SweetSue's Class Notes

[SweetSue]

This thread is meant to be nothing more than a place to drop notes from the many classes I've taken on the subject of medical cannabis. I'll never turn away from a discussion of the material that's going to be dropped here, but it's really only meant to be a processing center for class notes.

 

[SweetSue]

Strengthening Your Endocannabinoid System Without Cannabis: Part 1

Class notes from a course offered by Green Flower Media, taught by Brian Krumm CPN

The ECS is the system charged with homeostasis. We use cannabis to supplement a deficient ECS as we work to strengthen the endogenous system.

You can get many of the medicinal benefits we see from cannabis use without using cannabis at all.

Those using cannabis can improve bioavailability of the supplemental cannabinoids by following the practices laid out below.

Many of the necessary lifestyle changes that will support of ECS function are related to diet.
* The human body is evolved to run most efficiently on a diet balanced in omega fatty acids. That means a 1:1 ratio of omega 3mega 6. These fatty acids are necessary for survival of the human machine and they must be sourced through diet. The body doesn't produce them.
* The typicalAmerican diet ratio is closer to 1 omega 3 to 20 omega 6.
- processed oils are complicating the balance

* Omega 6 promotes inflammation.
- it contains arachidonic acid
- too much arachidonic acid causes overproduction of anandamide
- too much anandamide causes over-excitation of the ECS - the body responds by toning down the available cannabinoid receptors. They won't be available for attachment. Everything goes crazy.

* Inflammation is at the root of all disease, including mental and emotional illness.
- As an example, schizophrenics have elevated levels of anandamide in their spinal fluid.
- Throwing cannabis at it won't fix it when the system's disfunctional. We need to support the ECS as well as medicate.

You support the ECS with a combination of diet, exercise, meditation, and a myriad of lifestyle approaches proven to help bring balance back to the ECS.

Joel Furman - G Bombs
* Eating plan (very restrictive) using greens, beans, onions, mushrooms, berries, and seeds.
- leaves out importance of different types of omega 3s

Brian recommends G-Bombs and fish

Omega 3s need to be from ocean source. Strictly evolutionary. We came from the sea. We still require some of these fatty acids.
- We have excellent sources of omega 3s: flax seed, hemp seed, chia seed
- Land-sourced ALA is not easily processed by the body into a usable form.
- The body is better at using ELA, the intermediate form of omega 3, and DHA, the active form of omega 3.

A diet high in omega 6 further compromises the body's ability to reach balance.

Obviously the key here is to re-establish balance.
- omega 3 supplement: 1000 - 2000 IU daily can be a good answer

*** For people unable to take fish supplements for omega 3 try algae ***
- The reason tiny, cold water fish are so rich in omega 3s is because they eat algae, rich in ELA and DHA, and the fish store them in their body fat.
- Salmon, sardines, herring, mackerel - these fishes offer a lot of omega 3s.
- Reality check: When was the last time you had a treat of small fishes? Therein lies the conundrum. Most of us are in the same boat.
- Anyone with any medical issue, and anyone using medical cannabis, needs to consider starting an omega3 supplement. It'll support the ECS.

A word of caution about GMOs.

* Genetically modified organisms are designed to withstand glyphosate (RoundUp).
- RoundUp-ready foods store this chemical in their tissues.
- RoundUp (glyphosate) binds to minerals in our food and prevents them from being absorbed in the gut.
- Glyphosate is also an antibiotic. It kills good bacteria in the soil. It kills good bacteria in the gut.

* Inflammation in the gut leads to inflammation in the rest of the body.
- There are neural connections between the gut and the brain for instant and continuious communications.
- Inflammation in the gut triggers the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines.
- Cytokines spread throughout the body. They're able to pass through the BBB, triggering inflammation in the brain.
- Inflammation in the brain is tied to psychiatric disorders, cancers, neurodegenerative disease, Alzheimer's, etc......

* Inflammation is the root cause of disease.
- It benefits us to find ways to tone down inflammation.

The function of the ECS is to keep the inflammatory processes turned down.
The ECS isn't functioning properly because our diets are too high in omega 6 foods.

* We need to re-establish healthy gut flora.
- Avoid GMOs in your diet.
- Introduce more probiotics into the diet.
- Food sources: yogurt, sauerkraut, kim chi, pickles - any fermented foods.

*Limitations of food sources of probiotics
- Food sources have to survive the stomach acids.
- You have no idea what cultures were used in the fermentation.
- Brian recommends you use a probiotic supplement.

* A good probiotic supplement:
- Enteric coated, delayed release will get more through the stomach acids and get released deeper into the gut.
- When the wrong bacteria are inhabiting the gut it leads to a host of problems.
- Yogurts are typically high in sugars. Sugar promotes the development of yeast and candida in the gut.
- Re-establishment of a healthy gut flora will reduce inflammation.

* Your appendix turned out to be necessary. Imagine that.
- It's the repository for bacteria that may be needed to replenish a diminished supply in the gut following disease.
- The way it's meant to work: You get sick. Your gut flora is ravaged. The appendix injects a fresh supply of the needed bacteria so your gut can keep feeding the body efficiently.
- Antibiotics kill all bacteria. Follow up antibiotics with a run of probiotics.

*Omega 3s will deplete the body of Vitamin E.
- Omega 3s are the building blocks for what the body needs. It's using the Vitamin E in one of those processes.
- Vit E helps to support the ECS.
- Many Vit E sources are also high in omega 6s.
- Dark green vegetables are a great source of Vit E, without the issue of adding even more omega 6 fatty acids into the already overloaded diet.
- Nuts and seeds are important, in moderation. They're high in omega 6.
- You can take a supplement, but it's healthier to eat a well-rounded diet. Eat an occasional salad. Try some kale. It's actually quite tasty. I like mine with dried cranberries and raspberry vinegrette dressing.

* Magnesium
- Low magnesium in the water supply results in populations with increased rates of depression, diabetes, obesity.
- Low magnesium causes heart problems.
- Magnesium helps balance calcium in the body. It contributes to bone density.
- Dark green vegetables are an excellent food source for magnesium.
- In the same way iron is the core of our blood, allowing oxygen to be transported to the cells, plants have magnesium at the core of their chlorophyll. If you're eating things rich in chlorophyll, you're getting magnesium through your diet.
-
* Magnesiun supplements
- Magnesium Citrate powder that's an ionic composition called "Natural Calm."
- Calcium is excitatory with nerve responses. Magnesium is inhibitory.
- When lab animals are depleted of magnesium they get seizures. This is they way they study anti-seizure medications on rats and mice.

*** Induce seizures in lab animals by depleting magnesium and they go into seizures. Give them CBD and the seizures stop. ***

If you're supporting the ECS with plenty of magnesium, you reduce the risk of seizures.

* Autistic patients need to be alert to magnesium supplementation.
- Magnesium will modify behavioral issues and improve interpersonal interactions.

It makes a huge difference to take care of the gut.

* The importance of Vitamin D3
- Low levels of Vit D will increase the chance of death from cardiovascular disease.
- Low Vit D can increase cognitive deficits in the elderly.
- Other effects of depleted Vit D include:
* lack of energy
* depression
* in children, the incidence of severe asthma
* increased risk of cancer, diabetes, hypertension, MS

Getting proper levels of Vit D3 is critical to balanced health.
- Being outdoors will allow the skin to convert sunlight to Visit D, particularly if you're fair-skinned.
- Dark skin has more melanin, which blocks the conversion of sunlight to Vit D. It's more critical that you get a supplement.
- Dairy products offer Vit D2, which isn't an active form. Some people can't convert Vit D2.
- There are few food sources for D3. Mushrooms, when sundries, will produce Vit D3. You'll have a hard time eating enough to meet your nutritional needs.
- If you don't get out into the sun, or have dark skin, or are using a sunscreen, make sure you're getting a Vit D3 supplement.

* Vit B9 Folate
- Folic acid is a chemically-produced substitute for folate that they put in enriched baked goods. It's not always converted into folate.
- Folate makes and repairs daMaged DNA, and helps to produce red blood cells.
- Exposure to the sun can deplete folate. So can alcohol and certain medications.
- Low folate in pregnant women can lead to birth defects, incl. defects in the spinal cord and brain of the developing fetus.
- Fresh fruits and green vegetables, dried beans, peas, and nuts are all good food sources.

* Exercise: the natural antidepressant.
- Exercise increases seratonin in the brain. You can't increase seratonin through pharma drugs. There are some dietary supplements like 5HTP that will increase brain levels, but exercise does this naturally.
- Exercise benefits many body systems.

* Learn to decrease stress.
- Mindful Awareness or mindfulness is a great way to decrease stress.
- Check out the offerings available on YouTube when you type in "Mindful Awareness." Pick one and have fun with it.
- Help distract yourself from the pain and keep you focused in the present moment.
- Brian recommends a book by Eckhardt Toley, "The New Earth."

The supposed risks of cannabis can be avoided by supporting the ECS in these other ways.

The only danger is periodontal disease with heavy, long term use.

* Turmeric has been used for thousands of years to tone down inflammation and reduce pain.
- Get a supplement with black pepper extract included or include black pepper in the diet if your using a whole plant extraction.
- Black pepper activates the turmeric's curcuminoids p, which interact with the ECS to reduce inflammatory effects.
- Turmeric won't eat a hole in your gut or cause your kidneys to fail or destroy the liver. You also won't get dependant on it and have to go through withdrawal like you will with opiods.

