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Tag: Medicine

Break Child’s Fever Using Alternative Medicine

Fever from illness is a natural part of life and something any mother has dealt with multiple times. They can be worrisome and cause concern, but fevers will happen, and it’s important to know how to treat them. Fever is a sign of infection in the body and is an indication that your body’s immune system is fighting something off. In some cases, giving a child medicine for a fever isn’t even necessary, and using over-the-counter medicine for fevers makes your child more comfortable, but it doesn’t get rid of the fever.

The concern with fever is if it gets too high or if it’s affecting your child too much. A long-lasting high fever can cause damage, but these are rare. They may cause your child to feel generally down, but there are things to try before turning to Tylenol. Healthy Children states that most fevers don’t need to be treated with medicine at all. If your child has a history of high fevers that lead to further complications, of course, treat the fever however your pediatrician or doctor advises.

However, if your child handles fevers generally fine, OTC medicine doesn’t have to be the only option to get your child feeling better. Here are six alternative ways to break your child’s fever and keep them comfortable as their fever runs its course.

Keep Your Child Hydrated

Via Pexels

We know that fluids are extremely important when sick and kids have a more difficult time maintaining hydration when sick. There’s an old saying to starve a fever, and most kids don’t have much of an appetite when they’re running a fever anyway. Your child doesn’t need to be eating a ton, but they need to stay hydrated. Have your child take small sips of water every 10-15 minutes. Sports drinks, popsicles, and ice are other great options to aid in hydration if water just isn’t cutting it.

Give Them A Warm Bath

via Pexels/cottonbro

A lukewarm bath can quickly bring down your child’s overall body temperature. Draw a bath that isn’t cold but isn’t hot and have them climb in. Use washcloths to lay on in their back or chest and let them relax until the water gets cool, or they want to get it out. You can give them a few baths a day if they need it. It isn’t necessary to wash them with soap every time but be sure to pay attention if their skin is getting too dry and use lotion if needed.

Do not give your child an ice bath. This will only increase the fever because the body is trying to stay at a temperature that will help fight off the illness.

Sponging

This is the same idea as a bath but done with washcloth or sponge while your child relaxes. Soak a sponge or washcloth in cool water, wring it out and placing on your child’s forehead for 15-20 minutes. Re-soak the sponge or cloth and repeat as many times as necessary. You can also place the sponge on their back, stomach, or upper legs to relieve some of their fever.

RELATED: Are Cold Drinks & Foods Bad For Kids When They’re Sick?

Via Pexels

When your child has a fever, their body is working extra hard to fight off the illness they have. More likely than not, your kid will be more lethargic anyway so have them nap or just watch movies all day. Sleep and rest will help your child’s immune system do what it needs to do which is fight off this illness. Extra sleep is one of the simplest alternative recommendations for curing a child’s fever.

While the body rests, it has the necessary time and energy to focus solely on fighting off the illness.

Put Your Child In Wet Socks

Via Pexels/Taryn Elliott

This alternative treatment is explained by Farmer’s Almanac, and they acknowledge it sounds strange. Warm your child’s feet in warm water then dry completely. Then soak a pair of thin cotton socks in cold water, put them on your child’s feet, then cover up with dry wool socks. The idea is that this encourages the immune system to activate and improves blood circulation. It’s certainly an old treatment developed before medicine, but it may just work if it’s been around this long.

Make sure, however, that your child feels comfortable doing this. If they complain or say they are too cold, consider listening to them because they may be letting you know how their body feels and ultimately what it needs.

Serve Warm Tea Or Warm Broth

via Unsplash / Content Pixie

Herbal teas without caffeine are safe for all ages and also another great alternative. Tea has healing properties and chamomile is a great choice for kids. According to Wellness Mama, chamomile has a slightly sweet apple flavor kids love. Some honey can give the tea a better test for kids if it isn’t their favorite. Bone broth is also a great choice for a feverish child. There is nutrition in the broth that can help them feel fuller. Both tea and bone broth are easy to digest and should be encouraged at least once a day while sick.

