Why does our memory fail us?

Can Cannabis help filter us to filter painful memories and fear?

One of the greatest scare tactics involving Cannabis use is loss of memory…so how do we explain this 30 second short term memory loss in certain people because not everyone experiences this lapse of memory when using Cannabis. Numerous scientific studies on this subject have revealed that it is now accepted by physicians and psychiatrists that the short term memory loss is most definitely only short lived and will pass within a few minutes in most people. Just as there are no deaths ever recorded from Cannabis there is also no proof of anyone ever permanently losing their memory from using Cannabis. 

The truth is that Cannabis actually does help us to forget certain memories because if you think of millions of thoughts rushing through our brains then surely there must some kind of a filter system and ii believe that Cannabis helps us to recycle unwanted thoughts and memories especially the bad stuff we don’t even want to remember for example all the negative images we have to endure on social media platforms or on the late night news.

When THC interacts with our GABAergic neurons in the hippocampus region of our brains it acts as an inhibitor of the Cannabinoid receptors on these brain cells which affect our memory. This Cannabis induced inhibition of the GABAergic brain cells can in certain people lead to changes in memory concerning painful emotions and memories which doctors refer to as aversive memories and fear. In plain truth this means that bad memories are specifically targeted by Cannabis to be shifted into our brains recycle bin. 

You can take a look at studies by Jimok Kim and Bradley Alger in the journal Nature Neuroscience where these professors confirm that the GABAergic synapses do express Cannabinoid receptors. This mechanism of changes occurring because of Cannabis induced inhibition and subsequent reduction in Endocannabinoid levels is precisely what allows selective modifications of aversive memories in the hippocampal networks of the brain which controls our memory centre.

There is another memory study by a group of scientists and ii reference (Marsiacano et al. Nature 2002) where they have looked into the Cannabinoid receptors expressed in the basolateral amygdala complex which is a region of the brain which scientists know to control the elimination of these aversive memories.

“We propose that endocannabinoids facilitate extinction of aversive memories through their selective inhibitory effects on local inhibitory networks in the amygdala.” ~ Giovanni Marsiacano

The other interesting thing about Cannabis is exactly what one can actually remember specifically in terms of detail. When ii was studying traditional healing with the isi-Xhosa nation in rural Transkei South Africa ii came upon a very apt expression which best describes this now well-footed medical idea.  “Ukhumbula yonke into okomntu wentsango” Which directly translated in English says: “He remembers every little detail like a Cannabis smoker”. In my opinion this is why people who use Cannabis tend to be more creative and productive and ii believe that this is because Cannabis assists us to retrieve and retain positive memories in graphic detail even long after the original idea was conceived while sieving out all the negative fear based memories.

One of the most common side effects of pharmaceutical drugs is memory loss.

Certain pharmaceutical drugs are known to cause memory loss as well as other intellectual and perception problems. In fact, most of these drugs start with ‘anti’ for example antihistamines, antidepressants, antibiotics, antipsychotics, anti-hypertensives, anti-epileptics, anti-cholesterol, anti-inflammatories, antispasmodics even sleeping tablets and other sedative-hypnotics available. The problem is that all these other drugs affect our Acetycholine levels and this is what leads to symptoms resembling dementia like confusion, blurred vision, hallucinations, delirium and indeed memory loss. Acetylcholine is the main neurotransmitter concerned with memory and learning function. There is a natural decline of Acetylcholine production which is normal with old age and this is why seniors are more at risk of memory loss. And this is only exasperated by the chronic damage caused by years of unknowingly consuming dangerous drugs prescribed by our doctors to whom we look to for medical guidance and protection when we become ill in the first place.

Over the years ii have found that patients who use a daily dose of Cannabis oil seem to be far more medically protected from the harmful side effects of pharmaceutical drugs especially in respect of liver damage. Patients being treated with chemotherapy and radiation also greatly benefit from the neuroprotective healing properties of Cannabis which help to combat cellular destruction caused by so many of these treatments.

There is a really awful drug called scopolamine which is used to treat conditions like Parkinson’s disease, irritable bowel syndrome, motion sickness, nausea, vomiting and dizziness. It is also known as ‘devils breath’ and is regarded as one of the most dangerous drugs in the world. It inhibits free will and blocks memory and can even lead to death. This mind control drug is the feature of many movies where you can witness crowds of people literally being turned into zombies and succumbing to instructions to do things they would not normally do. There are even stories of people becoming psychotic after using scopolamine transdermal patches for motion sickness. 

