. On the bus to the meet, I passed out small pills to all the runners, and said, “Take these boys; it will make you run fast, with lots of endurance.” Upon completion of a victorious race on our part, the kids asked if they could always get these pills. I told them salt pills didn’t help them, it was their training! What my runners experienced was the “placebo effect.”

In 1955 Henry K. Beecher’s , “The Powerful Placebo”, has illustrated the phenomenon that has been considered to have clinically important effects.  In recent years however, many trials and studies have been conducted with controversy throughout. One thing for sure, the psycho-active properties of Medical Marijuana may enhance the placebo effect. Finally, the placebo effect points to the importance of perception and the brain’s role in physical health, especially when it comes to pain. Never in the history of modern medicine has a treatment or drug been as heavily anticipated as Medical Marijuana. With the anticipation there will be a lot of therapeutic effect, as the result of the placebo effect.

Well, whatever works, right?

The Benefits of Medical Marijuana for Cancer Patients

Due to being illegal or quasi-legal in many countries, you might not find as much information on the uses of medical marijuana (or marihuana) as you might expect. However, many studies have been conducted, and are still being conducted, about the medical uses of cannabis. Despite a somewhat blind governmental view in many countries, including Canada and the United States, these studies have shown repeatedly exactly how medical marijuana can help those suffering from severe illnesses such as cancer.

Traditional Cancer Treatments

Lung cancer, prostate cancer, breast cancer – in fact, most types of cancer all start the same basic way. Something causes cancer cells to divide and grow without pause, spreading badly damaged DNA. Those cells invade other tissues and, in most cases, form tumors.

Cancer studies have taken leaps and bounds as far as finding treatments to slow, and sometimes stop, the spread of cancer. However, two of the most important treatments, chemotherapy and radiation therapy, also cause damage and, often, severe side effects.

For instance, some of the most powerful, toxic chemicals are used in chemotherapeutic agents. Both treatments kill cancer cells, but healthy cells as well. Chemotherapeutic agents such as Adriamycin (doxorubicin) and Platinol (cisplatin) can, and have, caused immune suppression and multiple organ damage, but they also cause severe nausea and vomiting.

The vomiting can last over a period of days, to the point that some patients have actually torn their esophagus. Due to the vomiting and lack of appetite, severe dehydration and weigh loss is normal. In fact, many cancer patients begin having a reaction before chemotherapy begins, in “anticipation” of the side effects. Unfortunately, although chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy may be an integral part of their survival, many cancer patients decide not to take the therapies because the side effects are so severe.

Because of this, many are given a mix of anti-nausea drugs. Often, the anti-nausea drugs work. However, the drugs only give partial symptom control, while for others they give no control at all. In addition, those who take traditional medications may also suffer fever, bone pain, fatigue, anxiety, sleep problems and changes in heart activity, among other issues. This leaves cancer patients to suffer from the effects of the cancer itself, the side effects of the treatments, and the side effects of medications used to alleviate the initial side effects of the treatments.

Medical Marijuana for Cancer Patients

It has proven in many studies, performed by prestigious scientific and medical organizations and individuals, that medical marijuana can (and does) relieve pain and nausea. In fact, some of these studies go as far back as the 1970s and older.

For instance, in 1975, the New England Journal of Medicine published the results of a “double-blind” study on the effects of oral (ingested rather than smoked) tetrahydrocannabinol on nausea and vomiting. According to the study, “No patient vomited while experiencing a subjective “high”. Oral tetrahydrocannabinol has antiemetic properties and is significantly better than a placebo in reducing vomiting caused by chemotherapeutic agents.”

A 1999 report by the Institutes of Medicine concluded, “In patients already experiencing severe nausea or vomiting, pills are generally ineffective, because of the difficulty in swallowing or keeping a pill down, and slow onset of the drug effect. Thus an inhalation (but, preferably not smoking) cannabinoid drug delivery system would be advantageous for treating chemotherapy-induced nausea.”

Although freedom from nausea and vomiting are two of the most noticed benefits of medical marijuana use, many have reported a reduction in the severity of wasting away. As well, they’ve notice a lessening in depression and other “side effects” brought on by the disease, including an increase in appetite. All of these things together have helped many cancer patients live a better, happier, more comfortable life. However, studies have also shown a shocking benefit.

Over twenty major studies in the past nine years have shown that cannabinoids (the chemicals in cannabis) actually fight cancer cells. In fact, it’s been shown that cannabinoids arrest cancer growths of many different forms of cancer, including brain, melanoma and breast cancer. There’s even growing evidence that cannabinoids cause direct anti-tumor activity.

