The Savikalpa Journal

Utilizing cannabis for its medicinal properties is hardly a new concept. Historical evidence shows that for thousands of years, cannabis has been cultivated and utilised worldwide by various cultures for its therapeutic applications.

Cannabis and CBD for stress relief are already a popular option for patients looking to relax, but how much do we know about how it works? Research tells us that the two most prevalent cannabinoids, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD), reduce stress and anxiety through their interaction with the endocannabinoid system (ECS).

The researchers also found that cannabis flower “is an effective and fast acting antidepressant medication,” and that the THC levels “are the strongest independent predictors of symptoms relief among the product characteristics that are generally available to the public.”

Using cannabis for several months is associated with a significant reduction in blood pressure among older adults with hypertension, correlating cannabinoids and blood pressure regulation, according to a prospective study published last week.

While many health conditions can be treated with more traditional pharmaceuticals, plant-based products may be a safer and healthier option, or at least a safe health supplement. For instance, when it comes to pain relief, THC and CBD are safer than opioids.

The effects of cannabis have a lot to do with the endocannabinoid system (ECS), which exists in all vertebrates and which plays a key role in regulating all types of crucial functions such as sleep, pain, and appetite.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is characterised by the haunting grip of vivid flashbacks, intrusive thoughts or images, nightmares, and overwhelming distress caused by reminders of trauma.

Much can be said about the potential of cannabis and natural remedies to improve human health, including CBD oil for stress relief and as an alternative medicine for pain management.

Cannabis works primarily by modulating a system in the human body known as the endocannabinoid system. This system includes chemicals naturally produced by the human body called endocannabinoids, cannabinoid receptors, which are activated by endocannabinoids, and enzymes which clear the endocannabinoids from the body.

Chronic pain is as real an ailment as any and is characterised by persistence. Defined simply, chronic pain is pain that is ongoing and lasts longer than 12 weeks.

Physical therapy plays a crucial role in recovery. Rehabilitation exercises help restore mobility, rebuild strength, and improve flexibility, all of which are essential in preventing re-injury.

Microdosing is the practice of taking a much smaller dose of a medication than is normally used. It’s a practice used with all kinds of compounds, but most often discussed with psychoactive substances such as LSD. Recently, people have started to apply the practice to cannabis and its popular ingredients, THC and CBD.

The endocannabinoid system (ECS) plays a role in how the body regulates food intake and body weight. Studies have shown that individuals who consume cannabis have lower rates of obesity than those who have never consumed cannabis, as well as lower rates of diabetes.

When it comes to cannabis and insomnia, there is a long history of people utilising cannabis for better sleep. Since ancient times, people have noticed the sedating effects that come with some types of cannabis and have utilised it as a sleep aid.

The endocannabinoid system as a whole is tasked with maintaining homeostasis or balance in the human body, including cognitive function. To do this, it regulates a number of bodily functions such as sleep, hunger, energy, temperature, pain, and immune function.

Medical conditions can significantly contribute to insomnia, often creating a cycle of poor sleep and worsened symptoms. Understanding the connection between these conditions and insomnia is crucial for addressing sleep challenges effectively.

Medical cannabis comes from the plant cannabis sativa and affects the body by interacting with the endocannabinoid system (ECS). Cannabinoids and their impact on rheumatoid arthritis, as well as other functions, happen by interacting with the ECS.

Dysmenorrhea impacts nearly half the population of women, and in 10% of cases, symptoms can escalate to the extent of interfering with daily activities. 

Parkinson's disease is a chronic neurological disorder that impacts a person's motor function significantly. It is characterised by a range of symptoms that include unintended or uncontrollable movements, shaking, stiffness, and difficulties with balance and coordination.

The Endocannabinoid System (ECS) helps in maintaining equilibrium amongst many of the different functions and systems within the human body. The ECS consists of a network of receptors that are activated by cannabinoids.

Which is better, CBG or CBD? The answer depends on what you’re trying to achieve. CBG binds to various receptors, which can produce a range of effects in the body. For some conditions, like hypertension, CBG shows benefits that CBD doesn’t. In other cases, like controlling seizures, CBD is helpful, while the medical use of CBG isn’t.

