{"componentChunkName":"component---common-build-tags-template-js","path":"/tag/anorexia/","result":{"data":{"allArticle":{"edges":[{"node":{"id":"Article_1978-markdown","title":"The Munchies Will Make you Fat, Right? Think Again. ","slug":"the-munchies-will-make-you-fat-right-think-again","content":"Most cannabis users think that there's no chance marijuana can be good\r\nfor weight loss. The herb is notorious for stimulating appetite, more commonly known as \"the munchies.\"\r\nThe times are changing, though, and new evidence is suggesting that\r\ncannabis might actually help consumers *lose* weight rather than gain\r\nit.\r\n\r\n**The Connection Between Cannabis and Weight Loss**\r\n\r\nAccording to a\r\n[study](http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2013/05/study-why-pot-smokers-are-skinnier/275846/)\r\nco-conducted by Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, the Harvard School\r\nof Public Health and scientists studying at the University of Nebraska,\r\nregular cannabis users generally have smaller waists and a lower BMI\r\n(body mass index) than their marijuana-free counterparts. This was true\r\neven after the researchers adjusted for factors including physical\r\nactivity levels, gender, age and cigarette and tobacco use. The study\r\nparticipants who used marijuana also had higher levels of good\r\ncholesterol in their bloodstream, which has been shown to [protect\r\nagainst heart\r\ndisease](http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/Cholesterol/AboutCholesterol/Good-vs-Bad-Cholesterol_UCM_305561_Article.jsp#.VsTAzZMrJE4),\r\nas well as lower levels of insulin resistance.\r\n\r\nA separate\r\n[study](https://aje.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2011/08/24/aje.kwr200.abstract)\r\nconducted in 2011 and published in the prominent American Journal of\r\nEpidemiology indicates that, while marijuana users consume an average of\r\n600 more calories each day than their marijuana-free counterparts,\r\nobesity rates within marijuana users are actually one-third lower than\r\nthey are in the general population, which is due to the ability of\r\nmarijuana to improve good cholesterol, produce a lower BMI and regulate\r\ninsulin levels.\r\n\r\n**Cannabis and Metabolism**\r\n\r\nAnother way that cannabis helps control weight gain is by eliciting a\r\npositive influence on the metabolic system. When cannabis is ingested,\r\nthe THC contained in cannabis stimulates the body to produce a hormone\r\nknown as ghrelin. While it's quite unknown to the general public,\r\nghrelin is famous among researchers who study metabolism for its ability\r\nto [stimulate appetite](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17212793). In\r\naddition to making us hungry, however, ghrelin also helps our bodies\r\nmetabolize the food we eat more efficiently. With that in mind, it's\r\nclear that, while THC may increase our appetites, it also stimulates the\r\nmetabolism to perform as well as possible.\r\n\r\n**Cannabis and Diabetes**\r\n\r\nOne of the most important effects of cannabis, however, is its\r\naforementioned role in lowering insulin resistance levels. Insulin is\r\nthe hormone in the human body that is responsible for regulating blood\r\nsugars like glucose. While these blood sugars are pivotal for our\r\nsurvival and energy needs, too much of them can quickly become\r\ndangerous, resulting in both weight gain and an increased risk of\r\ndiabetes.\r\n\r\nFortunately, marijuana helps control blood glucose, which can actually\r\ndecrease a person's risk of diabetes. According to one [2013\r\nstudy](http://www.amjmed.com/article/S0002-93431300200-3/abstract),\r\npeople who used marijuana on a regular basis had 16 percent lower\r\ninsulin levels than people who never used marijuana. These subjects also\r\nhad lower rates of insulin resistance -- 17 percent lower, to be exact.\r\n\r\nIn light of this, it's clear that in addition to helping prevent excess\r\nweight gain, marijuana may also be a powerful form of diabetes\r\nprevention.