Source: Healthy Children, Farmer’s Almanac, Wellness Mama

Fever In Children: When Should You Worry?

No one wants your child to be sick and a fever can be scary, but when should you worry? We break it down.

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About The Author

Larissa Marulli
(724 Articles Published)

Larissa Marulli is a mom to two young school-aged kids. She received a degree in journalism shortly before having her first child and is a news and features writer for Moms. The proud mom of two is from Colorado and loves the mountains. changing seasons, and hot coffee all year round. Larissa has seen it all and has struggled with the challenges of motherhood. She is getting better with age and prides herself in using the written word to entertain others as well as educate. Larissa loves books, napping, people in small doses, and her family.

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March 9, 2022
Traditional Chinese medicine, Shengmai Yin, improves the effects of radiation therapy, says new study

Analysis reveals standard Chinese medication Shengmai Yin, designed from ginseng and other herbs, might assist the radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma by rendering cells extra delicate to radiation. Credit history: Eugene Kim below CC BY 2.

Cure of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), a team of cancers that originate in the nose and throat, is manufactured complicated by their exclusive posture. Radiation treatment is typically the principal curative therapy for NPC. Nevertheless, some patients are resistant to radiation therapy. Investigation has advised that a phenomenon termed ‘DNA methylation’ has a main influence on radioresistance.

Radioresistance can be mitigated by the use of ‘radiosensitizers,’ chemical compounds that make cells a lot more vulnerable to radiation. Lately, a team of researchers led by Dr. Qin Admirer of Southern Clinical College and Dr. Ying Lv of NanFang Clinic, China have discovered Shengmai Yin (SMY), a regular organic drugs, as an powerful radiosensitizer for patients with NPC. The paper was created obtainable online on 2nd December 2020 and was revealed in Quantity 11 Challenge 6 of the Journal of Pharmaceutical Evaluation in December 2021.

“DNA methylation is an epigenetic improve, which usually means that it is brought on by a improve in how the genes are expressed instead than a mutation in the genetic code. As a consequence, epigenetic adjustments are reversible and can usually be modulated by phytochemicals. Getting a cue from before research, we investigated if SMY can alter DNA methylation standing in NPC cells and no matter if these changes motivated the radiosensitivity of the cells,” describes Dr. Admirer.

For their research, the scientists very first compared the DNA methylation concentrations in two different cell traces of NPC, radiosensitive NPC cells CNE-2 and radioresistant NPC cells CNE-2R. The CNE-2R cells at first experienced decreased ranges of methylated genes than the CNE-2 cells. On the other hand, right after dealing with the CNE-2R cells with SMY, the scientists located that the methylation of some of these genes was restored. A single of these genes was a single that encodes Tenascin-C (TNC), a glycoprotein that is concerned in several mobile procedures, including the invasion, invasiveness, and migration of tumor cells. Past studies have proven that lessening the methylation of the ‘promoter’ location of this gene raises the expression of TNC.

Study reveals regular Chinese medication Shengmai Yin, designed from codonopsis (Dang shen) and other herbs, may perhaps support the radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma by rendering cells a lot more delicate to radiation. Credit history: ProjectManhattan below CC BY-SA 3.

The exploration workforce in contrast the expression of TNC in each mobile traces and identified that it was overexpressed in CNE-2R cells. They then identified that SMY minimized the creation of TNC in most cancers cells. “We speculated that this could be due to the restoration of the methylation position of TNC by SMY. We later on confirmed our hypothesis. Our scientific tests propose that SMY contributes to the methylation of sure promoter areas of the TNC gene known as CpG web-sites. When a protein identified as specificity protein 1 (SP1) binds to methylated CpG web sites, it inhibits the expression of TNC, ” states Dr. Lover.