It is not only prescription drugs which cause memory loss a lot of over the counter medicines will do the same because they block this important neurotransmitter known as Acetylcholine which is primarily concerned with our memory. Some names you can relate to are Advil (pain and insomnia), Benadryl – Diphenhydramine generic (for allergies), Nytol (insomnia), Sominex (insomnia), Tylenol (pain and insomnia) and even good old Zantac which we use for acid reflux.

There are many reports of fairly large research studies proving that seniors who use certain over the counter medicines like Benadryl are at a far greater risk of developing dementia and Alzheimer’s with memory loss being noticeable within 60 days. So you can only imagine how after a life time of consuming these drugs how their side effects slowly eat away at our memory and sometimes it is simply too late and the damage is too great and this is why we need to teach young people the truth about Cannabis and longevity from a young age. We must not wait until we are old and sick before we start to realise the importance of the benefits of inviting the human companion plant into our lives. 

Cannabis and end of life care

Can Cannabis play a role in palliative care?

In my life ii have been using Cannabis to save people’s lives from some of the most horrific medical conditions even ii have ever seen and while Cannabis has already saved millions of lives in medical miracles over the years Cannabis is also the most effective and safest medicinal option in palliative care. Patients suffering with symptoms of incurable conditions benefit immensely in respect of treating nausea, vomiting, headaches, pain, fatigue, insomnia, lack of appetite, constipation and diarrhoea, muscle wastage, anxiety d depression. Most of the time doctors will prescribe a different drug for each of these symptoms where Cannabis will take care of all of them as a comprehensive treatment with no side effects or organ damage.

With palliative care comes end of life care and this is where Cannabis also serves as an adjuvant medication which means that it offers treatment mostly to suppress any secondary tumour formations and secondly to boost the immune system from the harsh effects of chemotherapy and other radiation treatments. Terminally ill patients and people at the end of their natural lives need care which is designed to make them as comfortable and as clear minded as possible. Today end of life care generally consists of pain killers and more pain killers which only make people more nauseous and more depressed and confused.

On a spiritual level Cannabis can also help us to deal with our questions and fears about death and transcending to the afterlife. It is the psychoactive effects of THC which can induce feelings of euphoria and relaxation in certain people while in others who have heavy hearts it can bring about feelings of paranoia and fear. Death is never easy because we really don’t know much about it but one thing is for sure that death is always going to be part of life and this is why it is so important to address our spiritual health while we live. It is the psychedelic properties of Cannabis which can help us to achieve such enlightment. THC can take us to levels of consciousness we are not able to reach without psychedelics and it is true that Cannabis is not the only plant which can offer end of life assistance many people use magic mushrooms as an example for this same purpose as humans have been doing for spiritual rituals for thousands of years.

It is really difficult to evaluate this type of Cannabis healing other than taking the patient’s own reports into account and a lot of the time patients simply pass on and their families wonder whether they were in pain. Most patients and their families and carers report that Cannabis medicine is very valuable in assisting with the emotional and physical trauma associated with terminal illness and imminent death. And it is not uncommon for patients to gain such incredible healing that they are able to be discharged from hospice and actually go home and do things for themselves like bathing and housework and this sense of independence allows them to pass in peace at home. Many terminal patients have confessed that this is their ultimate dying wish and it is the pleasure of our human companion plant to grant this wish. 

In my work ii have been called to administer Cannabis medicine on the death bed because the patient requested this treatment in order to ‘let go’. It is both heart-breaking and illuminating to witness this type of self-medication at the end of life and patients have told me how they felt that they were ready to pass on and some have given me vivid visions of their experiences and this can only confirm the positive healing effects of Cannabis in our physical life cycle from birth to death. Like abortion euthanasia, assisted dying are controversial subjects and all ii can offer is that each one of us is responsible for our own lives and the quality of life we wish to experience and part of this responsibility is our own deaths and transition to the spiritual realm.

Who is the true Ganja Queen?

Ma Gu ~ The Ancient Cannabis Goddess ~ A mythological history of Cannabis and longevity…

From a young age since ii started my healing career ii have been referred to as ‘the ganja queen’ by people ii have helped to access Cannabis medicine over the years and ‘queen’ is a reference to Rastafari spirituality. But please let me introduce you to the true Cannabis Goddess and her name is Ma Gu which literally means Hemp. In ancient times more than 5000 years ago the Chinese, Japanese and Koreans appointed an Asian guardian for Cannabis and her name was Ma Gu and she became known as The Hemp Goddess and The Immortal Hemp Maiden and today we continue to respect her as The Goddess of Cannabis. Most of the mythological stories surrounding this goddess involve her work with the poorest of the poor, healing the sick and cultivating the natural world as either a goddess or a priestess.

