{"componentChunkName":"component---common-build-tags-template-js","path":"/tag/depression/5","result":{"data":{"allArticle":{"edges":[{"node":{"id":"Article_1987-markdown","title":"Terpenes That Augment the Healing Power of Cannabis","slug":"terpenes-that-augment-the-healing-power-of-cannabis","content":"The two most well-known components of cannabis are THC and CBD, but\r\nthere are many more important compounds in this valuable plant. So far,\r\n480 chemical components of cannabis have been identified. One important\r\ngroup of chemicals found in cannabis are terpenes. These chemicals could\r\nmake vital contributions to the beneficial properties of medical\r\nmarijuana.\r\n\r\nWhat are Terpenes?\r\n------------------\r\n\r\nTerpenes are the chemicals that give marijuana its flavor and aroma; in\r\nfact, variations in the amounts of various types of terpenes are what\r\nmake different strains of cannabis smell earthy, fruity or herbal.\r\nDifferent terpenes also have different effects on the body, ranging from\r\ncalming down inflammation and relieving pain to enhancing mood and\r\nincreasing cognitive function.\r\n\r\nThe following five terpenes are some of the most important for giving\r\ncannabis its healing properties.\r\n\r\nBeta-Myrcene\r\n------------\r\n\r\nAlso found in hops, bay leaves, lemongrass and eucalyptus, beta-myrcene\r\nis the most common terpene in marijuana. It has a spicy, herbal aroma\r\nthat users of medical marijuana may recognize as characteristic of some\r\nstrains.\r\n\r\n[Beta-myrcene](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myrcene# Pharmacological_effects)\r\nhas an incredible ability to help the body heal. It relaxes muscles, and\r\nstudies have shown that it acts as a general sedative in mice. It also\r\nreduces inflammation, which could help the body recover from illness or\r\ninjury. Importantly, beta-myrcene has a pain-relieving effects, which\r\ncould help explain why some people use lemongrass tea for medicinal\r\npurposes.\r\n\r\nLimonene\r\n--------\r\n\r\nThe second-most common terpene in cannabis is limonene. It has that\r\nlemony-fresh scent that many people associate with insect repellent and\r\nlemon-flavored cleaning products. In fact, manufacturers often use\r\nlimonene to make their products smell that way. Limonene occurs\r\nnaturally in both citrus fruits and marijuana.\r\n\r\nThe healing action of limonene are well-documented.\r\n[Studies](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24328705) have shown that\r\nlimonene promotes healing of the mucous cells in the digestive tract,\r\nwithout any toxic effects. This could explain why it is used as a\r\ntreatment for gastric reflux and ulcers. It may also fight bacterial\r\ninfections, stimulate the immune system, and suppress the growth of\r\ntumors.\r\n\r\nAlpha-Pinene\r\n------------\r\n\r\nAlpha-pinene -- a compound most commonly associated with pine trees and\r\nother conifers -- is another important chemical in cannabis. Like other\r\nterpenes, it has anti-inflammatory effects that augment the\r\ninflammation-fighting ability of cannabidol (CBD). Alpha-pinene dilates\r\nthe bronchial tubes, allowing users to draw cannabis smoke or vapor deep\r\ninto the lungs. Some even claim that it increases cognitive function.\r\n\r\nBeta-Caryophyllene\r\n------------------\r\n\r\nDespite its complicated name, beta-caryophyllene is actually a very\r\ncommon chemical. It's found in cloves and black pepper, and helps to\r\ngive those foods their characteristic flavors. Beta-caryophyllene (known\r\nmore concisely as BCP) binds to the cannabinoid receptor CB2. This\r\nreceptor is involved in inflammation and pain.\r\n[Studies](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24210682) suggest that BCP\r\ncould be useful for treating long-term pain.\r\n\r\nLinalool\r\n--------\r\n\r\nOften used in perfumes due to its lovely floral scent, linalool is found\r\nin a range of nice-smelling plants, including mint, lavender, citrus,\r\nand cinnamon. It's a commonly used remedy for stress and anxiety, which\r\ncan be particularly effective in combination with SSRIs. Linalool even\r\n[reduces\r\nseizures](http://www.researchgate.net/publication/12925341_Elisabetsky_E_Brum_LF_Souza_DO._Aniconvulsant_properties_of_linalool_in_glutamate-related_seizure_models._Phytomedicine_6_107-113)\r\nin conditions such as epilepsy.\r\n\r\nThe Entourage Effect\r\n--------------------\r\n\r\nThe various terpenes in cannabis work together to increase the overall\r\npotency of the plant. This is known as the entourage effect, and it\r\ncould explain why whole cannabis has more beneficial medicinal effects\r\nthan individual chemicals that are extracted from the plant. For\r\nexample, the FDA-approved drug Marinol can be useful for treating nausea\r\nand vomiting caused by chemotherapy and anorexia caused by AIDS, but\r\nthere is some evidence that whole marijuana could be more helpful and\r\ncould cause fewer side effects.\r\n\r\nThe synergy between the various terpenes found in cannabis would likely\r\nbe difficult or impossible to replicate in an artificially created drug.\r\nExtracting a single compound from cannabis changes the effects of the\r\nchemical, which can lead to undesirable side effects or a treatment that\r\nis less effective than pure marijuana.\r\n\r\nOften, patients who could benefit from medical marijuana need more than\r\none of the effects. Cannabis includes compounds that can relieve pain,\r\nnausea, loss of appetite and inflammation - a common combination of\r\nsymptoms for patients suffering from a variety of serious medical\r\nconditions.\r\n\r\nBy choosing a strain of cannabis that contains the right combination of\r\nterpenes and other compounds, patients may be able to access specific\r\nbenefits, while still harnessing the power of the entourage effect to\r\nincrease the potency of the drug. The terpenes listed above occur in\r\nvarying amounts in the different strains of cannabis, making it possible\r\nto select a strain based on the needs of the patient and the symptoms\r\nthey are experiencing.