Study Shows Cannabis Significantly Beneficial For Bipolar Disorder

Medical marijuana acts on the endocannabinoid system – a homeostatic regulator that is present in all humans. Interestingly, research suggests that certain cannabinoids found in marijuana (i.e. THC and CBD) may have significant mood-stabilizing properties that could be beneficial for patients with the disorder.

Studies have shown that THC, under certain conditions, can have anti-anxiety, hypnotic and antidepressant effects, resulting in improvements in mood and overall well-being in normal subjects as well as in patients suffering from pain, multiple sclerosis or cancer. CBD seems to counter the psychoactive effects produced by high doses of THC and may also possess anti-anxiety, hypnotic and anticonvulsant properties of its own.

Researchers have also identified a link between marijuana use and cognitive improvements in patients with schizophrenia – a finding could explain evidence of similar improvements in bipolar disorder.

A number of recent studies have set out to determine the effects of marijuana use on patients with bipolar disorder and have provided some thought-provoking findings.

Researchers at the University of Oslo in Norway published the results of a study conducted on 133 bipolar patients. What they found was that patients who used cannabis regularly actually performed better than non-users on tests of verbal fluency and learning, although improvements in learning were not statistically significant.

In another study, researchers at the Zucker Hillside Hospital in New York, regular marijuana use was linked to higher levels of attention, processing speed and memory among the 200 bipolar patients that the researchers followed over a 9 year span.

On the other hand, while these results suggest that marijuana use might improve cognitive function in cases of bipolar disorder, a study published found that bipolar patients who used cannabis exhibited less treatment compliance as well as higher levels of illness severity, mania and psychosis, although data was only collected over a 12 month period.

Interestingly, the study also found that while cannabis users were less likely to have a relationship and were less satisfied with life in general, they were still more engaged in social activities than non-users. Furthermore, the study identified no significant differences between cannabis use and independent living or work impairments.

Fibromyalgia: Pain Management with Cannabis proved superior than Big Pharma Drugs

Being diagnosed with fibromyalgia means that you can say goodbye to any semblance of a normal life. It is a serious debilitating condition characterized by constant muscle pain and fatigue, symptoms which are usually accompanied by headaches, difficulty sleeping, and widespread joint pains. Because of the severity of the condition, people with fibromyalgia also tend to suffer from anxiety and depression. 

If you spend most of your days dealing with extreme pain and fatigue, you just won’t have the energy to do things you enjoy. The fatigue can be so debilitating that for many patients still feel tired even after sleeping 10 hours a night. That’s if they’re lucky: many patients suffer so much from fibromyalgia symptoms that falling and staying asleep becomes difficult.

The exact cause of fibromyalgia remains unknown, although the medical community agrees that it could be because of several factors including genetics, infection, or physical and emotional trauma. People who already have rheumatic conditions, such as diseases of the bones, joints, and muscles, are at higher risk for developing fibromyalgia.

There is no cure for fibromyalgia, although the treatments prescribed to patients are focused on minimizing the pain and getting enough self-care (physical therapy, bed rest, and exercise in mild cases). Patients are often given pain medications, anti-depressants, and anti-seizure drugs, all of which can have serious side effects later on. In addition, consuming more painkillers only worsens the existing overdose problem that we already have. With 5 million people American adults diagnosed with fibromyalgia, it’

According to the National Pain Foundation and the National Pain Report, the FDA has only approved three medications to treat fibromyalgia. These pharmaceutical treatments can only make things worse for patients, considering all their side effects:

1.Cymbalta: nausea, fatigue, constipation, drowsiness, diarrhea, headaches, insomnia, restlessness, decreased appetite

2.Lyrica: constipation, infections, headache, dizziness, ataxia, tremors, fatigue, vertigo, difficulty thinking, speech disturbance, cognitive dysfunctions, twitching, edema

3.Savella: dizziness, hot flashes, insomnia, constipation, increased pulse, hypertension, palpitations, migraines

Pharmaceutical companies are earning millions of dollars from the sale of these drugs alone. But are they really helping patients? The same report discusses the results of a survey conducted in 2014, which consisted of more than 1,300 fibromyalgia patients. Nearly a third of participants said that they’ve tried medical marijuana to ease their symptoms, and 62% said that it was “very effective”.

