Are you Cannabis Deficient?
You will be forgiven for laughing and saying ii am crazy
to suggest that such a condition as Cannabinoid Deficiency could even exist,
but don’t laugh too hard because there are more and more reports and studies on
this very topic.
As more and more scientists and medical professionals are
beginning to realize that the newly discovered physiological system now known
as The Endocannabinoid System (EC System) is very real and like all our other
systems needs to be fed and stimulated to avoid deficiency and under-
performance, so in the very same way as the body needs vitamins and amino acids
and anti-oxidants, it also needs Cannabinoids to ensure optimum performance of
the EC system. Cannabinoids are then found in the Cannabis plant.
We have already seen how deficiencies can cause some
serious health problems for example vitamin deficiency and iron deficiencies
can both cause havoc on the body’s systems and so too when our body is deprived
of Cannabinoids when under attack from whatever reason, we begin to see
deterioration of systems and organs which often manifests in one or another
form of cancer. This is interesting
information when you realise that Cannabis can cure cancer.
Personally ii feel that the main function of the EC
System is Homeostasis which ii believe is the number one factor in the biology
of all living things and is best described as the ability to maintain a stable
internal environment despite the constant fluctuations in the external
environment. In other words, maintaining the body’s balance and adapting to
environmental changes.
The ability to maintain homeostasis is necessary for
survival and medical disorders and disease are the direct result of the body’s
inability to maintain homeostasis.
So then, Cannabinoids are responsible for promoting
homeostasis at every level of natural life, right from the sub-cellular to the
organism, and perhaps even to the community and beyond.
Over and above regulating our internal and cellular
homeostasis, Cannabinoids also influence a person’s relationship with the
external environment. On a social level, the consumption of Cannabinoids
clearly changes human behaviour, and often promotes feelings of sharing, humour,
positive vibrations and creativity.
Only since the 1990’s have we known that humans and in
fact all of life on earth, even jelly fish, in fact now have a ‘new’
physiological system known as the EC System, which got its name from the
Cannabis plant.
So we now have this new system, and you can either
believe that we have always had this system or we are then evolving and
developing new systems. The simple truth
is that we have a functional system which requires Cannabinoids and in medical
matters, some repetition is necessary - Cannabinoids
are derived from the Cannabis plant.
It is true that some other plants do produce Cannabinoids but for sure the most
significant concentration in nature is the Cannabis plant.
Cannabinoids in breast milk…seriously?
Studies have revealed that Anandamide (a natural
Endocannabinoid which mimics THC in the body) is present in human breast milk,
and there is evidence to suggest that activation of the CB1 receptors is
crucial to the suckling response in new- borns and it has also been shown that
Anandamide has a neuro-protective effect on the postnatal brain.
With evidence like this it really is difficult to
comprehend why this medicine is still illegal and out of the hands of the
majority of people who are suffering with severe medical conditions, dread
diseases and depression all over the world.
To be deficient, according to Chinese Medicine is any
disorder that is caused by the body’s inability to maintain balance.
To understand Cannabinoid Deficiency we have to take
another look at the other functions of the EC system, as we have just discussed
the function of Homeostasis, and look
at them from a medical perspective.
FUNCTIONS
OF THE ENDOCANNABINOID SYSTEM
NEUROGENESIS
This is the creation of new neurons in the brain, new
brain cells. Next to Homeostasis ii would say that neurogenesis would be the
next most important function of the EC system.
Contrary to mass main stream media propaganda, research
continues to show that Cannabis does not kill brain cells and rather the
opposite is true, and in fact a recent study published in The International Journal of Neuropharmacology points to
Cannabinoids as a cause of neurogenesis in the brain and it was shown that
Cannabidiol (CBD) increases adult neurogenesis while having no effect on
learning. (Please read the posts “Does
Cannabis cause psychosis?” and “Can Cannabis cure schizophrenia?”)
“Most ‘drugs of abuse’ suppress neurogenesis. Only marijuana promotes neurogenesis” – Dr
Xia Zhang (Canadian researcher)
So now we know that Cannabinoids, derived from Cannabis,
have a role to play in creating new brain cells in the human body. So, it follows
naturally that a deficiency of Cannabinoids could result in an increased risk
of brain cell damage, and also disruption or imbalance of homeostasis within
the body, make sense?