The findings of the examine drop gentle on 3 incredibly significant elements of SMY as a therapeutic complement all through radiotherapy. Dr. Lv elaborates ”First, moreover minimizing the aspect effects of radiation, it can enhance the efficacy of radiotherapy and decrease the facet effects of radiotherapy in NPC next, SMY, because of its anti-tumorigenic effect, can provide as a preventive complement for a neighborhood that constantly relied on the healing electrical power of traditional medication. Third, SMY offers an alternate for acquiring a value-powerful ‘radiosensitizer’ for the pharmaceutical industry.”

SMY has the possible to be a risk-free, efficient and economically feasible radiosensitizer and therapeutic health supplement to radiation therapy. Acquiring prescription drugs dependent on this conventional Chinese medicine could enable make improvements to the high-quality of existence and cut down the mortality of sufferers with NPC.

How oral most cancers acquires radioresistance

Extra information and facts:
Shiya Liu et al, Result of Shengmai Yin on the DNA methylation status of nasopharyngeal carcinoma mobile and its radioresistant strains, Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation (2020). DOI: 10.1016/j.jpha.2020.11.010

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February 26, 2022
How “Exercise is Medicine” helps patients meet healthy lifestyle goals – News

UAB’s Workout is Drugs program aims to assist clients reduce chronic problems just before they commence and adopt much healthier life.

Written by: Tehreem Khan
Media speak to: Anna Jones

Jeremy Pritchett, his wife Sarah and their two sonsJeremy Pritchett was considering largely about his kidneys when he visited Sumayah Abed, M.D., a practitioner at the UAB Medication Hoover clinic and assistant professor in the College of Alabama at Birmingham Marnix E. Heersink Faculty of Medicine’s Section of Loved ones and Neighborhood Medication. He experienced just experienced a kidney stone and Abed was functioning comply with-up assessments.

In chatting with Abed, Pritchett realized he wanted to be in superior shape — more powerful equally for himself and for his family members. At the time, Pritchett’s spouse, Sarah, was expecting with their second boy or girl.

“Part of my commitment, all over the time I began viewing Dr. Abed, was that I did not like how I felt attempting to play with my older son, who is 4 decades outdated,” Pritchett explained. “I didn’t sense like I experienced adequate power, and I understood I would only will need more as our 2nd youngster came along. I preferred to make adjustments to preserve up with them and take pleasure in issues with them very long-time period.”

Abed referred him to the Fitness, Life style and Exceptional Wellness Method, designed for sufferers who want to consider methods towards a healthier life style.

In the Movement system, individuals meet with a service provider for a extensive analysis. Medical doctors analyze the patient’s overall health history, bodily exercise amount, eating plan, snooze good quality, worry, temperament features, blood metabolic panels, overall body composition, metabolic prices and cardiac health and fitness. Centered on these final results, companies suggest methods and design a personalized approach for each individual individual, such as educational, dietary and workout programs.

Though discovering his possibilities in the software, Pritchett uncovered that using the “Exercise is Medicine” plan was the finest in shape for him. “Exercise is Medicine” is a partnership with the Birmingham YMCA wherever patients receive a free of charge two-month membership to the YMCA of Larger Birmingham, making it possible for them to go to any YMCA in the location and satisfy with a private coach to create a reliable workout approach.

Dan Pile, president and CEO of the YMCA of Greater Birmingham, says preventive health and fitness steps like the Work out is Drugs software are essential parts of the YMCA’s mission.

“As section of the general public health program, we are uniquely positioned to confront health and fitness inequities by partnering with UAB Medicine,” Pile said. “When we acquire a clinical referral, we know we will be doing the job alongside individuals who will need a fantastic deal of assist.”

Pritchett started out his complimentary YMCA membership in the course of summertime of 2021 soon after Ian McKeag, M.D., assistant professor and director of the Relatives and Community Medicine Sports activities and Exercising Medicine Fellowship, made a bodyweight decline and work out program, location goals for pounds loss and muscle mass constructing.

Pritchett commenced heading to the YMCA a few times a 7 days and has not stopped. He is now a member at the YMCA.

“It worked,” Pritchett stated. “I grew up actively playing sporting activities and ran and lifted weights at occasions, but I had gotten into a for a longer time rut than common. The group launched me to substantial-depth interval instruction, and I go with a buddy on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays early in the early morning.”