It's important to recognize when these lifestyle changes aren't enough to meet your needs and it's time to seek professional help.

If you're going through chemo, use these methods to support the ECS.

 

[SweetSue]

Supporting The Endocannabinoid System Without Cannabis: Part 2

If you're getting worse on your cannabinoid therapy or you're not seeing the improvement you need, seek professional help. Be informed. Western medicine offers some startling solutions to healing challenges. All too often they offer things you'd have been better off without.

Knowledge is power.

Notes on the Q&A session of the class: a discussion between Bryan and Max.

So much of mental and emotional illness is caused by a deficiency in the ECS, and much of that is due to our diet.

Too much omega-6 in the diet actually burns up the ECS
- omega-6 fills the tissues with arachidonic acid, which causes inflammation
- an overload of arachidonic acid leads to overproduction of anandamide
- an overload of anandamide strains the enzymes that are meant to degrade the cannabinoids
- this over excitability of the ECS causes the body to reduce the availability of receptors on the cells
- it's this reduction in receptors that cause the rise of inflammation

Inflammation is at the root of all disease. It's one of the primary responsibilities of the ECS to reduce inflammatory response in the body.

It's known that inflammation leads to diseases, as in neurodegenerative disorders and cancer. Less understood is the role omega-6 plays in the development of inflammation.

Processed oils are the biggest culprits
- sunflower oil is a large concern

There are oils high in omega-3, such as flaxseed, olive, or chia seed oils, but they're plant-derived, not in the form of omega-3 that the body can't convert into usable nutrition. (ALA)

You're feeding your body nutritionally empty food that's throwing your ECS out of balance and threatening your well-being in the process.

Let's make an effort to change the way we think about this. Rampage this out Susan, before you post the thread. You can't toss something this potentially negative out there without some positive ways to create a more positive future reality.

So much of our food supply is over-processed. When you process a food high in omega-6 into an oil you've further concentrated the omega-6. Now the same quantity carries a much larger dose of the inflammatory-inducing fatty acids.

Ocean-based omega-3 is in the form of EPA or DHA. explain the steps of omega-3
- given our current imbalance, it's challenging to accept that we could eat enough fish to bring ourselves back into balance with some slept of supplementation.

Random thought: the ECS runs on feeling and imagination. This suggests it's possible to create a mindset that instructs the body to pull a more balanced omega fatty acid ratio from the food and release the remaining imbalance to be easily and efficiently eliminated from the body.

Yes, I'm talking extreme levels of faith in a system few of us understand the potential of. Anecdotal evidence supports my theory. The body is evolved to heal. It will do that given any state of degradation, if the belief is strong enough.

Back to the limited view of the medical community.


Always check the labels of the omega-3 supplements.

 

[SweetSue]

Cannabis For Back Pain, Chronic Pain, & Nerve Damage: Guest speaker - Mara Gordon

Part 1: notes from the initial broadcast will update with another listen and a closer ear tomorrow. Great class

Pain of the back and neck is the chief reason that people miss work.

The chief western medicine response has been opiods. Cannabis is a better choice.

Causes:
- genetic conditions
-
80% of all Americans

10% around the world.

More seek help for back pain than any other pain

7-10% will develop chronic pain- when pain is the disease
- so much inflammation and memory in the nerves that you can't not feel it

Pain is a warning sign
- lack of pain is dangerous to survival
- pain is meant to be temporary

Opiods cause depressing pain relief

The cause is our proclivity to SIT ALL DAY LONG
- stand and work
- move as much as you can

Women experience more back pain than men. Men miss more work for back pain than women. 50% more than women.

There's no such thing as back pain and lucky in any sentence

Chronic pain caused degradation due to pain behavior.
- this discourages people from movement
- disability sets the stage for lack of productive living

What do the cannabinoids do in your body in response to pain?

5 mechanisms with CB1 and CB2 receptors
- THC interrupts the short-term memory and give you a respite


CBD 30-50 times more powerful than steroids (adrenal damage results)
- neural protector

Pain doesn't occur because the signal is stopped by THC
Pain is reduced by CBD by reducing inflammation

Any nerve ending is potentially a place to feel pain. Nat Geo has this in better info)

When you activate the CB1 receptors stop the pain transmission in three different places

You're reducing and eliminating the sensation of pain by healing the problem.

In legal states Medicare tracked and found
- 1826 less prescriptions for daily doses of opiates
- sleep 362 less doses for sleep aids
- 265 less doses per day for depression
PThese improvements are magnified by the lack of secondary conditions

Cannabis saves us the secondary issues brought on by side effects

What to take
- you can't go wrong
- CBGA Young cannabis plant, before it begins to
* anti inflammatory and analgesic

THCa: anti-spasmodic

THCV for diabetes and weight loss

- patients will respond to CBD in one of three ways: really really sleepy, really active, or no response at all.

CBN will help you sleep and is also an anti-inflammatory
- slightly less secure attachment to the receptor

CBD for inflammation, THC for neuralprotective etc, CBG for anti depressive

How much to take?
- every patient needs to start low

- weight of a man won't tell you the dose

Pick healthy products

The magical formula of terpenes for pain

B-Caryophyllenen is anti inflammatory
Limonene is uplifting
Linalool is relaxing
Myrcene helps cannabinoids cross the BBB

Take after a fat source to increase bioavailability

Topicals will focus relief to tense muscles.
- nice thing with a topical is that you can use it whenever it is
- if you need it, use. You won't hurt yourself at all

Q&A notes:

Blocks pain. Reduces inflammation. Euphoria

You need to get sleep under control first
- treat sleep first: relaxation techniques and dietary awareness
- sleep allows to to feel less pain and deal with the pain you have better
- this allows them to function on a low dose of THC and more CBD during day
- 15-25mg dose for most people for sleep (optimal dose)
*** this isn't a starting dose: begin at 3-5 and work up to the optimal dose
* many ways to administer C for C (cannabis for cause has 15 mg square of chocolate)

Keep a vaporizer

Sublingual 6-8 hours of relief but won't hit for 30-90 min

5-10 mg THC.p, 25 mg of CBD for daytime dose

Most people use too much cannabis
- using less can save you money
- can also reduce prices by reducing strain in the market.

To avoid tolerance buil-up change up the profiles on a regular meds

When you hit your therapeutic dose you'll typically level off on need

If you have about three months without leveling off it's recommended to take a holiday and reset the optimal dose

It's lonely at night when you're in pain. Sleep removes this isolation and keeps you from feeling lost.

By definition chronic pain is chronic

The double-edged sword about pain is that you need to move to find relief, but pain and the opiods make it difficult to do.
- cannabis used correctly allows you to be somewhat self-sufficient. You'll be able to get up.
- movement and staying away of poor dietary choices are called for

Gluten-free diets reduce inflammation and level the emotional tone
- chronic inflammation in your body is your body asking you to make better choices

Correct dose is the level of euphoria you are comfortable with
- citocholine will help with pain reduction and may reduce euphoria
- NOT FOR CANCER PATIENTS!!!

3-5 mg THC + 25 mg CBD for daytime (CBD in two doses)
10- 25 mg THC at bedtime
Vaporizer for breakthrough in the night

If you have fat in your stomach it will make your cannabis meds more bioavailable

Use an infused oil as edible meds
- know how to use it properly

Limonene for day
Myrcene for night (will make you sluggish)

Most CBD comes from sativa plants

Learn how the terpenes react to your body.

1. Hemp-derived CBD lacks the entourage you get from cannabis sativa

2. CBD plants aren't as robust, more skimpy, harder to grow
3. May not have the same variety or volume of terpenes

Zelda's makes their oils from keif.

Always use cannabis with your opiates. Prepare to adjust their opiod dose down.
- it isn't the cannabis making you higher. It's the opiod being potentiated.

Cytochrome P450???

Cannabis doesn't touch level 10 pain. Neither do opiods.
- you aren't having a conversation when you're in level 10 pain

Cannabis will hit all the other levels and have you able to get up and get around.
Opiods won't let you function, or if you do, you may be dangerous to yourself and others.

Cannabis can increase your sense of well-being and productivity.

Mistakes typically seen
- impatience: take too much too soon
* be prepared for it not to work for a couple tries - experiment
* more is not always better
- if you need more and can't wait, vape a small amount that will only have a small effect

Vaporizers is for breakthrough pain
- sublingually administered typically end up cutting way back on smoking (I see this with my edibles)

As long as cannabis is illegal federally employers have the right to discriminate against us with drug testing
- the company that sells the test kits is running this show

Topicals guidelines
- arnica and frankincense
- essential oils should not be to mask the smell, but for medicinal values
- if it smells weedy it isn't well processed
- THC strong will work best for relief (hits the pain by relaxing muscles)
- CBD strong will reduce inflammation but not offer immediate relief

Chronic sciatic : topicals, THCa, THC, CBD

Degenerative bone disease, choose cannabinoids that has bone-stimulant properties

Isolates (i.e. CBGa, can be used to boost the profiles in a specialized medication)

Choose your terpene profile. If your becoming anxious, change the profile

Cannabis can improve neuropathy
- use a topical and vaporize

Cannabis for migraine
- topicals can be used
- need something for systemic care (THC)
- a balanced ratio over time will reduce migraines


We would benefit from learning to dose properly
Educate your doctors to the truth of cannabis
Be patient and keep trying

The big take-away

There's hope. You can get out of the spiral of pain. Take your opportunity. Step out of the box and find your solution.

