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Marijuana, and indeed any other herb, have energetic properties on the body's internal system of meridians (c/f Traditional Chinese Medicine), be it heating, warming, cooling or dampening etc. and over time throw the entire energetic balance of the body into total disarray. Taking large or significant quantities of any one single herb for long periods of time is a strict no-no in both western and oriental herbal medicine. What the body requires at any point in time may not be the same as at another, and arbitrarily prescribing cannabis to patients or people with psychological problems is not sensible, without finding out what their body actually requires and indeed how its requirements change. This is not usually appreciated by proponents of legalisation who believe it is 'harmless' up until the point when you die from THC poisoning. Pot smokers often support campaigners for legalising marijuana or cannabis for medical/medicinal usage as it makes them feel slightly better about smoking a spliff when they deep down know it's not such a clever or healthy idea.

The calls for legalising cannabis, marijuana or cannabis-based drugs for medicinal usage (i.e. allieviating symptoms from neurological type conditions such as Multiple Sclerosis etc.) is often made by those who do not really understand the conditions and who do not believe that any cures really exist. People are brainwashed by the medical establishment into accepting arbitrary negative notions about these conditions, and the only way out is seen to be medication and 'living with the conditions as best one can'. Whether this be drugs sold by the pharmaceutical industry or sold by the local drug and gun dealer. This is why many people wish for cannabis-related drugs to legalised for medicinal (and probably other) usage, so it can be legally provided to the masses like pharmaceuticals already are to drug them up and null their pain. There is a culture of brainwashing about what is incurable and what is easily treatable if the right techniques are known or there is a will for them to be known. People are conditioned to buy medication to make symptoms go away and 'cure' them, whilst the body actually tries to solve the problem on its own accord and in spite of what the mind is doing. Often pseudo-science gives real cutting edge science a bad name. It is the role of web sites such as this to try to educate people that these conditions are not simply black holes that come out of nowhere, but are related to many environmental, lifestyle, diet and stress factors, and can be treated and in many cases cured.

Those who promote the oil of natural hemp oil (not hemp seed oil) as a cure for cancer cite research or rather statistical information relating to cancer victims and their recovery or slow down in the condition on account of the ingestion internally or external use of hemp oil. Unfortunately, it is not really possible to cite such statistics are firm evidence, as it is hard to isolate the many factors involved. For example, many cancer patients using hemp oil often also are into other 'natural remedies' and may also implement dietary changes and changes in one's lifestyle, levels of stress, and mental state, and all of these things may also contribute partly or wholly to their recovery. For example, liver or colon cleanses, alkalising the body, getting rid of parasites, may all help. Some cancer patients go on a juicing diet and eat raw garlic, as describe by Dr Richard Schulze, and defacate out huge tumors. Others simply live a stress free life and get rid of their cancer by watching many comedy videos.

I do know of someone (electronically) who is implementing Rick Simpson's The Cure programme for lung cancer, whilst still smoking cigarettes and cannabis or marijuana (not for me to comment on the sanity of this combination), and has experienced considerable health benefits. The person in question has also however implemented many dietary changes on top of taking a number of antimicrobial and circulation boosting herbs which have also undoubtedly helped.

If we are to assume that hemp oil has beneficial effects, are these down to the direct biochemical effects on the tumors and cancer cells themselves? Or are they simply assisting in the body's natural processes? And if so, is it the THC or is it the other numerous compounds in hemp oil?

Hemp seed oil, whilst not the same, is very rich in Omega 3 and 6 essential fatty acids, and is a common nutritional oil used in health applications. Hemp leafs and hemp oil also contain them. But so do a number of other nutritional plant and fish sources. So one could potentially gain this effect from other stronger sources.

If one is to look at hemp oil's THC content, it is said not to contain acidic forms of THC, found in fermented forms like in grass and hash that are commonly smoked. If it is not acidic as an oil (not sure if it is alkaline or not, unlikely) as some, then could it play a part in alkalising the body? Possibly, but there are more efficient ways of achieving this in dietary terms, e.g. ultra greens etc. See the acidosis page for more information.

One could also consider the antioxidant content of such oils as hemp oil, which is pronounced in its effect at high dosages, but equally pronounced in other oils or plant extracts.

Is the effect of THC on the state of mind the real healer? If so, could one effect similar changes by other methods, i.e. lifestyle changes, meditation (trance states etc.), visulation, laughing more, a change of location, spiritual practices, having great friends? Clearly one can.

