Moreover, hemp oil does not induce psychoactivity despite being extracted from the hemp or marijuana plant. This is because it does not contain the THC compound that is responsible for this effect.

The oil is, however, rich in CBD, a compound that has soothing and healing powers over the pain caused by inflammation.

What is inflammation?

Inflammation is the swelling and reddening of body tissues caused by the body’s immune system reacting to injury or infection. It is a common medical condition and affects many people. In fact, nearly everyone experiences some form of inflammation at one time or another.

This condition affects different parts of the body depending on what triggers it. For instance, inflammation of the leg, arm or spine joints is, in most cases, caused by arthritis. This is a condition that comes about when tissues surrounding the joints are torn by friction of bare bones moving over each other.

Usually, there is a soft tissue called cartilage that cushions the joints and the surrounding tissues from this friction, but this wears out with age. Therefore, most victims of arthritis are those of advanced age.

Other areas in which inflammations commonly occur in the body include the bladder, skin, bronchi and ears. These are caused by the body’s reaction to either infections or trauma and affect people of all ages.

Even with all the pain it brings, inflammation in itself is not a bad thing. It is a necessary natural self-healing process the body undergoes. In fact, experts discourage its complete elimination.

Unfortunately, due to the nature of the trigger causes, some inflammations never heal and become part of a patient’s life. Inflammation caused by arthritis and other bone and joint conditions falls into this category.

Conventional treatment for inflammation

The most used drugs to treat and manage inflammation and the accompanying pain are the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Unfortunately, these medicines have side effects like nausea, dizziness, diarrhea, rashes, headache and insomnia.

In addition, not everybody can use them. For instance, pregnant women, older people, people with heart conditions and those with high blood pressure or asthma are discouraged from using NSAIDs.

Why many patients are finding hemp oil a better option

On the other hand, hemp oil inflammation treatment is effective at easing pain and inflammation, and anyone, from expectant mothers to people with heart conditions and even those who are asthmatic, can use it without the risk of harm. It is even more convenient for people with long-lasting conditions like arthritis. They just have to include it in their meals or consume it as a supplement, and they are able to regain their health.

The good news is that hemp oil is legal in close to 50 states of the US, including those that have not decriminalized marijuana. This is because the oil, as mentioned earlier, is 100 percent free of the psychoactive THC compound.

The post Efficacy of Hemp Oil for Inflammation appeared first on Healthy Hemp Oil.

To appreciate how this herbal remedy helps to improve the lives of those who suffer from arthritis, you first have to understand how the ailment attacks bones, joints, and the body in general.

The human body has between two hundred and three hundred joints, depending on age and the method of counting. These joints move over one another, causing friction.

Normally, the body has a natural mechanism of minimizing the harm caused by this friction. Between two bone surfaces in a joint lies a synovial membrane or cartilage. When this membrane is destroyed or deteriorates, bare bone surfaces rub over each other, leading to chronic inflammation, which is the body’s natural response to injury. This is a very painful condition and is what arthritis is all about.

There are different types of arthritis, differentiated by the causes of the cartilage erosion. One of the most common is Rheumatoid arthritis, in which the body’s immune system malfunctions and attacks the cartilage instead of bacteria, viruses or other harmful pathogens.

The other most common cause of cartilage destruction is wear and tear due to many years of use. This latter form of arthritis is called Osteoarthritis or arthritis of the bones and is more common than the former.

Other forms of arthritis include Gout, which is caused by the formation of uric acid crystals in the joint spaces, and Ankylosing spondylitis (AS), which affects the spinal joints.

 Marijuana and Arthritis Herbal Remedies

All forms of arthritis, besides being sources of extreme pain, also lead to loss of joint functions and are most prevalent among the elderly. In most cases, they cannot be permanently cured but are manageable through medications and alternative remedies, of which marijuana is now one.

One of the aspects of arthritis that marijuana is used to treat is the pain. It is used either alone or alongside other medications. For instance, marijuana has been found to be effective in easing medically induced nausea and loss of appetite.

Arthritis also denies most of its victims sleep, and this exacerbates the pain. Marijuana use reduces insomnia, so patients do not spend long nights feeling and fighting pain.

As mentioned earlier, the body’s immune system is a major factor in the development of, particularly, Rheumatoid arthritis. Marijuana, especially its cannabidiol (CBD) element, can be a powerful immune modulator that is critical in protecting the cartilage from the body’s immune system. It also has anti-inflammatory effects that may help control the swelling, burning sensation and pain in the joints.

Although there are many aspects of cannabis that are not yet clear, the plant is gaining acceptance as one of the arthritis herbal remedies that are working for many patients around the globe.

The post Why Marijuana is Becoming One of the Most Used Arthritis Herbal Remedies appeared first on Healthy Hemp Oil.

Being one of California’s most established, cannabis collectives, BPG earned its reputable title through its standing with its community. By creating an environment founded on compassion, inclusivity, family, legal integrity, care, and professionalism, those that buy from BPG are met with reasonable prices, as well as lab-tested, quality marijuana.

Often, many people who are disabled in some way are abandoned by family or friends. BPG makes an effort to make patients feel welcomed and at home, as well as have their medical needs met. When faced with intolerance towards medical conditions, a place like Berkeley Patients Group serves as a reminder that community can help people heal emotionally, physically, and psychologically.

The mission at BPG is mainly to provide top quality, practical, and affordable medicinal cannabis to its patients by maintaining its high standards in communication, service, and marijuana. It’s no wonder that BPG is held in the highest regard by its patients.

In this guide, we’ll go over the type of services the Berkeley Patients Group offers as well as general information about the organization.

What Services Do They Offer?

When it comes to products offered at the dispensary, the cannabis menu ranges from flowers (indicas, sativas, and hybrids), concentrates, edibles, pre-rolled bud, topicals, seeds and clones, as well as other accessories, like rolling papers, vapes, batteries, and lighters.

A major goal at BPG is to foster meaningful relationships with its community by impacting and improving lives as profoundly as possible. With proper engagement, BPG is able to respond to requests and concerns with as much provided support as possible.