CANNABIS CAN HELP.

 

[SweetSue]

Hahaha! Couldn't find the thread. Guys, when you move them you're supposed to give me a heads up.

 

[SweetSue]

Final notes

Supporting The Endocannabinoid System Without Cannabis: Part 2

If you're getting worse on your cannabinoid therapy or you're not seeing the improvement you need, seek professional help. Be informed. Western medicine offers some startling solutions to healing challenges. All too often they offer things you'd have been better off without.

Knowledge is power.

Notes on the Q&A session of the class: a discussion between Bryan and Max.

So much of mental and emotional illness is caused by a deficiency in the ECS, and much of that is due to our diet.

Too much omega-6 in the diet actually burns up the ECS
- omega-6 fills the tissues with arachidonic acid, which causes inflammation
- an overload of arachidonic acid leads to overproduction of anandamide
- an overload of anandamide strains the enzymes that are meant to degrade the cannabinoids
- this over excitability of the ECS causes the body to reduce the availability of receptors on the cells
- it's this reduction in receptors that cause the rise of inflammation

Inflammation is at the root of all disease. It's one of the primary responsibilities of the ECS to reduce inflammatory response in the body.

It's known that inflammation leads to diseases, as in neurodegenerative disorders and cancer. Less understood is the role omega-6 plays in the development of inflammation.

Processed oils are the biggest culprits
- sunflower oil is a large concern

There are oils high in omega-3, such as flaxseed, olive, or chia seed oils, but they're plant-derived, not in the form of omega-3 that the body can't convert into usable nutrition. (ALA)

You're feeding your body nutritionally empty food that's throwing your ECS out of balance and threatening your well-being in the process.

Let's make an effort to change the way we think about this. Rampage this out Susan, before you post the thread. You can't toss something this potentially negative out there without some positive ways to create a more positive future reality.

So much of our food supply is over-processed. When you process a food high in omega-6 into an oil you've further concentrated the omega-6. Now the same quantity carries a much larger dose of the inflammatory-inducing fatty acids.

Ocean-based omega-3 is in the form of EPA or DHA. explain the steps of omega-3
- given our current imbalance, it's challenging to accept that we could eat enough fish to bring ourselves back into balance with some slept of supplementation.
- cold water fatty fish aren't a staple on many diets. The Russian immigrants in our community do. How interesting.

Random thought: the ECS runs on feeling and imagination. This suggests it's possible to create a mindset that instructs the body to pull a more balanced omega fatty acid ratio from the food and release the remaining imbalance to be easily and efficiently eliminated from the body.

Yes, I'm talking extreme levels of faith in a system few of us understand the potential of. Anecdotal evidence supports my theory. The body is evolved to heal. It will do that given any state of degradation, if the belief is strong enough.

Back to the limited view of the medical community.

1000-2000 IU per capsule of omega-3 is the desired choice.
- algae are an acceptable alternative for omega-3

Always check the labels of the omega-3 supplements.

Picking up from yesterday:

Why bother if you already use cannabis?
- If you're using cannabis medicinally your ECS is deficient. It needs you to support it. How much louder would you like it to ask?

- By supporting the ECS you reduce the need for cannabis as a medicine.

- Restoring balance to the ECS promotes homeostasis, the system-wide expression of your greatest potential.

How does knowing this not make you want to jump up and down with joy? I actually did that the other day - got a friend so excited about the potential of using her ECS to dramatically gain control of her emotional tone. There we were, jumping up and down in joy, on a street corner.

The community accepts me with all my eccentricities. They're used to me.


A healthier ECS enhances the body's response to cannabis.
- Bryan has clinical experience showing that patients that began supplementing with omega-3 and Vit E in particular, found they needed less cannabis for the same if not greater effect.

Omega-3s help with mood stabilization (they positively impact depression)
** Add vitamin E and the efficiency of the omega-3s increases

Omega-3s are the building blocks of the ECS

Vit E supports the ECS

How Bryan learned all of this: He's a nurse practitioner, specializing in treating patients learning to live with PTSD. He witnisses a lot of what he began to see as needless suffering. He made some suggestions that his patients took action on. Positive results fueled his passion. Opportunity presented itself in a most unusual way, and he grabbed it with both hands.

Every symptom cluster of PTSD demonstrates ECS disfunction.
- this includes all areas inside and outside the brain involved with PTSD
- any efforts to support the EFS improve the chances of the PTSD to accelerate healing, to find relief

The basics requirements:

Omega-3 1000-2000 mg combined EPA and DHA
check the label

Magnesium 250 - 500 mg (can take it higher: loose stools or diarrhea indicate you went too far)
- helps balance out calcium
- calcium is excitatory, magnesium is inhibitory
- Magnesium depletion is what they use in research to stimulate seizures in mice. They use CBD to stop the seizures.
- the connection isn't yet understood

If you're trying to support your ECS it makes sense to not stress it out any more by making it work harder to make up for your poor dietary choices. Just saying.

Magnesium citrate is more easily absorbed by the body.
- magnesium citrate powder can make dosing easier
- add to any number of liquids

Natural Calm is an ionic composition of magnesium citrate
- ionic = faster absorbtion
- autistic patients respond positively
- helps patients tone down stress and sleep better

- Bryan's son has Tourette's. Magnesium citrate is what they used to stop the tics. They then discovered he was gluten sensitive and made some dietary changes. If he eats gluten and shows signs of tics returning, magnesium supplementation makes the tics stop.

PICK UP AT 44:13 Time for a much needed walk.

Avoid genetically modified foods. Especially wheat, soybeans, and corn, which are most often treated with glyphosate.
- try to buy organic to avoid GMO-based foods
- avoid processed foods

Probiotics: at least 50 billion cultures
- They're more expensive, but you need to think in terms of priorities. You should also assume that changes in diet and lifestyle will support the ECS and thereby reduce the need for a probiotic supplement.

If you think of how the immune system works you realize that the immune system is fueled by the foods you eat, and the foods you eat will greatly impact the health of your gut.

The health of your gut will influence inflammatory response everywhere else in your body. The healthier your gut, the less likely you'll be sick.

When taking probiotics have some food in the stomach first to help nutralize the stomach acids and let more of the probiotic get through in larger numbers, deeper into your gut.

Probiotics can decrease inflammation with probiotics, we take pressure off the ECS.

The ECS is the regulatory system for every other system. Endocannabinoid receptors regulate just about every biological function in the body.
- they regulate the mitochondria, the producers of cellular energy

Symptoms of ECS disfunction:
- aches and pains
- inflammation
- bloating
- any psychiatric disorder (anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia)

Purified, overly processed sugars are best avoided.
- Choose fruits as much as possible. They have sugars, but they also have fiber, which balances out the sugar.
- Whole foods that contain sugar are a world apart from processed sugars.

The most important take-away
- Limit highly processed omega-6 oils.
- Increase omega-3 intake high in EPA and DHA (omega-3s are critical in balancing the ECS)
- Work for balance of the omega fatty acids

What you'll notice when you balance the omega fatty acids
- reduction in inflammatory response
- anxiety will decrease

losing access to cannabis can cause a re-experience of symptoms cannabis kept managed)
- if you're supporting the ECS and you lose access to cannabis, you won't see the rise of symptoms in the way that you would with that support. You can function better without it.

By supporting the ECS you'll reap many of the therapeutic benefits you would get with cannabis without the increased euphoria.
- toning down inflammatory response
a pain management
- stabilizing mood


The biggest difference between these supposprtive techniques and using cannabis to support the ECS is time. Using cannabis gicpves you immediate relief and rapid onset.
- also allows you to beef up the cannabinoid numbers to accelerate healing
- supporting ECS function is more subtle
- Sometimes you don't notice the effects of the supplementation and support until you stop.

For some reason the medical community chooses to avoid the discussion on nutrition. They've also avoided the conversation on the ECS.
- psychologists are more likely to make nutritional recommendations than psychiatrists

The vast majority of patients will respond positively to taking back control of their health taper, in particular their psychiatric care.
- taper off psyche drugs under the eye of your doctor
- support ECS function for a few months before you attempt to taper off
- many are able to reduce or eliminate pharmaceuticals by supporting the ECS

States that went legal have seen dramatic drops in prescriptions for
- anti depressants
- anti psychotics
- opiods
- benzodiazepines

It took decades in most cases to do the damage done to your ECS.

Bryan hasn't seen as much ability to completely manage depression with cannabis, moving away from antidepressants
- A good 5HTP supplement will increase seratonin levels in the brain
- take Vit B6 with 5HTP (it's Vit B6 that breaks down 5HTP in the brain
- support the brain with 5HTP and when you begin to move away from the antidepressant you won't have the flood of seratonin leaving the brain because now there's plenty of seratonin to go around.
- 5HTP is much easier for the body to tolerate than pharmaceutical antidepressants.
- if you miss 5HTP you won't go into withdrawal symptoms as quickly as you would with pharmaceuticals.

People who claim to get no benefit are typically not being consistent.
- supplements are expensive

Exercise is a natural anti-depressant and supports ECS function.