According to Dr Ethan Russo, the Senior Medical Advisor
at GW Pharmaceuticals,
“Deficient Cannabinoid levels may be the underlying
cause of numerous conditions alleviated by Cannabis.”
It seems clear that a lack of Cannabinoids can cause
disruption to various systems in the body and in turn this could lead to more crucial
and life threatening problems.
We now live in a world where way too many people are
medicated with prescription drugs which are also neuro toxic, which means they
damage brain cells. Then add to this all
the pollution in the air, soil, water, food and vaccinations, all of which are
neuro toxic, and we are starting to paint a pretty grim picture of the future of
physical and mental health across the world.
Despite the fact that we are nowhere near lawful clinical
human trials, there are thousands and thousands of reports of people suffering
with various disorders of dementia, schizophrenia, bipolar, Alzheimer’s, autism
and so on, having positive results by self-medicating with Cannabis in
particular CBD high strains and the same is true for people suffering from
epilepsy and other convulsive disorders.
All these disorders including Parkinson’s disease,
Multiple sclerosis and so many other conditions, for which they say there is no
cure, all of these conditions are caused due to damaged brain cells, which is
in direct relation to the neuro toxins being consumed in our air, water, soil,
food and vaccinations and indeed Cannabinoid deficiency.
AUTOPHAGY
The EC system controls the process of autophagy which is
a process involving cellular destruction of unnecessary or dysfunctional
cellular components.
The process of autophagy breaks down damaged organelles,
cell membranes and proteins, but does not damage or alter healthy cells at
all, unlike the majority of so called cancer fighting drugs which kill off
healthy cells as well as damaged cells.
The failure of the process of autophagy is the main
reason for on-going cell damage and therefore the aging process.
It seems obvious therefore that we need to boost our EC
systems in order to maintain our good health and indeed our longevity and
failure to do so will result in a number of medical disorders.
Dr Robert Melamede, former Chairman of the Department of
Biology at the University of Colorado, believes that Cannabinoids can go beyond
helping patients with cancer or Multiple sclerosis and other serious conditions
but can also slow down the aging process and play a role in averting and normalising
all age-related illnesses.
This does makes a lot of sense and we are all aware of
the role of ‘free radicals’ in the aging process, they quickly multiply and
become uncontrollable in the absence of antioxidants to flush them out of the
body. Free radicals also cause
inflammation throughout the body thus intensifying other conditions commonly
connected with the aging process such as arthritis.
This does makes a lot of sense and we are all aware of
the role of ‘free radicals’ in the aging process, they quickly multiply and
become uncontrollable in the absence of antioxidants to flush them out of the
body. Free radicals also cause
inflammation throughout the body thus intensifying other conditions commonly
connected with the aging process such as arthritis.
Despite all this solid proof still this medicine remains
illegal in most parts and strictly controlled in places where laws have been
relaxed. We see in the United States how
the State Law and the Federal Law do not quite work together and dispensaries
are constantly being raided and sick people are being prejudiced as the ‘feds’
walk away with containers full of life saving medication.
This is
exactly why ii continue to encourage people who need Cannabis for medicinal
purposes to grow their own. It is false
freedom where you are not in control of the production of your medicine and you
do not know for sure what is in it or where it comes from or how it was grown.
ANALGESIA AND ANTI-IMFLAMMATORY
Personally ii believe that Cannabinoids are located all
over our bodies but they are definitely found at the intersection of the body's
various systems, allowing communication and coordination between different cell
types. Cannabinoids are therefore neurotransmitters.
For example, at the site of an injury, Cannanbinoids can
be found decreasing the release of activators and sensitizers from the injured
tissue, thus stabilizing the nerve cells to prevent excessive firing, and
calming nearby immune cells to prevent release of pro-inflammatory substances.
Millions of people from all walks of life use Cannabis as
a pain killer and anti-inflammatory especially people who experience back ache
and arthritis related conditions. But sadly too many other millions are blinded
by the system and are mostly unknowingly consuming way too many and way too
dangerous prescription pain medications which have serious side effects on the
brain and body especially the liver and kidneys. What is even sadder is the fact that the majority of these people
in blind faith do not even bother to read the leaflet enclosed with
pharmaceutical drugs and then lack the education to make conscious decisions
about their health.