Selfless acts are commonly seen at BPG such as free medical marijuana and wellness services being offered to those in need. (1) In addition to this, the dispensary has also given back to the community by donating to the organizations listed below:

• Women’s Cancer Resource Center
• Alameda County Community Food Bank
• Berkeley Food & Housing Project
• To Celebrate Life – Breast Cancer Foundation
• Center for Early Intervention on Deafness
• Berkeley Youth Alternatives
• Berkeley Ballet Theater
• Transgender Law Center
• Lighthouse Charter School – Robotics Team
• Berkeley Waterside Workshop
• Brown Boi Project
• Legal Services for Prisoners with Children
• Toys for Tots – Berkeley Police Department
• Parents 4 Pot – Holiday Toy Drive
• Students for Sensible Drug Policy
• Marijuana Policy Project
• Drug Policy Alliance
• Marijuana Majority

The act of giving back stands as a priority for BPG, as it feels that social causes that bring about a stronger sense of community, contribution, and compassion should always be supported. The Helping Hands Organization has followed up with a monumental amount of good deeds such as giving support to families in need.

Plenty of educational resources are provided by the group, as having a strong understanding of cannabis and its effects on your physiology and psychology is vital in your approach to the world of green.

Some topics covered on its site go over the benefits of consuming marijuana, in comparison to pharmaceutical medications, which can produce a wide range of unpleasant and harmful side effects. Being an organic (mainly carbon-based) form of treatment, marijuana is seen to have far less adverse effects on patients, as well as higher rates of alleviating symptoms associated with patients’ disabilities or diseases.

Some of its resources go over consumption methods and a review of cannabidiol (CBD) and cannabinoids.

The manner in which you consume your bud can alter the way you respond to weed. (2) Knowing your preferred method, whether that is via smoking weed, applying a topical cannabis oil, or consuming an edible, will probably require you trying it out first.

By increasing your familiarity with cannabinoids, you may be surprised with the number of psychological benefits that can arise from its use. (3) Some other resourceful links on the site cover how cannabidiol (a non-psychoactive alternative) can also reduce several symptoms like inflammation, cancerous cells, anxiety, depression, and seizures. (4)

Fortunately, there are a variety of community resources available to BPG’s patients – all at an affordable cost. Below is a list of some of the organizations offering support to those seeking help within the area.

• Alameda County Health Care Services Agency (low-cost health care)
• Alameda County Network of Mental Health Clients (mental health programs and services)
• Berkeley Free Clinic (medical, dental, sexual health care)
• Charlotte Maxwell Clinic (cancer care)
• La Clinica (wide range of available health care services)
• LifeLong Medical Care (primary health care, as well as housing services)
• Planned Parenthood Health Center (sexual and reproductive health care)
• ReCARES (provides health care supplies)
• Women’s Cancer Resource Center (aid that assists with not only medical help but also financial and housing services)

Be a Part of the BPG Family

You may wonder, what does it take to be a member of the BPG family?

It really is simple – just reach out or stop by! Given the openness and inclusivity at BPG, this direct-action, activist network is more than likely to welcome you with open arms. Discuss your specific needs or requests, and a staff member at the dispensary is going to help you to his or her best ability.

Being a home to many outcasts, it is an important principle to the BPG community to accept others for who they are, no matter the rough circumstances they may be dealing with.

Providing safe access to cannabis patients is one of the several goals at BPG. Unjust arrests related to marijuana possession can have a profound impact on individuals seeking proper treatment, so reaching out to the BPG cannabis collective can save you the worry and, most importantly, make you feel cared for and at home.

By making a conscious effort to help and uplift those around you, there is no doubt that you would fit in perfectly at the Berkeley Patients Group.

To become a member, make sure you present a valid state issued photo ID, a letter of recommendation by a California-licensed physician, and a filled out application. (5)

Menu

Flower

BPG’s Sticky Guide website makes this part rather fun. You are able to filter price caps (given the units of measurements), strength (from 1 to 4), type (indica, sativa, or hybrids), flavor, and density. (6) In addition to this, you can also base your purchase off the reviews and ratings from BPG and other people.

As mentioned before, the Sticky Guide offers a variety of strains to choose from. Before coming to a decision, it’s helpful to understand how the consumption of marijuana depends on its delivery method. Below is a list of several methods in which you can smoke your weed:

• Hand pipes (bowls)
• Water pipes (bubblers and bongs)
• Rolling paper (blunts and joints)
• Hookahs (not recommended)
• Homemade devices (fruits, pens, and bottles – not recommended as toxins may be inhaled)
• Vaporizers

Topical creams, as well as oral delivery methods (edibles, sprays, drinks, capsules, and tinctures), are very popular as well.

Concentrate

They are as powerful as they sound. Concentrates are normally purchased by those who have a higher tolerance to bud and need to smoke larger quantities to get high.

Due to its higher potency, in comparison to cannabis, concentrates aren’t normally recommended to first timers (unless you’re brave like that). If considered, concentrates should be smoked in moderation, as they can be abused due to their extreme psychoactive effects – paranoia, anxiety, panic attacks, and hallucinations are a few of their negative symptoms.

Here are some common terms for concentrates (depending on the texture):

• Shatter
• 710 (oil flipped and spelt backwards)
• Ear wax
• Honey oil
• Budder
• Butane honey oil (BHO)
• Dabs (dabbing)
• Black glass
• Err
• Wax
• Crumble
• Sugar
• Honeycomb
• Sap
• Oil

There are a couple popular ways of consuming different concentrates:

• Dabbing
• Ingestible oils
• Tinctures
• As hash and oil (using the same consumption methods as cannabis)

Cannabis will often have more flavor and terpenes, the fragrant oil released by weed, but this isn’t always the case. Terpenes can be reintroduced to concentrates after the heating and extraction process.

Edibles

BPG also offers edibles, or you can create your own. While normally consumed as “weed brownies,” there are many form edibles come in. For gastrointestinal uptake (digestion occurs in the stomach), brownies, cookies, chocolate bars, and macaroons are the most popular foods, but keep in mind that you can make literally anything an edible.

Oral uptake (digestion occurring through saliva) is often available as well, most popularly in the form of tinctures, lozenges, lollipops, and gums.

When compared to marijuana, edibles are said to be healthier due to the absence of smoke, however, the high is usually much stronger, lasting longer periods of time as well. More THC is absorbed into the bloodstream, which is the reason why many claim to experience severe psychological symptoms when edibles are consumed.

Doses of 10-15mg are recommended. Keep in mind that the onset takes over 30 minutes, so continuing to consume more is probably not the best idea. It is suggested that you also eat before taking an edible, as it can upset the stomach.

Topicals

Seen in the form of lip balms, lotions, bath salts, and medicinal patches, topicals are extremely handy, as well as wide-ranging, in their use.