Schizophrenia presents elevated levels of anandamide in the spinal fluid
- those high levels trigger a down-regulation of cannabinoid receptors
- disruption of endocannabinoid signaling is intricately involved in causation of schizophrenia
- supporting the ECS benefits schizophrenic patients
- patients who used cannabis from a young age have higher levels executive function than those who didn't use cannabis.
- A small study of patients with treatment refractory schizophrenia who were given dranabinol (synthetic THC) showed significant improvement of both positive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia.
- Schizophrenic patients who use cannabis claim the drug quiets the voices.

CBD tones down the euphoric effect of THC and causes it to last longer.
- also has some anti-anxiety effects
- has some anti-psychotic effects
- with PTSD he doesn't see CBD conquering the psycho-arrival type of anxiety often presented. Many patients need the THC component.
- Some patients respond very well to CBD. It's an individual expression.

It's not "boosting" the ECS, it's "augmenting"

Hemp seed is an excellent whole food
- protein, amino acids profile are almost in direct proportion to what's required in the human body, omega fatty acids, vitamins
- omega3s are ALA
- omega-6 isn't as high at 2:1

Raw leaves can offer great therapeutic value without euphoria.
- they contain THCA

Many diatery sources of Vit E are from nuts and seeds, high in omega-6
- get lots of dark, leafy greens

Exercise makes a dramatic difference

You must support Endocannabinoid signalling if you expect to stay healthy.

 

[SweetSue]

​FINAL NOTES

Cannabis For Back Pain, Chronic Pain, & Nerve Damage: Guest speaker - Mara Gordon

Pain of the back and neck is the chief reason that people miss work.

The chief western medicine response has been opioids. Cannabis is a better choice. It won't destroy your organs.

Causes:
- genetic conditions like arthritis
- injury
- we sit behind desks, in school, at our jobs
- we could all stand to move more and move in a more thoughtful manner

80% of all Americans will experience back pain at some point in their lives.

10% around the world

More seek help for back pain than any other pain

7-10% will develop chronic pain- when pain is the disease

- so much inflammation and memory in the nerves that you can't not feel it

Pain is a warning sign
- lack of pain is dangerous to survival
- pain is meant to be temporary

Only a small percentage of the 80% of those with back or neck pain find relief with traditional pharmaceuticals or OTC solutions.
- these options come with delightful side effects like mood swings and constipation

*** Consider: constipation causes inflammation in the gut. That inflammation gets passed into the system at large, so now you have inflammation showing up in other places. The ECS is now even more stressed.

When people express concern about the psychoactivity with cannabis, ask them if it's the feeling good that concerns them?

Opioids cause psychoactivity too, it's just that it's a depressing type of psychoactivity.

The cause is our proclivity to SIT ALL DAY LONG
- this causes ongoing nerve pain
- We're not evolved to be sitting on our tailbones all day with our arms hunched over, working at a laptop.

Some gentle solutions to the problem
- stand and work (can your work surface be raised?)
- move as much as you can

Women experience 8% more back pain than men.
Men miss more work for back pain than women. 50% more than women.
Women have a higher tolerance level for pain.

The economic impact is huge. It's estimated to be costing us around $50 BILLION a year in direct costs and upwards to $100 Billion in indirect costs.

Work is missed. Disability is used as a safety net. Self worth begins to degrade. Income limitations begin to effect dietary choices and quality of life suffers from more directions than simply pain. It creates its own downward spiral if left unchecked.

Most people would rather be working than home in pain and on Disability. People say things like "How lucky you are to be on Disability. You don't have to go to work."

There's no such thing as back pain and lucky in any logical sentence


Insert graphic on the nervous system.

Chronic pain serves no protective biological function.
- If anything it will self-perpetuate
- pain behavior begins to limit movement
- reduced movement increases systemic degradation
- social supports begin to fall away

The disability system discourages wellness
- if you begin to heal, or even to do things that make you feel better, you run the risk of losing the medical coverage and income that are keeping you from falling through the cracks

What do the cannabinoids do in your body in response to pain?
It's not just masking symptoms, cannabis causes physiological change at a cellular level.

5 mechanisms with CB1 and CB2 receptors (attachment points found on the surface of cells that are activated by the cannabinoids)
- your body isn't producing enough endocannabinoids, so we bring in phytocannabinoids

Activation of the CB1 receptors (primarily in the CNS)
1. THC will retard the electrochemical reaction at the peripheral pain receptor.
2. THC interrupts the pain signal at the dorsal root ganglion.
3. THC interrupts the pain signal at the neuron

4. Activation of the CB2 receptors (more prevalent in the immune system and in the peripheral organs) results in reduces inflammation
- immune response triggers inflammation, a great part of chronic pain

5. The psychoactive euphoric effects of cannabis will help you get beyond the pain perception. This also interrupts the short-term memory
- although short-term memory loss is not always a preferred situation, in this circumstance it breaks the stress response and give you a respite from the constant pain.


CBD 30-50 times more powerful than hydrocortisone (steroid)which can cause adrenal damage
- neural protector (US Govt has patent on CBD as neural protector
- steroid use will shut down the adrenal glands
- cannabis is a more effective and kinder medication
-CBD acts on the microfilm to reduce inflammation

Pain doesn't occur because the signal is stopped by THC
- you don't feel pain because the signal never went out (it's stopped at all three points)

from "Anatomy Trains" by Thomas Myers

"The neural net

If we could make everything invisible around it and leave the nervous system standing as if in life (a tall order even for magic, given the nervous system's fragility), we would see the exact shape of the body, entirely, and with all the individual variations........

If your nervous system is working properly, there is no part of you that you cannot feel (consciously or subconsciously, so the whole body is represented in this network. If we're going to coordinate the actions of trillions of quasi-independant entities, we need this informational system that 'listens'to what is taking place all over the organism, weighs the totality of the many separate impressions, and produces speedy, coordinated chemical and mechanical responses to both external and internal conditions. Therefore, every part of the body needs to be in close contact with the rapid-fire tenticles of the nervous system."
Pain is reduced by CBD by reducing inflammation

Any nerve ending is potentially a place to feel pain. (Check Nat Geo article for more info on the pathway of pain, placebo and nocebo effects)

Pain response
- anything that has a nerve ending can have a pain response
- nerve endings are everywhere
- pain is percieved at the peripheral nerve ending and passes along the CNS to the basal root ganglia where it's passed to the neurons

add in graphics by Dr. Sanchez

When you activate the CB1 receptors stop the pain transmission in three different places

You're reducing inflammation and eliminating the sensation of pain - You're changing your physiology by using a complete approach to pain control that includes healing.

***healing the problem instead of masking the symptoms ***

In 2013 Medicare tracked opioid use in legal states and found daily prescribed doses per Doctor had dropped
- 1826 less prescriptions for daily doses of opiates
- 362 less doses for sleep aids
- 265 less doses per day for depression

These improvements are magnified by the lack of secondary conditions

Insert graphic

Cannabis saves us the secondary and tertiary health problems brought on by side effects of pharmaceuticals
- many of the drugs being taken by patients of chronic pain are to deal with side effects of the drugs they take for pain
- start with cannabis and you don't have to deal with those side effects at all.
- this approach would change the momentum of the debilitating cascade of health, social, economic, mental health issues and get people back to feeling like productive members of society and their families again.

What to take

Graphic

- you really can't go wrong - any cannabinoids will help
- CBGA is found in young cannabis plant, before it begins to convert over into distinct cannabinoids
* anti inflammatory and analgesic
* if all you did was eat a raw bud you'll get benefit from it (not efficient, but will begin healing)
- many now juice cannabis

RAW

THCa:
* anti-cancer
* anti-spasmatic (will help with back spasm)
* anti-inflammatory

THCVa: anti-inflammatory

CBDA:
* anti-cancer
* anti-inflammatory

CBDVa: anti-inflammatory

HEATED

CBG: precursor
* Anti-cancer
* analgesic pain reduction
* anti-bacterial
* bone stimulant
- can be helpful if you have disc degeneration
* anti-depressant
* anti-fungal

THC
- fits the CB1 receptor akin to a key in a lock
* anti-cancer
* anti-inflammatory
* analgesic
* anti-bacterial
* anti-spasmatic
* appetite stimulant Indica - a sativa will depress appetite
* bronchodilator
* neuroprotective

- if you have cancer as well you'll get the cancer-killing benefits as you treat your pain

THCv
- activates the CB1 respceptors, but doesn't give quite the same level of buzz
- this can be good, but it doesn't offer enough umph! as a med

*** THCv is the go-to for diabetes, weight loss, and a number of other conditions controlled by the endocrine system

CBD
* anti-cancer
* anti-inflammatory
* analgesic
* anti-bacterial
* anti-spasm attic
* anti-anxiety
* bone stimulant
* immunosuppressive
* neuroprotective
* anti-depressant
* anti-convulsive
* anti-psychotic

- patients will respond to CBD in one of three ways: really really sleepy, really active, or no response at all.
- you have no way of predicting response, you have to experiment

CBDv very rare
* anti-convulsive
* bone stimulant

AGED

CBNa
* anti-inflammatory

Delta-8 THC
* anti-anxiety

CBN
- has a slightly different attachment to receptors (will attach to both as needed)
* anti-inflammatory
* analgesic
* anti- bacterial
* anti-convulsive
* anti-insomnia
- will help you sleep - it's the most effective of the cannabinoids in this respect
- slightly less secure attachment to the receptor