REGULATION OF METABOLISM
Researchers have recently discovered that Cannabinoids
can actually increase the amount of energy and fat which the body burns.
Although Cannabis is better known for inducing hunger in
those who consume it, scientists have now found that Cannabis also has an
appetite suppressing effect.
It has been clinically proven that Cannabis boosts
metabolism, leading to lower levels of fat in the liver and reduced cholesterol
in the blood stream.
So there is a definite link between Cannabis use,
glucose, insulin and insulin resistance.
Scientists also now know that Cannabis activates the
stimulation of Adiponectin, a protein involved in regulating glucose and lipid
(fat) metabolism, proving that there is a strong relationship between Cannabinoids
and therefore Cannabis, and exterior metabolic processes. Cannabinoids are fat
soluble and the human brain is 60% fat, and this is another reason why the
pharmaceutical industry struggle with Cannabis because they cannot dissolve any
part of the Cannabis plant in water.
The
Cannabinoid known as THCV (Tetrahydrocannabivarin) has been found to increase
sensitivity to insulin while also protecting the cells that produce insulin,
allowing them to work more effectively, and this has certainly raised hopes
that Cannabis can be developed into treatments for obesity related diseases as
well as diabetes because of its ability to regulate metabolism and
suppress appetite.
THCV is in reality an antagonist (inhibitor) of the
CB1 and CB2 receptors, so in other words instead of stimulating these receptors
THCV actually blocks them from being activated which is what makes THCV so
important in the study of obesity and appetite control and metabolic regulation
which it is showing signs of being able to control, as an appetite suppressant.
This is exactly why you don’t often see an overweight person who consumes
Cannabis.
THCV is also showing great potential to be able to
lower the seizure and convulsion threshold for people suffering from epilepsy.
Some of the best loved sativa strains are known to be
high in THCV for example Durban poison and many of the Haze and Cheese strains
as well as their hybrids.
It has also been revealed that CBD (Cannabidiol) has
an effect on the genes which affect cholesterol metabolism and also has an
appetite suppressing effect.
There is not much you can do to increase CBD levels
other than to choose strains with a known high CBD content. CBD is naturally found in higher amounts in
low THC varieties such as Cannabis ruderalis and some hemp species.
HORMONE ABSORPTION
Studies have already shown that Cannabinoids have a
regulatory effect on the Endocrine System which controls hormone release as
well as homeostasis in our bodies, indicating that Cannabinoids can control the
production and release of hormones.
The EC System is linked to the Endocrine system as it has
been proven to play an important role in the secretion of hormones related to
reproductive functions and response to stress, and therefore controls the
functions of the Endocrine system.
Tests involving the production and release of oxytocin
have given scientists hope to pursue studies of the role of Cannabinoids in
hormone release in the treatment of fertility problems, mood and anxiety
disorders, and metabolic processes such as thyroid function as well as symptoms
of autism.
So, is it possible that you are Cannabis Deficient?
Currently there is more evidence in favour of the
therapeutic potential of Cannabis than there is about the most popular
conventional remedies currently on the market.
The most wonderful thing about Cannabis is that it works perfectly well
with prescription medications and in fact alleviates most of the horrible side
effects of these medications such as nausea and depression.
A lot of people will argue that Cannabis has not been
properly tested and for me this is such a ridiculous statement because in fact
Cannabis has been more researched than any prescription drug currently on the
market. In testing prescription drugs
these people will use words like placebo and double blind placebo controlled
drug trials and so on but in reality they are really just testing these drugs
against well nothing in fact… and further, most of these drugs are only really ‘tested’
for a period of about 4 years before being passed for approval.
Cannabis on the other hand has been used in Chinese
medicine for over 5000 years and since the official discovery of the EC system,
scientifically tested and re-tested officially for almost 30 years, for a
variety of medical conditions including depression. No one can honestly deny the mounds of
research and scientific evidence collected in such a short space of time and it
really saddens me that more conventional practitioners are not beginning to
educate themselves in Cannabis science.