Pritchett shed about 36 lbs ., conference his target body weight. He began conference with medical dietitian Caroline Cohen, Ph.D., R.D., L.D., assistant professor in loved ones and neighborhood drugs, to chat about dietary choices.

“Having the assistance from just about every of the doctors has positively impacted my well being and wellness. It aids possessing anyone to really encourage you when factors get complicated and to permit you know when you are doing nicely,” Pritchett stated. “Having that constructive reinforcement definitely retains you inspired.”

Approximately 50 sufferers have enrolled in the application, which is getting piloted out of the spouse and children medication clinic at UAB Healthcare facility Highlands and aims to enable individuals dealing with long-term ailment and stop serious issues before they start. Both the Training is Medicine and Circulation applications are portion of the UAB Grand Problem, which supports tasks tackling huge, advanced packages, together with Reside HealthSmart, the Nutritious Alabama 2030 initiative aimed at increasing the state’s wellness care rankings.

Medical companies are out there for people of all ages in the Household Drugs School Clinic.
Agenda an appointment by calling 205-934-9700 or going to their web page, https://www.uab.edu/drugs/familymedicine/.

February 26, 2022
Spotlight: medicine and medical device pricing and reimbursement in Australia

All questions

Pricing and reimbursement

Less than the PBS, the Commonwealth authorities subsidises the value of specific prescription medicines. While makers have a choice as to whether or not they provide their products underneath the PBS, it is generally approved that PBS listing is a prerequisite to the professional success of medications.

Apps for listing of new medicines on the PBS are built to the Pharmaceutical Added benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC), which in convert can make a suggestion to the Minister for Wellness. Under the NH Act, the PBAC must take into consideration the performance and expense of the proposed medication compared with option therapies (comparators). The PBAC are not able to make a good recommendation for a medicine that is significantly extra costly than a comparator unless of course it is glad that the proposed drugs also presents a important advancement in health. Statements of price tag-success ought to be supported by ideal economic products.

In recent several years, there has been a important coverage emphasis on running and minimising the expense to government of the PBS. To handle the total charge of a new medication, the government may call for a sponsor to enter into a value-sharing agreement. This arrangement might just take the type of a rebate, for illustration, whereby the sponsor rebates a share of governing administration expenditure for sales in extra of a set greenback benefit.²⁵

Products mentioned on the F1 formulary (which is made up of solitary-branded medicines that are considered not interchangeable at the affected individual stage with a further medicine that has various PBS-stated brand names) are issue to automated one particular-off rate reductions on the fifth, 10th and 15th anniversaries of the PBS listing day of 5, 10 and 5 for each cent, respectively. These reductions consider impact on 1 April every calendar year (up to 2022 for the fifth anniversary reduction and 2021 for the 10th and 15th anniversary reductions). Pursuant to a new 5-yr Memorandum of Knowledge involving Medicines Australia and the Australian Government entered into on 6 September 2021, these present statutory price tag reductions will be modified from 1 July 2022 this kind of that value reductions will occur on the fifth, 10th and 15th anniversaries of the PBS listing day in the quantity of five, five and 26.1 for each cent (rising to 30 for every cent in 2027), respectively. Selected ‘catch-up’ cost reductions are also introduced, from 1.48 for every cent to a maximum of 36.82 for each cent wherever medications have not taken a price tag reduction below the value disclosure arrangements for selected specified intervals.

In relation to adhere to-on items, applications for the listing of biosimilars will be viewed as by the PBAC whilst purposes for the listing of generic medications will ordinarily be regarded as by a delegate of the DOH.

Applications for the listing of biosimilars must be supported by a clinical evaluation, with an estimate of the envisioned use of the solution and its consequent effect on government expenditure. Apps for the listing of generic medications ought to consist of a assertion from the TGA concerning the equivalence of the new manufacturer to at this time shown makes. In some situations, the new brand name may not have TGA approval for all indications of the presently mentioned brands and will only be stated for its accepted indications.