\r\n\r\n**Conclusion**\r\n\r\nWhile marijuana is often associated with weight gain, it's now clear\r\nthat cannabis can actually help people maintain a healthy weight. The\r\nplant does this by controlling insulin levels, increasing metabolism,\r\nboosting healthy cholesterol levels and triggering a set of hormonal\r\nchanges that enhance the way we process food. Because of these things,\r\npeople who consume marijuana can potentially have lower rates of\r\ndiabetes, less risk of obesity, smaller waistlines and a lower risk of\r\nheart disease than those who don't.\r\n\r\n[Photo Credit](https://www.flickr.com/photos/clobby/351364954/in/photolist-x3Qys-9HPRTH-6AXVvB-qHdvgb-bobYhV-593cJw-6GApQs-nH8iV3-bawuB-7K6YjJ-oah4u-5NRUZj-8sWswd-6ovSmZ-7EBoBU-9HdqKP-9HdrrZ-87HJaF-8M36K9-7E2yv-2MKDP-dumGwb-5EJmVd-7Exxd6-8QPtNc-3mt6EV-HR9B9-e7ZCNB-dJgSV7-87HHSn-89PtdX-2Z8QPW-88k7Xi-9HdsbD-8bHuuK-mEAa8-6Wt6Cp-832Qmq-dumBvq-AD4vf-5sboS8-5i893-bogkMt-7ytdUo-dumHYQ-4sGYvz-4LJyAj-7nFiFS-4qDyFA-2avim)","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/png;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.5267175572519085,"src":"/static/83bb60c0f71f37f3d8fdce4b9e3fe5e7/ee604/2ce80841604e931df53b4e39487fbe7e.png","srcSet":"/static/83bb60c0f71f37f3d8fdce4b9e3fe5e7/69585/2ce80841604e931df53b4e39487fbe7e.png 200w,\n/static/83bb60c0f71f37f3d8fdce4b9e3fe5e7/497c6/2ce80841604e931df53b4e39487fbe7e.png 400w,\n/static/83bb60c0f71f37f3d8fdce4b9e3fe5e7/ee604/2ce80841604e931df53b4e39487fbe7e.png 800w,\n/static/83bb60c0f71f37f3d8fdce4b9e3fe5e7/4c5c8/2ce80841604e931df53b4e39487fbe7e.png 1004w","srcWebp":"/static/83bb60c0f71f37f3d8fdce4b9e3fe5e7/58556/2ce80841604e931df53b4e39487fbe7e.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/83bb60c0f71f37f3d8fdce4b9e3fe5e7/61e93/2ce80841604e931df53b4e39487fbe7e.webp 200w,\n/static/83bb60c0f71f37f3d8fdce4b9e3fe5e7/1f5c5/2ce80841604e931df53b4e39487fbe7e.webp 400w,\n/static/83bb60c0f71f37f3d8fdce4b9e3fe5e7/58556/2ce80841604e931df53b4e39487fbe7e.webp 800w,\n/static/83bb60c0f71f37f3d8fdce4b9e3fe5e7/eddbc/2ce80841604e931df53b4e39487fbe7e.webp 1004w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_1924-markdown","title":"Methods of Administering Medical Marijuana","slug":"methods-of-administering-medical-marijuana","content":"The number of methods of administration for cannabis can be daunting to patients who are new to the medication, but the availability of various methods of administration helps set medical marijuana apart from traditional pharmaceuticals.  Each administration method can be used for different condition or desired effect. \r\n\r\nSmoking\r\n-------------\r\nSmoking is the traditional method of marijuana administration.  Different strains can be chosen based on the desired outcome, but all products, when smoked, provide an almost immediate effect.  Due to the quick onset, it is easy to control the dosing when marijuana is smoked because the patients are able to feel the effect quickly and adjust dosing accordingly.  There are some concerns that have been sparked about smoking, due to the potential negative effects on the respiratory system when any product is smoked.  This concern can be decreased when patients use high potency products so less smoking is necessary to get the desired benefits of the medication. \r\n\r\nVaporization\r\n-----------------\r\nVaporization has quickly gained traction as a healthy alternative to smoking marijuana.  Vaporizing is less harmful than smoking because there are less byproducts due to the lower temperature used in the vaporizer. Vaporization provides the same quick relief as smoking because the product can enter the blood stream quickly. Vaporization is similar to the administration of an inhaler.  Both smoking and vaporization are good options for patients who need instant relief from issues such as pain from PMS, chronic pain, Fibromyalgia, and many other conditions.\r\n\r\nCannabis Oil/Tinctures\r\n------------------------------\r\nCannabis oils and tinctures are concentrates of marijuana that can either be added to products, such as food or drink, or be consumed on their own. Some oils are added to pill capsules and are swallowed like traditional medication.  Quality is very important in concentrates, particularly in oils. Until recently, methods for oil extraction often contaminated the oils with harmful products.  