So what is it really that is beneficial? Is THC really adding any value more than it is potentially detracting value? Or adding more value than anything else? Are we all starry eyed by it's 'mystical properties' without any basis in scientific fact? Is it just overrated and used in place of other more efficient herbal remedies due to this mystical connection or just ignorance?

Let us examine the claims regarding cannabinoids. Some say that because cannabinoids occur naturally in the body and are required for certain biochemical functions, and that Hemp oil's active medicinal ingredients are cannabinoids, they can therefore help to replace depleted naturally occurring cannabinoids in the body and restore vital biochemical processes and therefore help to 'heal' the body.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabinoids

'Currently, there are three general types of cannabinoids: phytocannabinoids occur uniquely in the cannabis plant; endogenous cannabinoids are produced in the bodies of humans and other animals; and synthetic cannabinoids are similar compounds produced in a laboratory.'

'At least 66 cannabinoids have been isolated from the cannabis plant. To the right the main classes of natural cannabinoids are shown. All classes derive from cannabigerol-type compounds and differ mainly in the way this precursor is cyclized. Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabidiol (CBD) and cannabinol (CBN) are the most prevalent natural cannabinoids and have received the most study. Other common cannabinoids are listed below:

- CBG Cannabigerol
- CBC Cannabichromene
- CBL Cannabicyclol
- CBV Cannabivarin
- THCV Tetrahydrocannabivarin
- CBDV Cannabidivarin
- CBCV Cannabichromevarin
- CBGV Cannabigerovarin
- CBGM Cannabigerol Monoethyl Ether

Endocannabinoids are those substances (ligands) produced within the body that activate the body's cannabinoid receptors. These include:

- Arachidonoyl ethanolamide (Anandamide or AEA)
- 2-arachidonoyl glycerol (2-AG) - 2-arachidonyl glyceryl ether (noladin ether)
- N-arachidonoyl-dopamine (NADA)
- Virodhamine (OAE)

'Endocannabinoids serve as intercellular 'lipid messengers', signaling molecules that are released from one cell and activate the cannabinoid receptors present on other nearby cells. Although in this intercellular signaling role they are similar to the well-known monoamine neurotransmitters, such as acetylcholine, GABA or dopamine, endocannabinoids differ in numerous ways from them. For instance, they use retrograde signaling. Furthermore, endocannabinoids are lipophilic molecules that are not very soluble in water. They are not stored in vesicles, and exist as integral constituents of the membrane bilayers that make up cells. They are believed to be synthesized 'on-demand' rather than made and stored for later use. The mechanisms and enzymes underlying the biosynthesis of endocannabinoids remain elusive and continue to be an area of active research. The endocannabinoid 2-AG has been found in bovine and human maternal milk.

Conventional neurotransmitters are released from a 'presynaptic' cell and activate appropriate receptors on a 'postsynaptic' cell, where presynaptic and postsynaptic designate the sending and receiving sides of a synapse, respectively. Endocannabinoids, on the other hand, are described as retrograde transmitters because they most commonly travel ÔbackwardsÕ against the usual synaptic transmitter flow. They are in effect released from the postsynaptic cell and act on the presynaptic cell, where the target receptors are densely concentrated on axonal terminals in the zones from which conventional neurotransmitters are released. Activation of cannabinoid receptors temporarily reduces the amount of conventional neurotransmitter released. This endocannabinoid mediated system permits the postsynaptic cell to control its own incoming synaptic traffic. The ultimate effect on the endocannabinoid releasing cell depends on the nature of the conventional transmitter that is being controlled. For instance, when the release of the inhibitory transmitter, GABA, is reduced, the net effect is an increase in the excitability of the endocannabinoid-releasing cell. Conversely, when release of the excitatory neurotransmitter, glutamate, is reduced, the net effect is a decrease in the excitability of the endocannabinoid-releasing cell.

Endocannabinoids are hydrophobic molecules. They cannot travel unaided for long distances in the aqueous medium surrounding the cells from which they are released, and therefore act locally on nearby target cells. Hence, although emanating diffusely from their source cells, they have much more restricted spheres of influence than do hormones, which can affect cells throughout the body.'

As can be seen, the 66 cannabinoids isolated in cannabis do not equate to any of the body's own endocannabinoids. The exact medicinal effects of the cannabinoids in cannabis are not known precisely. We have is empirical evidence for improvement in a limited number of cancer patients test cases, and some limited studies which are cited at some of the links further down.