Creating your own topicals is fairly easy and is highly recommended if you have access to the right ingredients. (7)

Seeds and Clones

BPG also sells plant seeds and clones. Being a dioecious plant (exhibiting female and male reproductive parts on different plants), it is important to know that only female plants are capable of giving rise to the cannabis flower, which is what contains the THC that gets us high. Educating yourself on the anatomy of a female plant, as well as the methods in which pollination occurs, is essential to your success in understanding and growing marijuana.

Familiarizing yourself with germination, auto-flowering cannabis seeds, the difference between cannabis seeds and cannabis clones, high-CBD seeds, legality concerns, quality contributions, as well their expenses, is vital since growing such plants can be quite the process.  

You may asking yourself, why on Earth would I want to go through such a tedious process? There are several benefits that come with growing your own bud. Here are a list of known advantages: (8)

• You can ensure the quality of your weed for health reasons. (You know exactly what you are treating your plant with, so you know exactly what is entering your body.)
• You can watch the growth process before your own eyes, which can be a very rewarding experience.  
• It’s significantly cheaper to grow your own weed (avoid pricey taxes.)

As for additional services, don’t forget to check out BPG’s deals, ranging from birthday discounts to its bulk flower discounts, as well as orders for express pickup. (9) (10)

Legal Battles

Due to federal prosecutions in 2011, Berkeley Patients Group faced several attempts from outside parties to put an end to the organization. It was an extremely severe misfortune to the non-profit organization for multiple reasons, one being that the collective still owed over $6.3 million to the state for marijuana sales between 2004 and 2007. BPG was forced to close down its location in May of 2012.

Fortunately, the group was able to relocate its dispensary, following the incident. The new location proves better than the last, in fact, as it’s now easier to find, has nicer light installations, and is smoke-free.

To the dispensary’s dismay, another lawsuit surfaced in May of 2013, less than a year following its new opening. Being within 1,000 feet from two preschools, BPG was found to be violating federal law. The group faced a three-year-long lawsuit, but it was still able to continue its operations. On October 31, 2016, the Feds dropped their case against the organization, allowing the team another shot to continue giving back to its community.

Conclusions

Now standing for almost 20 years through strength and perseverance, Berkeley Patients Group hopes to go down in the books as not only the oldest, but the most persistent dispensary to have ever faced such long standing legal disputes.

With the backing of its community, it’s likely that this organization will be on the market for several years to come, holding on to its popular traditional values of compassion, care, and success.

The post Berkeley Patients Group (Medical Marijuana) Founded 1999 appeared first on Healthy Hemp Oil.

As it stands, over 20 US states have legalized marijuana for medical use, yet the federal government recently confirmed that it will remain classified as a Schedule 1 drug.

This means that cannabis is still viewed as having a high potential for abuse and places the drug in the same regulatory category as LSD, meth and heroin.

That being said, the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) has announced a change in the way in which marijuana is studied in the US, making it more accessible and easier to grow for researchers.

Prior to this announcement, researchers were limited to obtaining only a handful of strains from the University of Mississippi – the only institution in the country authorized to grow research-grade marijuana.

Thanks to this change in policy, medical marijuana studies will be conducted faster and more comprehensively than ever before.

Why Are Medical Marijuana Studies Important?

For a long time, scientists and medical researchers based in the US – and further afield – have sought to understand both the health benefits and the risks of marijuana use.

And despite the fact that states across the country have been increasingly embracing legalization, these scientists on the frontline of US marijuana research had been forced to obtain the drug from a solitary source – the aforementioned University of Mississippi.

Ole Miss has a contract with the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) to grow marijuana for research purposes on a campus farm. Thanks to the August 11 announcement by the DEA, this hurdle to better and faster research has been overcome. Any US institution that wishes to grow marijuana for research purposes can now apply for permission to do so.

This will undoubtedly help those researchers who have been chipping away at the coalface of cannabis’ chemical makeup, extracting cannabinoids and developing strains of varying degrees of strength in an attempt to better understand the plant’s potential for treating chronic pain, seizures, and other serious neurological disorders.

A Hindrance to Progress

Prior to the DEA’s announcement, and due to the federal classification of marijuana as a drug with no medical use, many scientists found only obstacles in their path as they sought to conduct research.

They had to undertake many time-consuming processes in order to obtain cannabis from the NIDA for research, while those conducting clinical-level research were also forced to seek approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

This, of course, ran contrary to the experiences of many approved medical marijuana consumers, who were free to purchase cannabis from dispensaries in more than half the country.

The fact that the researchers were restricted to only a handful of strains grown by the farm at the University of Mississippi – not to mention the fact that these strains often contained much lower concentrations of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) – meant that their studies were, by and large, less applicable to the experiences of the typical medical marijuana consumer.

Why Has the DEA Changed Its Policy?

In short, the DEA has said that the change was motivated by a growing demand by scientists and a desire to encourage more and better research into the effects of cannabis.

According to NIDA director Dr. Nora Volkow, with additional growers cultivating additional varieties, there will be enough to properly address the diversity of research needs.

For so long, the NIDA has focused on the detrimental impact of marijuana use. However, it is hoped – and expected – that granting permission to multiple institutions to grow their own strains will bring the focus back to the potential health benefits, among other scientific effects.

As more federally approved growers come to the fore, researchers will no longer have to go through the NIDA to access the marijuana and cannabinoid extracts required to further their work. It is therefore hoped that this will result in more comprehensive clinical studies and make it possible for researchers to pinpoint the most effective strains to treat particular ailments.

Why Is Federal Approval So Important?

Prior to the change in policy, researchers were able to tap into state-level funding designed to support and encourage medical marijuana research. However, the success of medical marijuana studies is ultimately dependent upon federal approval.

This is because the standards of federally approved research are incredibly high, and if these standards are not met, publications, and the wider medical research community, are less likely to embrace findings.

And How Will This Decision Impact Legalization Efforts?

With more options available for medical marijuana researchers, an increased amount of varied strains will become available for research. This means different levels of THC and cannabidiol (CBD) – the main compounds found in marijuana – can be mixed to better reflect the strains that are currently available to medical marijuana users.

What’s more, the change in policy could potentially remove a thus-far large obstacle to the widespread legalization of marijuana in the US.

Most research was being stalled by small clinical trials headed up by researchers who were restricted to testing on only a handful of people at a time.

If cannabis could instead be administered to much larger groups, and its effectiveness and safety observed and confirmed, the approval and acceptance of marijuana as a medicinal treatment option could become the norm.  