The listing of the initially generic or biosimilar edition of a product on the PBS results in a statutory reduction in the price tag of the mentioned brand name. On 1 October 2018, the minimum amount reduction was amplified from 16 to 25 for every cent.²⁶ If, nevertheless, the shown brand name has knowledgeable price reductions considering the fact that 1 January 2016 (or, if it was mentioned on a afterwards date, considering that that date) of: 40 for each cent or additional, no statutory reduction will implement or between 15 and 40 per cent, the new value of the mentioned manufacturer must not exceed 60 for each cent of the price tag as at 1 January 2016 (or, if it was mentioned on a later day, as at that day). In addition, the Minister may now physical exercise discretion not to utilize the statutory selling price reduction in complete or portion.

Subsequent this, the PBS selling price disclosure regime demands sponsors of all models of the drug to provide information to the DOH relating to profits earnings, volume of income, and reductions or other incentives provided by sponsors, this sort of as funds rebates. This data is then used to regulate the subsidy that the authorities pays to additional intently mirror the cost at which the medications are provided in the current market.

There is no official plan specifically for reimbursement for healthcare gadgets. Even so, below Medicare, a wide assortment of medical processes are reimbursed by the government, which includes diagnostic checks, consequently delivering a de facto reimbursement scheme for the use of these units.

February 23, 2022
How Can You Start Your Career with a Holistic Medicine Degree?
If you’re intrigued in pursuing a career in holistic medicine, a diploma in this industry will help you do just that. Holistic overall health practitioners may possibly gain upwards of $80,000 per 12 months, relying on their expertise and education and learning.

Holistic and option drugs is becoming extra well-known as a viable option to conventional care. Regular healthcare treatment plans may well also be employed with a entire-human body overall health technique. For most persons, a combine of regular and complementary treatment options is employed to manage fantastic overall health everyday. Right here are some suggestions to assist you get begun now if you are interested in a job in holistic wellness.

Learn About Holistic Drugs and How You Can Make A Job In This Area

The initially stage in figuring out your employment possibilities is to discover much more about the holistic medical degree plans you are interested in. The therapeutic system in holistic medicine can take the whole personal into account. Chiropractic, dentists, therapists, and fitness instructors are amongst the several well being treatment experts that use holistic strategies in their operate. Since holistic drugs treats the full individual, it isn’t quick to distinguish concerning what’s called holistic and what’s considered normal medicine. In most circumstances, holistic medication includes a mix of standard and alternative therapies.

Decide on a Proper System

To get a degree in holistic medication, select a college or university that satisfies your desires. Other than standard education, some universities will solely supply complementary and choice medicine classes as a specialization. In advance of deciding on a application, it’s vital to know what the program’s goals are. There are a lot of alternatives and versions in holistic medicine diploma packages. The edge of selecting a plan that incorporates general education courses is having a bachelor’s diploma upon graduation. Obtaining a degree like this will let you to apply your know-how to a extensive vary of professions.

A bachelor’s diploma in science with a concentration in substitute medication from Everglades University is an excellent starting up stage for many pre-med and healthcare-related occupations. With this diploma, you can also get a foot in the door in the choice drugs industry.

Pick Specialization

This suggestions is vital in analyzing your expert route. Before deciding on a college or university, you really should think about two major paths.
- The Pathway to Alternate Therapies
- Appropriate for people pursuing non-medical occupations
- As a nutritional supplement to other majors, it is a superior healthy.
- This plan focuses on promoting normal well being and very well-being
- If you’re fascinated in pursuing a career in the professional medical market, this software is for you.
- Examine of biology, chemistry and physics at the best stage
- Scientifically dependent
Your specialties will be afflicted by the observe you pick out. Several people today decide on to specialize in Chiropractic, Massage, or Psychology as they advance in their careers. Acupuncture, nourishment, and herbal medicines are other spots of expertise.

Be Geared up to Often Master

Everyone who appreciates lifelong finding out would thrive in a holistic clinical software. Getting a enthusiasm for improve and progress is crucial in this industry. The alternative drugs fields are very best suited to these who prosper on alter and discovering.