Legend states that before she was immortalized she had freed thousands of slaves who had worked for her evil father and she taught them how to farm sustainably. Her youth and beauty became symbols of the health and healing of the entire universe which she was believed to protect and to this day she is regarded as the guardian of vitality throughout East Asia. We can see throughout history that it was the Chinese who seemed the most keen to preserve her memory and this is displayed widely in Chinese art where she is famous for healing with peaches and Cannabis.

In fact she was known to serve tea with Cannabis for longevity and this is how she healed the symptoms of menopause and became the symbolic protector of women in Chinese mythology and to this day her birth day is still celebrated on the 6^th day of the 6^th lunar month.

This is how Ma Gu was immortalized as a goddess possessing the elixir of life… the goddess who healed with Cannabis. This is also the first reference to Cannabis and the Feminine Divine which embraces the consciousness of the human companion plant. On a spiritual level the Chinese have always believed that Cannabis can protect us against demonic possession by increasing the “second sight” which is a reference to the pineal gland our third eye and the burning of hemp seeds was associated with cleansing rituals and it was the goddess Ma Gu to whom the people were praying which also gives us a better idea of the value the Chinese placed on the Cannabis plant by aligning it with the goddess of healing and surely only a highly valued goddess could be entrusted to care for our companion plant.

There is a great article titled Beliefs about Aging and Longevity in Ancient China by Joges Candra Ray an Indian researcher who wrote about the fact that the ancient Soma ritual drink of importance was in fact Cannabis. Personally ii find this interesting as this work dates back to 1939 which is the exact same year in which language specialist Sula Bennet confirmed that Kaneh-bosm an ingredient in the biblical Holy Anointing Oil mentioned in the book of Exodus is in fact Cannabis.

Soma is also a plant and is the name of the intoxicating and holy drink which the ancient people of India and surrounds believed could cure disease and offer immortality and Cannabis was the active ingredient of this drink. According to ancient Chinese scripts it is all about rejuvenation and it would be unfair if ii fail to mention that in 2009 it was recorded that the worlds oldest women Fulla Navak 122 years old from India smoked Cannabis every day and praised our human companion plant for her personal longevity.

Why does Cannabis make our eyes red?

Interestingly enough the reason our eyes become red after smoking Cannabis is also the main reason why Cannabis is becoming renowned for its treatment of glaucoma. Basically Cannabis reduces blood pressure, which in turn causes blood vessels and capillaries to dilate. The ocular capillaries dilate which increases the flow of blood to the eyes and this is what naturally reduces intraocular pressure. A lot of people will argue that this is not a good idea and red eyes surely must be a sign of a problem.  Some people will tell you that Cannabis sets your brain on fire and this is why your eyes go red.  Alcohol does the exact same thing because alcohol is also a vaso dilator. The red eye effect of Cannabis is short lived just like the psychedelic effects.

The reality is that the stronger the THC strain the redder your eyes will be but as said before this is also short lived. But some experts will tell you that actually the weaker the THC strain the more red the eyes…so yes everyone is different, every eye is different and again every Cannabis plant is different. So for example a person can smoke a low THC strain one day and have little to no eye redness, while the very next day their eyes may be blood shot after eating a high THC strain edible product. This also explains why red eyes can still occur even in the absence of smoke proving that it is not the smoke which makes our eyes red but the actual Cannabinoids. Personally ii would take red eyes over blindness any day.

Why does Cannabis make us sleep so well?

We know that Cannabis is the best medicine for uninterrupted sleep cycles which is essential to overall health and well -being. Insomnia is usually the biggest problem for any sick person. Not only ill people struggle to sleep there are many healthy people who will also benefit from a good night of sleep. But it is not only the CBN which sends us off to dreamland. Because the chemicals found in the Cannabis plant controls our hormone system our human companion plant can offer us a good night’s sleep because it stimulates the Pineal gland to produce Melatonin and Serotonin which are the two hormones which controls our sleep-wake patterns. So here again you can see how Cannabis controls the Endocrine system and how our bodies absorb hormones.

Most sleeping tablets give the patient a simple hypnotic effect but Cannabis offers a proper nights rest with overall symptom reduction which allows better sleep patterns to be developed. Most of the sedative or hypnotic drugs which are available have awful side effects and none really seem to create a sleep architecture which is even remotely identical to natural sleep architecture. One of the worst side effects of opioid drugs is sleep disruption which in turn intensifies the pain condition. One would think that clever people who become scientists would have considered these side effects but all we achieve through prescribing these man made drugs is an increase in the dose of pain killers required to manage the patient’s pain and an increase in the side effects. This is a major problem which needs to be addressed by gaining a better understanding of the mechanisms of sleep action as well as the mechanisms of drug action. This involves developing a deep knowledge of receptor expression and of how molecules bind to the various receptors. 

