{"componentChunkName":"component---common-build-tags-template-js","path":"/tag/nausea/2","result":{"data":{"allArticle":{"edges":[{"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_1904-markdown","title":"Medical Marijuana Helps Treat Undesired Effects of Chemotherapy","slug":"medical-marijuana-helps-treat-undesired-effects-of-chemotherapy","content":"Too Bad Former President Carter Won't Have Easy Access to it\r\n------------------------------------------------------------\r\n\r\nAccording to the National Cancer Institute, there'll be an [estimated\r\n1,658,370 new cases of cancer in\r\n2015](http://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/what-is-cancer/statistics)\r\nalone. The World Health Organization even has a grimmer number: new\r\ncases of cancer will rise to about [22 million in the next two\r\ndecades](http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs297/en/). Cancer\r\nhas become one of the most burdensome diseases to ever plague modern\r\nsociety.\r\n\r\nIn August 2015, former President Jimmy Carter announced that he has\r\nbecome one of the latest people to face the burden of this disease and\r\nthe subsequent horrors associated with its therapy. The [CNN\r\narticle](http://edition.cnn.com/2015/08/20/health/carter-melanoma-treatment/)\r\nnotes that the former president had a surgery last May to remove a\r\n\"small mass\" on his liver, only to find out after several tests that the\r\nmass turned out to be Stage IV melanoma, a type of cancer that develops\r\nin the cells that produce the skin pigment, melanin.\r\n\r\nThis news came on the heels of another [news\r\narticle](http://www.newsweek.com/2015/07/31/keep-toke-alive-356032.html)\r\nthat details the benefits of medical marijuana to people who are facing\r\nthe horrors of chemotherapy. Not exactly the kind of therapy former\r\nPresident Carter opted for. However, the benefits of medical cannabis\r\nare worth emphasizing, given the range of undesirable side effects of\r\ncancer therapies, particularly chemotherapy.\r\n\r\nPerhaps one of the most popular applications of medical marijuana is its\r\nuse in reducing nausea and vomiting, a common side effect of\r\nchemotherapy. In the US, two drugs based on marijuana compounds have\r\nbeen approved for medical use. The first is Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC),\r\nan active cannabis chemical that takes on a capsule form in Dronabinol\r\n(Marinol®). This drug has been approved by the FDA since 1985 to treat\r\nnausea and vomiting. Interestingly, Dronabinol also stimulate appetite,\r\nhelping you improve your food intake and maintain a healthy body weight,\r\nwhich allows you to function better and tolerate the effects of therapy.\r\nSimilarly, Nabilone (Cesamet®), a synthetic cannabinoid, is also used to\r\ntreat nausea and vomiting when no other drugs work.\r\n\r\nAnother common application of medical marijuana is in its use to relieve\r\npain. The evidence that supports its beneficial effects on a wide range\r\nof pain disorders is well established. Thus, if you're feeling cancer\r\npain, medical cannabis could be a welcomed part of your treatment\r\nregimen. In fact, a [research published in\r\n2008](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18095921) done by Dr. Mellar\r\nDavis, Director of Research of the Harry R. Horvitz Center for\r\nPalliative Medicine, assessed Nabilone's efficacy in treating nausea and\r\nvomiting as well as in relieving pain by reviewing available treatment\r\ntrials and other published literature on the subject. The research shows\r\nthat while the drug is not as effective in acute pain, it has benefits\r\nin alleviating neuropathic pain.\r\n\r\nFurther, a new drug, Nabiximols, a mouth spray that contains equal\r\namount of cannabidiol (CBD) and THC, has been used in many countries to\r\ntreat neuropathic pain. Canada, the United Kingdom, and Germany are a\r\nfew of the developed countries that approved the use of this drug in the\r\ntreatment of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) spasticity.\r\n\r\nCancer and chemotherapy will also take its toll on your mood. Many\r\npatients report taking the downward spiral to anxiety and depression,\r\nwhich makes cannabis a good antidote because of its anti-anxiety and\r\nantidepressant properties. In a\r\n[study](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3079847/) headed by\r\nMateus Bergamaschi from the University of Sao Paulo, it is found that\r\nCBD reduces the anxiety of participants subjected to a simulated public\r\nspeaking test. The clinical trial of this study involved 12 participants\r\nwith social anxiety disorder (SAD), who received 600 mg CBD; 12\r\nparticipants with SAD who received placebo; and 12 participants without\r\nSAD were used as healthy control.\r\n\r\nA team from the University of Mississippi, headed by Abir T. El-Alfy,\r\nalso conducted another [study in\r\n2010](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2866040/), which\r\nsought to assess the antidepressant-like effect of a form of THC and\r\nother cannabinoids on mice. The study's findings reported that\r\nphytocannabinoids exhibit antidepressant-like effects in animal models.\r\n\r\nWhile numerous studies provide evidence in the efficacy of medical\r\nmarijuana in alleviating the undesired side effects of chemotherapy, the\r\nreal controversy lies in its benefit in treating cancer itself. So far,\r\nthe medical community is divided on this issue; but current studies\r\nabound to establish the cancer-fighting activity of cannabis. A [2009\r\nstudy](http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/279571.php) conducted by\r\na research team at Complutense University and University of Anglea in\r\nthe UK, headed by Dr. Peter McCormick, induced human breast tumors on\r\nmice to find out if THC will inhibit the growth of the tumor. The\r\nfindings show that THC exhibited anti-cancer properties.