And this level of far-reaching approval would only add more weight to the arguments of legalization advocates. National legalization may be some way off, but the decision by the DEA to amend its previously prohibitive policy is certainly enough to suggest that they are open to letting the science speak for itself.

What are your thoughts on the change in policy from the DEA? Do you think this will help improve medical marijuana studies? Tell us what you think in the comments section below.

The post Researchers Buzzing About New Potential For Medical Marijuana Studies appeared first on Healthy Hemp Oil.

Against the backdrop of at least five US states – including California – readying themselves for a vote on whether or not to legalize marijuana for recreational use, the British medical journal The Lancet Psychiatry has published a study that has indicated a shifting attitude toward cannabis use over the last decade.

Using data from 596,500 adults surveyed between 2002 and 2014 for the US National Survey on Drug Use and Health, the study arrived at its conclusion that 10 million more people are smoking marijuana in the US than was the case 12 years ago.

Lancet Psychiatry’s Key Findings

So how did the study’s authors arrive at the 10 million figure?

Well, among the study’s key findings was that, between 2002 and 2014, the percentage of American adults who admitted to smoking marijuana at least once in the previous 12 months grew from 10.4% to 13.3%.

That 2.9% increase represents – you guessed it – an additional 10 million Americans who used cannabis at least once in the past year. This subsequently brought the population who admitted using from 21.9 million in 2002 to 31.9 million in 2014.

Dr. Wilson M Compton, a researcher at the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) and an author of the study, said that he and his fellow authors had expected to observe an increase. This was primarily due to the fact that the laws in the US have steadily changed over the past few years with a number of states passing laws allowing the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes.

However, another finding from the study was a little more surprising. That was the number of people who are using cannabis on a daily or near daily basis. That group increased from 3.9 million to 8.4 million – or 1.9% of the US population to 3.5% – over the same period. And the proportion of adults trying marijuana for the first time also increased, from 0.7% to 1.1%.

Highlighting Responsible Use and a Change in Attitude

A survey by the US federal government, released last year, found that the rate of people who regularly abused marijuana had almost doubled between 2001 and 2012, increasing from 1.5% of the general population to 2.9%.

However, this finding was contradicted by The Lancet Psychiatry study. The study found that the number had remained static at 1.5%. And, with this figure in mind, the researchers also discovered a clear shift in attitude towards marijuana.

The study set out to determine whether these shifting attitudes had impacted the perception of harm and, therefore, the use of marijuana among Americans.

It found that Americans viewed marijuana as less risky and that the biggest shift had occurred around 2007. Meanwhile, the proportion of American adults who said using marijuana twice a week posed a great health risk fell from 50.4% in 2002 to 33.3% in 2014.

“What a Lot of People Know to Be True”

A number of pro-legalization groups have welcomed the results published in the Lancet Psychiatry study and, in particular, the assertion that the number of people with a “use disorder” (that is to say, people who abused marijuana) had not increased.

Mason Tvert, a spokesperson for the Marijuana Policy Project, was quoted in The Guardian as saying that the study “really highlights what a lot people already know to be true. Countless adults consume marijuana responsibly and should not be treated as if they are drug abusers.”

And while this may be the case, the study’s authors still came to the conclusion that this increased usage points to a need for better education regarding the risks and side-effects of smoking marijuana, even if they are widely debated.

Why Have We Seen a Shift to the Left?

It’s simple, really. According to this Bloomberg article, grassroots referendums are on the rise once more with 73 approved for ballots in the 26 states that allow them. That’s the highest number since 2006 and almost 50% more than in 2012. And the number of signatures required to qualify for the ballot in many of these states is based upon the voter turnout of the previous statewide election.

For those with leanings to the left, the fact that 2014 was the lowest turnout since World War 2 has certainly helped them further their causes, with marijuana legalization chief among them.

This has led to residents of Arizona, California, Maine, Massachusetts, and Nevada having the opportunity to vote on whether to legalize marijuana for recreational purposes in November. Meanwhile, Arkansas, Florida, Montana, and North Dakota will vote on whether to join the other US states that have medical marijuana laws.

What’s more, this shift to the left has been further energized by a broad change in attitudes and a surprising evolution in demographic when it comes to marijuana use. A recent government survey has shown that middle-aged Americans are now slightly more likely to use cannabis than teenagers.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that the number of Americans aged 12 to 17 who smoked marijuana regularly in 2014 had declined by 10% since 2002. Meanwhile 8% of 35- to 44-year-olds surveyed in 2014 admitted to using marijuana regularly, surpassing the teens for the first time.

And it’s not just the middle-aged Americans who are partaking more often. Those using among American adults aged 45 to 54 has increased by 50% while those aged 55 to 64 has grown by an incredible 455% (four hundred and fifty-five percent!), and for seniors aged 65 plus, marijuana use is up 333% (three hundred and thirty-three percent!) since 2002.

The narrative of the marijuana legalization debate has largely focused upon the negative impact on adolescents. However, the findings of the Lancet Psychiatry study, and this growing movement of older cannabis users, should steer it back towards discussing the potential medical benefits of the plant.

What do you think of the findings of the Lancet Psychiatry study? Does it mirror your own experiences with friends and family members who use marijuana? Tell us your thoughts in the comments section below.

The post Lancet Psychiatry Reports 10 Million Increase In Marijuana Smokers appeared first on Healthy Hemp Oil.

Cannabigerol is one of the many phytocannabinoids within the cannabis plant, of which over 70 have been discovered and elucidated. And, as explained in our other article about cannabidiolic acid, many phytocannabinoids have acidic precursors. To recap really quickly, these acidic precursors turn into a subsequent cannabinoid through a process known as decarboxylation. Decarboxylation happens through various forms of heat application and is a fancy science word for when something loses a molecule of carbon dioxide. This heat application can include solar heat or directly applied heat as with cooking or smoking.  

But what makes cannabigerolic acid (CBGa) so special? Is it not just another acidic precursor? Aside from being a precursor for cannabigerol, it is also the precursor for a handful of other acidic precursors including THCA, CBDA and CBCA. It is crucial in creating common cannabinoids like CBC and THC. This is why some cannabis enthusiasts refer to it as the “stem cell” of cannabis, given its transformative nature.         

The Discovery of CBGa

Cannabigerolic acid has been shown to be the first biogenic cannabinoid formed in the plant. Cannabigerol was discovered in 1964 by Gaoni and Mechoulam; Mechoulam is also accredited with being the first to elucidate the correct structure of CBD in 1963, according to “Chemistry and Analysis of Phytocannabinoids and Other Cannabis Constituents” by Rudolf Brenneisen. It was found that CBG does not induce psychotropic effects, unlike THC.