Now the cleanest method of oil extraction uses CO2, which results in a pure cannabis oil product.  Oils tend to be the method used to give high CBD medications to people with conditions like epilepsy because they can be very accurately dosed if they are properly made.  Tinctures, a concentration made with an alcohol base, tends to be slightly less potent than oils.  Tinctures and oils can be helpful for quick relief, accurate dosing, and to get the medication more directly to the gastrointestinal tract without consuming an edible. \r\n\r\nEdibles \r\n--------------------\r\nEdibles can be a tricky method of administration for medical cannabis.  It can be as long as one to two hours after consumption for the effects of a edible to be felt. Due to the slow onset time, and inaccurate labeling of products, edibles can be very hard to dose.  Most edibles do not contain the percentage of THC/CDB that is listed on the package, so edibles should be dosed in small amounts and patients should be cautious about consuming more of the edible if they do not feel effects as rapidly as they expect. Edibles, however, do tend to have longer lasting effects than other administration methods.  Edibles are often used for people with loss of appetite in Cancer, Anorexia, or AIDS to promote appetite. \r\n\r\nTopical\r\n-------------------\r\nTopicals are one of the lesser known forms of medical marijuana on the market, but they are very helpful for people with inflammation and pain.  Topicals are absolutely free from any physco-active properties, making them a great choice for first time users.  Topical products allow people to experience the pain relief from cannabis without the potential side effects of ingesting too much of a cannabis product. Topicals are particular helpful for people who have Arthritis, Fibromyalgia, or similar pain issues.  \r\n\r\n[Photo Credit.](https://www.flickr.com/photos/46434953@N07/8617919882/in/photolist-e8x6ky-4fQ6Jq-92P4iu-948wrL-tCmafT-aYS9JR-9cWQdE-fs5xq-7ZrYJi-5qyoom-pXUKSd-jSDaqu-5QVWPQ-fsA5BG-nXTjv9-hiiggS-p5Su1e-9jjEYG-b6C4ZR-4ntqiQ-gVfpJw-fQwnYj-mckKnT-dNgyA5-oaQebG-9Bcfce-6ysF1-nQMNQC-7LFiK8-t1QbRT-sG4B-67Jrva-agXYLE-aRuzG-8WGDYA-4AZ1nY-auuTZD-agXYPL-baSgkD-4HbUS-8t8jA4-qEW2J7-ox93kw-iYrqbE-6kTS1G-cs8HdL-sVb1u-4dzSTz-mtVXTR-b1DMqP)","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.5037593984962405,"src":"/static/04fe4f63053246345a2c57e2f06b0ccb/14b42/f0e7ff81ac2c98bc31814c39127602d9.jpg","srcSet":"/static/04fe4f63053246345a2c57e2f06b0ccb/f836f/f0e7ff81ac2c98bc31814c39127602d9.jpg 200w,\n/static/04fe4f63053246345a2c57e2f06b0ccb/2244e/f0e7ff81ac2c98bc31814c39127602d9.jpg 400w,\n/static/04fe4f63053246345a2c57e2f06b0ccb/14b42/f0e7ff81ac2c98bc31814c39127602d9.jpg 800w,\n/static/04fe4f63053246345a2c57e2f06b0ccb/47498/f0e7ff81ac2c98bc31814c39127602d9.jpg 1200w","srcWebp":"/static/04fe4f63053246345a2c57e2f06b0ccb/58556/f0e7ff81ac2c98bc31814c39127602d9.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/04fe4f63053246345a2c57e2f06b0ccb/61e93/f0e7ff81ac2c98bc31814c39127602d9.webp 200w,\n/static/04fe4f63053246345a2c57e2f06b0ccb/1f5c5/f0e7ff81ac2c98bc31814c39127602d9.webp 400w,\n/static/04fe4f63053246345a2c57e2f06b0ccb/58556/f0e7ff81ac2c98bc31814c39127602d9.webp 800w,\n/static/04fe4f63053246345a2c57e2f06b0ccb/99238/f0e7ff81ac2c98bc31814c39127602d9.webp 1200w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_1893-markdown","title":"Has Cachexia Met Its Match in Medical Marijuana?","slug":"has-cachexia-met-its-match-in-medical-marijuana","content":"What is Cachexia?\r\n-----------------\r\n\r\nCachexia is a condition characterized by extreme, unintentional weight\r\nloss combined with loss of muscle mass that cannot be completely\r\nexplained by lowered intake of calories. Often, increasing food intake\r\nhas no effect, and anorexia is commonly seen in conjunction with this\r\ncondition.\r\n\r\nCachexia is primarily associated with cancer and HIV/AIDS, but may also\r\nbe seen in cases of congestive heart failure, tuberculosis, COPD,\r\nrheumatoid arthritis, and other chronic diseases. It may also occur in\r\nthe elderly without any accompanying disease.