THE BIO-CHEMISTRY
Most of the medicinally active ingredients of Cannabis called cannabinoids are located in the resin on the mature flowers (buds) produced by glandular trichomes. This resin also contains the terpenes, which give the plant its varying smells, and flavonoids which give varying tastes. In all cases the exact medicinal effects are plentiful and far from fully investigated. These medicinal compounds are completely bio-available in the raw plant and are completely safe and effective.
“The Cannabis plant and its products consist of an enormous variety of chemicals. 483 compounds identified are unique to cannabis. For example, there are more than 100 cannabinoids [3], a group of C 21 terpenophenolic compounds. [4] Cannabinoids are highly lipophilic, permeate cell membranes and have the ability to cross the blood-brain barrier when inhaled and ingested. Cannabinoids are metabolized in the liver. The major metabolite is 11-hydroxy-δ9THC, which is more potent than δ-9THC and may be responsible for some of the psychological and physiological effects of cannabis. [5] The following is a summary of activity of primary phytocannabinoids [6], [7] …"
Topical Uses for Cannabis sativa L. by Holly Hutton, 2014 Graduate, East West School of Planetary Herbology
When taking Cannabis oil in concentrated forms e.g. full extract Cannabis oil, medical supervision is recommended as heart palpitations, blood pressure changes and sugar level fluctuations can occur as well as possible pressure on the overall body burden of the ill person. Also, people on certain medications, such as Warfarin and other anti-coagulants, must not take Cannabis oil, and it can be dangerous to do so. All things considered, if correctly administered and for most people, the minor side effects of Cannabis medicine are vastly outweighed by the therapeutic effects.
BIO-SYNTHESIS OF CANNABINOIDS
"Cannabinoids are produced within the trichome cells through biosynthesis, in which enzymes catalyze a series of chemical reactions to produce complex molecules from simple (smaller) molecules. Biosynthesis is a truly amazing process that can be summarized in a few simple steps. For cannabinoid biosynthesis the three basic steps are binding, prenylation, and cyclization. On a molecular level what happens is: 1) nanoscale macromolecules called enzymes literally grab (bind) to one or two small molecules (substrates), 2) attach the substrates to each other (prenylation, catalytic chemical conversion of the substrates), and then 3) pass the small molecule (transformed substrate) down an assembly line to another enzyme that produce sequential changes to the small molecule (cyclization). I think of enzymes as biological nano-machines that use chemical energy rather than mechanical energy to build structures. Enzymes are truly fascinating and have inspired numerous studies in nanotechnology, biology, and other fields."
Cannabinoid Biosynthesis Part 1 – CBG, THC, CBD, and CBC, By Anthony Burke, PhD on June 23, 2014 www.marijuana.com/blog/news/author/anthonyb/
THE ROLE OF GENETIC STRAINS
Genetics determine the type, ratio and concentration of cannabinoids, terpenoids and flavonoids in the plant. Certain growers have also refined strains for particular application to specific ailments e.g. Lemon Haze and Sour Diesel contain D-Limonene which has specific identified therapeutic value in conditions like parkinson’s and breast cancer.
Another example, Charlottes Webb, is a strain of Cannabis indica which is said to have a high CBD content, relative to the THC content, and relative to ratios of other strains, and so produces less psychoactive effect, or "high" although children are far better equipped to handle THC than the medical field will admit. After all it is exactly the same as their endocannabinoid "anandamide" which produces their childhood energy and aliveness! How Cannabis is processed makes a difference, and any strain can produce a non-psychoactive tincture if done as a cold press, and which is excellent for treating epilepsy, "ADD", autism, bronchial infections and many other conditions in children. Some hybrid strains are well balanced, such as L.A. Confidential, and excellent for a wide range of general use.
Other constituents of the cannabis plant include: nitrogenous compounds (27 known), amino acids (18), proteins (3), glycoproteins (6), enzymes (2), sugars and related compounds (34), hydrocarbons (50), simple alcohols (7), aldehydes (13), ketones (13), simple acids (21), fatty acids (22), simple esters (12), lactones (1), steroids (11), non-cannabinoid phenols (25), flavonoids (29), vitamins (1) [Vitamin A], pigments (2), and elements (9).[9] [10]
TERPENOIDS AND FLAVONOIDS
The scent of Cannabis results from about 200 possible terpenoids. Terpenoids share a precursor with phytocannabinoids, and are the fragrance components of the plant. Terpenoids are potent and affect animal and even human behavior when inhaled from ambient air.