The Biosynthetic Pathway of CBGa

Even though CBGa is primary for the creation of other cannabinoids, its own road to synthesis is longer than you would think. According to an article published in the Frontiers in Plant Science, CBGa is actually formed through about five or six other prior chemical and catalyzing reactions. From there, “Three oxidocyclases will then be responsible for the diversity of cannabinoids: the THCA synthase (THCAS) converts CBGA to THCA, while CBDA synthase (CBDAS) forms CBDA and CBCA synthase (CBCAS) produces CBCA.”    

CBGA Itself Has Not Been Heavily Studied for Pharmacological Effects.

According to Halent Laboratories, cannabigerolic acid may have analgesic and antibacterial effects. But most studies have a lot more to say about cannabigerol than they do about its acidic precursor, CBGa. For example, cannabigerol’s mode of operation regarding CB receptors has been investigated. It is known that cannabigerol has a higher affinity for CB1 than it does for CB2. But binding to CB1 receptors was only detectable at concentrations above those at which it stimulates [35S]GTP?S binding to the brain membranes. Cannabigerol is classified as a CB1 antagonist, not an agonist.

According to a cannabinoid profile by Medical Jane, “Testing of industrial hemp has found much higher levels of cannabigerol (CBG) than most strains of cannabis. Further studies have shown that this phenomenon may be due to a recessive gene. It is believed that the gene keeps the plant from producing one of the cannabinoid synthases (what converts CBGA to one of the major branches).” As a reminder, our products are made from industrial hemp.

Let’s Learn a Little Chemistry

According to an abstract published by  the European Bioinformatics Institute, cannabigerolic acid is a “dihydroxybenzoic acid that is olivetolic acid in which the hydrogen at position 3 is substituted by a geranyl group.” Well, what the heck is that? In chemistry, the names for things tell us what chemical constituents those things are composed of. In this case, “dihydroxy” means that there are two (di) occurrences of “hydroxide,” which is just oxygen and hydrogen bonded together. This is then linked onto benzoic acid, which by itself is known to be used in many products, especially cosmetics. Altogether, this dihydroxybenzoic acid is a type of phenolic acid. What is a phenolic acid? Well, according to Ray Sahelian, M.D., “Phenolic acids are plant metabolites widely spread throughout the plant kingdom. Recent interest in phenolic acids stems from their potential protective role, through ingestion of fruits and vegetables, against oxidative damage diseases (coronary heart disease, stroke, and cancers). Phenolic compounds are essential for the growth and reproduction of plants, and are produced as a response for defending injured plants against pathogens. The importance of antioxidant activities of phenolic compounds and their possible usage in processed foods as a natural antioxidant have reached a new high in recent years.”    

The Application of CBGa

In the future, as more dispensaries pop up, and more growers produce custom strains of cannabis, cannabigerolic acid might play an increasing role in bio-engineering. If cannabigerolic acid can be manipulated properly, it can influence the yielded content of CBD, THC, CBN or CBC in your cannabis plant. This will become increasingly important when the varying applications of different phytocannabinoids become more known and demand for specific strains increases.

In Conclusion …

Much remains to be said about CBGa, but current studies are working to figure out exactly how CBGa influences the production of THCA and CBDA – specifically how it varies and what influences the output. There is a wide area of research dedicated to both THC and CBD. We can point to many studies to shed light on the usefulness of cannabidiol and why our high-CBD products are beneficial. But CBGa will be important as it is the crucial ingredient for having high-CBD in the first place. If it can be manipulated for bioengineering, creating high-CBD products will become even easier.

• CBGA is the precursor to THCA, CBDA, CBCA…and other acid precursors.
• It is the main phytocannabinoid that allows other cannabinoids to chemically exist.
• It is a type of phenolic acid.
• It is synthesized from five other prior chemical reactions.
• It turns into acid synthases via decarboxylization.
• It is a precursor for CBG (cannabigerol), which is the subject of an array of pharmacological studies.
• It was shown to be the first biogenic cannabinoid formed in the plant Cannabis Sativa.
• It requires greater study.

We hope this article has shed some light on how to frame CBGa when it comes up in your research and reading. Just remembering it essentially as a “cannabis stem cell” will help greatly. As always, let us know about any further comments or questions below.   

The post Cannabigerolic Acid (CBGa): The “Stem Cells” of Cannabis appeared first on Healthy Hemp Oil.

It comes as a surprise to many people that we have a system in our bodies capable of producing its own cannabinoids without you ever picking up a hemp or cannabis product.  According to the Journal of Nature Reviews Drug Discovery, the discovery of this system occurred some time in the mid-1990s, after scientists found membrane receptors (known as CB receptors) used by the psychoactive compound delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol or THC. Some scientists thought that THC acted on individual body cells, but this discovery proved that notion wrong. As it is understood now, we wouldn’t actually get “high” from THC in cannabis plants at all if we did not have an endocannabinoid system. Other species in the world cannot get “high” because they lack this feature in their anatomy.

According to the Journal of Comparative Neurology, such a system is common in many creatures including in mammals, birds, amphibians, fish, sea urchins, leeches, mussels, and even the most primitive animal with a nerve network, the Hydra. However, the presence of CB receptors has not been seen in terrestrial invertebrates (or any member of the Ecdysozoa). Surprisingly, no specific bindings of the synthetic CB ligands [(3)H]CP55,940 and [(3)H]SR141716A were found in a panel of insects: Apis mellifera, Drosophila melanogaster, Gerris marginatus, Spodoptera frugiperda, and Zophobas atratus.

Another study confirming the endocannabinoid system in humans was one done on runners in 2003. This study showed that male college students running on a treadmill or cycling on a stationary bike for 50 minutes had their endocannabinoid system activated. This study was among the first evidence to suggest alternative explanations for exercise’s ability to induce analgesia, or “runner’s high,” in people.

Other good preliminary knowledge to have before we dive into endogenous cannabinoids is about the four subtypes of receptors in the endocannabinoid system upon which they can act. We usually only talk about two, but these four types are…

• CB1 (first cloned around 1990),
• CB2 (first cloned around 1993),
• WIN, and
• abnormal-cannabidiol receptors (abn-CBD) or anandamide receptor.

Some might be yet to be discovered, since truncated forms of the CB1 receptor (like CB1A) have also been found.