\r\n\r\nThere's wealth of scientific data and anecdotal evidence supporting the\r\nuse of medical cannabis in treating cancer-related symptoms and common\r\nside effects of chemotherapy. Furthermore, there's an explosion of\r\nfurther scientific studies geared towards providing evidence that\r\nmedical marijuana may be the wonder drug that many cancer patients have\r\nbeen waiting for.\r\n\r\nBack in 1979, former President Jimmy Carter ruffled some feathers\r\nfollowing his controversial stance in decriminalizing medical marijuana,\r\nwhich makes it even more regrettable that he won't have easy access to\r\nit while undergoing cancer therapy. This is because while Haleigh's Hope\r\nAct, Georgia's medical cannabis law, was enacted recently, it falls\r\nshort for many patients with debilitating conditions. Granted, the law\r\nmay be a step in the right direction, but patients from Georgia,\r\nincluding the former president, will still have to go through hurdles to\r\naccess medical cannabis.\r\n\r\n[Photo Credit.](https://www.flickr.com/photos/alendrathril/4255030518/in/photolist-7u19k9-eZyu3-hn1Q1R-eZytL-kLFxF-8pgMt6-zq4yYU-5EcFEA-5hxUac-7Yp6Mc-HeRGf-5ENwNp-abrxk6-4H3wr7-tLKbN-sDhcWy-bgyqyV-66nzGu-9Nr2sh-EPxi1-kH1GK-9pBrBH-9pEtA5-82oXTD-pLgzWT-tKbd3-Gj9AL-DkFRZ-9t9B1E-5FZKcV-57NxRi-5G51dy-5ENxea-eZytu-w5781-izfEG-6qW8Qh-55fz2o-HH3dx-gAHok1-5ENwCz-eZyvh-6qRXbi-9Jzx7S-rGNdor-5EpCj9-ciNADq-9RNtHp-5ESPWN-9KisF)\r\n","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.5037593984962405,"src":"/static/122dcdf620cd4d2eae10746d276e2bb0/14b42/f4b4bd2c59e4548d8bec4215aa8614d1.jpg","srcSet":"/static/122dcdf620cd4d2eae10746d276e2bb0/f836f/f4b4bd2c59e4548d8bec4215aa8614d1.jpg 200w,\n/static/122dcdf620cd4d2eae10746d276e2bb0/2244e/f4b4bd2c59e4548d8bec4215aa8614d1.jpg 400w,\n/static/122dcdf620cd4d2eae10746d276e2bb0/14b42/f4b4bd2c59e4548d8bec4215aa8614d1.jpg 800w,\n/static/122dcdf620cd4d2eae10746d276e2bb0/16310/f4b4bd2c59e4548d8bec4215aa8614d1.jpg 1024w","srcWebp":"/static/122dcdf620cd4d2eae10746d276e2bb0/58556/f4b4bd2c59e4548d8bec4215aa8614d1.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/122dcdf620cd4d2eae10746d276e2bb0/61e93/f4b4bd2c59e4548d8bec4215aa8614d1.webp 200w,\n/static/122dcdf620cd4d2eae10746d276e2bb0/1f5c5/f4b4bd2c59e4548d8bec4215aa8614d1.webp 400w,\n/static/122dcdf620cd4d2eae10746d276e2bb0/58556/f4b4bd2c59e4548d8bec4215aa8614d1.webp 800w,\n/static/122dcdf620cd4d2eae10746d276e2bb0/cc834/f4b4bd2c59e4548d8bec4215aa8614d1.webp 1024w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_1947-markdown","title":"Can CBD Oil Provide Pain Relief for Your Pet? ","slug":"can-cbd-oil-provide-pain-relief-for-your-pet","content":"Do pets and marijuana sounds like an alarming combination? At the very least it sounds like a disaster waiting to happen. As we learn more about the healing cannabinoids found within both the marijuana and hemp plant, perhaps it's time to consider a CBD-infused treat for your sick pet. Julianna Carella, founder of edibles companies [Auntie Dolores](http://auntiedolores.com/) and [Treatibles](http://www.treatibles.com/) believes you should. Treatibles makes use of [CBD (cannabidiol) oil](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/cbd-oil-breaking-the-stereotypes-of-cannabis) extracted from the hemp plant and is non-psychoactive to your pet. For a dog that is in pain, or an owner who would like an alternative to some of the harsh medications that are prescribed by vets, Treatibles offers a safe, viable alternative.\r\n\r\nCBD oil has recently received a lot of attention due to its effectiveness in easing the symptoms of a wide range of difficult-to-control conditions, including nausea, inflammation, seizures and anxiety, among others. Carella has heard from pet owners that they have seen “a reduction in chronic pain and less separation anxiety,” when their pets have been given Treatibles.\r\n\r\nWhen asked about the success of her product, Carella commented:\r\n\r\n>“It has actually been quite overwhelming how great the response has been. One of the first testimonials that came in at the beginning of this year came from a woman who was about to put her dog down because the animal was in a lot of pain. She gave her dog Treatibles and her dog’s demeanor changed for the better, was moving with a lot more ease, had less pain, and ultimately she cancelled the appointment to put her dog down. She called me in tears to tell me her story, which led to some media exposure. It was after this that the product started to fly off the shelves.”\r\n\r\nTreatibles is Carella’s second company, which follows the huge success of her San Francisco brand Auntie Dolores, a trusted provider of gourmet cannabis-infused edibles for humans. Asked why she chose to make a product for pets, Carella said:\r\n \r\n>“I am very interested in making products for families. Since CBD is non-psychoactive, and it offers such profound health benefits, I wanted to try a product line for animals. All animals, except insects, have an endocannabinoid system, which is built to receive the cannabinoids from the cannabis and hemp plants. It can be deduced that all animals, including our pets, could receive the positive effects from CBD.” \r\n\r\nThere is still a lot of stigma surrounding the use of cannabis, and some people worry that giving their animal CBD will get their pet stoned. This shouldn’t be a concern as CBD is non-psychoactive for both humans and pets. In fact, CBD is an antidote to the ‘high’ one feels after ingesting THC, meaning that ingesting CBD will lessen the psychoactive effects from THC. This is useful if your pet happens to eat a THC-laden edible or eats a joint off the street, which happened to one of my friend’s dog last year. Carella explained that “CBD can help your pet by counteracting the psychoactivity felt from the THC if they happen to ingest it accidentally.” \r\n\r\nJulianna talked about the negative connotations surrounding cannabis and pets:\r\n\r\n>“Treatibles grew slowly initially because there was some controversy. People were worried that we were giving pot to animals.  