Furthermore Cannabis has been used and tested in
conjunction with many different prescription drugs and therapies including
cancer, epilepsy, diabetes, schizophrenia, hypertension, hormonal, renal,
liver, blood and cardiac disorders and so many more and there has never been a report
of any incompatibility with any so called approved drugs. Personally ii always recommend a window period
of 2 years before a patient gives up on prescription drugs but ii do find that
most patients wean themselves within about six months.
So it seems
that the art of clinical observation in the field of medicine has been lost and
the pharmaceutical industry has just become more and more consumed with
criminal mischief.
Evidence now shows
that Cannabis is actually an amazingly tranquil substance that in fact poses no
risk of overdose and only a slight risk of addiction, alike to that of craving
coffee or chocolate.
Many experts also now believe that the
psychoactive properties of Cannabis are most likely to only be short lived and
in fact do not pose any risk of long term brain damage.
So as more and more knowledge becomes available regarding the EC system and Cannabinoid science in general, researchers and scientists across the world are coming to the conclusion that many diseases may be caused by a deficiency of Cannabinoids and they have already labelled this as Clinical Endocannabinoid Deficiency (CECD) also known as Endocannabinoid Deficiency Syndrome. The fact that the American's see fit to name this condition should surely demand a moratorium on government drug policies in respect of Cannabis. Because what they are really saying is that everyone with an EC system which is everyone should in fact be consuming Cannabis on a regular basis and not only as a last resort when ill.
In my paper Can Cannabis Cure Liver disease we learnt that CB2 receptors were identified in patients suffering from liver disease and liver cancer but these receptors were not expressed in patients with healthy livers. This then proves how the diseased liver prepares to receive Cannabinoids in order to effect the healing and highlights the protective role of the EC system and Cannabis.
In my paper Can Cannabis Cure Depression we learn that in lab rat studies chronic stress reduced the production of Endocannabinoids proving that depression and stress leads to Cannabis Deficiency and that Cannabis can indeed rectify and cure this condition.
This then proves that normal Endocannabinoid functioning must be restored to help stabilize moods and ease depression thus eliminating stress.
So is it possible that patients’ who are relieved of their symptoms by
consuming Cannabis are simply supplementing a deficiency in their EC system
with the Cannabinoids from Cannabis? Is it possible that Cannabinoids can
simply be thought of as supplements to promote the optimum functioning of our
EC systems?
We have seen how Cannabinoid treatment can be used to treat a wide
variety of disorders and health conditions also eliminating many age-related
conditions like cell regeneration.
All
natural remedies have some specific health benefits that are truly remarkable,
but none are likely to cure everything, and so people shouldn't expect them to.
We are becoming more educated from research studies
being released through the emerging science of Cannabis Medicine, and one thing is very clear, a fully functional EC system is
essential for health, as all evidence indicates that the EC system and the Cannabis
plant both have a very profound effect on the human body.
Research has already shown that just small amounts of
Cannabinoids can stimulate the body to make more Endocannabinoids and build
more Cannabinoid receptors. This is in line with the idea of Miniscule Dosing as discussed in the paper Cannabis Medicine Dosing
This is exactly why so many first-time Cannabis users
do not feel any effects the first few times they consume but by the third or
fourth time, their bodies would have built more Cannabinoid receptors and will
be ready to respond.
More receptors increase a person's sensitivity to Cannabinoids;
therefore smaller doses have larger effects, and the individual has an improved
foundation of Endocannabinoid activity by consuming just a tiny dose of Cannabis
on a regular basis and this is exactly why Cannabis is not an addictive
substance.
It seems strange that conventional medicine refers to
Herbalism and Traditional Medicine as “alternative
medicine” when in fact pharmaceuticals have only been around a little over
a hundred years, and for example the Chinese have been working with Cannabis
for over 5000 years, but it now seems possible that Cannabis is the future
medicine straight from the past.
Be Blessed Be Healthy
SOURCES:
Department of Biology at the University of Colorado
GW Pharmaceuticals
Hemporium
xhosastyles.blogspot.com
The International Journal of Neuropharmacology
Department of Biology at the University of Colorado
GW Pharmaceuticals
Hemporium
xhosastyles.blogspot.com