CBD for inflammation, THC for neural protective etc, (to give you a break from the cycle of pain already), CBG for anti depressive, among other benefits

How much to take?
- every patient needs to start low and titrate up carefully

- weight of a man won't tell you the dose
- start very, very low and increase slowly

Pick healthy products

Patient study

#Medicine 1
Target cannabinoid: Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)
Terpenes: Alpha-pinene, Beta Caryophyllene, Limonene, Linallol, Myrcene
Target dose: 30 mg
Frequency: 2 X daily
Dosage 1: 15 mg morning
Dosage 2: 15 mg evening
Ingestion method: sublingual

Dosage notes: take after eating a fat source such as almond butter or avocado
THC - 15mg X 2 per day

Medicine #2

Target cannabinoid: Cannabidiol (CBD)
Target dose: 20 mg
Frequency: 1 X a day
Dosage1: 20 mg Afternoon
Ingestion method: sublingual

Dosage notes: take after consuming a fat source such as almond butter it avocado
CBD - 20mg X 1 per day

Medicine #3 (Topical)
Target cannabinoid: Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)
Target dose: 30 mg
Frequency: 3 X daily
Dosage 1: 10 mg Morning
Dosage 2: 10 mg Afternoon
Dosage 3: 10 mg Evening
Ingestion method: Topical

Dosage notes: Take as frequently as needed to relieve pain
TOPICAL - 10mg 3 X per day

- a topical won't touch deep, deep nerve pain, but it will relieve tense muscles from pain reflex
- focused relief without psychoactivity
- use a topical as much as you want
- older patients need to be alerted to use it as much as possible
* they have a tendency to believe they can take too much


The magical formula of terpenes for pain

A-pinene is invigorating
B-Caryophyllene activates the CB2 receptors which work on inflammation (part of immune response)
Limonene is uplifting
Linalool is relaxing
Myrcene helps cannabinoids cross the BBB, increasing bioavailibility, and is also calming

Take after a fat source to increase bioavailability (cannabinoids are fat soluble)

Topicals will focus relief to tense muscles.
- nice thing with a topical is that you can use it whenever it is
- if you need it, use. You won't hurt yourself at all

Q&A notes:

3 basic areas you hope to hit:
Blocks pain. Reduces inflammation. Euphoria

You need to get sleep under control first to be able to manage daytime pain
- sleep makes pain more tolerable and allows you to function better - you feel less pain and deal with the pain you have better
- treat sleep first: relaxation techniques and dietary awareness (holistic sleep approach)
- this allows them to function on a low dose of THC and more CBD during day

- you have to be able to stretch and get the body moving after waking
* this can be accomplished with just a couple mg of THC to get receptors activated
* most of her patients use minuscule doses of THC and higher doses of CBD during the day, and save the higher THC doses for evening and night

- 15-25mg dose recommended for most people for sleep (optimal dose)
* not as isolate, but in ratios determined to be most beneficial
*** this isn't a starting dose: begin at 3-5mg and work up to the optimal dose
* at 3-5 mg you'll feel a little high and it'll relieve a little pain, but it won't carry long
* 15-25 mg seems to be the sweet spot for many patients for good, sound sleep

* many ways to administer : infused oil, tincture, extract, edibles
* C for C (cannabis for cause) has 15 mg square of chocolate that work well for sleep meds (developed as a sleep aid)

- sublingual offers more control of dose than edibles, both in dose load and in onset

Keep a vaporizer pen by the bed (will carry for a couple hours)

Sublingual 6-8 hours of relief but won't hit for 30-90 min
- if you wake up and only have a few more hours to sleep you don't want a med dose that'll knock you out for another 6-8 hours - use the vape

5-10 mg THC, rest of the THC with CBD, 25 mg of CBD for daytime dose

Most people use too much cannabis
- there's a certain scarcity that keeps the market price inflated
- using less can save you money and keep them from running out due to unavailability
- can also reduce prices by reducing strain in the market.

To avoid tolerance build-up change up the profiles on a regular med schedule
- you'll get the same relief with slightly different expressions

When you hit your therapeutic dose you'll typically level off on need to increase
- the Medicare study showed that once people found their therapeutic dose they were able to stabilize it there for over a year, one of the things this study was looking for

If you have about three months without leveling off it's recommended to take a holiday and reset the optimal dose

Pain is claustrophobic at night, when the house is dark and everyone else is sleeping.
It's lonely at night when you're in pain. Sleep removes this isolation and keeps you from feeling lost.

By definition chronic pain is chronic. As in relentless.
-

CHD isn't necessarily more effective in reducing inflammation than THC, it's that you can tolerate more CBD than you can THC due to the euphoric effects

Will I be on this medication forever? Can cannabis heal as well as cover symptoms?

The double-edged sword about pain is that you need to move to find relief, but pain and the opiods make it difficult to do.
- cannabis used correctly allows you to be somewhat self-sufficient. You'll be able to get up.
- movement and staying away from poor dietary choices are called for
- if nothing else, cannabis will allow you to be able to go about your life without pain being the central, defining feature of your daily expression.

When you're in pain the thing you most need to do is to keep moving.
- You benefit from being as self-sufficient as you can be.
- Having someone who does it for you isn't an optimal choice.
- Make dietary choices with a mind to reduce inflammation
- you have to be an active participant in your health care program

Gluten-free diets reduce inflammation and level the emotional tone
- improved emotional tone helps you feel in control of your own destiny
- chronic inflammation in your body is your body asking you to make better choices
- it's possible that all chronic inflammation can be drastically reduced by eliminating or limiting gluten products

Correct dose is the level of euphoria you are comfortable with
- short term memory loss is the chief complaint from patients - losing the thought in the middle of the sentence
- citocholine will help with pain reduction and may reduce euphoria
- NOT FOR CANCER PATIENTS!!!
* citocholine keeps THC from interrupting the short-term memory function

Mara's standard approach for chronic pain titrate up)
3-5 mg THC + 25 mg CBD for daytime (CBD in two doses)
10- 25 mg THC at bedtime
Vaporizer for breakthrough in the night

An interesting aside here. About a year ago Mara was vehemently opposed to suppositories. She's since modified that to include them with the treatment of liver cancer. Here she once again reiterates her belief that edibles have no real place as medicinal administration. Yet, edibles, in the form of capsules of concentrated oil, is what I and many others use to gain control of a myriad of conditions that defied other, more conventional treatments.

It's important, in my opinion, to keep an open mind about the many ways one can administer cannabis. To determine that only one or two methods would be acceptable for medicinal dosing is closing the door on potential advancements that you might not even see due to your limited attitude.

Do your best to learn from this Susan. Keep an open mind. Play with the universe and allow it to bring you insight you won't recieve without this child-like wonder of the cosmos.

Ok, back to the class.

If you have fat in your stomach it will make your cannabis meds more bioavailable
- you need fat in your system or used as a carrier for the cannabinoids
- the cannabinoids are lipids - fat solvable molecules. This is how the cannabinoids move through the body.
- this is why someone who's overweight will need more time to have the system clear of cannabinoids since they store in fat cells

Use an infused oil as edible meds
-conviently, easy to dose (measurable)
- labeling, dosing info is important.
- try to get testing done
- know how to use it properly

Limonene for day
Myrcene for night (will make you sluggish)

Most CBD comes from what are traditionally known as sativa plants
- sativas are usually higher in A-pinene and other "alerting" terpenes
- learn how terpenes react in your body
- find the terpenes mix that works for you and repeat that choice

Learn how the terpenes react to your body.

CBD oils
- don't purchase from Amazon or any company willing to ship across state lines - they're selling you hemp-based CBD
- Hemp-derived CBD lacks the entourage you get from cannabis sativa

- Make your choices from recognized cultivars that meet your particular medicinal needs
- CBD plants aren't as robust, skimpier, harder to grow, more expensive to grow
- May not have the same variety or volume of terpenes found in high THC plants, but what they offer is invaluable for healing.

Zelda's makes their oils from keif.

Always use cannabis with your opiates. Prepare to adjust their opiod dose down.
- it isn't the cannabis making you higher. It's the opiod being potentiated.

Cytochrome P450???

Cannabis doesn't touch level 10 pain. Neither do opiods.
- you aren't having a conversation when you're in level 9 pain
- level 9 pain is a specific indicator that you're headed for rough waters
- the only thing way to deal with level 10 pain is to sleep through the worst of it

Cannabis will hit all the other levels and have you able to get up and get around.
Opiods won't let you function, or if you do, you may be dangerous to yourself and others.
- a slight amount of THC and CBD will allow freedom of movement and re-engagement with life, where opioids will have you loopy and dangerous around heavy equipment.

Cannabis can increase your sense of well-being and productivity.
- get the right dose and the right cultivar and you enhance your life
- pick the wrong cultivar and use it at the wrong time of the day and you fight upstream

Mistakes typically seen using cannabis for medicine
- impatience: take too much too soon
* be prepared for it not to work for a couple tries - experiment (wait until tomorrow night and try again - you need to control the parameters as you work for the proper dose)
* more is not always better - cannabis is biphasic
- if you need more and can't wait, vape a small amount that will only have a small effect

Vaporizers is for breakthrough pain
- sublingually administered typically end up cutting way back on smoking (I see this with my edibles)
- inhallations only lasts an hour or two anyway

As long as cannabis is illegal federally employers have the right to discriminate against us with drug testing
- the company that sells the test kits is running this show. They were the ones who pushed the laws.