\r\n\r\nFifty percent to 80 percent of cancer patients will develop cachexia,\r\nusually but not always during the final stages. Whatever the cause,\r\npatients suffering cachexia have a higher mortality rate than those\r\nwithout.\r\n\r\nSynthetic Cannabis Derivatives for Cachexia are FDA Approved\r\n------------------------------------------------------------\r\n\r\nBack in 1985, the FDA approved\r\n[Dronabinol](http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/meds/a607054.html),\r\na synthetic THC derivative, to help treat wasting associated with\r\nHIV/AIDS. In studies, oral intake of 5 mg twice daily did increase the\r\nappetite of patients, leading to increased weight gain. Dronabinol,\r\nunder the brand name Marinol, has since been prescribed to combat\r\nchemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting in cancer patients with some\r\nsuccess. However, Dronabinol is prohibitively expensive to most patients.\r\n\r\nIngested Medical Marijuana for Cachexia\r\n---------------------------------------\r\n\r\nA 2007 [study by researchers at Columbia\r\nUniversity](http://journals.lww.com/jaids/pages/articleviewer.aspx?year=2007&issue=08150&article=00009&type=abstract),\r\nfound that orally administered medical marijuana significantly\r\nstimulated the appetite of AIDS patients suffering from cachexia,\r\nincreasing calorie intake and promoting weight gain. A second study in\r\n2011 found that ingested THC increased appetite in cancer patients by 64\r\npercent. THC-dominant varieties of marijuana are the most successful in\r\ntreating cachexia, and research suggests that THC itself may be the\r\neffective compound. The evidence is clear that cannabis has a beneficial\r\neffect for patients suffering from cachexia.\r\n\r\nOral and sublingual preparations appear to be the most effective route\r\nfor administration. Today there are many different types of ingestible\r\ncannabis-infused products that are very effective, including lozenges and\r\neven lollipops for patients who may have difficulty with solid foods.\r\nSublingual drops or sprays are also an option. For those with no other\r\nserious health issues, vaporizing or smoking may be a possibility, but\r\nthe other side effects of smoked marijuana make edibles a more\r\nattractive option.\r\n\r\n[Photo Credit.](https://www.flickr.com/photos/perspective/7628109884/in/photolist-cC54iW-nr2pe3-ueAoWT-mXpmLh-bmaBLF-cC5CKY-cC5eEJ-cC55ZC-cC51mu-cC4NRh-cC5Bx7-cC5zXN-cC65Dq-cC5yeN-cC5wG5-cC5v7Y-cC53od-cC52iC-mXndMg-7T8sQn-67n8kC-mXnstc-dFeBaW-nKiyWp-KofQ6-sgQ2XZ-nr2vAw-h6Dp61-ffTXYb-ffTeEJ-nHugvo-78VnUD-cC5du9-mXpfrd-mXncuM-ffU5UC-ffU4fL-f7Z9QU-f7JUv2-nFtrA9-nFtqCs-rXuYAr-kUuFXt-drtDdi-e5iYKQ-rzXydS-kZDUBD-dGruMr-ftN7ov-rp46yL)","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.5037593984962405,"src":"/static/64a071821b88811c5863f574168c78ff/14b42/32a074726b2a8277ea23c7b058143fdd.jpg","srcSet":"/static/64a071821b88811c5863f574168c78ff/f836f/32a074726b2a8277ea23c7b058143fdd.jpg 200w,\n/static/64a071821b88811c5863f574168c78ff/2244e/32a074726b2a8277ea23c7b058143fdd.jpg 400w,\n/static/64a071821b88811c5863f574168c78ff/14b42/32a074726b2a8277ea23c7b058143fdd.jpg 800w,\n/static/64a071821b88811c5863f574168c78ff/47498/32a074726b2a8277ea23c7b058143fdd.jpg 1200w,\n/static/64a071821b88811c5863f574168c78ff/a6974/32a074726b2a8277ea23c7b058143fdd.jpg 1536w","srcWebp":"/static/64a071821b88811c5863f574168c78ff/58556/32a074726b2a8277ea23c7b058143fdd.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/64a071821b88811c5863f574168c78ff/61e93/32a074726b2a8277ea23c7b058143fdd.webp 200w,\n/static/64a071821b88811c5863f574168c78ff/1f5c5/32a074726b2a8277ea23c7b058143fdd.webp 400w,\n/static/64a071821b88811c5863f574168c78ff/58556/32a074726b2a8277ea23c7b058143fdd.webp 800w,\n/static/64a071821b88811c5863f574168c78ff/99238/32a074726b2a8277ea23c7b058143fdd.webp 1200w,\n/static/64a071821b88811c5863f574168c78ff/d5052/32a074726b2a8277ea23c7b058143fdd.webp 1536w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_1897-markdown","title":"Medical Matchmaking: Cannabis and Anorexia","slug":"medical-matchmaking-cannabis-and-anorexia","content":"Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder in which people have a distorted\r\nbody image. Sufferers see themselves as overweight, regardless of their\r\nactual weight, and become obsessed with food, eating, and losing weight.