The Cannabis Health Index
The
CANNABIS HEALTH INDEX
Also by Uwe Blesching:
Spicy Healing: A Global Guide to Growing and Using Spices for Food and Medicine
Cuba’s Carnival: Origins of the Biggest Party on Earth
How the Old Man Learned to Smile
The
CANNABIS HEALTH INDEX
Combining the Science of Medical Marijuana with Mindfulness Techniques to Heal 100 Chronic Symptoms and Diseases
Uwe Blesching, PhD
North Atlantic Books
Berkeley, California
Copyright © 2013, 2015 by Uwe Blesching. All rights reserved. No portion of this book, except for brief review, may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise—without the written permission of the publisher. For information contact North Atlantic Books.
Published by
North Atlantic Books
Berkeley, California
Cover photo © underworld/shutterstock.com
Cover design by Howie Severson
The Cannabis Health Index: Combining the Science of Medical Marijuana with Mindfulness Techniques to Heal 100 Chronic Symptoms and Diseases is sponsored and published by the Society for the Study of Native Arts and Sciences (dba North Atlantic Books), an educational nonprofit based in Berkeley, California, that collaborates with partners to develop cross-cultural perspectives, nurture holistic views of art, science, the humanities, and healing, and seed personal and global transformation by publishing work on the relationship of body, spirit, and nature.
North Atlantic Books’ publications are available through most bookstores. For further information, visit our website at www.northatlanticbooks.com or call 800-733-3000.
MEDICAL DISCLAIMER: The following information is intended for general information purposes only. Individuals should always see their health care provider before administering any suggestions made in this book. Any application of the material set forth in the following pages is at the reader’s discretion and is his or her sole responsibility.
DISCLAIMER: The following information is intended for general information purposes only. The publisher does not advocate illegal activities but does believe in the right of individuals to have free access to information and ideas. Any application of the material set forth in the following pages is at the reader’s discretion and is his or her sole responsibility.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Blesching, Uwe, 1958-
The cannabis health index : combining the science of medical marijuana with mindfulness techniques to heal 100 chronic symptoms and diseases / Uwe Blesching, PhD.
pages cm
First published: Berkeley, Calif. : Logos Publishing House, [2013].
ISBN 978-1-58394-962-7 (pbk.) — ISBN 978-1-58394-963-4 (ebook)
1. Cannabis—Therapeutic use. 2. Marijuana—Therapeutic use. 3. Medicine, Psychosomatic. 4. Mind and body. I. Title.
RM666.C266B54 2015
615.7827—dc23
2014043656
CONTENTS
Preface
Introduction: You’re Sick!
Chapter I. The Evidence-Based Science of Medical Cannabis
The Endocannabinoid System (A Brief Introduction)
Cannabinoids and Their Receptors
Cannabinoid Receptor Chart A
Cannabinoid Receptor Chart B
Four Prime Cannabinoids
Anandamide (AEA)
Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)
Cannabidiol (CBD)
(E)-β-Caryophyllene ((E)-BCP)
Cannabis
Sativa vs. Indica (Chart)
Cannabis Lore and Legend
Is Cannabis a Cure-All?
Is Cannabis Safe?
What can I expect (mentally/emotionally) from using cannabis?
What are potential adverse effects (physical/mental/emotional)?
How do I reduce the risk of adverse effects?
What is a subjective therapeutic window and how do I establish it?
Does the use of marijuana lead to addiction?
How does use of the plant affect the development of adolescents, issues of fertility, or the developing fetus in pregnant women?
What are the effects of inhaling burned plant material on the lungs?
What is the plant’s impact on the heart?
What is the plant’s impact on the development of cancer?
Marijuana and schizophrenia?
Cannabis a “Gateway Drug?”
Can cannabis kill you?
What about contaminants?
Forms of Cannabis
Modes of Administration
Summary
Chapter II. The Art and Science of Mind-Body Medicine
A Brief Introduction to Mind-Body Medicine
Molecules, Emotions, and Conscious Interventions—Complex Connections in the Endocannabinoid System
Molecules and Emotions—A Two-Way Street
The Biology of Emotions (Summary Chart)
Building and Balancing Chi
Molecules Primarily Associated with Expansive Emotions
Acetylcholine (I remember)
Anandamide (I am at ease)
Endogenous Opioids (It feels so good when the pain stops)
GABA (I am melting)
Oxytocin (I feel for you)
Serotonin (I am happy)
Molecules Primarily Associated with Constricting Emotions
Epinephrine (I am scared)
Dopamine (I am motivated)
Norepinephrine (I am attentive!)
Cortisol (I am stressed)
Glutamate (I am excited)
Vasopressin (I am aggressive)
Chapter III. How to Use The Cannabis Health Index (CHI)
What Is a CHI Score?
Importance of the Type of Research Study
How Should I Use the CHI Score in General?
Possible CHI Scores (Chart)
How Should I Use the CHI Score for a Particular Study?