\r\n\r\nCannabis Can Improve Lives\r\n--------------------------\r\n\r\nCannabis has the ability to reduce pain, tackle nausea, and fight\r\ninflammation. As a result, it has incredible potential to help people\r\nsuffering from a range of disease symptoms and medication side effects.\r\nBy using medical marijuana, rather than a chemically synthesized drug,\r\npatients gain access to all the benefits of cannabis. These not only\r\ninclude the effects of the more than 400 compounds found naturally in\r\ncannabis, but also the interactions between them.\r\n","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.5151515151515151,"src":"/static/52418b6d3969d98776ed2492926854f1/14b42/9af6289a64ddaffee981450f399ead40.jpg","srcSet":"/static/52418b6d3969d98776ed2492926854f1/f836f/9af6289a64ddaffee981450f399ead40.jpg 200w,\n/static/52418b6d3969d98776ed2492926854f1/2244e/9af6289a64ddaffee981450f399ead40.jpg 400w,\n/static/52418b6d3969d98776ed2492926854f1/14b42/9af6289a64ddaffee981450f399ead40.jpg 800w,\n/static/52418b6d3969d98776ed2492926854f1/47498/9af6289a64ddaffee981450f399ead40.jpg 1200w","srcWebp":"/static/52418b6d3969d98776ed2492926854f1/58556/9af6289a64ddaffee981450f399ead40.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/52418b6d3969d98776ed2492926854f1/61e93/9af6289a64ddaffee981450f399ead40.webp 200w,\n/static/52418b6d3969d98776ed2492926854f1/1f5c5/9af6289a64ddaffee981450f399ead40.webp 400w,\n/static/52418b6d3969d98776ed2492926854f1/58556/9af6289a64ddaffee981450f399ead40.webp 800w,\n/static/52418b6d3969d98776ed2492926854f1/99238/9af6289a64ddaffee981450f399ead40.webp 1200w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_2008-markdown","title":"Get Started with Cannabis: A Comprehensive Overview of Medical Marijuana","slug":"get-started-with-cannabis-a-comprehensive-overview-of-medical-marijuana","content":" You’ve finally decided to take the plunge and try medical cannabis. Perhaps you’ve received your [medical marijuana recommendation](www.hellomd.com),  but are wondering “Now what?” Patients are often confused and many do not know where to start. \n\nWe recently chatted with Brant Hindman, resident Patient Guide with [Herba Buena](http://herbabuena.com/), regarding his advice for new cannabis patients. Herba Buena is a California medical cannabis collective which \"creates artisan-crafted products for solution-based medicine\". [Brant and founder Alicia Rose](http://herbabuena.com/our-story/) interact with patients through their monthly [Social Clubs](http://herbabuena.com/the-social-club/) where members receive personalized consultations in a group setting. Social clubs allow for a tasting experience of Herba Buena's product line so each person finds the medicinal marijuana that is right for them. \n\nWe always suggest speaking to your doctor or a trusted advisor at a reputable dispensary or collective before ingesting medicinal marijuana for the first time. Below is some advice on how to obtain the right medical marijuana for you.\n\n**Find a Reputable Dispensary**\n\nIt's important to start with a reputable and knowledgeable dispensary. A reputable dispensary will do lab testing, which is important in the largely unregulated cannabis marketplace. Lab testing will check for pesticides, molds, fungus, and Ecoli among other substances that may negatively impact your health.\n\nA knowledgeable dispensary will also have people on staff capable of giving good advice. Brant says:\n\n>“In my experience, I do not believe that most people who advise in dispensaries take the time to really listen and give personalized advice to the patients who walk through the door. Finding the right dispensary should be like finding a trusted advisor. Call around, ask your friends, see who you get a good feeling from before you go in.  Go to the place that is going to take the time to listen to your questions and give you good answers that’s personalized to your specific needs. It’s also important to find a dispensary that carries a wide variety of medicinal marijuana, as not everyone can or wants to smoke to receive the effects of this amazing plant.”\n\n**Communicate Your Medical History & Symptoms**\n\nOnce you find the right dispensary, it’s important to clearly communicate your medical history (if necessary) and define the symptoms you are trying to treat. Are you looking for something to help with chronic pain, an anti-inflammatory or are you struggling with insomnia? If you have cancer are you trying to quell nausea or trying to eat more?\n\nTalk with a reputable ‘bud master’, the patient advisor within a dispensary, or doctor if available. A good advisor should be able to recommend an appropriate medicinal marijuana product for your condition. On this point, Brant says:\n\n>“When a new patient comes to us, we want understand symptoms they are experiencing, and what exactly they are trying to treat. We like to know as much as we can about their unique personal circumstance. How sensitive is their endocannabinoid system?  Have they had any bad experiences with medicinal marijuana before? What are their preferred or prescriptive methods of ingesting cannabis? We need to understand their medical history, as well as their symptoms, so the recommendations that are made are a pairing of both the most recent scientific research and the best organic medicine that can be found/created.” \n\n**Your Reaction to Cannabis is Unique**\n\nPeople respond to cannabis in different ways. Some people are more sensitive to THC, the psychoactive component within cannabis. Other people are less sensitive and can tolerate larger doses.  Before selecting a medicine, it is important to think about whether you are comfortable with the ‘high’ you may feel with a medicine that is THC-heavy. Some people prefer to ingest products that have zero psycho-activity.