Topicals guidelines
- made with pure ingredients
- organic
- arnica and frankincense reduce pain
- essential oils should not be to mask the smell, but for medicinal values
- if it smells weedy it isn't well processed (flushed?)
- THC strong will work best for relief (hits the pain by relaxing muscles) preferred by patients in pain
- CBD strong will reduce inflammation but not offer immediate relief
- CBD penetrates the skin faster, but it doesn't hit the pain in the same way

Can you work up a way to start with THC and then follow up with a CBD?

- if CBD topical is all you can get, it's better than nothing

How Mara developed her topicals (theirs are standardized at 5mg THC per ml of topical)

1. Looked at terpenes and to determine the desired medicinal values
2. Found other plants that had those terpenes and also had medicinal values in their essential oils
3. Combined them in a topical
4. Added arnica and frankincense for additional pain relief

You should always know what potency you're dealing with

They begin with input data: a collection of about 300 data points on the patient
- this includes discovery of what else is going on in the body
-

Chronic sciatic : topicals, THCa, THC, CBD
- topical is useful on the lower back, at the source of the pain (~L4, L5)
- med recommendations: a3-5 mg THC, 25 mg CBD in 2 doses, nighttime sleep dose
*** this is a standard approach in their business. It is NOT a one-size-fits-all
* she has patient that uses 100 mg THC daily, plus THCa

If you don't have immediate success with cannabis don't give up. There are sooooo many options before you. You'll find what works for you.

Degenerative bone disease,
- choose cannabinoids that have bone-stimulant properties
- CBG is being marketed as an isolate (used best to boost numbers in a whole plant med)
* it doesn't take much CBG to have the desired effect
* there are many other cannabinoids known to stimulate bone growth - mix it up with the whole plant


In mostly elderly populations (osteoporosis, etc)
- treat systemically for inflammation
- treat locally with a topical
- treat with Max CBD, min THC and topical for joint pain

Isolates (i.e. CBGa, can be used to boost the profiles in a specialized medication)

Choose your terpene profile.
- If you're becoming anxious, change the profile
* find out what your terpene profile is and switch it the other way

Sour Deisel causes her anxiety, which causes tension and irritability and ratchets up pain
- high in A-pinene, B-pinene, known to cause her stress
- she chooses a plant high in myrcene and Linilool, with some Limonene and of course, B-Caryophyllene
- if what you're using is making you anxious, let's look at the labs and get you on something else

Cannabis can improve neuropathy
- they have many patients use cannabis to counter neuropathy caused by chemotherapy

Patient case study
- 12-14 year old young boy who underwent grueling run of chemo successfully using cannabis throughout
- had physical therapists rub topicals into limbs before working
- also had him vaporize some before his physical therapy sessions
- use a topical and vaporize

Cannabis for migraine
- topicals can be used
- need something for systemic care (a little CBD, but mostly THC)
- a balanced ratio over time will dramatically reduce onset of migraines
- can treat with as little as 5mg balanced ratio a day

We would benefit from learning to dose properly
- dose is typically below what we believe it needs to be
- take the time to find your dose

Cannabis doesn't have to become your lifestyle
- ]this is wrought with judgement, rephrase this[/COLOR
Educate your doctors to the truth of cannabis
Be patient and keep trying

The big take-away

There's hope. You can get out of the spiral of pain. Take your opportunity. Step out of the box and find your solution.

CANNABIS CAN HELP.

 

[AngryBird]

AMEN!!!

When I made my cookies, rolling "balls" with my bare hands,the other day , I got hit by the 'high truck' after a few hours ( 43 gr buds in 300 gr butter)
But I noticed that my hands haven't been hurting or feeling swollen since then. ( nothing diagnosed, but cold weather makes them hurt)

 

[SweetSue]

AMEN!!!

When I made my cookies, rolling "balls" with my bare hands,the other day , I got hit by the 'high truck' after a few hours ( 43 gr buds in 300 gr butter)
But I noticed that my hands haven't been hurting or feeling swollen since then. ( nothing diagnosed, but cold weather makes them hurt)

Have you made a cream yet? They're playing with DMSO in the study hall now, which will eventually find its way into the formulations in a safe and responsible way, thank goodness, but the cream recipes we have on hand already are wonderful. Use the highest THC source you can and follow Mighty Mouse's recipe or supergroomer's. They're proven winners.

 

[AngryBird]

No cream yet, but what happened to me made me realize for my personal experience IT WORKS !!!

 

[SweetSue]

[BYou are evolved to heal

You have an endocannabinoid system. It got its name because the very first piece they identified of this signalling system they didn't know we had was the cell receptor named CB1, where the molecule THC attached.

Consider if you will, that the discovery of what is arguably the most important system in your body came about because we were being forced into a belief that there was something dangerous about cannabis. That negative message rankled some Israeli researchers who turned our world upside down in the most unexpected way.

This is the benefit prohibition brought us that we don't acknowledge enough. Prohibition brought about its own demise. You gotta love a playful universe.

Back to our conversation.

THC is a phytocannabinoid, a molecule found in the cannabis plant that will function in the endocannabinoid system. All mammals have endocannabinoid systems. This is why mammals heal. These curious researchers wanted to know what happened with this molecule inside the body. They found, quite to their surprise, that the cells were covered with receptors these molecules fit into like they were made just for this purpose.

Once they found these cell receptors, the "locks" on the cell membranes that the cannabinoid "key" fits into, they realized there must be something the body made that naturally fit these receptors. What they found was even more surprising than a receptor that these plant molecules fit so beautifully.

They found a system intended to keep your entire body in perfect balance. A system evolved to heal you, as needed, with the overriding intent to keep your beautifully complex human body in homeostasis - that balance point of health and wholeness that allows you to express life in the most playful, joyful way.

Your ECS is really just a signalling system made up of three basic parts.

We have the receptors on the cells. These are like the locks, a pathway into the cell for signals to pass.

Then we have the cannabinoids that attach to the receptors, the key that fits this very particular lock. This to me, is the magical part of the game. Using some guidance we have yet to understand, your ECS reaches into the membranes of your cells, extracts tiny fat-like molecules we call lipids, and fabricates them through some wonderous cosmic evolutionary alchemy, to create cannabinoids to meet the precise signalling needed by this one little cell out of all the others.

Your ECS does this magical creative action all day, every day, all over your body, simultaneously. Isn't that the most exciting thing ever? Think of how powerful you didn't know you were. I'd like you to allow that sense of power to grow. Your ECS can hear that confidence, and will grow stronger.

Upon attachment, the cannabinoids send a specific signal into the cell that causes a particular cascade of chemicals. The cell hears this biological message and triggers a desired behavior that will either bring it back into balance with its neighbors, or sacrifice its life for the good of the community by committing apoptosis - safe and efficient cellular suicide.

Lastly, we have the enzymes that are created to break down the cannabinoids so they can be flushed out of the system.

We have the locks, the keys, and housekeeping.

An example: You stub your toe. There's pain and some inflammation. This registers immediately and your ECS attends to the problem from a couple different directions. We'll talk more later about how that message gets passed on so efficiently. You really are the most marvelous human machine.

Your ECS produces the molecule anandamide, one of the major endocannabinoids and the one whose action THC mirrors. Endo means "inside". Anandamide and 2-AG are made inside your body.

The molecules are created at the site of the injury and will attach to receptors on effected cells to cut off the pain signal, so you begin to immediately feel less pain. Sound familiar?

Your ECS simultaneously produces more anandamide, in the brain this time, to cut off the pain signals that got through already, or may be coming, and others to attach to neurons in the brain that are screaming "PAIN!!!" to help quiet them down.

Your busy ECS is also creating 2-AG, the endocannabinoid CBD's action mirrors. This part of the magic happens at the injury site to reduce the inflammation. Your ECS is eliminating future pain by solving the more serious problem.

Your ECS thoughtfully eliminates the cause of the pain and your perception of it - cutting immediate pain at the signals, and future pain with actual healing.

Cells are tiny, microscopic things. We're talking about a lot of creative work going on just to heal this one small stubbed toe. It's not like your ECS can take a break from keeping all the rest of you running smoothly........

You begin to see the challenge before you? The nuances hinted at in this new journey we're about to jump into? We've been asking our endocannabinoid systems to take on a monumental task with inadequate support. Think of the workload needed to heal a body of cancer. Make no mistake about it, the ECS is evolved to rid the body of cancer too.

What the ECS does to cancer cells is absolutely astounding, but that's for another chapter. You can allow yourself be excited about that chapter. It's a thrilling ride all its own.

Our current story continues.

Housekeeping works busily along the front lines. As this creation and healing is going on system-wide, the enzymes are being created to do all the cleaning up for these specialized molecules. They happily go about the job of breaking everything down into basic components and bundling everything up nice and neat for transport to grab and go.

All of which needs to be washed away to keep the body systems clutter-free.

Drink more water. You now understand why this is more important than you thought it was. All that bio-trash waiting to be washed away.........