Also important is knowing where CB1 and CB2 receptors are generally located. According to an article in the Journal of Current Neuropharmacology, “CB1 receptors are abundant and widely dispersed throughout the brain. Their distribution has been mapped by autoradiographic studies, immunohistochemical techniques, in situ histochemistry, and electrophysiological studies. CB1 receptors have shown particularly high levels of expression in cortex, basal ganglia, hippocampus, and cerebellum and low levels of expression in brainstem nuclei.”  In contrast, CB2 receptors are found mostly on white blood cells and in the spleen.

Endogenous Cannabinoids – What are these chemicals you make?

First thing to know regarding endogenous cannabinoids is that they are synonymous with endocannabinoids. “Endo” simply means “within” or “internal” while “genous” comes from the same root word as “generate” or “genesis” – in other words, “make” or “create.” The words “endogenous cannabinoids” and “endocannabinoids” will be used interchangeably.  Endocannabinoids serve as intercellular “lipid messengers” signaling molecules that are released from one cell and activating the cannabinoid receptors present on other nearby cells. The first endogenous cannabinoid to be isolated and structurally characterized in 1992 was arachidonylethanolamide, commonly known as anandamide, and it was taken from a pig brain.

Anandamide

Fun fact: The name for this chemical comes from the Sanskrit word ananda, which means “bliss.” This study published in the Journal of Neurochemistry shows how anandamide works. Anandamide can bind to membranes in two ways. Either it does this transiently, quickly passing, or it does so when it is “transfected with an expression plasmid carrying the cannabinoid receptor DNA.” Transfection, in biology terms, is a method of introducing genetic material. An expression plasmid can affect the gene expression in cells. The anandamide also inhibits the forskolin-stimulated adenylate cyclase in the transfected cells.  What all this means is that “anandamide is an endogenous agonist that may serve as a genuine neurotransmitter for the cannabinoid receptor.” Anandamide affects how CB1 receptors do or don’t get activated.

Anandamide is synthesised by the hydrolysis of the precursor N-arachidonoyl phosphatidylethanolamine, which is catalysed by the enzyme phosphodiesterase phospholipase D. After release from the postsynaptic terminal, which is the receiving part of the connection (synapse) between two nerve cells (neurons), anandamide interacts with presynaptic cannabinoid receptors. Deficiencies can have unpleasant results, as this study about neuropathic pain in mice shows. Anandamide plays a role in pain, mood, appetite, and memory and is the most extensively studied endogenous cannabinoid.       

2-Arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG)

Like anandamide, 2-AG is also an endogenous ligand for CB1 receptors. According to a study published in the Journal of Neuroscience, it is the most prevalent endogenous cannabinoid ligand in the brain. The study, which observed self-administered injections of squirrel monkeys, also pointed to data suggesting that 2-AG plays a role in drug-taking behaviors. The monkeys were shown to exhibit an addictive behavior when given 2-AG. Its role in the organism overall is still being established, but recent studies show that it plays a role in the regulation of the circulatory system via direct and/or indirect effects on blood vessels and/or heart. It is synthesised by cleavage of an inositol-1,2-diacylglycerol, which is catalysed by phospholipase C.

Virodhamine (OAE)

This endogenous cannabinoid is a CB1 partial agonist but is a CB1 antagonist in vivo (in the body). It was discovered in June of 2002. Virodhamine is arachidonic acid and ethanolamine joined by an ester linkage. In the hippocampus, its concentrations are similar to those of anandamide. In peripheral tissues that express the CB2 receptor, however, it was found in amounts that were 2- to 9-fold higher than anandamide.

At the CB2 receptor, it acts as a full agonist. It sometimes can antagonize other endocannabinoids in vivo; for example, it can inhibit anandamide transport. In a study published in the British Journal of Pharmacology, it was shown to relax rat mesenteric arteries through endothelial cannabinoid receptors. It can do this to the human pulmonary artery via two mechanisms: It activates the putative endothelial cannabinoid receptor, and it initiates the hydrolysis of virodhamine to arachidonic acid and subsequent production of a vasorelaxant prostanoid through COX.  

In Retrospect: Clearing Up Misinformation

Here are some things you need to understand about how CBD relates to these endogenous cannabinoids. CBD is not itself an endogenous cannabinoid; however, it acts on CB receptors in a similar manner to some endogenous cannabinoids, like OAE. THC and CBD both influence the way that natural endocannabinoids carry out their jobs. Sometimes, they are agonists in one spot and antagonists for another.

In Conclusion..

We hope that this helps clear up some information about the endogenous cannabinoids involved in the endocannabinoid system. It is perhaps commonly thought when hearing about this system that we produce things like CBD in our bodies, but this isn’t quite so. We produce very similar chemicals that do very similar things that also influence how cannabinoids like CBD and THC will interact with our CB receptors or other receptor sites.  Some are ligands for synaptic reactions, and some are agonists/antagonists

We want to know: How has this expanded your perspective on the usefulness of cannabinoids? Leave a comment. In order to understand more about cannabidiol specifically, we have a great resource page on our website that neatly compiles must-know facts so you don’t have to do the arduous digging. Please don’t hesitate to ask us any further questions.

The post Endogenous Cannabinoids: Homemade Cannabinoids Live Inside You appeared first on Healthy Hemp Oil.

There are two main types of diabetes: type-1 and type-2. The first type occurs when the human body fails to produce the hormone insulin at all. In the second, the body produces an inadequate amount of insulin. Type-2 diabetes accounts for 90% of all diabetes cases globally. The outcome of the body’s inability to regulate insulin is the presence of too much sugar, or glucose, in the blood. There is no precise cure for diabetes, so treatment – such as diabetes herbal remedies – aims at lowering the levels of blood sugar.

Diabetes treatment aims at regulating glucose levels in the blood to keep it within the normal range. Patients diagnosed with this second type of diabetes are required to take regular tests in order to monitor their blood sugar levels. This test, commonly referred to as A1c, is taken every two months and is performed by a doctor.

Primarily, A1c measures the number of red blood cells in the body, which indicates the level of glucose in the bloodstream. The doctor informs the patient what his or her blood sugar level should be.

The various types of diabetes treatments available include lifestyle changes, physical exercise, diet regulation, and herbal and natural remedies. In the recent past, there has been a growth in interest in using alternative medicine in treating diabetes, leading to use of herbal treatments such as CBD oil, ginger, ginseng, and okra, among others. Described below are several diabetes herbal remedies and the ways in which they function to treat diabetes.