Mature cannabis plants contain unique compounds called ‘cannabinoids’ that are utilised for their therapeutic and medicinal value.

Most often, drugs operate on one or two molecular targets in our bodies, creating a specific effect. A multi-target effect means plant compounds can operate on many targets. In cannabis, a popular example would be the interaction of THC with CB1, CB2, GPR18, GPR55, TRPV2, TRPV3, and many other receptors.

There is increasing interest in cannabis medicine as a treatment for fibromyalgia. This is not just due to its effects on nociplastic pain (analgesic properties) but also due to its potential to help with other associated symptoms such as insomnia, anxiety and depression.

The meaning of full-spectrum cannabis refers to products, like full spectrum CBD oil, manufactured using an extract that contains the entire spectrum of cannabinoids, terpenes in cannabis, flavonoids, and other phytochemicals contained in cannabis compounds within the cannabis cultivar(s) used to create extracts.

How serious is endometriosis? Common symptoms include pelvic pain and fatigue, with many women reporting a significant negative impact on their life, including on education, work, friendships, and sexual relationships. Learn how cannabis is helping manage symptoms of this often undiagnosed condition that affects millions worldwide.

Ocular migraine is different from traditional migraine as it primarily affects vision rather than causing severe head pain. People experiencing an ocular migraine may often see flashing lights, blind spots, or zigzag lines.

Understanding what insomnia is, ways for symptom relief from insomnia, the treatment options for insomnia and more.

There’s no cure for migraines, but various treatments can help manage symptoms and reduce the frequency of attacks. These include home remedies like consistent sleep, hydration, and managing environmental factors, as well as medications such as pain relievers, triptans, and alternative therapies. Lifestyle changes and consulting a physician are recommended when choosing a treatment plan.

In humans, maintaining homeostasis is the way our natural systems keep conditions in the body optimal for our health and well-being. As conditions shift, either internally or externally, mechanisms kick into action to make sure that our body doesn’t suffer from the change.

Migraines are intense headaches that can vary in symptoms, from visual disturbances to weakness or abdominal pain. Learn the common types of migraines without aura, migraines with aura, retinal migraines, and rare forms like hemiplegic or basilar migraines.

Migraines, often confused with severe headaches, are a complex neurological disorder. A headache is usually just one of the symptoms of a migraine. Other symptoms include nausea, dizziness, fatigue, etc.

Migraines are deeply personal, with their impact varying significantly from one individual to another. Fortunately, there's no need to rely on guesswork to assess their severity. Tools such as MIDAS (Migraine Disability Assessment) and MSQ (Migraine-Specific Quality of Life Questionnaire) offer a structured and reliable way to understand and manage migraine patterns more effectively.

Of course, using cannabis to treat gynaecological problems is nothing new in the world of cannabis and women’s health. Cannabis has an ancient tradition of being used as a medicine in obstetrics and gynaecology.. It’s been used historically to treat conditions like dysmenorrhea, dysuria, hyperemesis gravidarum, and menopausal symptoms.

Lower back pain is a complex and widespread condition that can significantly impact one's quality of life. From non-specific to specific causes, understanding the root of lower back pain is crucial for effective management.

The ECS modulates many of the human body’s most crucial functions — like sleep, energy, memory, hunger, inflammation, and mood, to name just a few — and helps keep them in homeostasis or internal balance.

Migraines are a neurological disorder that comes with a range of symptoms and triggers that can leave you feeling exhausted and debilitated. Let's understand the symptoms and causes of a migraine to manage and prevent it, giving you a chance to reclaim your peace of mind. 

While pregnancy insomnia is common, it doesn’t have to dominate your nights. By addressing these causes with simple solutions, you can create a more restful sleep environment. If the problem persists or becomes overwhelming, consult your healthcare provider for tailored advice.

Sleep regulates our metabolic functions, playing an important role in appetite control and weight management. Sleep deprivation disrupts this delicate balance, increasing the risk of insulin resistance and subsequent weight gain.