In basic terms, this is your friendly ECS, working so diligently to heal you of any and all disease that dares try to set up residence in this charged, creative atmosphere. On-demand healing potential. How do you not get excited about that?

You were evolved to heal. This marvelous, creative force inside wonderful you needs your support to help it run more efficiently. Its signalling keeps every other system in your body running smoothly, efficiently, and in close concert with all other body systems. We've lost sight of the fact that healing is the norm, and we've developed some nasty nutritional and lifestyle habits that could benefit from our attention and modification.

You were evolved to heal. The system responsible for keeping you healthy and whole - in homeostasis - needs your support.

Let's talk about some things we can do to help support our endocannabinoid systems that have nothing to do with cannabis.

 

[FuzzyGreen]

Two things that stood out from your writing... the importance of the appendix and a burnt out ECS. So I've been having issues with 'feeling' a high. I use to feel cannabis strongly; every effect was strong... euphoria, the body calmness, etc. These days I need to smoke ALOT to get to that point, if I even get there. You're making me think that A, I have slightly burned out my receptors with poor diet choices (poor as in missing vitamins and minerals you brought up, by no means overweight etc) and B, confirming I'll need probiotics for life... had my appendix burst 2 years ago. My thoughts are a little muddled but I took notes... think about it some more and get back here after work

 

[SweetSue]

Two things that stood out from your writing... the importance of the appendix and a burnt out ECS. So I've been having issues with 'feeling' a high. I use to feel cannabis strongly; every effect was strong... euphoria, the body calmness, etc. These days I need to smoke ALOT to get to that point, if I even get there. You're making me think that A, I have slightly burned out my receptors with poor diet choices (poor as in missing vitamins and minerals you brought up, by no means overweight etc) and B, confirming I'll need probiotics for life... had my appendix burst 2 years ago. My thoughts are a little muddled but I took notes... think about it some more and get back here after work

Here's a link to the post that describes what&/ going on with tolerance build-up and what you can do about it. You can reset the ECS in six days. I'll be honest, this was rough for me, but I knew I'd get through it.

Resetting your tolerance levels.

There's a link in that post to Dr. Sulak's protocol. It's worth doing. Once you've reset you can keep from building up again by switching out strains every now and then or take a break for a day every week or so.

Don't you find it amazing that no one in your medical team mentioned to you that you'd need those probiotics for life? Have you ever brewed kombucha? I haven't, but I do purchase it regularly. I'm beginning to look at fermented foods in a whole new way.

 

[SweetSue]

Anandamide and anxiety with particular attention to PTSD - Nancy Minyanou in fulfillment for a class requirement. I found it on YouTube.

"This video plans to give evidence that modulation of anandamide Cann be a powerful treatment for anxiety disorders, such as PTSD, for its effects on anxiety behavior and memory consolidation.

Amandine is an endogenous endocannabinoid, also known as AEA. It is an L-peptide linking polymer of amino acids, according to the Protein Data Base's ligand entry.

Cannabinoid agonists have a bi-physic reaction such that higher doses are associated with having an anxiety-inducing effect, where lower doses have an anti-anxiety effect.

Receptor type 1 activation reduces GABA release from pre-synaptic terminals, increasing cell excitability.

Type 1 is most densely found in the amygdala, hippocampus, anterior cingulate cortex, and prefrontal cortex, all important regions for anxiety regulation.

Type 2 is found periferally.

Experiments suggest that endogenous cannabinoids have a hand in regulating emotional behavior. There appears to be a functional relationship between cannabinoid CB1 and 5HT1A receptors in modulation of adrenal cortical activity.

AM 404, an anandamide transport inhibitor, inhibits the breakdown and uptake of AEA. AM251 is a CB1 receptor antagonist.

AEA-injected rats spent more time on the elevated arms with lower doses, and after they were first injected with AM404.

Using ACEA alone or with AM404 resulted in a bell-shaped response curve.

Neither AM251 or AM404 were effective alone in modifying animal behavior.

Peripheral levels of AEA and other compounds were assessed in healthy individuals, those who had experienced trauma, and those with PTSD, which is more pronounced in women.

the elevated +/0 mazes were used to test for anxiety via time spent on open sections of the platform. The acetic acid test performed had mice injected with acetic acid and the number of reads was counted to measure nose inception(??????)

Fear, conditioned to object and context recognition was used to test the effects of URB597 on memory consolidation. Graph C's middle bar shows a lowered freezing after given URB597. Graph D shows the increased level of AEA after administration of URB597. It inhibits the AEA degradation enzyme, fatty acid amide hydrolase. It produced anxiolytics effects in both mazes through the activation of different cannabinoid receptors, suggesting CB2 being a good target for future treatment of anxiety disorders and modified brain content of AEA.

They found that URB597 mediated modulation of ARA promotes memory deficits through similar mechanisms as that for THC, the psychoactive component of cannabis.

 

[SweetSue]

BASIC BIOLOGY

Post #59 - 2-minute neuroscience:The Blood Brain Barrier (BBB)

Post #39 - How Receptors Work: Agonists and Antagonists

Post #46 Fatty Acid Binding Proteins (Society of Cannabis Clinicians)

Post #4 - First Pass Metabolism

Post #17 - Bioavaibility of routes of administration (Green House Labs White Paper)


THE ENDOCANNABINOID SYSTEM

Post #40 - The Scientist (video on Raphael Mechoulam, credited as the discoverer of the ECS)

Post #2 - An introduction to the ECS

Post #15 - Pharmacological actions of non-psychotropic cannabinoids (with the indication of the proposed mechanisms of action)

Post #71 - Relative Affinities of Various Cannabinoids to Bind to CB1 and CB2 Receptor Sites

Post#74 - Minor Cannabinoids and Cannabis Terpenoids: Ethan Russo for The Society Of Cannabis Clinicians

Post #90 - Taming THC: Potential Cannabis Synergy - Ethan Russo (PDF file)

Post #141 - Terpene Boiling Points (link)


CONCERNING CANCER:

Post #5 - Competitive Inhibition

Post #3 - Demethylation

Post #50 - Demethylation: Essential (Phenolic) Oil Capsules

Post #56 - Cajun's thoughts on frequency of Demethylation

Post # 64 LCFAs can't cross the BBB? If this is the case, will this effect carrier oil choices for brain tumors?

Post #131 - Cannabinoids And Cancer: a flow chart (Journal of British Pharmacology)

Post #150 - ShiggityFlip explains the flow chart.

MAKING OILS

Decarboxylation

Post #143 - decarbing in a BBQ (panacea's method)

Post #83 - A study showing the slow rate of cure THC to CBN (not what everyone expected).

Post #86 - More thoughts on decarbing for maximum THC and CBD.

Post #94 - More discussion on decarbing, concerning loss of THC over time

Post #117 - Decarbing in a roasting bag.

Post #118 - Rambo's decarb experiment.

Post #49 - An Overview of Methods to Produce Concentrated Cannabis Oil

Post #55 - CORRECTED POST:PsyCro's corrections to his fresh-harvested oil

Post #80 - Fookinel's excellent thoughts on choice of carrier oil when dosing for particular disease.

Post #120 - wildjim's excellent notes on reclaiming solvent using a distiller.


BIO-BOMBS

Post #95 -fookinel includes links to cajuncelt's original recipe and panacea's adaptations.

Post #121 - BioBombs (our study hall beginnings)

MISCELLANEOUS JOY:

Post #28 - Crash Course Chemistry and Energy: Carbon

Post #29 -Crash Course Chemistry and Energy: Biological Molecules & Crash Course Biology - DNA Transcription and Translation

Post #30Crash Course Chemistry: The Nucleus

Post #35 - Crash Course: Chemistry and Energy -

Post #45 - Support Organization for Medical Cannabis

 

[AngryBird]

That was an awesome summary

 

[SweetSue]

That was an awesome summary

Thanks Birdie. I guess it's gonna work then. I'll keep plugging away every day until it's caught up. From then on its daily upkeep, so it won't get away from me again. The study hall was more successful than I'd imagined and it's just picking up steam. It's a massive organizational job. I'll have to be careful to keep it joyful. So much information that I'd forgotten was there.

 

[SweetSue]

Carrying on from Page 11:

BASIC BIOLOGY

Post #59 - 2-minute neuroscience:The Blood Brain Barrier (BBB)

Post #39 - How Receptors Work: Agonists and Antagonists

Post #46 Fatty Acid Binding Proteins (Society of Cannabis Clinicians)

Post #4 - First Pass Metabolism

Post #17 - Bioavaibility of routes of administration (Green House Labs White Paper)


THE ENDOCANNABINOID SYSTEM

Post #40 - The Scientist (video on Raphael Mechoulam, credited as the discoverer of the ECS)

Post #2 - An introduction to the ECS

Post #15 - Pharmacological actions of non-psychotropic cannabinoids (with the indication of the proposed mechanisms of action)

Post #71 - Relative Affinities of Various Cannabinoids to Bind to CB1 and CB2 Receptor Sites

Post#74 - Minor Cannabinoids and Cannabis Terpenoids: Ethan Russo for The Society Of Cannabis Clinicians

Post #163 - Dr. Jeffrey Hergenrather on cannabinoid ratios.

Post #90 - Taming THC: Potential Cannabis Synergy - Ethan Russo (PDF file)

Post #141 - Terpene Boiling Points (link)


SUPPORTING THE ECS

Post #171 - The value of hemp seeds.