\n\n>“As an advisor, I strive to understand what experience the patient may be comfortable with. We always suggest that people new to marijuana start with an elixir (sublingual tincture) and then perhaps later they can move to a vaporizer, which is going to deliver more of a punch. We know that everyone has different sensitivity to cannabis and how his or her unique system reacts with cannabis will be different to the next person. The molecules from cannabis work differently in each person’s brain, so the result is not always consistent from person to person.”\n\n**Understand Cannabinoids and Their Effect** \n\nCannabinoids are what make the cannabis plant so unique. The two most prevalent cannabinoids in the marijuana plant are THC and CBD. THC is what makes marijuana psychoactive. CBD (cannabidiol) has been found to have analgesic, anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties, and it is not psychoactive. There are upwards of 100 cannabinoids within the cannabis plant, but CBD and THC are the biggest stars. \n\nWhat’s interesting about cannabinoids is that they all work together to provide a synergistic effect within the body’s endocannibinoid system.  Cannabinoids work together to create stability and optimal health within our body. Some refer to cannabis as an adaptagenic medicine due to its ability to balance the body’s internal system. \n\nWhen you ingest cannabinoids they travel through the body and end up in your brain, binding to one or both CB1 and CB2 receptors. Depending on which receptor the cannabinoid prefers, it will alter the kind of relief you may feel. Both CBD and THC work together to create a balanced system, in conjunction with the myriad of other cannabinoids. This is what is referred to as the ‘entourage’ effect, meaning that the different cannabinoids work together to produce an overall effect.\n\nDepending on your symptoms, you may want more THC or more CBD. To this point, Brant commented:\n\n>“If someone has cancer they may want to have a medicine that is higher in THC. There are studies that show [THC can target some types of cancerous tumors](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/55f4574a3366380006540000/government-cancer-study-shows-cannabis-kills-cancer-cells). It is also a well known treatment for the nausea associated with chemotherapy.  [CBD is also being used as a treatment for some types of cancer](https://www.projectcbd.org/cancer) due to its ability to attach to cancer cells, causing them to destroy themselves. Ultimately, finding the right forms and ratios of CBD to THC is important in the treatment of your condition.  \n\n>If a person has insomnia, they may think about a higher THC ratio. Personally, I’d recommend a product such as our low dosed [‘Lullaby’](http://herbabuena.com/product/lullaby-nighttime-cannabis-elixir/) which  is functionally dosed to be effective, yet does not leave any hangover effects the next day.  CBD, is just a wonder drug.  It can drastically reduce the amount of seizures people with epilepsy experience. CBD helps people from a pain and inflammation standpoint, people with arthritis and fibromyalgia and anecdotally, it has even shown promise as a treatment for some skin cancers as well.” \n\n**Look at Ratio of CBD to THC – It Matters**\n\nCBD is non-psychoactive and THC is psychoactive, and almost all products are a combination of these cannabinoids. Flowers or strains, will always display a percentage of THC to CBD. For the most part, dispensaries almost exclusively sell flowers that are THC-heavy. Other medicinal products such as tinctures, drinks and edibles will present products with a ratio in milligrams of THC to CBD. \n\nIf you are looking for a non-psychoactive product you will look for a high ratio of CBD to THC. Conversely, if you are OK with psycho-activity you will seek a product that either has an equal ratio or one where the THC is higher than the CBD. Brant commented: \n>“Sometimes people can feel anxious or paranoid with too much THC. CBD counteracts and is an antidote to THC. It does not lower the level of THC in your body but the THC becomes less impactful as a psychoactive. The CBD can actually ground you and your nervous system. Understanding the ratio of THC to CBD in your product will help you better understand the overall effect you may experience with the cannabis you ingest.”\n\n**You Don’t Need to Smoke Your Medicine-Necessarily**\n\nBrant says “People are often shocked that they don’t need to smoke flowers in order to imbibe with their medicine. [There is an enormous amount of choice](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/55b7e6426264330006310000/methods-of-administering-medical-marijuana) in the market today and all kinds of products a patient can choose from.” Among the myriad of choices are edibles-both food and drink, tinctures, sublingual (under the tongue) sprays, pills, topicals, among others. Some forms of medical cannabis are faster acting, such as smoking and sublinguals. [Edibles](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/55f44cbb33663800064d0000/essentials-about-edibles-that-you-need-to-know) can take as long as an hour to take effect, but can also last longer, sometimes up to 3-6 hours. When considering different types of medicine, consider that not all dispensaries offer a wide choice of products. In fact many dispensaries will only offer flowers (bud) for sale.\n\n**Microdose Your Medicine**\n\nBrant says his approach to dosage, is always to proceed with caution in the beginning. “At Herba Buena we are very big on micro dosing, or taking small doses at first until you find the right dosage for you.” As every person reacts differently to both CBD and THC, it is wise to start with a smaller amount and slowly ramp up to larger dosages. Brant says:\n\n>“Over time, finding your tolerance to THC is very important. When you start with a new product, start small. If it is a vaporizer, take a tiny puff and wait 15 minutes. Taking a one second puff is radically different from taking three or four puffs. If you are new to cannabis, you may suddenly find that you are extremely uncomfortable for a good stretch of time. It’s important to know what effect you ultimately want. We always suggest that first time users start with our elixirs (tinctures) as they have very small amounts of THC, so a person can work up from there.”