There was a lot of education necessary for people to learn the difference between CBD and THC and how these products were safe for pets. After people started to use our product and see the benefits, it started taking off and people started sending in testimonials and talking about us on social media.”\r\n\r\nInitially, Treatibles did contain some THC, although it wasn’t enough to get an animal high. Carella said “We included just enough THC to cause an entourage effect, which is the synergy that happens when different elements of the whole plant work together. In a perfect world, an 18:1 CBD to THC ratio is the perfect formula, but we are unable to ship that over state lines.” Treatibles now offers a purely CBD product although Carella indicates “there is still a synergy that occurs as there is more than just CBD within the high-quality hemp oil. Our proprietary formula includes multiple non-psychoactive cannabinoids”\r\n\r\n[Treatibles is always lab tested](http://www.treatibles.com/#!thc-vs-cbd/cd9c), which is important in the mostly unregulated world of cannabis and Carella stands behind the consistency and safety of her product. Each Treatibles pet treat is infused with 1mg of CBD (small dog bone size) and Carella recommends one mg of CBD per 10 pounds of dog’s weight. After learning about Treatibles I decided to try the CBD-rich treat with with my own dog, Desmond, a 14-year-old rat terrier who suffers from a severely arthritic shoulder. After eating Treatibles for only a few days Desmond showed great improvement and even seems to have a small smile on his face after eating his treats.","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/png;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.3333333333333333,"src":"/static/62cfa5ddc78662bee3aa73954a85c62c/ee604/4039ff6653562813dfc99a5c043a6d68.png","srcSet":"/static/62cfa5ddc78662bee3aa73954a85c62c/69585/4039ff6653562813dfc99a5c043a6d68.png 200w,\n/static/62cfa5ddc78662bee3aa73954a85c62c/497c6/4039ff6653562813dfc99a5c043a6d68.png 400w,\n/static/62cfa5ddc78662bee3aa73954a85c62c/ee604/4039ff6653562813dfc99a5c043a6d68.png 800w,\n/static/62cfa5ddc78662bee3aa73954a85c62c/3aed7/4039ff6653562813dfc99a5c043a6d68.png 1152w","srcWebp":"/static/62cfa5ddc78662bee3aa73954a85c62c/58556/4039ff6653562813dfc99a5c043a6d68.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/62cfa5ddc78662bee3aa73954a85c62c/61e93/4039ff6653562813dfc99a5c043a6d68.webp 200w,\n/static/62cfa5ddc78662bee3aa73954a85c62c/1f5c5/4039ff6653562813dfc99a5c043a6d68.webp 400w,\n/static/62cfa5ddc78662bee3aa73954a85c62c/58556/4039ff6653562813dfc99a5c043a6d68.webp 800w,\n/static/62cfa5ddc78662bee3aa73954a85c62c/9246f/4039ff6653562813dfc99a5c043a6d68.webp 1152w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_1954-markdown","title":"Auntie Dolores: The Forefront of the Gourmet Edibles Movement","slug":"auntie-dolores-the-forefront-of-the-gourmet-edibles-movement","content":"[Auntie Dolores](http://auntiedolores.com/), a gourmet cannabis edibles company, was founded by Julianna Carella in 2008. The idea was hatched in the ever popular Dolores Park in San Francisco during a time when the cannabis industry was still in its infancy. Except for the ubiquitous home made ‘pot brownie’ and the odd gummy bear, Julianna was hard pressed to find other edible choices in the marketplace. Inspired by the gourmet foods movement in her hometown, Julianna surged forward to provide gourmet edibles to a sophisticated crowd of cannabis patients and enthusiasts. Auntie Dolores took off quickly and is now represented by hundreds of dispensaries across California with big plans for future expansion. HelloMD spoke with Julianna to get to know more about her company and the philosophy behind it. \r\n\r\n\r\n**When you launched Auntie Dolores, what were your first products offered?**\r\n>The first unique product that became very popular was the savory pretzel. They are vegan and low glycemic. After the pretzels became popular, we developed our chili lime peanuts and the caramel corn. We’ve always had brownies and cookies, which are a staple in most dispensaries. Yet our brownies are vegan, low glycemic, and made with coconut oil and coconut sugar. We wanted to make something that not only tasted great, but was healthier than other products out in the market. We wanted to appeal to a wider clientele with both great flavors and new savory products. At the time we started Auntie Dolores, everything was made with white sugar and white flour and with extremely unhealthy ingredients.\r\n\r\n\r\n**I read on your website that the Latin root of Dolores is ‘Dolore’ which means pain. Naming your company Auntie Dolores is meant to represent anti-pain. When you created your company were you thinking about targeting the medicinal community?**\r\n>Absolutely, there are many, many people who are using cannabis as medicine and we wanted to reach those people. However, we also want to appeal to a wide array of people, whether they are using it for pain management, anxiety, epilepsy, or just to feel good.\r\n\r\n**Is it fair to say that you are aiming to create gourmet foods that are also healthy?