Maintaining an eye on how your do the job advantages the individuals you’re doing the job with is an necessary portion of your profession. You are going to be in a position to use your motivation to assist other individuals in strengthening professionally as perfectly.

Adapt and Expertise

It’s important to hold understanding and increasing your horizons though continue to in college. An internship or palms-on mastering chance is an outstanding method to grow your abilities in a unique occupation.

A education program really should encourage you to do the job, volunteer and understand throughout your training. The extra you know about your occupation, the much easier it will be to make your mind up which specialty is ideal for you.
February 9, 2022
THE CANNABIS CONVERSATION: Cannabis as Medicine | Lost Coast Outpost

###

The
medicinal use of cannabis dates back thousands of years. Emperor Shen
Nung, the so-called father of Chinese medicine, included cannabis in
the country’s pharmacopeia in 2800 B.C. Therapeutic cannabis
applications are also referenced in historical texts of Indian
Hindus, Assyrians, Greeks, Romans, and others. Cannabis
was introduced to Western medicine in 1841 by William Blake
O’Shaughnessy, and for the next 100 years it was used for a
variety of ailments including arthritis, depression, inflammation,
pain and appetite stimulation.

Beginning
in the late 1930s, a prohibitionist fever swept through the United
States and cannabis was demonized. The Marijuana Tax Act of 1937
effectively taxed medicinal cannabis out of existence, while the
Controlled Substances Act of 1970 formally put the nail in the
coffin, arguing that cannabis had no medicinal value and that
cannabis had a high potential for abuse. This classification of
cannabis as a schedule I drug persists to this day and places grass
in the same company as heroin and meth.

Beginning
with California’s Compassionate Use Act of 1996, the pendulum swung
yet again and medicinal cannabis came back into the fold. Since then,
36 states have legalized medical pot, while 18 have also allowed for
adult use or recreational consumption. Given that cannabis is still
illegal at the federal level, national research and development
efforts have lagged. Fortunately, research among some states and in
nations like Canada and Israel has exploded in recent years,
providing real credibility to the concept of cannabis as medicine.

Opponents
of cannabis often argue against medicinal use, saying that the very
notion is ridiculous. While it’s true that some individuals used
medical cannabis permits to grow and sell weed illegally, dismissing
the medical benefits of cannabis is short-sighted and outdated. I,
like millions of others around the globe, have seen the medicinal
benefits of cannabis firsthand.

My
mother was terribly ill when being ravaged by cancer treatments for a
second time. Suffering from severe nausea, pain, loss of appetite,
and trouble sleeping, she had been prescribed liquid morphine and
strong nausea meds. These conventional treatments didn’t work and
also became habit-forming. Watching mom suffer and getting strung out
on pharmaceuticals was intolerable, so I spearheaded a medicinal
cannabis program for her. During chemotherapy, she would vaporize
strong cannabis flower for nausea relief and appetite stimulation.
Post-treatment, she transitioned to edibles and Rick Simpson Oil
capsules to help with pain management, sleep and depression. Through
consistent and measured cannabis dosing, mom weaned off the narcotics
entirely and passed with a much greater level of personal dignity.

In
terms of my situation, I suffered from a hip dislocation years ago. I
had both hips reset so many times I was bruising from the inside out
and was in constant pain. I had trouble walking, sitting, and
standing, and lived with acute pain for approximately three years. I
believe strongly in cannabis as a tool for harm reduction and chose
to consume ganja over a combination of narcotics, muscle relaxers,
and OTC pain meds. While the cannabis didn’t remove the pain
entirely, it took the edge off and reduced pain-induced nausea
significantly. What I know with certainty is that if I had consumed
pharmaceuticals for those few years, I would have become highly
dependent on them and my quality of life would have been further
reduced.