CONCERNING CANCER:

Post #5 - Competitive Inhibition

Post #3 - Demethylation

Post #50 - Demethylation: Essential (Phenolic) Oil Capsules

Post #56 - Cajun's thoughts on frequency of Demethylation

Post # 64 LCFAs can't cross the BBB? If this is the case, will this effect carrier oil choices for brain tumors?

Post #131 - Cannabinoids And Cancer: a flow chart (Journal of British Pharmacology)

Post #150 - ShiggityFlip explains the flow chart.

Post #154 - ShiggityFlip and SlowToke continue the invaluable conversation on how cells perform apoptosis (natural, safe, programmed cellular suicide).

Post #158 - ShiggityFlip explains Molarity as a concept of concentration. (In answer to a question about nano molars)


MAKING OILS

Decarboxylation

Post #159 - panacea's decarb method in a BBQ (reformatted version )

Post #83 - A study showing the slow rate of cure THC to CBN (not what everyone expected).

Post #86 - More thoughts on decarbing for maximum THC and CBD.

Post #94 - More discussion on decarbing, concerning loss of THC over time

Post #117 - Decarbing in a roasting bag.

Post #118 - Rambo's decarb experiment.

Post #49 - An Overview of Methods to Produce Concentrated Cannabis Oil
- Post #207 - SCET modificationsLab Rat has abandoned the SCET method of extraction in favor of methods known to produce better purity.

Post #211 - cajuncelt on expected oil pulls.

PsyCro's Olive Oil Extraction

Post #55 - CORRECTED POST:PsyCro's corrections to his fresh-harvested oil

Post #169 - fookinel's thoughts on essential oil choices, with valuable links. The next post continues this discussion.

Post #214 - fookinel&/ continuing thoughts on PsyCro's olive oil extraction.

Post #222 - PsyCro starts playing with pressure cookers.

Post #120 - wildjim's excellent notes on reclaiming solvent using a distiller.


The Washes

Post #200 - panacea's detailing of the washes. ****Excellent Post****

POST #178 - Review of the methods used by SkunkPharm

Post #219 - Winterizing explained


Choosing The Carrier Oil

Post #80 - Fookinel's excellent thoughts on choice of carrier oil when dosing for particular disease.

Post #172 - More thoughts by fookinel on choosing the carrier oil.


First Tries

Post #183 - neikodog's first attempt. Post #201 - the wrap-up


MISC THOUGHTS ON OILS

Post #190 - An interesting supposition: could you improve oil potency with a SOG?


ADMINISTRATION AND DOSING

Post #160 - cajuncelt explains calculating the dose

Post #176 - PsyCro's thoughts on dosing his oil.

Post #187 - fookinel finishing this conversation.

Post #185 - fookinel calculates the cannabinoid load in PsyCro's olive oil.

Post #218 - Links to Radic-Al Conscious's "Medicinal Cannabis Therapy" and "Medicinal Cannabis Therapies for Cancer"


BIO-BOMBS

Post #161 - cajuncelt's original instructions on the BioBomb and thoughts on initiating a protocol.

Post #95 -fookinel includes links to cajuncelt's original recipe and panacea's adaptations.

Post #121 - BioBombs (our study hall beginnings)

Post #173 - fookinel's tutorial on mixing oils for increased bioavailability. ***Excellent Post***

MISCELLANEOUS JOY:

Post #28 - Crash Course Chemistry and Energy: Carbon

Post #29 -Crash Course Chemistry and Energy: Biological Molecules & Crash Course Biology - DNA Transcription and Translation

Post #30Crash Course Chemistry: The Nucleus

Post #35 - Crash Course: Chemistry and Energy -

Post #45 - Support Organization for Medical Cannabis



Pick up on page 16

 

[SweetSue]

Carrying on from Page 16:

BASIC BIOLOGY

Post #59 - 2-minute neuroscience:The Blood Brain Barrier (BBB)

Post #39 - How Receptors Work: Agonists and Antagonists

Post #46 Fatty Acid Binding Proteins (Society of Cannabis Clinicians)

Post #4 - First Pass Metabolism

Post #17 - Bioavaibility of routes of administration (Green House Labs White Paper)


THE ENDOCANNABINOID SYSTEM

Post #40 - The Scientist (video on Raphael Mechoulam, credited as the discoverer of the ECS)

Post #2 - An introduction to the ECS

Post #15 - Pharmacological actions of non-psychotropic cannabinoids (with the indication of the proposed mechanisms of action)

Post #71 - Relative Affinities of Various Cannabinoids to Bind to CB1 and CB2 Receptor Sites

Post#74 - Minor Cannabinoids and Cannabis Terpenoids: Ethan Russo for The Society Of Cannabis Clinicians

Post #163 - Dr. Jeffrey Hergenrather on cannabinoid ratios.

Post #90 - Taming THC: Potential Cannabis Synergy - Ethan Russo (PDF file)

Post #141 - Terpene Boiling Points (link)


SUPPORTING THE ECS

Post #171 - The value of hemp seeds.



CONCERNING CANCER:

Post #5 - Competitive Inhibition

Post #3 - Demethylation

Post #50 - Demethylation: Essential (Phenolic) Oil Capsules

Post #56 - Cajun's thoughts on frequency of Demethylation

Post # 64 LCFAs can't cross the BBB? If this is the case, will this effect carrier oil choices for brain tumors?

Post #131 - Cannabinoids And Cancer: a flow chart (Journal of British Pharmacology)

Post #150 - ShiggityFlip explains the flow chart.

Post #154 - ShiggityFlip and SlowToke continue the invaluable conversation on how cells perform apoptosis (natural, safe, programmed cellular suicide).

Post #158 - ShiggityFlip explains Molarity as a concept of concentration. (In answer to a question about nano molars)


MAKING OILS

Decarboxylation

Post #159 - panacea's decarb method in a BBQ (reformatted version )

Post #83 - A study showing the slow rate of cure THC to CBN (not what everyone expected).

Post #86 - More thoughts on decarbing for maximum THC and CBD.

Post #94 - More discussion on decarbing, concerning loss of THC over time

Post #117 - Decarbing in a roasting bag.

Post #118 - Rambo's decarb experiment.

Post #49 - An Overview of Methods to Produce Concentrated Cannabis Oil
- Post #207 - SCET modificationsLab Rat has abandoned the SCET method of extraction in favor of methods known to produce better purity.

Post #289 - Equipment and supplies for a small batch CCO

Post #211 - cajuncelt on expected oil pulls.

PsyCro's Olive Oil Extraction

Post #55 - CORRECTED POST:PsyCro's corrections to his fresh-harvested oil

Post #169 - fookinel's thoughts on essential oil choices, with valuable links. The next post continues this discussion.

Post #214 - fookinel&/ continuing thoughts on PsyCro's olive oil extraction.

Post #222 - PsyCro starts playing with pressure cookers.

Post #120 - wildjim's excellent notes on reclaiming solvent using a distiller.


The Washes

Post #200 - panacea's detailing of the washes. ****Excellent Post****

POST #178 - Review of the methods used by SkunkPharm

Post #219 - Winterizing explained


Choosing The Carrier Oil

Post #80 - Fookinel's excellent thoughts on choice of carrier oil when dosing for particular disease.

Post #172 - More thoughts by fookinel on choosing the carrier oil.


First Tries

Post #183 - neikodog's first attempt. Post #201 - the wrap-up

Post #254 - SweetSue's first try: Part 1Part 2Part 3: Final

MISC THOUGHTS ON OILS

Post #190 - An interesting supposition: could you improve oil potency with a SOG?


ADMINISTRATION AND DOSING

Post #160 - cajuncelt explains calculating the dose

Post #176 - PsyCro's thoughts on dosing his oil.

Post #187 - fookinel finishing this conversation.

Post #185 - fookinel calculates the cannabinoid load in PsyCro's olive oil.

Post #218 - Links to Radic-Al Conscious's "Medicinal Cannabis Therapy" and "Medicinal Cannabis Therapies for Cancer"

Juicing Cannabis

Post #3038 - Dr. Courtney on Raw Cannabis

Post #251 - UBUptown shares his guidelines for juicing leavesContinuing the conversation


Following the Regimines B]

Post #242 - fookinel updates patient info (update from Post #173)

Post #3029 - Danolo describes a regimine for RA

Post #3016 - KR's Great News!!!

BIO-BOMBS

Post #161 - cajuncelt's original instructions on the BioBomb and thoughts on initiating a protocol.

Post #95 -fookinel includes links to cajuncelt's original recipe and panacea's adaptations.

Post #121 - BioBombs (our study hall beginnings)

Post #173 - fookinel's tutorial on mixing oils for increased bioavailability. ***Excellent Post***

Post #275 - fookinel's thoughts on juicing, using limonene in biobombs, and more easily mixing CCO



MISCELLANEOUS JOY:


Post #28 - Crash Course Chemistry and Energy: Carbon

Post #29 -Crash Course Chemistry and Energy: Biological Molecules & Crash Course Biology - DNA Transcription and Translation

Post #30Crash Course Chemistry: The Nucleus

Post #35 - Crash Course: Chemistry and Energy -

Post #45 - Support Organization for Medical Cannabis



Pick up on page 21

 

[SweetSue]