CANNABIS: Street drug, Home remedy or Medicine?

By Pharmacology University

What is cannabis for you: a street drug, a home remedy, or medicine? Maybe you can have a clear answer after reading this audiobook.

The history of cannabis dates back to civilizations ranging from ancient China to the Roman Empire. Various cultures have used this plant for over 4,000 years, attracted by its therapeutic properties, such as pain relief, rheumatism, and gout. Man has used all parts of the plant. People have used the root, leaves, and flowers as medicine, the stem for fabrics, fibers, and paper, and, finally, the seeds as food and oil. At that time, cannabis was considered legal like any other plant.

At the beginning of the 20th century, multiple factors and interests converged to stigmatize the use of cannabis through a series of state and local laws. This illegality resulted in the dissemination of false information that strengthens the taboo towards the cannabis plant, despite its natural origin and outstanding benefits. This situation also hinders the possibility of carrying out numerous objective clinical tests that scientists could develop beyond the collection of surveys that have the variable of subjectivity.

However, the interest in its therapeutic use increased in 1964 after the discovery of the human endocannabinoid system and the main one responsible for the psychoactive properties of THC, which the researcher Raphael Mechoulam isolated. Studies revealed that this system is involved in multiple physiological processes, homeostasis, and the maintenance of a stable internal environment despite fluctuations in the external environment. It also revealed its relationship with various types of pathologies. Right now, it is used to treat chronic and neuropathic pain, diabetes, cancer, and neurodegenerative pathologies, such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease.

In this ebook, you will learn about the history of cannabis, the origin of its illegalization, the discovery of the endocannabinoid system, its receptors, and all the homeostatic-physiological functions. You will also learn about its therapeutic uses, alternatives of cannabis as a home remedy, Rick Simpson's Oil (RSO) and its benefits, the apothecaries, and the pharmacology of the active principles of the plant.

If you are interested in learning more about the fascinating medical cannabis, we invite you to enjoy this ebook that Pharmacology University brings you.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Pharmacology University
• Release date: Jan 21, 2022

Pharmacology University

Pharmacology University is a company with more than 12 years of experience in educational systems focused on medicinal cannabis. We were born in Texas and since then we have had the challenge of transforming the social stigma of medicinal cannabis with the best tool in the world: Education.

Book preview

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Table of Contents

HISTORICAL CONTEXT OF CANNABIS USE

Cannabis regulation

To delve a little deeper into the world of cannabis and how it is perceived in today's civilization, let's talk about the concept of drug. A drug, from a medical and pharmaceutical point of view, is a substance, or active molecule, capable of preventing, alleviating, or curing a disorder or disease. On the other hand, from a social point of view, the word drug is used to refer to any substance that alters the natural balance of the body and is administered without therapeutic purposes, generating in some cases abuse, dependence, addiction, and serious side effects. Although cannabis does not cause physical dependence, this issue has generated controversy throughout history.

DISCOVERY OF CANNABINOIDS

The main responsible for the psychoactive properties of cannabis is THC. This cannabinoid was isolated by the researcher Raphael Mechoulam in 1964. Twenty years later, he discovered that these components of the plant were coupled to receptors distributed in the human body, thus observing for the first time the endocannabinoid system (ECS). This system performs a tissue-specific task, but its main function is body homeostasis and the maintenance of a stable environment despite external variations.

Endocannabinoid system

Endocannabinoid signaling

CB1 receptor

CB2 receptor

Phytocannabinoids

Synthetic cannabinoids

MEDICINE OR HOME REMEDY?

Cannabis, a home remedy

Rick Simpson Oil (RSO)

RSO’s benefits

Cannabinoids today

Pharmacology of cannabinoids

Pharmacokinetics

Routes of administration

Cannabis Bioavailability

CONCLUSIONS

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

REFERENCES AND BIBLIOGRAPHY

Chapter I

HISTORICAL CONTEXT OF CANNABIS USE

The history of cannabis dates back to the ancient world, its use was first documented in Asia more than 4000 years ago. The first recorded evidence of the therapeutic use of cannabis dates back to 2,737 BC, in the classical pharmacopeia, transcribed by the legendary founder of Chinese medicine: the Red Emperor Sheng Nung, who used the medicinal properties of the plant for the relief of pain, rheumatism, and gout.

Red Emperor Shen Nung

Throughout history all parts of the plant have been used: the root, leaves, and flowers as medicine and for spiritual use; the stem for fabrics, fibers, and paper; and the seeds for food and oil. In 2003 in northwest Uyghur in Xinjiang - China, a leather basket with fragments of cannabis leaves and seeds was found next to a mummified shaman, dating back some 2,500 to 2,800 years.

Likewise, in Ancient Egypt and other Arab countries, they document the therapeutic use of cannabis as a medicine, through oral administration, in ointments and bandages. In their religious