\n\nAlthough cannabis products often come with recommended dosages, it is highly dependent on the person as well as that particular batch of medicine. The percentage of THC and CBD can vary from strain to strain, crop to crop and batch to batch. Lab testing has shown that not all products are accurately labeled. In addition, the FDA does not currently regulate cannabis products. Brant gives the following advice:\n\n>“Edibles are a great example of where microdosing is imperative.  A typical dose may be 85 mg but often a person will not tolerate more than 10mg. It can take up to an hour for an edible to take effect so often people will eat too much of a chocolate bar for instance, and then feel terrible for a 3 to 6 hour time period. Read the label, use caution and start small.”\n\n**Organic vs. Industrial Farming**\n\nAccording to Brant, it is important to know how your cannabis is grown. He says:\n\n>“Outdoor, organic farming creates a full flower medicine, which also equals healthier medicinal marijuana overall. The stars and the soil and the air are integrated systems, which help in the creation of that superior medicine. This is opposed to an industrial setting in an artificial environment, artificial lighting and hydroponics. Ultimately, this is a laboratory creation made on top of concrete.”\n\nThere is no doubt that non-organic, industrial farming sometimes relies on the use of pesticides and other dubious chemicals to produce larger more visually appealing buds. Brant says:\n\n>“Often non-organic flowers sell better because they actually look better. It is analogous to a body building competition. Before the competition the body builder will use more steroids, spray tan and artificially pump themselves up before going on display. This is the same with cannabis flowers for sale. We live in the age of Frankin-Weed. All of this can be avoided, by finding the right collective to join and trusted advisors to guide you along your way.” \n\n**Do Your Homework**\n\nIn summary, doing your homework and proceeding with caution will most likely result in finding the best medicinal marijuana for you.  Seek out a trusted advisor, whether that is your primary care doctor, a medical cannabis doctor, a naturopath or a reputable dispensary with a knowledgeable bud master. Taking the time to find the right medicinal marijuana for your symptoms can often give excellent results and be a pleasurable rather than confusing experience.\n\nIf you are interested in attending one of [Herba Buena’s Social Club](http://herbabuena.com/the-social-club/) events in the San Francisco Bay Area, [become a member](http://herbabuena.com/the-collective/membership-application/) of the collective. \n","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/png;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.3333333333333333,"src":"/static/6288c614ce32cdaa67777c207901c230/ee604/8cf1582f55fcc601be0b5d5817cca422.png","srcSet":"/static/6288c614ce32cdaa67777c207901c230/69585/8cf1582f55fcc601be0b5d5817cca422.png 200w,\n/static/6288c614ce32cdaa67777c207901c230/497c6/8cf1582f55fcc601be0b5d5817cca422.png 400w,\n/static/6288c614ce32cdaa67777c207901c230/ee604/8cf1582f55fcc601be0b5d5817cca422.png 800w,\n/static/6288c614ce32cdaa67777c207901c230/f3583/8cf1582f55fcc601be0b5d5817cca422.png 1200w,\n/static/6288c614ce32cdaa67777c207901c230/f90fa/8cf1582f55fcc601be0b5d5817cca422.png 1365w","srcWebp":"/static/6288c614ce32cdaa67777c207901c230/58556/8cf1582f55fcc601be0b5d5817cca422.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/6288c614ce32cdaa67777c207901c230/61e93/8cf1582f55fcc601be0b5d5817cca422.webp 200w,\n/static/6288c614ce32cdaa67777c207901c230/1f5c5/8cf1582f55fcc601be0b5d5817cca422.webp 400w,\n/static/6288c614ce32cdaa67777c207901c230/58556/8cf1582f55fcc601be0b5d5817cca422.webp 800w,\n/static/6288c614ce32cdaa67777c207901c230/99238/8cf1582f55fcc601be0b5d5817cca422.webp 1200w,\n/static/6288c614ce32cdaa67777c207901c230/5e0b8/8cf1582f55fcc601be0b5d5817cca422.webp 1365w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_1951-markdown","title":"Cannabis 101: Your Quick Guide to Medical Marijuana","slug":"cannabis-101-your-quick-guide-to-medical-marijuana","content":"You’ve finally decided to try cannabis. Some of you may have secured a [medical cannabis recommendation](https://www.hellomd.com/). Whether you have or not, you may be confused as to what you need to know before you make your first purchase. This isn’t uncommon for new cannabis consumers seeking to try marijuana to improve their health and wellness.\n\nBelow is a quick guide that will help put you on the path to finding the right medicinal marijuana for you.\n\n### Know Which Symptoms or Condition You Want to Treat\n\nIf you have a serious medical condition which medical marijuana may help, always consult with a doctor first. Meanwhile, a knowledgeable cannabis consultant should be able to advise you on which products will help with specific symptoms. \n\n* Different cannabis strains help with different symptoms.\n* Sativa is commonly known to be uplifting.\n* Indica is commonly known to be more of a sedative.\n* Seek the advice of a reputable cannabis consultant, or budtender—the patient advisor at a dispensary or shop.\n* A reputable dispensary or shop should have in-depth knowledge on all of its products.\n\n### The Importance of Cannabinoids\n\nCannabinoidsare what makes the cannabis plant so unique. There are over 100 known cannabinoids. \n\n* Cannabinoids react with our body’s own endocannabinoid system.\n* Cannabinoids bind to either the CB1 or CB2 receptor in our brain.\n* The two most well-known cannabinoids are THC and CBD.\n* Tetrahydrocannabinol THC is a psychoactive cannabinoid.\n* Cannabidiol CBD is a non-psychoactive cannabinoid.\n* High-CBD products are a great option for people who don’t want to get high.\n* CBD counteracts the psychoactivity of THC.\n* THC and CBD—along with a number of other cannabinoids and terpenes—work together synergistically to treat illness. This is called the entourage effect.