**\r\n>Yes. The first thing we always start with is the flavor of our foods. Cannabis can usually be tasted so we are interested in finding ingredients that can mask the flavor of cannabis really well. We have found that the savory products do a great job of that. We also include super-foods in our products because it is a way of making edibles an overall healthier experience. \r\n\r\n>Coconut oil, which is a common ingredient for us, and cannabis have a lot of the same health benefits and they work well together. A lot of the super-foods, like cacao for instance, are really good for you and have a strong flavor that helps to mask the cannabis flavor, so that is an example of how we might select an ingredient. Almost all of our products have coconut oil in them. We love coconut oil! \r\n\r\n**It sounds as if you were ahead of the coconut oil movement which is so popular now.**\r\n>Coconut oil used to get a bad wrap as a saturated fat, but it has a lot of health benefits, as we all know now. It also does a great job of extracting cannabinoids because of the high fat content. We use CO2 extracted cannabis oil infused into coconut oil to bring cannabis into our products.\r\n\r\n\r\n**What is good about CO2 extracted cannabis oil?**\r\n>It is so concentrated so you can really achieve a better flavor with that product, because you are using such a small amount. You end up with high potency, without the flavor of cannabis, which is ideal. With CO2 cannabis oil, you’re using a lot less oil because it is so concentrated which creates more consistent potency and an overall better flavor. \r\n\r\n\r\n**Elderly patients are beginning to discover cannabis as a form of medicine for a variety of ailments. How do you educate  a less experienced patient population on how to use your products effectively and safely?
**\r\n>Over the years we have gained insight into the elderly community and how they use our products. For instance, I recently heard from an elderly woman who told me that she eats one caramel corn a night right before bed to help her sleep. A lot of elderly patients choose to use our products for arthritis, and they tend to only need one or two savory crackers at a time because their tolerance is fairly low. \r\n\r\n>Our products are designed so you can eat a little bit or a lot, but it also depends on the person’s tolerance level. The dosage is on the package, each pretzel has 3 mg so you may only need 3 or 4 of those pretzels to give you a 10 mg dosage, which is often enough. You can experience the analgesic effects without feeling high, if you know how to regulate your dosage. I think people who have had difficulty with edibles, who have had a bad experience with them, find our products a lot easier to work with because they can eat 2 pretzels and have the effect they are looking for. It’s important to start slowly as everyone is different but we do state dosages on our packaging very clearly.\r\n\r\n**You have some new CBD (cannabidiol) products coming out, can you tell me a little about that?**\r\n>We have secured a great source for CBD and it took us a long time. Now that we have a consistent source, we are in the process of developing new products. We hope to sell our CBD edibles worldwide. \r\n\r\n**Is the CBD hemp derived?**\r\n>Yes, the CBD we use for our international products is derived from Hemp.  We chose to use hemp-derived CBD so that we can sell this product outside of California, being that it is below the legal THC threshold. That way, if someone is interested in the CBD products, you will perhaps have better access to those products. Also, you can independently mix them with THC if you want. Our 50mg CBD brownie and our 10mg THC brownie combined will create a 5:1 ratio (CBD:THC) or you can take a 100mg THC brownie and our 50mg CBD brownie for a 1:2 ratio (CBD:THC). The brownies are small and low in calories and many patients combine to get the effect they are looking for.  There are many different combinations you can create or you can just have the CBD brownie on its own. \r\n\r\n**Are the hemp derived CBD products as effective as cannabis derived CBD products on the market today?**\r\n>Yes, CBD is CBD. There are a lot of misconceptions about CBD. We have sourced a superior form of CBD that is free of heavy metals and other contaminants. Usually the concentrations of THC in marijuana are going to be hard to take out, but if you start with CBD in hemp, where there is no THC present, it is easier to get a pure CBD product. It is advantageous to have both CBD and THC in a product, but that is not something we can ship it across the country. \r\n\r\n**What is most exciting development within Auntie Dolores right now?**\r\n>We are extremely excited about launching our line of CBD products. We’ve only had the CBD brownie out for a few weeks and the response has been overwhelming. We are also looking forward to when the price of CBD comes down to the price of THC. CBD has a lot of great applications but it can be 4 times as expensive as THC, so we are having to charge so much more for our CBD products. We look forward to the day when we can give access to everyone who wants CBD products at a fair and balanced price point.","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.2903225806451613,"src":"/static/e4c93fc5ad37b4bf5dbf809664de85da/33aa5/d3512a02960b3efad954ba0d9204eebd.jpg","srcSet":"/static/e4c93fc5ad37b4bf5dbf809664de85da/f836f/d3512a02960b3efad954ba0d9204eebd.jpg 200w,\n/static/e4c93fc5ad37b4bf5dbf809664de85da/2244e/d3512a02960b3efad954ba0d9204eebd.jpg 400w,\n/static/e4c93fc5ad37b4bf5dbf809664de85da/33aa5/d3512a02960b3efad954ba0d9204eebd.jpg 768w","srcWebp":"/static/e4c93fc5ad37b4bf5dbf809664de85da/7f8e9/d3512a02960b3efad954ba0d9204eebd.