Long term use of psychotropic (psychoactive) drugs may result in the accumulation of Lipofuscin or lipopigment waste in cellular membranes, which tends to accelerate the ageing process and decrease neurotransmitter release from neuronal cells.

http://bjp.rcpsych.org/cgi/content/abstract/155/1/1

One route is to flood the body with high doses of foreign cannabinoids, but of course the other is to naturally stimulate the body's own production of cannabinoids and well as other neurotransmitter functions to normal levels through a combination of nutrition, detoxification, use of garlic and antimicrobial herbs, adaptogenic herbs and electromagnetic stimulation. The big question is whether endocannabinoid deficiency is an actual major contributary factor in cancer, or whether one is actually targetting the wrong thing with cannabinoids; or whether other properties of the cannabis plant are actually providing the benefit, that are also common to other plants.

Dr Schulze, featured on this web site's Detoxification Protocols page, is famous for his 'Incurable's Program' in which he has cured a large number of cancer patients, using some of the methods described above, whom doctors had given only days or weeks to live, and whom he had completely cured in a number of weeks or months. He even claims to have cured AIDS patients and assisted them them to completely eradicate the HIV/AIDS virus from their bodies.

www.herbdoc.com

For example, a good friend of mine had Multiple Sclerosis for over 20 years, and within 3 weeks of purchasing a Magnetico Sleep Pad and sleeping on it every day, 95% of the MS symptoms had disappeared (24 hours a day). If the symptoms did come back briefly, then a quick 20 minute lie down on the sleep pad would make them disappear again. This is a much better and long lasting result than smoking a spliff would provide, where the pain would return along with full brain functioning after the THC starts to wear off. Should this person have not bought the sleep pad and gone to a drug dealer or doctor for a short term 'fix'? Clearly, with this particular individual, EM smog and electromagnetic deficiencies are only one piece of the puzzle, as a complete cure was not obtained, but as a first step it is an excellent result. Other factors, such as toxicity need to be addressed, and an open mind to be kept to explore other avenues, to obtain a complete cure. But if you don't try, you don't get! We cannot assume that everyone wants a cure. Many people put up ego resistance to ideas that they consider to be in conflict with established, old fashioned medical ideas they have been brought up with. Some people enjoy feeling sorry for themselves, as their illness makes them feel special or significant on some level. Some people just can't be bothered to make the effort to learn about techniques and tests that are out there and prefer a short term, easy alleviation of symptoms. Some people equate relief of symptoms to solving the problem, as opposed to finding out what the root causes are. For some people, perhaps they should be allowed to buy cannabis legally and miss the point completely. Some people may be partially motivated in seeking a cure but may want to occasionally flirt with self-abuse for ego titillation. Perhaps the use of pharmaceuticals and other drugs has its place in alleviating pain etc. whilst treating various conditions, but they should really be a last resort rather than a first port of call. This web site does not promote drug use in any form, but it is clearly up to the individual to do what is right for him.

Rick Simpson's Phoenix Tears web site is listed below. He is a major campaigner for the use of Hemp Oil in treating cancer, and calls his method 'The Cure', which involves illegally buying half a kilo of grass (!) and using heated solvents to extract 55-60ml of high grade hemp oil which one can then drink as part of a healing programme, which is considered enough (by him) to cure cancer.

None of the links below should result in you getting 'Rick Roll'd', hopefully!!

www.phoenixtears.ca/list.html

www.phoenixtears.ca/diy.html

www.phoenixtearsmovie.com

www.youtube.com/chrychek

A list of Dr Manuel Guzman's research papers is summarised at the link below.

www.phoenixtears.ca/list.html

http://www.scribd.com/doc/134037868/Guzman-Cancer-Research

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=search&db=pubmed&term=Guzman%20M%5Bau%5D&dispmax=50

An American College of Physicians article about the beneficial effect of hemp oil very strong in THC on brain cancer tumors in a group of rats. However, was it the THC that was the active ingredient in the process?

www.thenhf.com/articles/articles_659/articles_659.htm

The Seth Group is involved in studying the effects of herbal extracts in fighting various forms of brain cancer. Their current area of study is extracts from Chinese herbs, such as Berberine (a known anti-microbial discussed on the Bacterial and Parasitic Overgrowth page on this web site. On their web site (click on 'featured experiment) is some footage of the effects of THC on brain tumour cells.