\n\n### The Percentage or Ratio of CBD to THC\n\nIt’s important to consider the ratio of CBD to THC as they influence the plant’s effects on your body.\n\n* Marijuana flower will list the ratio of THC to CBD by percentage.\n* A large majority of marijuana flower (bud) is very high in THC, the psychoactive component.\n* If you’re seeking a non-psychoactive flower, ask for a high-CBD strain.\n* Products other than marijuana bud most often list the ratio of CBD to THC and will be in milligrams.\n* If shown in a ration, CBD comes first, followed by THC in California. For example, a 1:1 ratio is most often somewhat psychoactive, and an 18:1 ratio would not be psychoactive at all.\n* Meanwhile, THC precedes CBD in New York formulations.\n* Always read the instructions on packaged products, and know what you’re purchasing. Make sure the products you buy are lab tested; this is important for your safety and health.\n* Although products may be labeled, the information may be inaccurate depending on the product manufacturer.\n\n### Reactions to Cannabis Differ\n\nEvery person is unique when it comes to marijuana, and how you react may be different to how your friend or family member reacts.\n\n* Reactions differ to not only the main cannabinoids, but to different products as well as dosages.\n* Before you begin, know if you’re comfortable with the feeling of getting high.\n* Start with a small dose. If you smoke, take a half-second puff and wait 10 minutes to see how your body reacts.\n* If you buy a product, such as an edible, read the label carefully and take a quarter to half the recommended dose the first time. It can take anywhere from 45 minutes to two hours to feek the effects of an edible.\n* Always wait to see how your body reacts before ingesting more marijuana.\n* Different products take longer to take effect. Also, a number of other factors—like what and when you ate, your gender, mental state and more—can influence the onset of marijuana’s effects. So, be patient. \n* Microdosing is key—start small and work your way up to the recommended dosage.\n\n### Many Forms of Marijuana Available\n\nThe world of cannabis has been blown open with a wide array of shapes and forms. You don’t have to smoke your medicine anymore.\n\n* Flowers, or strains, refer to the unprocessed green marijuana flower you can buy at the dispensary.\n* Pre-rolls are joints made from different cannabis strains.\n* Edibles encompass all foods and technically drinks that can be taken orally.\n* Concentrates come in the form of cartridges for vape pens as well as oils, waxes, kief, hash and rosin.\n* Capsules are pills that can be taken; these are often high in CBD.\n* Vape pens allow you to ingest marijuana from an oil cartridge with a discreet pen.\n* Sublingual cannabis come as tablets, sprays, tinctures and strips to dissolve in your mouth or under your tongue, and can take effect quite quickly.\n* Marijuana-infused topicals include oils, creams, lotions, balms and salves—all of which provide localized relief.\n* Meanwhile, cannabis transdermal patches release small amounts of medicine into the bloodstream over a long period of time.\n\n\n### Outdoor-Grown, Indoor-Grown or Greenhouse Marijuana\n\nMarijuana is primarily grown indoors, outdoors or in a greenhouse.\n\n* Indoor-grown cannabis typically sports higher prices than outdoor-grown marijuana does, because it costs more to grow cannabis indoors. As well, the controlled environment of an indoor grow can result in higher-quality cannabis.\n* Outdoor-grown marijuana may be less “kind” than indoor plants because its exposed to the elements. However, outdoor marijuana also takes advantage of the natural light to produce more complex terpene and cannabinoid profiles.\n* Greenhouse marijuana is grown in a partially controlled environment and hovers somewhere between indoor and outdoor in terms of quality. \n* In any case, before you buy medical marijuana, the end product should be lab tested for chemicals and bacterial growth that may be hazardous to your health.\n\nIf you’d like to receive your medical marijuana recommendation, [HelloMD](https://www.hellomd.com/) facilitates an online doctor's consultation with one of our knowledgeable cannabis doctors. The process is easy, private and 100% online. ","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.5151515151515151,"src":"/static/2bec6249f2cf54b28d132f3e66371c6b/14b42/e8922d670aa93df20d7369910ba89d2d.jpg","srcSet":"/static/2bec6249f2cf54b28d132f3e66371c6b/f836f/e8922d670aa93df20d7369910ba89d2d.jpg 200w,\n/static/2bec6249f2cf54b28d132f3e66371c6b/2244e/e8922d670aa93df20d7369910ba89d2d.jpg 400w,\n/static/2bec6249f2cf54b28d132f3e66371c6b/14b42/e8922d670aa93df20d7369910ba89d2d.jpg 800w,\n/static/2bec6249f2cf54b28d132f3e66371c6b/47498/e8922d670aa93df20d7369910ba89d2d.jpg 1200w","srcWebp":"/static/2bec6249f2cf54b28d132f3e66371c6b/58556/e8922d670aa93df20d7369910ba89d2d.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/2bec6249f2cf54b28d132f3e66371c6b/61e93/e8922d670aa93df20d7369910ba89d2d.webp 200w,\n/static/2bec6249f2cf54b28d132f3e66371c6b/1f5c5/e8922d670aa93df20d7369910ba89d2d.webp 400w,\n/static/2bec6249f2cf54b28d132f3e66371c6b/58556/e8922d670aa93df20d7369910ba89d2d.webp 800w,\n/static/2bec6249f2cf54b28d132f3e66371c6b/99238/e8922d670aa93df20d7369910ba89d2d.webp 1200w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_1928-markdown","title":"Cannabinoids: Chemical Compounds with Huge Therapeutic Potential","slug":"cannabinoids-chemical-compounds-with-huge-therapeutic-potential","content":"The therapeutic properties of the cannabis plant have been known for\r\nmore than [5000\r\nyears](http://www.maps.org/research-archive/mmj/grinspoon_history_cannabis_medicine.pdf).\r\nHowever, it was not until\r\n[1896](http://thecompassionchronicles.com/2013/12/30/cannabinoids-illinois-adams-and-discovering-cannabidiol/)\r\nthat three researchers -- Wood, Spivey and Easterfield -- discovered\r\nthat cannabinoids, natural compounds unique to the plant, were behind\r\nthese effects. Working with the resin of Indian hemp in a laboratory in\r\nBoston, Massachusetts, they isolated and named the first cannabinoid\r\ncompound, known as cannabinol (CBN). Their discovery was one of many\r\nthat led to a paradigm shift in research into human health and disease.