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/e4c93fc5ad37b4bf5dbf809664de85da/61e93/d3512a02960b3efad954ba0d9204eebd.webp 200w,\n/static/e4c93fc5ad37b4bf5dbf809664de85da/1f5c5/d3512a02960b3efad954ba0d9204eebd.webp 400w,\n/static/e4c93fc5ad37b4bf5dbf809664de85da/7f8e9/d3512a02960b3efad954ba0d9204eebd.webp 768w","sizes":"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_1909-markdown","title":"Hemp and Cannabis for Medicinal Purposes: Is There a Difference?","slug":"hemp-and-cannabis-for-medicinal-purposes-is-there-a-difference","content":"With [23 states and the District of\r\nColumbia](http://www.governing.com/gov-data/state-marijuana-laws-map-medical-recreational.html)\r\nhaving legalized medical marijuana to some degree, health-related\r\ncannabis products are growing. Some of these products are hemp-based and\r\nsome are marijuana-based, but what is the difference?\r\n\r\nHemp Versus Marijuana\r\n---------------------\r\n\r\nHemp and marijuana are two varieties of the same plant, cannabis sativa.\r\nHemp refers to a variety that has agricultural and manufacturing uses,\r\nwhile marijuana is the name traditionally given to plants grown for\r\ntheir psychotropic effects. Differences include:\r\n\r\n-   **How they are cultivated.** Hemp is grown outdoors whereas\r\n    marijuana is grown both outdoors and indoors.\r\n-   **Their size and structure.** Hemp grows between 10 and 16 feet in\r\n    height and looks like bamboo. Marijuana is less than 5 feet tall, is\r\n    bushy and has more flowers.\r\n-   **Their utility.** Hemp is used to make textiles, rope, paper,\r\n    plastic, food, body care products, nutritional supplements,\r\n    essential oils and medicine. Marijuana is primarily used for\r\n    recreational and medicinal purposes.\r\n-   **The cannabinoid composition.** According to the [U.S. Department\r\n    of\r\n    Agriculture](http://www.ers.usda.gov/media/328202/ages001eb_1_.pdf),\r\n    hemp contains less than 1 percent tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which\r\n    is the chemical associated with marijuana's high. In contrast,\r\n    marijuana contains between 3 percent and 15 percent THC.\r\n\r\nLegal Usage\r\n-----------\r\n\r\nAnother distinction between hemp-based and marijuana-based products is\r\ntheir\r\n[legality](https://www.leafly.com/news/health/are-hemp-derived-cbd-products-a-legal-alternative-for-patients-wi).\r\nProducts derived from marijuana can only be sold in states that have\r\npassed medical marijuana legislation. Hemp-derived products, on the\r\nother hand, are legal in all 50 states.\r\n\r\nUntil recently, hemp was illegal to grow in the United States, so all\r\nhemp-based products were imported. In the past few years, some states\r\nbegan allowing for academic and agricultural hemp research, as well as\r\nexploration for potential commercial opportunities. In 2014, [federal\r\nlegislation](http://www.votehemp.com/PR/2014-02-07-vh_farm_bill_signed.html)\r\nwas signed approving hemp research in states that had previously passed\r\nhemp laws.\r\n\r\nHemp Oil\r\n--------\r\n\r\nOne medical product on the market is hemp oil. Hemp oil is made from\r\nseeds or from processed hemp stalks. While touted to be full of\r\n[CBD](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3579248/), which is\r\nused to treat nausea, vomiting, seizures, inflammation, mood disorders\r\nand pain, hemp oil is not regulated. Thus, the amount of CBD may not be\r\noptimal for medical purposes.\r\n\r\nIn addition, hemp oil is high in polyunsaturated fats. Excess\r\npolyunsaturated fats have been linked to cardiac problems, increased\r\nrisk of inflammation and tumor growth. Some who have taken hemp oil\r\nreport [side\r\neffects](https://healthyhempoil.com/hemp-oil-side-effects/#.Vdz9d_lViko)\r\nincluding diarrhea, cramping, anxiety, hallucinations and problems with\r\nexcess bleeding.\r\n\r\nFinally, hemp oil may contain soil contaminants, such as heavy metals,\r\nthat may not be filtered out of the final product. So when seeking\r\nmedical cannabis solutions, be sure to purchase your cannabis product\r\nfrom a reputable dispensary that has had its product tested for purity\r\nand safety.\r\n\r\nComparison\r\n----------\r\nBoth Hemp and Cannabis have noticeable levels of CBD, which is beneficial in many medical applications. \r\nMany experts, however, believe that CBD derived from Cannabis can be more effective. \r\nIt is seen as more effective because of the 'entourage effect', how the cannabinoids all work together in the body.\r\n\r\n[Photo Credit.](https://www.flickr.com/photos/fallout/2542501063/in/photolist-4SEYZe-7fx5Nr-5WrQ1o-7fwTAe-6Pq5ZL-33PPZx-bEJnhY-5WrYEE-6jx3oS-7ZL9gX-avDpEi-5WnvPn-5WrZX5-afrEhm-7fMnkT-k3Bv6-6w36Z8-afp3Tg-9EPupv-9F8Cpy-e1ubLE-afogj8-afoHe4-afrcD3-afrGuY-e1oGRH-xaSkpq-hSVaYN-oG1Ky7-oG2dB2-oG1ur2-egrd2T-t7QCd-oG1JPw-oG2a1p-oYeNxx-79NqqA-EsG2w-oG1ZMW-oWtkKd-oWtkFf-c6yUVs-9F5Gsa-9F8AK1-dALh9Z-8jpH4h-oYtvqj-oWtnHw-eZbsSj-kPWX7)","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.5037593984962405,"src":"/static/3ea72a49e3fb65d9ed788a56380196fa/14b42/8df0da7aa8d11fec29dbad6a19e0a132.jpg","srcSet":"/static/3ea72a49e3fb65d9ed788a56380196fa/f836f/8df0da7aa8d11fec29dbad6a19e0a132.jpg 200w,\n/static/3ea72a49e3fb65d9ed788a56380196fa/2244e/8df0da7aa8d11fec29dbad6a19e0a132.jpg 400w,\n/static/3ea72a49e3fb65d9ed788a56380196fa/14b42/8df0da7aa8d11fec29dbad6a19e0a132.jpg 800w,\n/static/3ea72a49e3fb65d9ed788a56380196fa/47498/8df0da7aa8d11fec29dbad6a19e0a132.jpg 1200w,\n/static/3ea72a49e3fb65d9ed788a56380196fa/a6974/8df0da7aa8d11fec29dbad6a19e0a132.jpg 1536w","srcWebp":"/static/3ea72a49e3fb65d9ed788a56380196fa/58556/8df0da7aa8d11fec29dbad6a19e0a132.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/3ea72a49e3fb65d9ed788a56380196fa/61e93/8df0da7aa8d11fec29dbad6a19e0a132.webp 200w,\n/static/3ea72a49e3fb65d9ed788a56380196fa/1f5c5/8df0da7aa8d11fec29dbad6a19e0a132.webp 400w,\n/static/3ea72a49e3fb65d9ed788a56380196fa/58556/8df0da7aa8d11fec29dbad6a19e0a132.webp 800w,\n/static/3ea72a49e3fb65d9ed788a56380196fa/99238/8df0da7aa8d11fec29dbad6a19e0a132.webp 1200w,\n/static/3ea72a49e3fb65d9ed788a56380196fa/d5052/8df0da7aa8d11fec29dbad6a19e0a132.webp 1536w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_1929-markdown","title":"Synthetic THC & Plant-Based Cannabis Products: Is There a Difference?","slug":"synthetic-thc-and-plant-based-cannabis-products-is-there-a-difference","content":"Cannabis research has led to the development of synthetic cannabinoids.