Hemp oil

Hemp oil is a product of the cannabis plant. It is processed in a manner that makes it beneficial in an array of areas. One particular benefit is in the treatment of diabetes. Hemp oil is known for its low blood sugar index because of its low content of carbohydrates. In addition to low sugar content, this herbal treatment consists of nutrients that moderate blood sugar levels.

Even more, the essential fatty acids from hemp oil can help lower sugar levels in the bloodstream by accelerating the metabolic processes in the human body. The many other nutrients available in hemp oil also help moderate blood sugar levels. All these characteristics make hemp oil an ideal herbal treatment for diabetes.

Fenugreek

Fenugreek is an aromatic plant that is grown extensively in parts of the Mediterranean, North Africa, and South Asia. Like tasty hemp oil, it is an essential treatment ideal for consumption by diabetics. Fenugreek seeds have a significantly high content of soluble fiber, which slows down the intake and digestion of carbohydrates. This, in turn, has the effect of lowering one’s blood sugar level.

Here are some suggested methods for using fenugreek for your diabetes.

• Put two tablespoons of fenugreek seeds in water, and leave them for a night. Drink the water along with the seeds in the morning before any other meal.
• Alternatively, consume two tablespoons of powdered fenugreek seeds on a daily basis with milk.

Recent research findings state that 100-gram supplement of defatted fenugreek seed powder added to daily diets of insulin-dependent type-1 diabetes patients helped reduce their fasting blood sugar. The supplement also significantly improved their glucose tolerance while lowering LDL or bad cholesterol.

Aloe Vera

This is a product of the spiky but succulent aloe vera plant. This plant has been used in herbal medicine for hundreds of years. Juice extracted from the leaves contains a compound known as aloe latex that is used to make juice drinks, tablets and capsules. What’s more, aloe vera juice decreases swelling in injuries and hastens their healing. Leg wounds and ulcers are prevalent complications associated with diabetes and can be treated using Aloe Vera.

From the already existing clinical trials on the curative effects of aloe vera in relation to diabetes, it can be suggested that this plant helps lower fasting glucose levels to normal levels within two months. In addition, the plant increases the body’s antioxidant defenses, which are often impaired in diabetics, and stimulates the production of insulin.

Other health benefits of the aloe vera plant to diabetics include improved vascular health, dilating blood vessels and increased blood circulation in the human body.

Ginger

Ginger is a thick knotted stem obtained from the plant Zingiber Officinale. It is widely used in Asian medicine. A study carried out by the University of Sydney in Australia discovered that extracts from ginger have a high gingerol count. This compound increases the uptake of sugar into muscle cells without utilizing insulin and assists in the management of high blood glucose content. Moreover, ginger has a low glycemic index (GI). Low-GI foods can break down bit by bit as they form glucose and, hence, do not stimulate a spike in blood sugar content as high-GI foods do. However, it is imperative to consult your health specialist prior to using ginger for diabetes treatment.

Ginger is scientifically proven as an herb that may improve long-term blood sugar control for people with type-2 diabetes. The plant contains gingerols as its principal active component, as do its extracts. Basically, these active components in the ginger plant are said to increase the uptake of glucose into muscle cells without involving insulin. This process will help in the management of high blood sugar levels.

Bitter Melon

Bitter melon is also known as bitter gourd or karela. This exceptional vegetable-fruit has also been found to be one of the most effective diabetes herbal remedies. It contains three compounds that have anti-diabetic properties. These are charantin, polypeptide-p and vicine. These three compounds function either individually or jointly to lower the levels of blood sugar. Furthermore, the bitter melon contains a lectin that brings down blood sugar concentrations. The lectin does this by acting on the peripheral vessels and curbing appetite.

Bitter melon is considered to be an herb and is taken as tea. From the various experiences of type-1 diabetics, taking at least a cup of bitter melon tea every morning lowers their fasting glucose level to about 80 in just one week. Reductions in blood sugar levels in diabetics right after taking bitter melon in any form can be experienced as soon as half an hour, but the greatest reduction occurs at four hours and lasts for about twelve hours.

Prickly Pear Cactus

This is one of the most common types of cactus. It has fleshy stems and pear-like fruits that serve as herbal medicine. The prickly pear cactus is rich in soluble fiber and pectin. Both of these compounds help treat diabetes in the following ways:

• Lowering blood sugar levels
• Boosting insulin sensitivity

Study of this plant reveals that the fiber found in its flesh slows the rate at which the human body absorbs sugar, thereby stabilizing glucose levels in the bloodstream. Normally in diabetics, sugar enters the bloodstream rapidly, causing a spike in their insulin levels. In the presence of prickly pear cactus, however, the absorption of sugar into the bloodstream is naturally slowed down, thereby lowering the risk of diabetes.

Bilberry

For a long time now, bilberry has proven to be an efficient herbal treatment for diabetes. The components of bilberries boost the strength of blood tissues as well as paring down on damage caused to these vessels as a result of diabetes. Beyond the reward of strengthening blood tissues, bilberry extracts usually aid in reducing the tingling sensations in severe cases of diabetes. Bilberry extractions also come in handy in treating eye conditions associated with diabetes. Besides diabetic retinopathy, they are used in the treatment of cataracts and night blindness.

The leaves and fruits of the bilberry plant have long been used in treating diabetes and also in managing the resultant effects of this condition. However, the leaves of this plant are not to be used for a long-term plan for curing diabetes. This is because they achieve the final result by impairing a normal process in the liver.

On the other hand, the berries of this plant do not lower blood sugar but instead help in strengthening of the blood vessels. The berries also reduce the damage to blood vessels associated with diabetes and other diseases such as atherosclerosis (a result of calcium and fat deposits in the arteries).

Ginseng

Ginseng is another of the most useful diabetes herbal remedies. It is widely used as an herbal treatment by the Chinese. A recent study showed that taking 200 mg of ginseng extracts on a daily basis enhances blood sugar control and boosts energy levels in type-2 diabetes. Ginseng aids in the treatment of diabetes in these ways:

• Boosts release of insulin from the pancreas
• Has a direct effect of lowering blood sugar content
• Increases the number of insulin receptors

Various medical studies have found that the intake of the herb ginseng improves blood sugar control by creating sugar-lowering effects in both fasting and after-meal blood sugar levels. This effect is clearly noticeable even in average blood sugar levels in just over a three-month period. Having said that, it is important to note that there are two types of ginseng, American and Asian, both of which vary in the dosage prescribed to diabetic patients.