\r\n\r\nOne Discovery Leads to Another\r\n------------------------------\r\n\r\nIn 1940, more than four decades after the discovery of CBN, Roger Adams\r\nisolated and identified another cannabinoid, cannabidiol (CBD), while\r\nworking with red oil extract made from Minnesota wild hemp at the\r\nUniversity of Illinois. After Adams's discovery, it was 24 years until\r\nthe next breakthrough in cannabinoid science.\r\n\r\nWorking at Hebrew University in Jerusalem, Raphael Mechoulam identified\r\ndelta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the substance responsible for much\r\nof the psychoactive, or mood-altering, effects of cannabis. Since the\r\ndiscovery of THC, there have been rapid advances in the isolation and\r\nidentification of cannabinoids. So far, [over\r\n85](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2866040/) unique\r\ncannabinoids have been identified.\r\n\r\nFurther Breakthroughs in Cannabinoid Science\r\n--------------------------------------------\r\n\r\nAs researchers continued to learn more about cannabinoids, it appeared\r\nincreasingly likely that the effects of cannabinoids must be mediated by\r\na family of receptors. It was not until 1988 that the first of these\r\nreceptors, [cannabinoid receptor type\r\n1](http://www.drugscience.org/Petition/C3D.html) (CB1) was revealed by\r\n[Allyn Howlett](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2848184) and William\r\nDevane of St. Louis University Medical School, Missouri.\r\n\r\nSince then, CB1 receptors have been found in large numbers in several\r\nareas of the human brain, including the basal ganglia (affecting motor\r\nactivity), neocortex (thinking), hippocampus (short-term memory),\r\ncerebellum (motor coordination), periaqueductal gray (pain perception),\r\nand hypothalamus and limbic cortex (appetite and sedation).\r\n\r\nThese receptors are also found to a lesser extent in the dorsal horn of\r\nthe spinal cord (affecting pain perception) and on immune cells. A few\r\nyears after the discovery of CB1, a [second\r\nreceptor](http://www.gwpharm.com/Research%20History.aspx), cannabinoid\r\nreceptor type 2 (CB2), was identified by researchers [Munro, Thomas and\r\nAbu-Shaar](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7689702) from the MRC\r\nLaboratory of Molecular Biology in Cambridge, United Kingdom. CB2\r\nreceptors are predominantly found in immune cells and tissues, with the\r\ngreatest density in the spleen. Activation of these receptors reduces\r\ninflammation, a precursor to many diseases.\r\n\r\nDiscovery of a New Molecular Signalling System\r\n----------------------------------------------\r\n\r\nThe discovery of cannabinoid receptors fueled speculation that the body\r\nmust produce compounds that bind to the receptors. The first such\r\ncompound, anandamide (AEA), was isolated by [Raphael\r\nMechoulam](http://www.sciencemag.org/content/258/5090/1946) and his team\r\nat Hebrew University in Jerusalem in 1992.\r\n\r\nA couple of years later, a second compound, 2-arachidonoylglycerol\r\n(2-AG), was discovered and in the following decade several other\r\ncompounds capable of activating the cannabinoid receptors were\r\nidentified. These compounds, together with the receptors, make up the\r\nendocannabinoid system.\r\n\r\nManipulation of the Endocannabinoid System\r\n------------------------------------------\r\n\r\n[Research](http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1361971-overview# a4)\r\nindicated that the [endocannabinoid\r\nsystem](http://norml.org/library/item/introduction-to-the-endocannabinoid-system)\r\nmediates a number of physiological functions vital for survival. More\r\nimportantly, it suggested that modulating the activity of the\r\nendocannabinoid system using cannabinoids may be the key to treating a\r\nbroad range of diseases and symptoms.\r\n\r\nCurrently, THC and CBD are the two main cannabinoids of medical\r\ninterest.\r\n[THC](http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/marijuana-medicine)\r\nhas been found to increase appetite and reduce nausea, and may help\r\ndecrease pain, inflammation, and muscle control problems. CBD may be\r\nuseful in controlling epileptic seizures, reducing pain and\r\ninflammation, and quelling mental illnesses and addictions.\r\n\r\nResearchers Hone Synthetic Cannabinoids\r\n---------------------------------------\r\n\r\nContinued research into the therapeutic effects of cannabinoids led to\r\nthe creation of synthetic cannabinoids -- chemicals created to mimic the\r\neffects of natural cannabinoids. Two THC-based medications,\r\n[dronabinol](http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/meds/a607054.html)\r\n(Marinol) and\r\n[nabilone](http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/meds/a607048.html)\r\n(Cesamet), showed clinical benefit and were subsequently approved by the\r\nU.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the prevention or treatment\r\nof chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. Other cannabis-based\r\nmedications are currently in development.\r\n\r\nCombined Approach Offers Greater Hope\r\n-------------------------------------\r\n\r\nResearch has yet to reveal the exact mechanisms by which all of the\r\ncannabinoids in the cannabis family of plants exert their therapeutic\r\neffects, but evidence suggests that these compounds work better together\r\nthan alone: a discovery termed the entourage effect. Support for this\r\neffect derives from comparisons of the effect of the whole cannabis\r\nplant with that of the drug Marinol. When Marinol became available as a\r\nmedicine in the mid-1980s, researchers believed that it would have the\r\nsame effect as the entire cannabis plant. However,\r\n[patients](http://www.coloradonorml.org/information/marijuana/medical/marinol-vs-natural-plant)\r\nprescribed Marinol frequently reported greater psychoactive effects --\r\ncaused, in part, by the lack of CBD, which is believed to modulate the\r\npsychoactivity of the THC.