The importance of sleep as a medicinal remedy can never be overlooked and we hope that in the future this ongoing clinical problem of sleep disorders may continue to stimulate advances in understanding neurochemical regulation of sleep.

Cannabinoids are able to interact and bind with multiple targets meaning a variety of different receptors and not only the Cannabinoid receptors. It is the combination of all the Cannabinoids and the terpenes especially Myrcene (the mango terpene) which enables Cannabis to be offer us pain relief, anti-anxiety and sedative effects. Cannabis brings sleep on rapidly with less periods of wakefulness and minimal next day effects and almost no abuse potential. No other sedative drug can offer all of this.

Sensual Awakening Herbs

Herbs for Sensual Awakening

While Cannabis medicine will always be my speciality ii have also been very blessed to have trained with traditional healers who have educated me in the healing properties of many different herbs and ii would like to share new healing potential for sensual awakening which is a secret Khoi San recipe of herbs, roots and barks. One of the greatest joys in life is to share love with another person on this journey of life. It is a divine union of lovers entangling two paths together along the path of life where immense potential of beauty is available to be discovered and enjoyed. At some point in life for many different reasons there comes a time when couples might require sensual healing work to address all kinds of sexual dysfunction or trauma whether it is simply to reignite passion or to heal a shared connection.

Sensual awakening offers us natural ways to enhance pleasure and joy and to develop more self-love and a greater self-esteem. Working towards inner union is a journey to wholeness and expansion where one heals and embraces certain aspects within oneself instead of searching for things in another person. This philosophy is of great benefit to both partners.

There are many drugs on the market used to improve sexual response in men and to improve sexual desire and libido in women but a lot of these drugs have alarming side effects. Vitality and sensual awakening herbs for men and women have been used as aphrodisiacs for thousands of years in many cultures and as with any herbal treatment the effects will vary from person to person. Not only do the vibrational qualities of these herbs assist in balancing, relaxing and energizing your aura and chakras which is known to promote a sensual state of mind but they also effect healing in the blood system by cleansing the blood stream and stimulating blood circulation to the pelvic area. Vitality herbs also act as a muscle relaxant and mood enhancer because they are also hormone supporting herbs which assist in balancing oestrogen and progesterone levels and in this way are able to stimulate stamina and endurance by increasing sensation and sensitivity for both partners.

This is what a typical treatment dose looks like which is about 30 grams of plant material. This parcel is divided into 3 parts. The first section is taken and a litre of herbal tea is made. Each partner consumes 25 ml of the tea twice a day until the litre is completed this is ten days of treatment. Both partners wait one week before returning to the herbs.

The next picture is a smaller parcel included in the treatment of finely crushed herbs which looks like a reddish brown powder. This parcel must also be divided into three parts. After the one week waiting period passes another litre of tea is made with a one third part of the powder mix and consumed over another ten day period followed by another one week waiting period. By now the couple will have started to appreciate the healing properties of these plants and many couples only need to use the first third of their parcels while others may use the recipe more frequently.

It’s no secret that an active sex life can greatly increase longevity among the elderly and it’s also no secret that intimacy has no age limit. But for many reasons a lot of adults continue to worry about sex in the golden years, some are embarrassed by their aging bodies or their lack of performance while others might be affected by an illness or the loss of their partner.

Sex does not have to deteriorate with age it is quite possible to continue to explore the emotional and sensual aspects of our sexuality by shifting our perception of value from quantity to quality in the intimacy of the bedroom. The truth is that being sexually active virtually guarantees a longer and healthier life.

For more information on how to obtain these sensual awakening herbs please contact me directly.

How does Cannabis heal pain?

What is the mechanism by which Cannabis can ease pain and inflammation?

It has been scientifically declared that Cannabis does greatly contribute to pain relief on a physical level because of the way THC and other Cannabinoids interact with all of our receptors including the vanilloid receptor. Both THC and CBD interact with our vanilloid receptors and this is just one of the ways how Cannabis manifests its pain killing and anti-inflammatory properties. Very little is known about the vanilloid receptor and it is described by scientists as an excitatory ion channel which is expressed by nociceptors so here is the link to the pain receptors which are called nocioreceptors. Capsaicin from the chilli pepper plant is the natural agonist for this receptor which has its own unique pain killing properties but this receptor like our Cannabinoid receptors is also highly lipophilic meaning it has a strong affinity for fats and this is why THC and all the other fat soluble Cannabinoids are naturally attracted to the vanilloid receptor and are able to interact with this receptor and this is where pain healing begins in our bodies. The vanilloid receptor is the gateway to the pain pathway. This biological link between Cannabinoids and the vanilloid receptor as well as the expression of our Cannabinoid receptors on the sensory nerve fibres and adnexal structures in human skin is how Cannabis is able to offer us pain relief.