Since the possibility was first realized, many more studies have been conducted, focused on the possibility of cannabinoids have anticarcinogenic effects. A 2007 study by the Institute of Toxicology and Pharmacology in Rostock, Germany focused on human cervical cancer (HeLa) cells. The cells were treated with specific cannabioids and THC. Even at low concentrations, MA and THC “led to a decrease in invasion of 61.5% and 68.1% respectively.”

The benefits of medical marijuana for cancer patients are clear when it comes to increased appetite, reduction of pain, wasting, vomiting and nausea, as well as depression. Although its anticarcinogenic effects aren’t quite as clear, ongoing research further points to the possibility that medical marijuana may actually be what many claim it is – a truly miraculous drug.

Stop the War of Ignorance – Studies Reveal Medical Marijuana Benefits

It becomes more and more difficult to continue the war on marijuana with every study that surfaces. A recent study about marijuana’s effectiveness as an HIV self-care strategy implies that marijuana helped with anxiety, depression, fatigue, diarrhea, nausea, and peripheral neuropathy. In another study synthetic delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (dronabinol) showed to improve the symptoms of schizophrenia in 4 out of 6 patients.  There were no clinically significant adverse effects on any of the patients. These results complement the recent finding that the cannabinoid blocker rimonabant does not improve schizophrenic symptoms and suggest that the role of cannabinoids in psychosis may be more complex than previously thought. They open a possible new role for cannabinoids in the treatment of schizophrenia.

Marijuana can be used in ways that we haven’t even discovered yet because of an arrogant government.  Instead of fighting marijuana supporters, spending billions, and jailing marijuana users use some of the taxes received from marijuana legalization to put forth in-depth studies on the medical usage of marijuana that has potential to improve the lives of millions, if not billions. So many kids in this generation are worried about weight and appearance; Girls today are diagnosed with disorders like anorexia every day.  There’s not a real treatment available that will work 100 percent of the time, but we have never tried using cannabis to treat a disorder like this.  Women experience nausea and go through days with out wanting to a eat a thing, if thc is smoked through a vaporizer there are no proven bad health effects, therefore leave the patient feeling hungry, and nausea seems to disappear . Other users may just need marijuana for a simple case of back pain, regardless of the medical need; no one should have the authority to say it doesn’t improve your life, or improve your medical situation.

Pain, spasticity, tremor, spasms, poor sleep quality, and bladder and bowel dysfunction, among other symptoms, contribute significantly to the disability and impaired quality of life of many patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). In the study, patients that used cannabis improved almost all symptoms of MS with only a little euphoria as a side effect (A side effect we can all live with). Marijuana has never caused side effects as brutal as most serious illness medications, side effects like nausea, headaches, vomiting, abdominal pain, thoughts of suicide are non-existent.

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Quoted HIV Pain Study – Marijuana improves life of HIV patients

Source – http://www.cannabis-med.org/studies/ww_en_db_study_show.php?s_id=277

“Despite management with opioids and other pain modifying therapies, neuropathic pain continues to reduce the quality of life and daily functioning in HIV-infected individuals. Cannabinoid receptors in the central and peripheral nervous systems have been shown to modulate pain perception. We conducted a clinical trial to assess the impact of smoked cannabis on neuropathic pain in HIV. This was a phase II, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial of analgesia with smoked cannabis in HIV-associated distal sensory predominant polyneuropathy (DSPN). Eligible subjects had neuropathic pain refractory to at least two previous analgesic classes; they continued on their prestudy analgesic regimens throughout the trial. Regulatory considerations dictated that subjects smoke under direct observation in a hospital setting. Treatments were placebo and active cannabis ranging in potency between 1 and 8% Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, four times daily for 5 consecutive days during each of 2 treatment weeks, separated by a 2-week washout. The primary outcome was change in pain intensity as measured by the Descriptor Differential Scale (DDS) from a pretreatment baseline to the end of each treatment week. Secondary measures included assessments of mood and daily functioning. Of 127 volunteers screened, 34 eligible subjects enrolled and 28 completed both cannabis and placebo treatments. Among the completers, pain relief was greater with cannabis than placebo (median difference in DDS pain intensity change, 3.3 points, effect size=0.60; p=0.016). The proportions of subjects achieving at least 30% pain relief with cannabis versus placebo were 0.46 (95%CI 0.28, 0.65) and 0.18 (0.03, 0.32). Mood and daily functioning improved to a similar extent during both treatment periods. Although most side effects were mild and self-limited, two subjects experienced treatment-limiting toxicities. Smoked cannabis was generally well tolerated and effective when added to concomitant analgesic therapy in patients with medically refractory pain due to HIV DSPN.”