\r\n\r\nAdvocates Call For Overhaul of Marijuana Laws\r\n---------------------------------------------\r\n\r\nThe ability of cannabinoids to work together to treat a variety of\r\nailments while causing minimal adverse side effects has led to calls for\r\nmedical marijuana --the use of the cannabis plant or its basic extracts\r\nfor medical purposes -- to be legalized. [Twenty-three\r\nstates](https://www.whitehouse.gov/ondcp/state-laws-related-to-marijuana)\r\nand Washington, DC, have already passed laws allowing marijuana to be\r\nused for a variety of medical conditions. However, many people are still\r\nunable to obtain, possess or cultivate marijuana for their own medicinal\r\nuse without breaking the law.\r\n\r\n[Photo Credit.](https://www.flickr.com/photos/34402227@N03/4968163345)","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.2345679012345678,"src":"/static/433d8eeddf29b114224c689e0e82c545/bd8e6/6162c38246fa78235422389aca895d30.jpg","srcSet":"/static/433d8eeddf29b114224c689e0e82c545/f836f/6162c38246fa78235422389aca895d30.jpg 200w,\n/static/433d8eeddf29b114224c689e0e82c545/2244e/6162c38246fa78235422389aca895d30.jpg 400w,\n/static/433d8eeddf29b114224c689e0e82c545/bd8e6/6162c38246fa78235422389aca895d30.jpg 487w","srcWebp":"/static/433d8eeddf29b114224c689e0e82c545/10051/6162c38246fa78235422389aca895d30.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/433d8eeddf29b114224c689e0e82c545/61e93/6162c38246fa78235422389aca895d30.webp 200w,\n/static/433d8eeddf29b114224c689e0e82c545/1f5c5/6162c38246fa78235422389aca895d30.webp 400w,\n/static/433d8eeddf29b114224c689e0e82c545/10051/6162c38246fa78235422389aca895d30.webp 487w","sizes":"(max-width: 487px) 100vw, 487px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_1881-markdown","title":"Depression Sufferers Find Relief in Medical Marijuana","slug":"depression-sufferers-find-relief-in-medical-marijuana","content":"Nearly 400 years ago, Robert Burton recommended the use of cannabis to\ntreat depression in his book \"The Anatomy of Melancholy.\" Although much\nof what Burton wrote can be disregarded -- for example, he claimed that\nspirits, witches, stars and magicians cause depression -- research is\nnow supporting his treatment recommendation.\n\nDepression Facts\n----------------\n\nDepression is one of the most common mental health disorders in the\nworld. The [World Health Organization\n(WHO)](http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs369/en/) estimates\nthat 350 million people worldwide are affected by depression. In the\nUnited States, approximately [16 million\nadults](http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/prevalence/major-depression-among-adults.shtml),\nor about 6.9 percent of the population, have at least one major\ndepressive episode each year.\n\nAccording to the\n[WHO](http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs369/en/), depression\nresults from \"a complex interaction of social, psychological and\nbiological factors.\" Risk factors include:\n\n-   Family history\n-   Physical illness\n-   [Chronic\n    stress](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/55a41e233832300006640000/cannabis-can-relieve-stress)\\\n-   History of other mental disorders\n-   Alcohol or substance abuse\n-   Major life changes (giving birth, job loss, family death)\n-   Environmental factors, such as abusive childhood and poverty\n\nThe Depressed Brain\n-------------------\n\nPatients with major depression and bipolar disorder have been found to\nhave [structural\nchanges](http://archpsyc.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=1107416&resultClick=3)\nin areas of their brains that control mood and memory, including the\nhippocampus, the thymus and the amygdala. In depressed patients for\nexample, the hippocampus is smaller and the number of nerve cells are\nreduced.\n\n[Neurotransmitters](http://europepmc.org/abstract/med/18494537),\nchemicals that relay messages between nerve cells, may also be affected\nby depression. This is the theory behind most anti-depressive\nmedications today. For instance, low levels of serotonin, which helps\nregulate mood, sleep and appetite, have been linked to\n[suicide](http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1749-6632.1990.tb16903.x/abstract;jsessionid=45DD265BC98A4193388535C5182BADE9.f01t03).\nSelective [serotonin uptake\ninhibitors](http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/InformationbyDrugClass/ucm283587.htm),\nsuch as Paxil® and Zoloft®, help replace the missing serotonin.\n\nDepression and Endocannabinoids\n-------------------------------\n\nThe endocannabinoid system in the body produces chemicals that are\ninvolved in appetite, pain sensation, memory and mood, among other\nthings. A recent\n[study](http://www.jneurosci.org/content/34/44/14560.full.pdf+html)\nfound that chronic stress reduces endocannabinoid production. This\nfinding suggests that tetrahydrocannabinol in medical marijuana may help\ncombat depression, caused by chronic stress, by supplementing lacking\nendocannabinoids.\n\nMarijuana Use and Depression\n----------------------------\n\nThere has been some\n[speculation](http://www.jstor.org/stable/2676359?seq=1# page_scan_tab_contents)\nthat recreational marijuana is linked to depression, but researchers are\nnow finding this may be related more to the state of the user prior to\ntaking marijuana than to its actual use. In a [large\nstudy](http://www.marijuanaknowledge.info/mjknow/treatment.php?name=Depression&treatment=depression)\nof 4400 respondents, researchers found that occasional and chronic users\nof marijuana reported less depression than those who had never used the\ndrug.\n\nWhile Burton may have gotten his science wrong with regard to the causes\nof depression, his anecdotal evidence of the effects of cannabis on\ndepression are now proving valid.