\r\nThese lab-based alternatives to the naturally occurring cannabinoids\r\nfound in marijuana have been shown to help patients cope with pain,\r\nimprove appetite and reduce the effects of cancer treatment. But despite\r\ntheir chemical similarities, plant-based cannabinoids and synthetic\r\ncannabinoids are not the same.\r\n\r\nNatural Cannabinoids\r\n--------------------\r\n\r\nWhen research into the effects of cannabis began, scientists identified\r\nand isolated the plant's compounds to find those that may be beneficial.\r\nThey found that marijuana contains about [85 active\r\ncannabinoids](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2866040/).\r\nTwo of these, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD), have\r\nbeen widely studied. They have been shown to:\r\n\r\n-   Increase appetite\r\n-   Decrease pain\r\n-   Reduce swelling and inflammation\r\n-   Control muscle spasms\r\n-   Reduce anxiety and depression\r\n\r\nSynthetic Cannabinoids\r\n----------------------\r\n\r\nAs a result of studies into the medical efficacy of cannabis, synthetic\r\nforms of these compounds were developed. The idea was to eliminate the\r\nnegative effects of the naturally occurring cannabinoids -- the high and\r\naddiction potential -- while improving the health benefits through\r\ndosage control and the removal of impurities.\r\n\r\nThe Federal Drug Administration has approved two synthetic THC\r\nmedications,\r\n[dronabinol](http://www.fda.gov/ohrms/dockets/dockets/05n0479/05N-0479-emc0004-04.pdf)\r\n(Marinol®) and\r\n[nabilone](http://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Nabilone# section=Top)\r\n(Cesamet®) for medical use. Dronabinol is approved for nausea and\r\nvomiting related to chemotherapy and as an appetite stimulant in AIDS\r\npatients. Nabilone is used to treat nausea and vomiting.\r\n\r\nOne is Not Like the Other\r\n-------------------------\r\n\r\nIsolating one single compound, however, eliminates any collaborative\r\neffects of the naturally occurring compounds. For example,\r\n[researchers](http://psycnet.apa.org/journals/bne/129/3/368/) have\r\nreported that the antiemetic effects of THC are enhanced, and side\r\neffects are reduced, when taken with CBD. Another\r\n[study](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25398831) found that the\r\ncombination of THC and CBD improved results of radiation treatment for\r\nglioma, a type of brain cancer. Similarly, Sativex, a cannabis\r\nplant-derived medication containing both THC and CBD, has been approved\r\nin Canada and other countries for treating pain and spasticity in\r\n[multiple\r\nsclerosis](http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.327.9531&rep=rep1&type=pdf)\r\npatients.\r\n\r\nAnother problem with synthetic cannabinoids is delivery method. For\r\nexample, dronabinol, a gelatin capsule, is ingested. For those suffering\r\nfrom nausea or wasting, it may be difficult to keep pills down or to\r\nswallow them. Inhaled cannabinoids may offer an alternative.\r\n\r\nDelivery method also influences drug effects. With an ingested\r\ncannabinoid, onset of action is about 30 to 60 minutes after it is\r\ntaken. With inhaled medication, effects can be felt in minutes.\r\n\r\nMore research is needed into the symbiotic relationship of the naturally\r\noccurring cannabinoids and how they compare to the synthetic\r\nmedications. The most important goal is providing access to patients who\r\ncould benefit from medical marijuana because they are not getting relief\r\nfrom current medications.\r\n\r\n[Photo Credit.](https://www.flickr.com/photos/usdagov/8411815647/in/photolist-w2JakD-bXb3Ln-dPjKJg-8GSqfx-8GSosi-8GVwL9-8GVxWh-8GVAdL-8GVzMY-8GVzYj-51Addy-8GVwoA-51vYXP-51AdAG-51AcHA-51vYHr-51vZhF-51vZE8-51vYQK-8GVyN3-8GSojZ-8GVzcq-GRdZ5-8GVAyy-8GVyhN-8GVyqo-8GVxv9-8GSnRr-8GSpLe-8GSnKF-8GSoaP-8GVxmA-8GSriR-8GSqUn-8GSqJM-8GVAG7-8GSq58-8GVxMY-8GSscZ-51vYAz-51vZMk-51AcQb-51vZp2-51AdJy-8GVxFm-8GVApL-8GSpRZ-8GSpnt-8GSs4V-8GSpfr)","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.3888888888888888,"src":"/static/8d0ebbdd8f030ffc2223a4b3b7d40457/14b42/3e4ca5ceefe362210ec8a953ac333d22.jpg","srcSet":"/static/8d0ebbdd8f030ffc2223a4b3b7d40457/f836f/3e4ca5ceefe362210ec8a953ac333d22.jpg 200w,\n/static/8d0ebbdd8f030ffc2223a4b3b7d40457/2244e/3e4ca5ceefe362210ec8a953ac333d22.jpg 400w,\n/static/8d0ebbdd8f030ffc2223a4b3b7d40457/14b42/3e4ca5ceefe362210ec8a953ac333d22.jpg 800w,\n/static/8d0ebbdd8f030ffc2223a4b3b7d40457/47498/3e4ca5ceefe362210ec8a953ac333d22.jpg 1200w,\n/static/8d0ebbdd8f030ffc2223a4b3b7d40457/159d9/3e4ca5ceefe362210ec8a953ac333d22.jpg 1427w","srcWebp":"/static/8d0ebbdd8f030ffc2223a4b3b7d40457/58556/3e4ca5ceefe362210ec8a953ac333d22.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/8d0ebbdd8f030ffc2223a4b3b7d40457/61e93/3e4ca5ceefe362210ec8a953ac333d22.webp 200w,\n/static/8d0ebbdd8f030ffc2223a4b3b7d40457/1f5c5/3e4ca5ceefe362210ec8a953ac333d22.webp 400w,\n/static/8d0ebbdd8f030ffc2223a4b3b7d40457/58556/3e4ca5ceefe362210ec8a953ac333d22.webp 800w,\n/static/8d0ebbdd8f030ffc2223a4b3b7d40457/99238/3e4ca5ceefe362210ec8a953ac333d22.webp 1200w,\n/static/8d0ebbdd8f030ffc2223a4b3b7d40457/7b5ea/3e4ca5ceefe362210ec8a953ac333d22.webp 1427w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_1859-markdown","title":"The Next Step for Nausea Treatment: Medical Marijuana","slug":"the-next-step-for-nausea-treatment-medical-marijuana","content":"Treating nausea is one of the oldest uses of medical marijuana, with\r\nover 50 studies from around the world supporting its efficacy.