Fortunately,
cannabis research is currently undergoing a renaissance around the
globe. Here in the United States, a recent change to longstanding
Federal policy promises to bolster efforts to study the plant and its
medical benefits. Since 1968 U.S. cannabis researchers had only one
source for product, the University of Mississippi. As such, supply
was limited for years. The DEA has recently opened the doors for
research-driven grower applications and a couple have already been
issued, with more to come. The move strengthens the supply of
cannabis for research and development and offers real hope for those
seeking alternative medical solutions.

The
list of potential therapeutic applications for cannabis is highly
promising. Studies are currently underway regarding the ability of
cannabis to treat a range of serious ailments. CBD or cannabidiol is
a non-psychoactive component of the plant garnering significant
attention. CBD is being studied for relief from insomnia, anxiety,
spasticity, pain, and other health conditions. Remarkably, CBD has
also shown huge promise in relation to Dravet Syndrome, an aggressive
form of childhood epilepsy.

Famously,
the story of a young girl named Charlotte Figi helped cement CBD oil
as a breakthrough treatment offering hope to thousands of families
across the world. Charlotte was suffering from hundreds of seizures a
month and had limited function before experimenting with CBD. After
initiating a daily CBD program, her seizures dropped to a couple per
month and her quality of life was radically improved. Frankly, it
saddens and disgusts me to know that some people, even in light of
this clinical evidence, would prefer condemning a child to a death
sentence rather than exploring a cannabis-derived treatment.

THC,
the cannabis compound known for getting you high, also shows enormous
potential for improving health and wellness. THC
is being explored as a tool for managing Fibromyalgia, Parkinson’s,
Glaucoma, PTSD, HIV-associated pain and wasting syndrome, Irritable
Bowel Syndrome, Crohn’s, Multiple Sclerosis, chronic pain, nausea,
and many more.

While
still in the early innings, some research indicates that combined
loads of THC and CBD have been shown to slow or stop the growth of
some cancer cells in lab settings. Calls for increasing R&D in
this area are growing. In
fact, “the American Cancer Society supports the need for more
scientific research on cannabinoids for cancer patients and
recognizes the need for better and more effective therapies that can
overcome the often-debilitating side effects of cancer and its
treatment. The Society also believes that the classification of
marijuana as a Schedule I controlled substance by the US Drug
Enforcement Administration imposes numerous conditions on researchers
and deters scientific study of cannabinoids. Federal officials should
examine options consistent with federal law for enabling more
scientific study on marijuana.” Amen!

Additionally,
terpenes, or naturally occurring compounds found in plants, are
garnering lots of attention for their medicinal properties. Cannabis
has numerous terpenes, some of which are being explored for
anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anticonvulsive, antidepressant,
anticancer, antitumor, anti-allergic, antibiotic, anti-diabetic, and
neuroprotective attributes. Emerging
science also indicates that the interplay between terpenes and
cannabinoids like THC improves and enhances the efficacy of
cannabis as medicine. This is why I prefer consuming full-spectrum
products like live resin cartridges, ice hash gummies, and full-term
organic flower grown in native soil.

The
concept of medicinal cannabis is difficult for some to accept.
Long-held stereotypes demonizing the use of cannabis have been
prevalent to differing degrees around the world, and that won’t
change overnight. Thankfully legalization and a growing body of
evidence suggesting that cannabis can treat a host of serious
ailments are helping break down barriers and allowing for more
meaningful and truthful dialogue around the issues of health and
wellness. More and more individuals have come to realize that Western
Medicine and our reliance on powerful and politically connected
pharmaceutical giants can be a losing proposition. Expensive and
potentially harmful lab products have been favored over a more
natural, holistic approach to healing and this has to end. I expect
meaningful progress in cannabis R&D over the coming months and
welcome the advances and treatment options this will bring.

###

Jesse Duncan is a lifelong Humboldt County resident, a father of six, a retired financial advisor, and a full-time commercial cannabis grower. He is also the creator of NorCal Financial and Cannabis Consulting, a no-cost platform that helps small farmers improve their cultivation, business, and financial skills. Please check out his blog at, his Instagram at jesse_duncann, and connect with him on Linkedin.

February 6, 2022