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Terpenoids display unique therapeutic effects that contribute to the effects of cannabis-based medicinal extracts. There have been recent studies on the phytocannabinoid-terpenoid interaction, which could produce synergy with respect to treatment of pain, inflammation, depression, anxiety, addiction, epilepsy, cancer, fungal and bacterial infections.
"Other constituents of the cannabis plant include: nitrogenous compounds (27 known), amino acids (18), proteins (3), glycoproteins (6), enzymes (2), sugars and related compounds (34), hydrocarbons (50), simple alcohols (7), aldehydes (13), ketones (13), simple acids (21), fatty acids (22), simple esters (12), lactones (1), steroids (11), non-cannabinoid phenols (25), flavonoids (29), vitamins (1) [Vitamin A], pigments (2), and elements (9).[9] [10]" Topical Uses for Cannabis sativa L. by Holly Hutton, 2014 Graduate, East West School of Planetary Herbology
MEDICINAL PROPERTIES OF CANNABINOIDS
Please note: The list below does not include all of the main Cannabinoids nor how they affect each other, nor how their effects are altered by synthesis in the various organs. It is sufficient to say that the body is perfectly capable of handling all this complication and by following a few simple rules, an entire spectrum of benefits is available in one species of plant.
CBGA - Cannabigerolic Acid - Antibiotic
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CBG - Cannabigerol - Antibiotic, Antifungal, Anti-inflammatory, Analgesic, Reduces keratinocytes proliferation in psoriasis, Effective against MRSA, GABA uptake inhibitor
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CBC - Cannabichromene - Antibiotic, Antifungal, Anti-inflammatory, Analgesic (weak)
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CBDA - Cannabidiolic Acid - Antibiotic
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CBD - Cannabidiol - Anxiolytic, Antipsychotic, Analgesic, Anti-inflammatory, Antioxidant, Antispasmodic, Anti-emetic, Antifungal, Anticonvulsant, Antidepressant, Antagonizes effects of THC, Decreases sebum/sebocytes proliferation, Effective against methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus, pro-apoptotic against breast cancer cell lines
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CBN - Cannabinol - Sedative, Antibiotic, Anti-convulsant, Anti-inflammatory, Decreases breast cancer resistant protein, MRSA
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THC - Tetrahydrocannabinol - Euphoriant, Analgesic, Anti-inflammatory, Antioxidant, Antiemetic, Antipruritic, Apoptotic, Bronchodilator
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THCV - Tetrahydrocannabivarin - Analgesic, Euphoriant, Anticonvulsant in vitro
TREATABLE MEDICAL CONDITIONS
Acquired Hypothyroidism, Acute Gastritis, Addiction, Adenomyosis, Agoraphobia, AIDS related illness and wasting disease, Alcoholism, Alopecia Areata, Alzheimer’s, Amphetamine dependence, Amyloidosis, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), Anaphylactic or Reaction, Angelman Syndrome, Angina Pectoris, Ankylosis, Anorexia, Anorexia Nervosa, Anxiety Disorders, Arteriosclerotic Heart disease, Arthritis, Arthritis (Rheumatoid), Arthropathy (Gout), Asperger disorder, Asthma, Attention deficit disorder (ADD), Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), Autoimmune disease, Autism
Back pain, Bell's palsy, Bipolar disorder, Brain tumour (malignant), Bruxism, Bulemia
Cachexia, Caner - Adrenal Cortical, Endometrial, Prostate, Testicular, Uterine, Carpal Tunnel syndrome, Cerebral Aneurysm, Cerebral palsy, Cervicobrachial syndrome, CFS, Chemotherapy, Chronic fatigue syndrome, Chronic pain, CMT disease, Cocaine dependence, Colitis, Colitis/Ulcerative Colitis, Colon Diverticulitis, Conjunctivitis, Constipation, Crohn's disease, CVS, Cystic Fibrosis, Cystitis/Urethritis
Damage to Spinal Cord Nervous Tissue, Darier's disease, Degenerative Arthritis, Degenerative Arthropathy, Delirium Tremens, Dermatomyositis, Depression, Diabetes, adult onset, Diabetes, Insulin dependent, Diabetic Neuropathy, Diabetic Peripheral Vascular disease, Diarrhea, Diverticulitis, Dravet syndrome, Dupuytren's Contracture, Dyspepsia, Dysthymic disorder, Dystonia