\r\n\r\nFor most people, the word \"nausea\" is associated with mild\r\nunpleasantness. But for those undergoing chemotherapy, treatment for\r\nHIV/AIDS, or a handful of other chronic illnesses, nausea can be an\r\nextremely serious problem. Chronic nausea and vomiting can lead to\r\ndehydration, weight loss, malnutrition, and other conditions that\r\ncomplicate the initial illness and inhibit recovery.\r\n\r\nUsed to Combat Chemotherapy Side Effects Since the 1970s\r\n----------------------------------------------------------\r\nResearchers have known since the 1970s that marijuana relieves nausea\r\nand vomiting associated with chemotherapy treatment. In more recent\r\nyears, it has been used in conjunction with AIDs treatment to reduce\r\nnausea and improve appetite. A survey published in the *Journal of\r\nClinical Oncology* reported that of physicians polled, 77% felt that\r\nmedical marijuana was more effective than conventional medications, and\r\nmore than 44% had recommended medical marijuana to their patients.\r\n\r\nIt is speculated that cannabis' anti-nausea effect may be due to its\r\nability to block receptors [in the 5-HT or\r\nserotonin](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23121618) family. While\r\nthese receptors are also targeted by traditional anti-emetics, the\r\n[effects of cannabis on the\r\nendocannabinoid](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24184696) and\r\ncentral nervous systems may make it more effective than standard\r\nmedication.\r\n\r\nAlthough there are various anti-nausea drugs currently in use, most have\r\npotential side effects ranging from the small nuisances to the\r\nlife-threatening complications. Medical marijuana treats nausea without\r\nthe risk of major side effects. While conventional drugs may cause side\r\neffects ranging from constipation and headaches to fainting and chest\r\npain, cannabis generally has no side effects beyond improved appetite.\r\nThe most serious side effect recorded is cannabis hyperemesis syndrome,\r\nor cannabis-induced vomiting, which occurs extremely rarely and only in\r\nvery long-term heavy users. For those using cannabis medicinally, this\r\nis not a serious concern.\r\n\r\nFDA-Approved Cannabis Derivatives\r\n------------------------------------------\r\nThere are currently two cannabis-derived drugs FDA-approved for the\r\ntreatment of nausea and vomiting. Dronabinol (under the brand name\r\nMarinol) and Nabilone. Both are synthetic versions of THC, the active\r\ningredient in marijuana.\r\n\r\nInhaled or Ingested Cannabis for Nausea?\r\n---------------------------------------------\r\nWhile these medications have proven to be effective, inhaled marijuana\r\nmay be a better option for some patients. A comprehensive 1999 [report\r\nby the Institutes of\r\nMedicine](http://www.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=6376) found that\r\npatients suffering nausea and vomiting had a difficult time swallowing\r\nor keeping pills down and recommended an inhalation delivery system for\r\nchemotherapy-based nausea.\r\n\r\nMedical marijuana is well-documented as an effective treatment for\r\nnausea, particularly in conjunction with chemotherapy and HIV/AIDS\r\ntreatment. While synthetic cannabis derivatives may be a viable option\r\nfor those in areas without approved medical marijuana, the inhaled\r\nproduct is preferable where available.\r\n\r\n[Photo Credit.](https://www.flickr.com/photos/16210667@N02/9048589970/in/photolist-eMAoxU-5TrAfM-eMAnWy-hRLTUV-5Y2kgF-7G4dQZ-81cB8C-oDJSem-4diX2R-3hq9qa-5xnJNy-8mbr5L-5mURSz-97VgKb-deZQnn-5dGY4D-bjFkmR-4NhUyV-acrQzS-8eSowW-5GRxjd-9Gn8DP-mH5n9c-bttckZ-9LpQnC-9m1rw7-7EG1Ts-5TvVnm-5Y2kg6-82m3bB-fuRCAg-5WAjm-9qWp9P-8kxZDD-8rDiTJ-uWUsn5-doLdQm-3DkN26-n3cb8-4Tapdw-4EX4D7-5cA5pD-5TrAkt-79ykph-5UGoNJ-8hNVfL-q7FwgX-4rUp4U-ccYgUs-rhxX59)","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.4184397163120568,"src":"/static/9eeda48de03043bfe3bedb1736bd7c45/14b42/7665cca59be3a4b812728995f22d131e.jpg","srcSet":"/static/9eeda48de03043bfe3bedb1736bd7c45/f836f/7665cca59be3a4b812728995f22d131e.jpg 200w,\n/static/9eeda48de03043bfe3bedb1736bd7c45/2244e/7665cca59be3a4b812728995f22d131e.jpg 400w,\n/static/9eeda48de03043bfe3bedb1736bd7c45/14b42/7665cca59be3a4b812728995f22d131e.jpg 800w,\n/static/9eeda48de03043bfe3bedb1736bd7c45/47498/7665cca59be3a4b812728995f22d131e.jpg 1200w,\n/static/9eeda48de03043bfe3bedb1736bd7c45/aee6f/7665cca59be3a4b812728995f22d131e.jpg 1452w","srcWebp":"/static/9eeda48de03043bfe3bedb1736bd7c45/58556/7665cca59be3a4b812728995f22d131e.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/9eeda48de03043bfe3bedb1736bd7c45/61e93/7665cca59be3a4b812728995f22d131e.webp 200w,\n/static/9eeda48de03043bfe3bedb1736bd7c45/1f5c5/7665cca59be3a4b812728995f22d131e.webp 400w,\n/static/9eeda48de03043bfe3bedb1736bd7c45/58556/7665cca59be3a4b812728995f22d131e.webp 800w,\n/static/9eeda48de03043bfe3bedb1736bd7c45/99238/7665cca59be3a4b812728995f22d131e.webp 1200w,\n/static/9eeda48de03043bfe3bedb1736bd7c45/1d8f8/7665cca59be3a4b812728995f22d131e.webp 1452w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_1858-markdown","title":"Marijuana Shows Promise As a Treatment for Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea","slug":"marijuana-shows-promise-as-a-treatment-for-chemotherapy-induced-nausea","content":"[Nausea](http://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatmentsandsideeffects/physicalsideeffects/nauseaandvomiting/nauseaandvomiting/nausea-and-vomiting-causes)\r\nis a common side effect of cancer and its treatments, affecting up to 70\r\npercent of patients getting treated for the disease. Many different\r\ntypes of medications can help to prevent or control nausea in these\r\npatients. However, two undesirable effects often occur when they're\r\nused: side effects -- such as headaches, tiredness and constipation --\r\nand resistance to treatment, where efforts to control nausea fail. Thus,\r\nthere's a need for new treatments that relieve nausea with as few side\r\neffects as possible.