On the other hand, only 8-10% said that Cymbalta, Lyrica, or Savella were “very effective”.

No wonder big pharma continues to fight legalization…

In a 2011 observational trial of 28 users and non-users in Spain, the participants reported beneficial effects after using cannabis to address fibromyalgia symptoms especially when it came to muscle and pain relief. According to the study’s authors: “Patients used cannabis not only to alleviate pain but for almost all symptoms associated to FM, and no one reported worsening of symptoms following cannabis use. … Significant relief of pain, stiffness, relaxation, somnolence, and perception of well-being, evaluated by VAS (visual analogue scales) before and two hours after cannabis self-administration was observed.” In addition, participants who used cannabis also had better mental health scores compared to the non-users. The researchers added, “The present results together with previous evidence seem to confirm the beneficial effects of cannabinoids on FM

symptoms.”

Medical marijuana is effective in treating the severe pain associated with fibromyalgia. This is because of the plant’s miraculous analgesic qualities. Although clinical trials are still limited because of the prohibition, there is a significant amount of anecdotal evidence about cannabis and its pain-relieving qualities.

Aside from treating pain, there are many other reasons why cannabis is such a potent and beneficial medicine for those suffering from fibromyalgia. Cannabis can also help patients sleep better. Sleep is elusive for many people living with fibromyalgia. Because this is such a common problem, many agree that difficulty sleeping combined with muscle and joint pain are the distinctive characteristics of fibromyalgia. Smoking a quality indica strain can help you relax, reduce pain, and enjoy deep restful sleep. Getting enough shut-eye isn’t just important for health; it can impact fibromyalgia patients even more because interruptions in the sleep cycle make the pain much worse.

Cannabis can also help reduce the tightness and muscle spasms that typically accompany fibromyalgia. Many studies over the past few years have proven how effective cannabis is at reducing muscle spasms, which can happen even while you’re sleeping. Cannabis can also be a great help in addressing the depression. Toking up will do wonders for your body and even put a smile on your face. Thanks to cannabis, a former debilitating condition like fibromyalgia can now be a thing of the past (and goodbye to painkillers!)

Reference:http://chronicdiseases.co/62-feel-better-with-cannabis-than-big-pharma-drugs/

FINALLY NEW CANNABIS CAPSULE HOPE TO COMPLETE CURE BIPOLAR DISORDER

When we talk about the benefits of medical cannabis, we tend to focus on physical disorders: cancer, glaucoma, multiple sclerosis, etc. But medical cannabis patients also commonly use cannabis to help with psychiatric conditions such as depression and anxiety. And lately, more and more patients have been talking openly about using cannabis to treat bipolar disorder.

Bipolar disorder is characterized by swings between a manic state of elevated mood and increased energy and a depressed state of hopelessness and fatigue. The main treatments are psychotherapy and lithium, a mood stabilizer that can have undesirable side effects. Many patients looking for a better treatment have turned to cannabis.

Recently Gradi Jordan wrote a moving account of her struggles with bipolarity on Ladybud. She first used cannabis to treat her disorder at the age of ten, after in a fit of mania she had tried to stab her brother and take a door off its hinges.

“My mother told me I needed cannabis to calm down, or she would call the cops and have me arrested,” she explains. “This was my reality and the beginning of my appreciation and respect for cannabis.”

Jordan long used cannabis to treat her disorder, but she lives in Utah, where there is no medical cannabis, and underground cannabis is expensive. When she loses access to cannabis, her mental state deteriorates rapidly:

“When unable to afford or access cannabis, I tend to decompensate quickly and usually end up being forcibly admitted to lock down psychiatric facilities where numerous pharmaceuticals are pumped into my system, often times without my full consent or even knowledge. I eventually wind up having to undergo Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) as a last-ditch effort,” she says.

The ECT has taken a terrible toll on her mental health—she lost her memory, her concentration, and even her ability to read and write. She lost her job with the State of Utah and has been unable to find work.