Evidence-Based Strain- and Form-Specific Considerations
The Setting
The Intention
The Exploration
Powerful Questions (Self-Guide to Deeper Healing)
Suggested Blessings
Suggested Affirmations
Anecdotes
Let Food Be Thy Medicine/Take Notice
Summary
Chapter IV. Diseases and Symptoms A–Z
Aging/Anti-Aging
Anorexia and Cachexia
Bacterial and Viral Infections (in general)
Bacterial Infections
Gonorrhea
Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)
Viral Infections
Colds and Flu
Cough
Encephalitis
Hepatitis
Herpes
HIV/AIDS
Cancer (in general)
Bone Cancer
Brain Cancer/Glioma/Glioblastoma
Breast Cancer
Cancer Caused by Cannabis?
Cancer-Induced Night Sweats
Cervical Cancer
Colon Cancer (Colorectal)
Kaposi’s Sarcoma
Leukemia and Lymphoma
Liver Cancer
Lung Cancer
Melanoma (Malignant Skin Cancer)
Pancreatic Cancer
Prostate Cancer
Rhabdomyosarcoma
Skin Cancer (Non-Melanoma)
Thyroid Cancer
Cardiovascular Disease
Heart Disease
Hypertension
Stroke (Cere
brovascular Accident or CVA)
Diabetes Mellitus
Eye Disease and Eye Function
Age-Related Macular Degeneration
Glaucoma
Improved Night Vision
Uveitis
Fever/Temperature Regulation
Fibromyalgia
Hemorrhoids
Inflammatory Diseases (in general)
Arthritis
Atherosclerosis
(Interstitial) Cystitis
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Gastrointestinal Inflammatory Diseases
Gastro-esophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD/IBS)
Pancreatitis
Periodontitis
Insomnia
Libido
Lung Diseases
Asthma
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
Mental Disorders (in general)
Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
Anxiety
Autism
Depression
Manic-Depressive Disorder/Bipolar Affective Disorder
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Schizophrenia
Neurological Diseases (in general)
Cannabis and Neuroprotection
Alcohol Dependence/Abuse
Alzheimer’s Disease
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS or Lou Gehrig’s Disease)
Epileptic Seizure (Status Epilepticus)
Huntington’s Disease
Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
Parkinson’s Disease
Tourette Syndrome
OBGYN: Obstetrical and Gynecological Difficulties and Concerns
Abortion, Miscarriage, and Fertility
Childbirth Pain
Endometriosis
Menstrual Pain
Morning Sickness
Pregnancy
Osteoporosis
Pain (in general)
Chronic Non-Malignant Pain
Migraine
Neuropathies (in general)
Neuropathies (AIDS-related)
Pain Due to Advanced Cancer
Prion Diseases (Creutzfeldt-Jacob Disease/Mad Cow Disease)
Sickle Cell Disease
Skin Diseases (in general)
Acne
Dermatitis (Eczema)
Hair Growth—Unwanted (Hirsutism)
Hair Loss (Baldness)
Itching (Pruritis)
Psoriasis
Seborrhea
Systemic Sclerosis
Vomiting (in general)
Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting
Motion Sickness
Wound Care (in general)
Fractured Bones
Post-Surgery Wounds
Spinal Cord Injuries
Chapter V. Integrating Mind-Body Medicine for Deeper Healing
1. Applying the Healing Balm of Deep Relaxation
2. Using Your Emotional Intelligence for Deeper Healing
A. Taking Ownership of Where You are Right Now
B. Releasing the Toxins of Suppressed/Repressed Emotions
C. Identifying and Releasing Unhealthy Mental-Emotional Habits
Bias, Prejudice, and Judgment
Three Destructive Habits: Guilt, Martyrdom, and Harbored Anger
D. Exploring and Building Healthy Mental-Emotional Habits
Discernment, Curiosity, and Tempered Positivity
Three Healing Habits: Gratitude, Compassion, and Forgiveness
E. Transforming Unhealthy Emotional Habits Into Positive Ones
3. Using the Power of Choice for Ongoing Healing
4. Reprogramming Unhealthy Beliefs and Building Beliefs that Heal
5. Finding the Silver Lining and Wisdom in Your Illness
6. Identifying and Dissolving Internal Barriers to Healing
The Cannabis Health Index Chart
Notes
Index
Acknowledgments
About the Author
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PREFACE
Allow me to tell you the story of how, when I was a mobile intensive-care paramedic in San Francisco, I witnessed the murder of a patient and how my partner and I used magic to bring him back to life.
It was late, a few hours past midnight, and the storefront lights on Chestnut Street were dim. The streets were empty except for some late-night clubbers looking for a taxi. We had been working a string of highly stressful emergencies nonstop for twenty-three hours with no sleep and little time to eat. We were burned out in attitude and exhausted in body when we got a call for an unconscious person lying on the sidewalk.