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E. T. Eczema, Ehlers Danlos, Emphysema, Endometriosis, Epidermolysis Bullosa, Epididymitis, Epilepsy/Seizure disorder, Felty's syndrome
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Fibromyalgia, Friedreich's Ataxia
Gastritis, GastroEsophgeal Reflux disease, Genital Herpes, Glaucoma, Glioblastoma Multiforme, Graves' disease,
Headaches, Cluster Headaches, Migraine, Headaches, Tension, Haemophilia A, Henoch-Schonlein Purpura, Hepatitis C, Herpes, HIV / AIDS, Hospice patients, Huntington’s disease, Hydrocephalus, Hypertension (High Blood Pressure), Hyperventilation, Hypoglycaemia
Incontinence, Impotence, Inflammatory Autoimmune-mediated Arthritis, Inflammatory Bowel disease (IBD), Insomnia, Intermittent Explosive disorder (IED), Interstitial Pneumonia, Intractable vomiting, Irritable Bowel syndrome
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Limbic Rage syndrome, Lipomatosis, Liver disease, Lou Gehrig's disease, Lupus, Lyme disease, Lymphoma
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Macular degeneration, Major depression, Malignant Melanoma, Mania, Marfan Syndrome, Mastocytosis, MD, Melorheostosis, Meniere's disease, Menopausal syndrome, Migraines, Motion sickness, Movement disorders, MRSA, Mucopolysaccharidosis (MPS), Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Muscle spasm, Muscular Dystrophy, Myeloid Leukaemia, Myofascial pain
Nail-Patella syndrome, Nausea, Nephritis, Neurodegenerative disorders, Neurofibromatosis, Neuropathy, Nightmares, NPS
Obesity, Obsessive Compulsive disorder, Opiate dependence, Osgood-Schlatter, Osteoarthritis, Osteogenesis imperfecta,
Palmar Hyperhidrosis, ancreatic Cancer, Pancreatitis, Panic attacks, Panic disorder, Parkinson's disease, Patellofemoral pain syndrome, Pectus Carinatum (Pigeon breast/chest), Pemphigus, Peptic ulcer, Peripheral Neuropathy, Peritoneal pain, Persistent insomnia, Peutz-Jehgers, Polyarteritis Nodosa, Polycythaemia Vera, Porphyria—Alternative symptom treatments, Post-Concussion syndrome, PPS-Post Polio syndrome, Post-Traumatic arthritis, Post-traumatic stress disorder, Premenstrual syndrome (PMS), Prostate cancer, Prostatitis, Pruritus, Psoriasis, Pulmonary Fibrosis, Pylorospasm reflux
Quadriplegia
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Radiation therapy, Raynaud's phenomenon, Reactive Arthritis, Reiter's syndrome, Restless legs syndrome (RLS), Rosacea
SAD, Schizophrenia(s), Scleroderma, Scoliosis, Sedative dependence, Seizures, Selectivemutism, Senile Dementia, Severe nausea, Shingles (Herpes Zoster), Sinusitis, Sjogren's syndrome, Skeletal muscular spasticity, Sleep apnoea, Sleep disorders, Spasticity, Spina Bifida, Spinal Stenosis, Sturge-Weber syndrome (SWS), Stuttering, Syringomyelia
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Tardive Dyskinesia (TD), Temporomandibular Joint disorder (TMJ), Tenosynovitis, Testicular Torsion, Thoracic Outlet syndrome, Thyroiditis, Tic Douloureux, Tietze’s syndrome, Tinnitus, Tobacco dependence, Tourette syndrome, Trichotillomania
Viral Hepatitis, Wasting syndrome, Whiplash, Wittmaack-Ekbom's syndrome, Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, Writer’s cramp
MEDICAL SUPPORT
Once again, where there is a severe breakdown in the body, such as various cancers, complex epilepsy, MS, or neurological damage, it is always always wise to work with a general or specialist medical practitioner and an experienced Cannabis medicine practitioner. It is also necessary to verify and monitor actual results via blood tests, scans. EEG's etc. There are many doctors and qualified traditional and natural healers or integrative doctors wiling to assist. Work on establishing independent testing facilities for raw materials and medicines, as well as training facilities for oil makers, Cannabis medicine practitioners and doctors has begun, to ensure reliable, safe, effective supply avenues for people.