\r\n\r\nMedical Marijuana Offers Hope\r\n-----------------------------\r\n\r\nMarijuana, also known as cannabis, may bring hope to patients who suffer\r\nnausea during chemotherapy. A native of Central Asia, this plant has [a\r\nlong history of\r\nuse](http://www.maps.org/research-archive/mmj/grinspoon_history_cannabis_medicine.pdf)\r\nas a nausea treatment. However, the\r\n[mechanism](https://www.wsma.org/doc_library/LegalResourceCenter/MedicalCannabis/Med%20Mar%20-%20Pharmacologic%20and%20Clinical%20Effects.pdf)\r\nby which it exerts its effects had, until recently, remained a mystery.\r\nResearch carried out in the 1960s revealed that marijuana contains\r\nchemical compounds called cannabinoids, which are responsible for its\r\nphysical and psychological effects. Of these cannabinoids, the most\r\nimportant are delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (delta-9-THC) and cannabidiol\r\n(CBD).\r\n\r\nScientists Hone Synthetic Drugs\r\n-------------------------------\r\n\r\nWith the discovery of cannabinoids, scientists were able to create\r\nsynthetic cannabinoids -- chemicals made to mimic the effects of the\r\nnatural cannabinoids found in the marijuana plant. Two synthetic\r\ncannabinoids,\r\n[dronabinol](http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/meds/a607054.html)\r\nand\r\n[nabilone](http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/meds/a607048.html),\r\nwere later approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for\r\nchemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. These drugs are usually\r\nprescribed to patients who have tried other anti-nausea medications\r\nwithout success, and are taken by via oral capsule several times a day\r\nduring a chemotherapy cycle.\r\n\r\nStudies Reveal Benefits of Medical Marijuana\r\n--------------------------------------------\r\n\r\nDespite the FDA's approval of dronabinol and nabilone as treatment for\r\nchemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, research into the benefits\r\nthat the actual marijuana plant can confer is progressing.\r\n[Research](http://www.aahs.org/medstaff/wp-content/uploads/CannabinoidsNEJM201506.pdf)\r\ncommissioned by the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health, and published\r\nin the *Journal of the American Medical Association* in June 2015,\r\nsupports using cannabinoids as a treatment for nausea from chemotherapy.\r\nResearchers analyzed data from 28 studies, and found that patients using\r\ncannabinoids were more likely to report reductions in nausea and\r\nvomiting than those given a placebo. Science is yet to show the exact\r\nmechanism for all the cannabinoids found in the marijuana plant, but\r\nevidence suggests that cannabinoids work better together than in\r\nisolation: a discovery that has been termed the [entourage\r\neffect](http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1476-5381.2011.01238.x/pdf).\r\n\r\nResearchers Push Boundaries\r\n---------------------------\r\n\r\nThere's a growing interest among researchers in treating children with\r\nnausea and other cancer symptoms with medical marijuana, although the\r\nstudies are limited. In a\r\n[paper](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7776837) titled, \"An\r\nEfficient New Cannabinoid Antiemetic in Pediatric Oncology,\" and\r\npublished in the journal *Life Sciences* in 1995, researchers in\r\nJerusalem, Israel, revealed that delta-8-tetrahydrocannabinol\r\n(delta-8-THC), a cannabinoid with fewer mood-altering effects than the\r\nmain marijuana cannabinoid, delta-9-THC, successfully treated\r\nchemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting in children with negligible\r\nside effects. The study involved eight children aged 3 to 13 who had\r\nvarious blood cancers and had been treated with different anticancer\r\ndrugs for up to eight months. Each of the children were given\r\ndelta-8-THC two hours before chemotherapy and every six hours afterward\r\nfor 24 hours.\r\n\r\nSupport Grows for Medical Marijuana\r\n-----------------------------------\r\n\r\nNausea affects a significant number of cancer patients, and standard\r\ntreatments often fall short of patients' needs. Medical marijuana is\r\npotentially more effective than existing treatments and may have fewer\r\nside effects.\r\n\r\n[Photo Credit.](https://www.flickr.com/photos/10770768@N08/16673157868)","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.3333333333333333,"src":"/static/694a4e6f6349a18b5bd156c1f8b4023d/14b42/2ed3ab90bdd9e03b3e7bb1835c46c665.jpg","srcSet":"/static/694a4e6f6349a18b5bd156c1f8b4023d/f836f/2ed3ab90bdd9e03b3e7bb1835c46c665.jpg 200w,\n/static/694a4e6f6349a18b5bd156c1f8b4023d/2244e/2ed3ab90bdd9e03b3e7bb1835c46c665.jpg 400w,\n/static/694a4e6f6349a18b5bd156c1f8b4023d/14b42/2ed3ab90bdd9e03b3e7bb1835c46c665.jpg 800w,\n/static/694a4e6f6349a18b5bd156c1f8b4023d/16310/2ed3ab90bdd9e03b3e7bb1835c46c665.jpg 1024w","srcWebp":"/static/694a4e6f6349a18b5bd156c1f8b4023d/58556/2ed3ab90bdd9e03b3e7bb1835c46c665.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/694a4e6f6349a18b5bd156c1f8b4023d/61e93/2ed3ab90bdd9e03b3e7bb1835c46c665.webp 200w,\n/static/694a4e6f6349a18b5bd156c1f8b4023d/1f5c5/2ed3ab90bdd9e03b3e7bb1835c46c665.webp 400w,\n/static/694a4e6f6349a18b5bd156c1f8b4023d/58556/2ed3ab90bdd9e03b3e7bb1835c46c665.webp 800w,\n/static/694a4e6f6349a18b5bd156c1f8b4023d/cc834/2ed3ab90bdd9e03b3e7bb1835c46c665.webp 1024w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}}]}},"pageContext":{"limit":12,"skip":12,"numPages":2,"currentPage":2,"id":5553,"name":"Nausea","slug":"nausea","country":"US"}},"staticQueryHashes":["3949754563","4179947113","4202924991"]}