\r\nPeople who suffer from anorexia often consume so few calories that they\r\nbecome emaciated and malnourished. Anorexia nervosa itself is treated as\r\na mental illness, and it is often associated with other mental illnesses\r\nsuch as depression and suicide.\r\n\r\nThe consequences of anorexia can be deadly. According to [*U.S. News and\r\nWorld\r\nReport*](http://health.usnews.com/health-conditions/mental-health/eating-disorders/overview# 1),\r\n90 percent of people with anorexia are young women. The disease accounts\r\nfor 86 out of 100,000 deaths among young women aged 15 to 24.\r\n\r\nWhy People With Anorexia Don't Eat\r\n----------------------------------\r\n\r\nOne reason people with anorexia don't eat is thought to be due to an\r\nimbalance in brain chemistry. In a\r\n[study](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3971875/pdf/nihms490209.pdf)\r\npublished in the *American Journal of Psychiatry*, researchers found the\r\npart of the brain that associates the taste of food with pleasure is\r\nextremely underactive in women with anorexia. Another\r\n[study](http://www.eurekaselect.com/111826/article) out of Italy reports\r\nthat the endocannabinoid system does not function properly in patients\r\nwith anorexia. The endocannabinoid system is tied to homeostasis -- a\r\nbalance in the body's functions -- within the brain. In patients with\r\nanorexia, however, cannabinoid receptors are dysfunctional in the\r\nportion of the brain that plays in role in food intake.\r\n\r\nCannabis and Appetite\r\n---------------------\r\n\r\nCannabis has been linked to stimulating appetites for thousands of\r\nyears, but only in the 20th century was the connection made to look at\r\nthe chemical composition of cannabis and how it may help people with\r\nanorexia. Studies show that delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main\r\npsychoactive ingredient in cannabis, can successfully stimulate appetite\r\nin both\r\n[cancer](https://medium.com/@HelloMD/managing-cancer-with-cannabis-part-1-94b2262e0816)\r\nand\r\n[AIDS](http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/sourcefiles/IOM_Report.pdf)\r\npatients. [Tim C.\r\nKirkham](http://www.liv.ac.uk/psychology-health-and-society/staff/timothy-kirkham/),\r\na PhD and professor of Psychological Science at the University of\r\nLiverpool in England, has published extensively on the neurochemistry of\r\nappetite. He has found that THC binds to cannabinoid receptors in the\r\nbrain that are responsible for appetite. The [THC not only improves\r\nappetite](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16148436), but [promotes\r\nthe rewards of\r\neating](http://informahealthcare.com/doi/abs/10.1080/09540260902782810),\r\nallowing patients to experience the joy of eating again.\r\n","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.492537313432836,"src":"/static/7a1eb4e5820b6509dd3d1501de36c0cb/14b42/d149e256fcd4afaa8804c19275560aef.jpg","srcSet":"/static/7a1eb4e5820b6509dd3d1501de36c0cb/f836f/d149e256fcd4afaa8804c19275560aef.jpg 200w,\n/static/7a1eb4e5820b6509dd3d1501de36c0cb/2244e/d149e256fcd4afaa8804c19275560aef.jpg 400w,\n/static/7a1eb4e5820b6509dd3d1501de36c0cb/14b42/d149e256fcd4afaa8804c19275560aef.jpg 800w,\n/static/7a1eb4e5820b6509dd3d1501de36c0cb/9842e/d149e256fcd4afaa8804c19275560aef.jpg 900w","srcWebp":"/static/7a1eb4e5820b6509dd3d1501de36c0cb/58556/d149e256fcd4afaa8804c19275560aef.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/7a1eb4e5820b6509dd3d1501de36c0cb/61e93/d149e256fcd4afaa8804c19275560aef.webp 200w,\n/static/7a1eb4e5820b6509dd3d1501de36c0cb/1f5c5/d149e256fcd4afaa8804c19275560aef.webp 400w,\n/static/7a1eb4e5820b6509dd3d1501de36c0cb/58556/d149e256fcd4afaa8804c19275560aef.webp 800w,\n/static/7a1eb4e5820b6509dd3d1501de36c0cb/210c1/d149e256fcd4afaa8804c19275560aef.webp 900w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}}]}},"pageContext":{"limit":12,"skip":0,"numPages":1,"currentPage":1,"id":4948,"name":"Anorexia","slug":"anorexia","country":"US"}},"staticQueryHashes":["3949754563","4179947113","4202924991"]}