www.sethgroup.com

The naturally occurring cannabinoids in marijuana or cannabis resin have various endocrine system disrupting effects, e.g. brain neurotransmitters, serotonin / melatonin levels (sleep cycle regulation and feel good chemicals), cardiac regulation etc. For those illnesses where endocrine system problems are not involved in the major pathological pathways, and where tumors are present, then cannabis-based medicines may well work without too many significant side effects. Cannabis-medicines that are not psychoactive and which have no potential for inducing psychosis are clearly a better choice than taking highly concentrated forms of marijuana (e.g. hemp oil) where the risk of psychosis may be greatly amplified comparing with 'typical' marijuana or cannabis usage amongst users. However, for anyone with an illness where endocrine disruption or adrenal insufficiency is involved, e.g. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Post Viral Fatigue Syndrome, M.E., Fibromyalgia etc. then using cannabis or marijuana would probably be an extremely bad idea as it would exaccerbate existing endocrine disruption. Cannabis or marijuana is used by some sufferers of myalgic type disorders to relieve pain but it is a doubled edged sword, much like any other drug. A friend of mine who is an expert in CFS, and a long term sufferer, noticed a significant decline in his adrenal function and liver function after using cannabis for about a year.

Cannabinoids, especially THC, also put an extra load on the liver and are broken down into non-psychoactive metabolites, which accumulate in one's fat cells. The purpose of much of the detoxification methods used by me is to encourage the elimination of toxins and unwanted lipophilic molecules from the fat cells and cell membranes and to expel them from the body, not to purposefully accumulate a huge additional number. This is the exact opposite of what I would want to achieve. Every method of healing has a potential negative consequence, but where they are rather large, then it makes the whole exercise counterproductive. If the positives outweigh the negatives, then it may be worth considering cannabis-based medicine as an option. However, no two cancer cases are exactly the same and there are often a series of toxicological and microbial issues, as well as subnormal organ function, present in many cancer patients, and putting additional strain on the liver may not be a wise strategy at all, compared with supporting the liver and tackling the toxicological and microbial issues directly. The majority of CFS, M.E. and Fibromyalgia illnesses seem to have such a basis and for this reason, as well as the endocrine system disruption caused by cannabis, it is not suited for these conditions.

I personally have psychological reasons for not wanting to have slightly psychedelic effects of a drug in my system 24/7 for months on end. This would be somewhat depressing, I would have less energy and would not be able to think as clearly. The psychological effects apply no matter what method one chooses to take in THC and other foreign cannabinoids. A small minority of users also go into psychosis, which is not particularly healing, and not an issue with other herbal methods for tackling cancer! Ultimately it is up to the individual to choose, and whether they choose to break the law or not or contribute to international crime is not my problem, but it is not something that I personally encourage. However, I have tried to compile a list of approved resources from advocates of cannabis to try to provide a balanced picture as much as is possible. I welcome more research of course and keep an open mind, even if there is some scepticism there.

http://www.gwpharm.com/research_cri.asp

Studies by the UK pharmaceutical company GW Pharmaceuticals, who manufacture cannabinoid-based medicines, and which established the Cannabinoid Research Institute, have shown that the two main chemicals of interest in cannabis plants are THC and CBD. THC has a psychoactive effect as discussed above, and CBD is its non-psychoactive counterpart. CBD has anti-psychotic properties in contrast to THC which is said to have psychotic properties and to emulate some of the characteristics of schizophrenia. In naturally occurring cannabis plants, THC and CBD are usually found in roughly equal quantities, and in some sense CBD is a protective chemical. It is thought THC was first produced by the cannabis plant to provide better protection against UV radiation, as it grew at high altitudes where it grew in Asia, and to fend out animals on account of its foul taste. However, in GM varieties of cannabis, such as Skunk, they are bred for their higher THC content, which means a conversely lower level of CBD. It is not possible for the cannabis plant to produce high levels of both it would appear. This may mean that stronger variants of cannabis, such as Skunk, are more likely than other variants to contribute to mental health problems and indeed psychosis in a small number of users than other varieties. Skunk usually contains little or no CBD and hence no anti-psychotic chemical protection at all.

GW Pharmaceuticals believe that CBD is really the sole chemical component desired to treat inflammation or psychosis, wheres THC is extremely undesirable in such applications.

The US Institute of Medicine's book 'Medicine and Marijuana' (1999) is available (not for free) at the link below.

http://www.iom.edu/?id=12668

A prepublication copy (uncorrected) of the first ten pages can be downloaded here for free.

The Position Paper 'Supporting Research into the Therapeutic Role of Marijuana' from the American College of Physicians (2008) can be downloaded here

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