While treatment options vary for Insomnia, simple yet consistent lifestyle changes can create a solid foundation for better sleep, going a long way in the treatment of insomnia.

What makes the process of cannabinoid receptor signalling unique is that it is presynaptic. This means that, unlike in the case of neurotransmitters that travel from a neuron to a postsynaptic cell, cannabinoids attach to cannabinoid receptors located on the presynaptic neuron and affect ECS (endocannabinoid system) functions.

Cannabis has gained attention as a potential remedy for lower back pain due to its active compounds. These compounds interact with the body's endocannabinoid system, specifically targeting CB1 and CB2 receptors.

Learn the key differences between migraine with and without aura, including symptoms, causes, triggers, and natural ways to manage it.

Today’s cannabis medicine professionals choose instead to highlight ongoing efforts in clinical research on treatment efficacy to support the inclusion of cannabis in everyday modern medicine and explore more effective cannabis treatments. The current body of research regarding the possible treatment applications of cannabis medicine has expanded to include a long list of conditions/symptoms.

Cannabis has emerged as a potential remedy for insomnia. At the heart of this relationship lies the endocannabinoid system (ECS)

Cannabinoid medicines don’t just suppress symptoms. Instead, they help the body return to a state of balance, or homeostasis, by interacting with a wide network in the body called the endocannabinoid system (ECS).

Climbing is a physically demanding sport that builds, as well as requires, strength and balance. While starting off or taking up climbing more regularly, it’s important to listen to your body and take things slow because climbing comes with its fair share of common injuries.

The ECS interacts with the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian (HPO) axis, managing and controlling key reproductive processes like helping eggs mature, pain modulation, the development of the uterus lining, implantation, the development of the embryo during pregnancy and more.

It is well-known that many herbs contain medicinal properties, helping reduce inflammation and pain – symptoms associated with various conditions, including migraine. Some herbs have been used to treat headache-like symptoms, including migraine, for centuries.

Cannabinoids, a cannabis compound classification category, are compounds naturally found in the cannabis plant, most abundant in the plant’s flower buds and are responsible for a lot of the entourage effects of cannabis compounds. Due to their plant origin, the cannabinoids in cannabis are also known as phytocannabinoids.

In the case of cannabis medicine, tolerance is most commonly associated with patients who are consuming doses with a high potency of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) over an extended time. THC tolerance can also be affected by one’s gender, DNA, previous use history, and drug delivery method.

Cannabis is a popular alternative to standard medication, especially for chronic conditions resistant to standard treatment. One such condition is psoriasis, an inflammatory autoimmune disorder affecting the skin, for which one might get psoriasis relief with CBD oil or other cannabis products. 

Research shows that nearly 85% of chronic migraine sufferers are women, and women are three times more at risk of experiencing migraines compared to men. 

Sleep is one of the most crucial pillars of good health, yet many struggle to get enough. There are various reasons you might stay awake through the night, from an endless loop of thoughts to physical discomfort. A natural and widely used practice called acupressure could help. 

Imagine waking up one day to an unusual stiffness in your fingers, something you’ve never noticed before. You brush it off, thinking it’s due to endless scrolling on your mobile phone or an awkward sleeping position. But as days go by, the stiffness lingers, your joints feel tender, and even simple tasks like opening a jar become difficult. This could be an early sign of arthritis and, if ignored, might turn into persistent, debilitating pain.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease that mistakenly causes the body’s immune system to attack healthy joint tissue. Unlike regular arthritis that results from wear and tear, RA causes inflammation in the lining of your joints, leading to pain, swelling, stiffness, and, over time, joint damage. 

Many people with arthritis avoid exercise due to pain or fear of worsening symptoms, but staying active is essential for maintaining joint function, reducing stiffness, and strengthening muscles. The key is to choose the right type and intensity of exercise.

Arthritis, including osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA), significantly affects daily life by causing joint pain, stiffness, and inflammation. In Ayurveda, arthritis is considered an imbalance of Vata, the dosha responsible for movement in the body.

Better gut health is now understood to be a key determinant in disease prevention, not dissimilar to Ayurveda, which exhorts the primacy of the gut microbiome in maintaining health.