5 Benefits of Giving Up Marijuana

Giving up weed is a personal choice for those whose pot smoking habits are becoming uncontrollable and are damaging their life. While not everyone who smokes pot is addicted or has negative effects from their smoking many that are having trouble with addiction and pot often need to see the positive benefits of being off the drug to start their journey. The benefits of giving up marijuana are many and varied but 5 of the most common perks that ex-potheads mention are as follows:

1. Freedom – This can mean a lot of things to different people but many ex smokers have been amazed at how their life changes once they do not feel they are enslaved to pot. They choices they make are clear and do not come with an addicts restrictions of when they are going to light up, where they will take a hit and so on. Freedom from the chains of addiction is liberating and opens more doors than you imagine when you are still smoking and are addicted.
2. Money – Marijuana is not cheap. Some may have money as the last thing on their list of benefits with more concern with their physical health and mental health but once free of addiction many comment on just how much money they saved not having this habit that now goes towards much more positive things like savings, loan repayments, movies, better food, gym memberships, clothes or anything else that makes your life easier or better. Money should probably not be THE key motivator when you are trying to quit because you need to want to quit not be forced to by monetary constraints however.
3. Clarity – Clarity of mind and clarity of purpose is something marijuana smokers tend to lack from heavy use. This is not permanent however, most people who quit find that after a few weeks to a few months they start to think more clearly as the THC leaves their system and their brain chemistry rebalances from years of pot smoking that changes how it all works.
4. Motivation – Many marijuana smokers suffer fro a sever lack of motivation which may have to do with the chemistry of marijuana and your body but it may also simply be a mindset of addiction. In any case, quitting pot has been shown to help with energy levels and motivation through being smoke free but also from the journey that revitalizes motivation to be able to quit properly too.
5. Self Worth – Self esteem can hit rock bottom during addiction and can take even more hits when trying to hit because not everyone quits first time with ease and may stumble along the way. However those that make it through to the end find their opinions of themselves hit a record high from their accomplishment of overcoming addiction and then adding all the other benefits of giving up marijuana on top of that it can provide a new start to many peoples lives!

So if you are struggling with a marijuana addiction and these sound like the sorts of things you want to experience then click below to find out how you can kick your addiction and live life to the fullest again!

http://www.kick-addiction.com/marijuana-addiction/treatment

The Benefits of Medicinal Marijuana

Humans have been using cannabis, also known as marijuana, for different purposes ever since prehistory. Marijuana, a genetic variation of the cannabis sativa, is still a very common herbal drug. The plant develops best in warm climates and may often be grown with the help of hydroponic growing methods. Medicinal marijuana is known to be part of AIDS and cancer therapies and even offers pain relief in certain situations. Although many public health groups have called for medicinal marijuana usage, the subject still remains highly controversial. Bcseedking.com offers a wide variety of marijuana seeds.

Cannabis inhalation dates back at least as far as the Neolithic age. The Hindus of India and Nepal were probably the most common users of hallucinogen substances during their ceremonial rituals. The Assyrians and the Thracians also had knowledge of cannabis, using it at religious events. Even today various sects treat cannabis as a sacrament, often referring to it as the tree of life. These days, marijuana is considered illegal in some countries while others tolerate it in small quantities or even allow consumption regardless of quantity. You can now purchase marijuana seeds online from bcseedking.com.

Medicinal marijuana has been used for decades as part of different therapeutic programs. A synthetic form of the Delta-9 Tetrahydrocannabinol , also known as THC, is actually what brings beneficial results in cancer and AIDS therapies. Medicinal marijuana is known to relieve nausea, clinical depression symptoms and to alleviate the weight loss resulting from chemotherapy or similarly aggressive treatments. A recent study auggests that the cannabinol found in marijuana may inhibit the spread of cancer cells in animals. At bcseedking.com you’ll find marijuana seeds with a worldwide shipping service.

Relieving some of the symptoms caused by aggressive cancer and/or AIDS therapy isn’t the only beneficial influence of marijuana in medicine. A synthetic form of THC has proven to relieve anorexia symptoms and help reduce anxiety in patients suffering from Alzheimer. Another beneficial effect of marijuana is in treating glaucoma – a condition that eventually causes loss of sight. Medicinal marijuana helps eliminate glaucoma by reducing the intraocular pressure. However, the use of marijuana in glaucoma is still controversial as it can also decrease the blood flow to the optic nerve. Marijuana is also widely used for pain relief in certain neurological conditions such as bipolar disorder. Studies have revealed that marijuana can even be a part of treating obsessive compulsive disorders and muscle spasms.

Marijuana has been used in different ways for thousands of years and scientists are still figuring out its effects. The opinions concerning use of marijuana in the medical world are divided – some say it can be highly beneficial while others suggest more research before coming to any conclusions. Medicinal marijuana has proven to be helpful in providing relief from pain, nausea and other distressing symptoms of cancer or AIDS. Bcseedking.com is where you’ll find a variety of marijuana seeds.