Onion and Garlic

Onion and garlic have considerable blood glucose-lowering abilities. The principal compounds that play this role are flavonoids and allicin. Extracts from onions have been found to decrease blood sugar levels during oral and intravenous glucose tolerance tests. This effect increased parallel to the rise in the extract dosage. Both raw and boiled onions were used when carrying out an experiment on the effects onions have on diabetes. In essence, onions have an impact on the hepatic metabolism of glucose. They also trigger increase or decrease of insulin.

This herb has a long medicinal history in treating colds and now in controlling blood sugar levels, though there is still need for more human studies into this fact. If you are to take garlic as a treatment for diabetes, be sure to consult your physician and, most importantly, have their approval.

Okra

Okra is a type of tall vegetable that traces its origin to ancient Ethiopia and the Caribbean. Its constituents have anti-diabetic properties. One of the many diabetes herbal remedies, okra is often soaked in cut-up pieces by diabetics overnight. They then take the juice extracted each morning. The extract helps to lower levels of blood glucose.

Some people experience a decrease in blood sugar level after years of daily intake of this herb while others experience an almost immediate reduction in blood sugar level. This main benefit can be attributed to one property of this plant: the insoluble fiber contained in it. This is believed to help stabilize blood glucose by slowing the rate at which sugar is absorbed from the human intestinal tract.

While research continues to reveal new significant alternatives to laboratory medicines in treating diabetes, a lot still needs to be done. Still, many more diabetics will continue to emerge as beneficiaries of herbal medicines in treating diabetes – and the good side of it all is that its all natural, so few, if any, side effects will be experienced.

What diabetes herbal remedies have you used in the past? Do you remain skeptical? Tell us about it in the comments!

The post Discover Effective Diabetes Herbal Remedies appeared first on Healthy Hemp Oil.

Moreover, hemp oil does not induce psychoactivity despite being extracted from the hemp or marijuana plant. This is because it does not contain the THC compound that is responsible for this effect.

The oil is, however, rich in CBD, a compound that has soothing and healing powers over the pain caused by inflammation.

What is inflammation?

Inflammation is the swelling and reddening of body tissues caused by the body’s immune system reacting to injury or infection. It is a common medical condition and affects many people. In fact, nearly everyone experiences some form of inflammation at one time or another.

This condition affects different parts of the body depending on what triggers it. For instance, inflammation of the leg, arm or spine joints is, in most cases, caused by arthritis. This is a condition that comes about when tissues surrounding the joints are torn by friction of bare bones moving over each other.

Usually, there is a soft tissue called cartilage that cushions the joints and the surrounding tissues from this friction, but this wears out with age. Therefore, most victims of arthritis are those of advanced age.

Other areas in which inflammations commonly occur in the body include the bladder, skin, bronchi and ears. These are caused by the body’s reaction to either infections or trauma and affect people of all ages.

Even with all the pain it brings, inflammation in itself is not a bad thing. It is a necessary natural self-healing process the body undergoes. In fact, experts discourage its complete elimination.

Unfortunately, due to the nature of the trigger causes, some inflammations never heal and become part of a patient’s life. Inflammation caused by arthritis and other bone and joint conditions falls into this category.

Conventional treatment for inflammation

The most used drugs to treat and manage inflammation and the accompanying pain are the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Unfortunately, these medicines have side effects like nausea, dizziness, diarrhea, rashes, headache and insomnia.

In addition, not everybody can use them. For instance, pregnant women, older people, people with heart conditions and those with high blood pressure or asthma are discouraged from using NSAIDs.

Why many patients are finding hemp oil a better option

On the other hand, hemp oil inflammation treatment is effective at easing pain and inflammation, and anyone, from expectant mothers to people with heart conditions and even those who are asthmatic, can use it without the risk of harm. It is even more convenient for people with long-lasting conditions like arthritis. They just have to include it in their meals or consume it as a supplement, and they are able to regain their health.

The good news is that hemp oil is legal in close to 50 states of the US, including those that have not decriminalized marijuana. This is because the oil, as mentioned earlier, is 100 percent free of the psychoactive THC compound.

The post Efficacy of Hemp Oil for Inflammation appeared first on Healthy Hemp Oil.

To appreciate how this herbal remedy helps to improve the lives of those who suffer from arthritis, you first have to understand how the ailment attacks bones, joints, and the body in general.

The human body has between two hundred and three hundred joints, depending on age and the method of counting. These joints move over one another, causing friction.

Normally, the body has a natural mechanism of minimizing the harm caused by this friction. Between two bone surfaces in a joint lies a synovial membrane or cartilage. When this membrane is destroyed or deteriorates, bare bone surfaces rub over each other, leading to chronic inflammation, which is the body’s natural response to injury. This is a very painful condition and is what arthritis is all about.

There are different types of arthritis, differentiated by the causes of the cartilage erosion. One of the most common is Rheumatoid arthritis, in which the body’s immune system malfunctions and attacks the cartilage instead of bacteria, viruses or other harmful pathogens.

The other most common cause of cartilage destruction is wear and tear due to many years of use. This latter form of arthritis is called Osteoarthritis or arthritis of the bones and is more common than the former.

Other forms of arthritis include Gout, which is caused by the formation of uric acid crystals in the joint spaces, and Ankylosing spondylitis (AS), which affects the spinal joints.

 Marijuana and Arthritis Herbal Remedies

All forms of arthritis, besides being sources of extreme pain, also lead to loss of joint functions and are most prevalent among the elderly. In most cases, they cannot be permanently cured but are manageable through medications and alternative remedies, of which marijuana is now one.

One of the aspects of arthritis that marijuana is used to treat is the pain. It is used either alone or alongside other medications. For instance, marijuana has been found to be effective in easing medically induced nausea and loss of appetite.

Arthritis also denies most of its victims sleep, and this exacerbates the pain. Marijuana use reduces insomnia, so patients do not spend long nights feeling and fighting pain.

As mentioned earlier, the body’s immune system is a major factor in the development of, particularly, Rheumatoid arthritis. Marijuana, especially its cannabidiol (CBD) element, can be a powerful immune modulator that is critical in protecting the cartilage from the body’s immune system. It also has anti-inflammatory effects that may help control the swelling, burning sensation and pain in the joints.

Although there are many aspects of cannabis that are not yet clear, the plant is gaining acceptance as one of the arthritis herbal remedies that are working for many patients around the globe.

The post Why Marijuana is Becoming One of the Most Used Arthritis Herbal Remedies appeared first on Healthy Hemp Oil.