Once the vanilloid and Cannabinoid receptors are activated by Cannabinoids a brief moment of hyperalgesia or increase to sensitivity to pain is followed by a prolonged period of desensitization and virtually instant reduction of pain in the body. In general there are two basic components of the pain process being the actual signal of pain…getting hurt or injury and the perception of pain itself this is why pain is a subjective experience unique to each individual because everyone’s receptors are wired differently. We can see that both the vanilloid and Cannabinoid receptors have biological similarities which explain why they work so well together in the pain pathway. The chemical action of both receptors presents an initial fleeting moment of pain followed by a long lasting period of desensitisation.

Our pain receptors are called nocioreceptors and they relay information on pain to the brain and these pain receptors exist throughout our entire nervous system. Make no mistake pain is a complex process but we can break it down to the relative activity of nocioreceptor neurons. When they are active, we call this the sensation of pain so their activity which is measured by the number of synapses activated per second and is directly proportional to the amount of pain that we feel. If we can regulate the activity of the pain receptors then we can regulate the pain. Our Cannabinoid receptors found throughout our nervous system are also able to interact with the pain receptors and when the EC system is activated by Cannabis it is able to immediately inhibit the activity of our pain receptors. Some scientists refer to these the opioid and Cannabinoid receptors as ‘friends with benefits’ which proves to us that Cannabis engages multiple receptors involved in the pain pathway.

It is this instant inhibition of the nocioreceptors by the Cannabinoids which is the mechanism by which Cannabis can offer us pain reduction.

We have learnt about the unique feature of our EC system referred to as retrograde transmission and when we look at the analgesic effects of Cannabis it is certain that the entire mechanism by which Cannabis offers pain relief to humans is based on the inhibition of presynaptic neurotransmitters. At any point of injury in the body when neural or non-neural cells in the tissues are injured and damaged there will be a localised upregulation in the expression of our Cannabinoid receptors. So for example if there is a pinched nerve in the neck the body will naturally increase the amount of Cannabinoid receptors in that exact location and the receptors require Cannabinoids to effect healing. The EC system ensures that all damaged cells produce the arachidonic acid derivatives which are our Endocannabinoids Anandamide and 2-AG. This then depletes our natural Endocannabinoid level and the receptors require the additional support of the chemicals found in the Cannabis plant. This is why we need our human companion plant to supplement the EC system.

Our naturally produced Endocannabinoids and Cannabinoids from the Cannabis plant transmit in a different way to any other neurotransmitter. They literally move backwards from the pre-synaptic cell to the post-synaptic cell where all other neurotransmitters move forward from the post to the pre-synaptic cell. This is how Cannabis is able to inhibit the activities of the cell in front of the damaged cell and in the case of pain it inhibits the pain receptors of the cells concerned. The importance of the ability of Cannabinoids to move backwards is that this is how they control the activities of the pre-synaptic cell in other words Cannabinoids can control what happens next at cellular level. The actual mechanism of any healing is really an enigma and so it should not surprise us that our human companion plant works in a very mysterious and profound way through its activities throughout the human body.

Pain is a subjective experience and a lot of patients say that their pain doesn’t actually go away it just becomes easier to manage and everyone has a different story of how Cannabis helps them with their pain. A lot of people claim that they do not feel much difference in the pain but the pain definitely worried them less. It is as if Cannabis is able to distract the pain centre of the mind away from the actual pain. For me personally ii can be honest and say that in many respects it is precisely the ‘being high’  the feeling of  ‘lightness’ meaning the THC which is actually giving me the pain relief so in order to function daily ii do like to be on a bit of buzz.

So many people are in pain today…physical and emotional pain which definitely has an effect on character and behaviour. When people are in pain they tend to lash out at the ones they love as much as they can target perfect strangers. These people desperately need the healing which Cannabis can offer. For so many people Cannabis is able to take their pain away making them feel better within minutes with relief that lasts for hours and our human companion plant can do this for each one of us. It is a combination of the many benefits of Cannabis which contributes to the distraction of aches and pains and based on everything we now know it is my firm belief that THC is the main contributor to all Cannabis healing especially pain.