\n\n[Photo Credit.](https://www.flickr.com/photos/40933543@N00/2305701220)","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.5384615384615385,"src":"/static/64127c5405d7da59437023ffaf278ffc/14b42/ba060ed563832d27420798a02bafb95e.jpg","srcSet":"/static/64127c5405d7da59437023ffaf278ffc/f836f/ba060ed563832d27420798a02bafb95e.jpg 200w,\n/static/64127c5405d7da59437023ffaf278ffc/2244e/ba060ed563832d27420798a02bafb95e.jpg 400w,\n/static/64127c5405d7da59437023ffaf278ffc/14b42/ba060ed563832d27420798a02bafb95e.jpg 800w,\n/static/64127c5405d7da59437023ffaf278ffc/16310/ba060ed563832d27420798a02bafb95e.jpg 1024w","srcWebp":"/static/64127c5405d7da59437023ffaf278ffc/58556/ba060ed563832d27420798a02bafb95e.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/64127c5405d7da59437023ffaf278ffc/61e93/ba060ed563832d27420798a02bafb95e.webp 200w,\n/static/64127c5405d7da59437023ffaf278ffc/1f5c5/ba060ed563832d27420798a02bafb95e.webp 400w,\n/static/64127c5405d7da59437023ffaf278ffc/58556/ba060ed563832d27420798a02bafb95e.webp 800w,\n/static/64127c5405d7da59437023ffaf278ffc/cc834/ba060ed563832d27420798a02bafb95e.webp 1024w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_1852-markdown","title":"Lasting Relief From Tinnitus With Medical Marijuana","slug":"lasting-relief-from-tinnitus-with-medical-marijuana","content":"Tinnitus is a persistent noise or ringing in the ears which may be\r\ndescribed as a sensation similar to buzzing, whistling, chirping,\r\nclicking, and other sounds. The noise in the ear may come in short\r\nbursts or it may be prolonged, varying in length of time with each\r\nindividual. Each person will experience tinnitus in a unique way. The\r\nintensity of the sound will range from a low, barely audible hum only\r\ndiscernible when there is minimal background noise, to a loud sound\r\nquite distinct from other noise. In some cases, tinnitus sounds in sync\r\nwith the rhythm of heart beats, and is referred to as pulsatile\r\ntinnitus.\r\n\r\nHow Common is Tinnitus?\r\n-----------------------\r\n\r\nAccording to a [report](http://hearinghealthfoundation.org/85) by the\r\nHearing Health Foundation, as many as 50 million Americans suffer from\r\ntinnitus, with about 16 million of them seeking medical attention due to\r\nthe discomfort from the condition. Tinnitus can lead to hearing loss in\r\n90 percent of the cases, especially in debilitating cases that interfere\r\nwith daily activities.\r\n[Statistics](http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/statistics/pages/quick.aspx)\r\nfrom the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication\r\nDisorders (NIDCD) estimates that about 10 percent of the entire adult\r\npopulation in the United States has experienced tinnitus lasting up to\r\nfive minutes within the past year.\r\n\r\nWhat's the Cause of Tinnitus?\r\n-----------------------------\r\n\r\nThe ear is made up of three parts. The inner ear interprets sound waves,\r\ntranslates them to nerve messages, and sends them to the brain. The most\r\ncommon cause of tinnitus is prolonged exposure to very loud sounds,\r\nwhich leads to permanent damage to sound-sensitive cells located in the\r\ncochlea, an organ located within the inner ear. Other causes of tinnitus\r\ninclude the use of certain prescription medication, ear infection, neck\r\nand head injuries, allergies, thyroid issues, and cardiovascular\r\ndisease. Complications from tinnitus include anxiety, insomnia,\r\ndepression, and irritability, which respond favorably to the\r\ncannabidiols that are found in medical marijuana.\r\n\r\nWhat are the Effects of Tinnitus?\r\n---------------------------------\r\n\r\nLoud, persistent tinnitus makes life unbearable for those afflicted with\r\nthis condition, and they are often irritable and fatigued, restless, or\r\ndepressed. In cases where tinnitus is loud enough, the person suffering\r\nfrom the condition finds it difficult to hear properly, since the\r\nbuzzing within their ear tends to dominate other normal auditory\r\nreception.\r\n\r\nFOLLOW US ON [FACEBOOK](https://www.facebook.com/pg/hellomdcompany/posts/) & [INSTAGRAM](https://www.instagram.com/hellomd_/?hl=en) \r\n\r\n\r\nMedical marijuana may help in the management of tinnitus, as suggested\r\nby a [2009 study](http://www.pnas.org/content/108/18/7601) by a leading\r\ntinnitus researcher. The study showed that auditory circuits in the\r\nbrain are involved in tinnitus, and an auditory imbalance causes the\r\nconstant ringing in the ears.The study involved the use of mice with\r\ntinnitus and demonstrated that the endocannabinoid system that controls\r\nbrain elasticity will react favorably with medical marijuana, providing\r\nrelief from tinnitus. Some the conditions that cause tinnitus may be\r\nmanaged with medical marijuana and complications arising from tinnitus\r\ncan also be eased with the use of medical marijuana.\r\n\r\n[Photo Credit.](https://www.flickr.com/photos/65977087@N00/3911558890)","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.5037593984962405,"src":"/static/9de26a7e522be3e167ff283f35432e44/14b42/9e7257b7246298e016ece999085d5c2b.jpg","srcSet":"/static/9de26a7e522be3e167ff283f35432e44/f836f/9e7257b7246298e016ece999085d5c2b.jpg 200w,\n/static/9de26a7e522be3e167ff283f35432e44/2244e/9e7257b7246298e016ece999085d5c2b.jpg 400w,\n/static/9de26a7e522be3e167ff283f35432e44/14b42/9e7257b7246298e016ece999085d5c2b.jpg 800w,\n/static/9de26a7e522be3e167ff283f35432e44/16310/9e7257b7246298e016ece999085d5c2b.jpg 1024w","srcWebp":"/static/9de26a7e522be3e167ff283f35432e44/58556/9e7257b7246298e016ece999085d5c2b.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/9de26a7e522be3e167ff283f35432e44/61e93/9e7257b7246298e016ece999085d5c2b.webp 200w,\n/static/9de26a7e522be3e167ff283f35432e44/1f5c5/9e7257b7246298e016ece999085d5c2b.webp 400w,\n/static/9de26a7e522be3e167ff283f35432e44/58556/9e7257b7246298e016ece999085d5c2b.webp 800w,\n/static/9de26a7e522be3e167ff283f35432e44/cc834/9e7257b7246298e016ece999085d5c2b.webp 1024w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}}]}},"pageContext":{"limit":12,"skip":48,"numPages":5,"currentPage":5,"id":5187,"name":"Depression","slug":"depression","country":"US"}},"staticQueryHashes":["3949754563","4179947113","4202924991"]}