Research on cannabis-based treatments for diabetes and the endocannabinoid system and diabetes shows a strong connection between an overactive endocannabinoid system and the incidence of diabetes and obesity, and using cannabinoids tends to stimulate this system.

Exploring cannabis knowledge and cannabis can be an effective treatment for many different types of pain, including neuropathic pain, arthritis, migraines, and fibromyalgia, among others. There is also a growing body of evidence that cannabis can help with inflammation.

Modern pharmaceuticals, based on rigorous, peer-reviewed research and state-of-the-art development methods, make up the vast majority of the medicine used today. However, they have not managed to eliminate the time-tested plant-based healing and alternative natural remedies that have been trusted worldwide for centuries.

THC is known for providing the controversial, mind-altering, recreational high. However, it is replete with medicinal benefits as well. For example, THC treats pain, soothes nausea, reduces inflammation, and can improve metabolism.

Cannabis oil is the resulting product created when cannabis extraction methods of chemical compounds found in the cannabis plant (Vijaya, full-spectrum cannabis extract) activate and are then infused with a carrier oil, such as medium-chain triglyceride (MCT).

The cannabis experience is significantly influenced by mindset (intention/expectation) and setting (environments of consumption and post-drug onset). One’s male or female biological sex can also affect the mind and body reaction to cannabis' effects, alongside and in concert with several other factors

The quality of our sleep is deeply interconnected with nearly every other aspect of our health, and can be substantially influenced by our sleeping environment. Individuals hoping to treat sleep disorders, including insomnia with cannabis, should begin by identifying any relevant factors and predispositions that may be contributing to a poor night’s sleep.

Whether you're grappling with primary or secondary restless legs syndrome (RLS), understanding the various management strategies available is essential for effectively addressing this condition.

The symptoms and intensity of migraines can differ from one person to the other. The key to managing migraines is to identify and understand the triggers. 

RLS is influenced by various factors. Chronic ailments such as iron deficiency, Parkinson’s disease, kidney failure, Diabetes, and Peripheral Neuropathy often coincide with RLS symptoms.

It’s true that 2-AG itself has anti-inflammatory actions within the brain, especially by interacting with CB1 and CB2 receptors. However, that isn’t the only role it plays in the inflammatory pathway.

The science behind Ayurveda can aid in reestablishing equilibrium, decreasing stress and anxiety, enhancing digestion, normalising hormone levels, and altering behaviours that may contribute to poor sleep.

The major active chemicals in cannabis — cannabinoids — are able to trigger receptors that control the endocannabinoid system, modifying the function of those receptors and the connected systems, including the cardiovascular system (rapid heartbeat from cannabis use).

Cannabis medicine has gained increased focus and importance in recent years concerning pain management and treatment. Not only is cannabis commonly sought out as an alternative to traditional pain medications, but also as a treatment option for conditions known to be treatment resistant, and more critically, as a tool to be used in opioid use reduction strategies and in reducing opioid related deaths.

Insomnia is a sleep disorder characterized by difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or getting quality sleep. The cause of insomnia determines how one treats insomnia.

What is Migraine? It is a neurological disorder causing intense, throbbing pain, often on one side of the head. Learn the difference between migraines and headaches, explore symptoms like nausea and light sensitivity, and discover effective treatments and triggers for managing migraines.

There is scientific evidence suggesting that cannabis can reduce inflammation and may be able to help treat conditions that are either caused by inflammation or have it as a key symptom, such as rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, inflammatory bowel disease, and hepatitis.

Insomnia isn't just about tossing and turning the whole night and being unable to sleep. It manifests through several key symptoms that disrupt the natural sleep-wake cycle of your body.

While some types of arthritis, such as rheumatoid arthritis or those with a genetic origin cannot be entirely prevented, certain lifestyle measures can help reduce the risk of developing or worsening arthritis.

Managing rheumatoid arthritis requires different approaches to reduce inflammation and improve the quality of life. While conventional treatments like medications and physical therapy are commonly prescribed, natural remedies can complement these methods effectively.