Lights and sirens on, our ambulance was briefly airborne as we flew over the top of the steep hill on Franklin. We came down hard and sped on until we found the person lying face down on the sidewalk in front of an elegant store selling evening gowns. He was oozing bodily fluids from every orifice.
We did a quick, head-to-toe assessment: no signs of blood or broken bones, blood test for sugar within normal limits, no sign of recent injection. The patient’s pupils were dilated, so we could rule out narcotics overdose. I got the gurney and aligned it next to his limp 220-pound body. Lifting him was difficult and strenuous. Once he was in the ambulance, I placed an EKG monitor on his chest and fitted an oxygen mask over his face. He was breathing okay; pulse oximeter was a bit low but not too bad; his cardiac rhythm was normal.
My partner, as he was trying to adjust the gurney’s safety belts, slipped. He tried to break his fall by bracing himself against the gurney and his hand ended up in the wet, warm puddle that had pooled between the patient’s legs.
“Just die,” he said, following up this fatigue-induced directive with an expletive.
I looked at the monitor at that very moment. The patient’s normal heart rhythm instantly flat-lined. My partner and I looked at each other. All of our exhaustion and bad attitude was washed away by an immediate flood of adrenalin. We initiated CPR, and I placed a tube in the patient’s lungs while my partner hooked up an intravenous line.
I injected the first ampule of epinephrine into his system. No response. He was still flat-lining.
Without making the conscious connection to what had happened a few minutes earlier, I yelled, “Come on! Stay with us!”
Nothing happened.
“Come back!” I shouted again, but this time I followed the command with a colorful expletive. To my surprise and instant relief, his heart started to beat again. His breathing returned spontaneously and his oxygen saturation improved dramatically.
The rest of the transport to the emergency room was uneventful. Later we learned that our passenger had overdosed on GHB (a euphoria-inducing substance known to most people as the “date rape drug”). The patient was kept at the hospital for a day and released the next morning with no complications.
I, however, was put on a fast track to studying anything I could find about mind-body medicine and that elusive bridge between them. Little did I know that the scientific evidence would lead me directly to the recent discovery of the body’s own endocannabinoid system.
INTRODUCTION: YOU’RE SICK!
You’re sick with a chronic condition. In a world of cause and effect, the exact cause of most chronic illnesses escapes modern medicine. To make things worse, cures are few and far between. In many cases, the best you can hope for is to be managed by pharmaceuticals . . . in other words, by the mighty corporate world.
Should you manage to make it to the doctor’s office, what may make you even sicker is to find out the hard way that only about 15% of medical interventions are actually based on solid scientific evidence.1 Even if the actual evidence were double that estimate, it would still seem like a walk somewhere between a wish and a prayer.
How can that be? For instance, when Vioxx entered the market it was approved (i.e., tested for) an immune deficiency disease called rheumato
id arthritis. However, once it was on the market, doctors quickly began prescribing it to patients with various conditions, a common practice called “off-label use.” By the time the medical community caught up with the deadly reality, Vioxx had killed an estimated 55,000 to 500,000 patients by causing heart attacks and strokes. The company settled the resulting class-action lawsuit for a little less than US$5 billion. Sounds tough, but they still made about ten billion in revenue over the life of the drug.
Consider this: the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) actually has very little power and in fact does not approve drugs or devices but only the marketing of them. Before the FDA approves the marketing of a drug, the pharmaceutical company has to prove that it is more or less safe and that it is more effective than a placebo. Once the company has done so (usually at significant expense), the drug or device enters the market.
Many of us make the mistake of assuming that because of the successes of some specialized fields within medicine—such as emergency medicine or reconstructive plastic surgery, which are predominantly evidence-based—that all of medicine, especially those branches that treat chronic degenerative illness, follows the same ideals. Not true, as cases like the Vioxx scandal clearly show.
So what is one to do? Well, don’t fret—change is in the air. Concerned doctors and patients’ advocates alike have been pushing for a different approach to medical decision-making such as that of the Cochrane Collaboration and Library. Currently, Cochrane consist of thousands of health care practitioners, researchers, and advocates from more than 120 nations with the purpose of providing and promoting evidence-informed health decisions by producing high-quality, relevant, accessible systematic reviews and other research evidence.
Here’s their definition: “Evidence-based medicine is the conscientious, explicit, and judicious use of current best evidence in making decisions about the care of individual patients. The practice of evidence-based medicine means integrating individual clinical expertise with the best available external clinical evidence from systematic research.”2
To date, demand for evidence-driven health care has prompted the U.S. Department of Health to fund 13 evidence-based practice centers located throughout the country, such as the Mayo Clinic, Duke University, and Johns Hopkins, for example.3
Over the past twenty years the available scientific literature on medical cannabis has grown to more than 15,000 entries at the National Library of Health. But a systematic evidence-based model of the plant’s safe and targeted use has largely been lacking—until now.