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Medical Marijuana Reduces Alzheimers Symptoms, Scientists Say

The administration of liquid cannabis extracts containing THC is associated with the mitigation of various symptoms of Alzheimer’s-related agitation and dementia, according to observational trial data published online ahead of print in The Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease.

Israeli investigators assessed the use of cannabis oil as an adjunct pharmacotherapy treatment in ten Alzheimer’s disease patients over a period of several weeks. Researchers reported that drug administration was associated with a significant reduction in patients’ symptom severity scores. Specifically, cannabis oil ingestion corresponded with decreased levels of aggression, irritability, apathy, and delusions. Investigators concluded, “Adding medical cannabis oil to Alzheimer’s disease patien ts pharmacotherapy is safe and a promising treatment option.” The administration of dronabinol (oral synthetic THC in pill form) has previously been reported to reduce Alzheimer’s-induced agitation and improve weight gain, while preclinical studies have theorized that cannabinoids may be neuroprotective against the onset of the disease. An abstract of the study, “Safety and efficacy of medical cannabis oil for behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia: An open label, add-on, pilot study,” appears online here.

To learn more about other conditions that can be treated with medical marijuana, click here.

Fibromyalgia and Medical Marijuana

Fibromyalgia is a condition that causes widespread musculoskeletal pain, fatigue and tenderness (sensitivity to touch), according to the American College of Rheumatology. In some cases, the symptoms of this disease may be debilitating. The cause of fibromyalgia is unknown, but it is believed to involve disturbances in the way the central nervous system sends and receives messages, as reported by Whaxy. This chronic health problem, which affects an estimated 5 to 12 million Americans, has no cure but medications and self-care can reduce symptoms for some patients. For the entire article, click here. To learn more about other conditions that can be treated with medical marijuana, click here.

Join Patriot Care in Supporting AIDS Walk Boston!

Patriot Care is a sponsor of AIDS Walk Boston & 5K Run for the 2nd year in a row.

On Sunday, June 5, over 10,000 people will come together for this event, which benefits AIDS Action Committee of Massachusetts, the region’s leading provider of HIV prevention and care services. AIDS Action needs our help to keep preventing new infections, supporting those affected, and tackling the root causes of HIV/AIDS. Please join us at DCR’s Hatch Memorial Shell! The event dates back to June 1st, 1986, when 4,000 people came together to take part in an event called “From All Walks of Life” to raise awareness about the growing AIDS epidemic. Gaining visibility for this cause was so important. At that point, a diagnosis of HIV was a death sentence, and many lost friends, loved ones, and co-workers to an illness we knew very little about. That event grew to become AIDS Walk Boston & 5K Run, an annual grassroots community event and AIDS Action’s largest fundraiser. Over the past three decades, nearly 300,000 people have participated in the annual event and raised over $37 million for AIDS Action’s programs and services. “At Patriot Care, we are on a mission to eliminate suffering. Our sponsorship of AIDS Walk Boston helps the AIDS Action Council work to prevent new infections, maximize the health outcomes of those infected, and to end the epidemic here in Massachusetts. We are proud to be sponsoring this event for the second year, and to be able to help our partners with this great cause,” said Bob Mayerson, CEO of Patriot Care. If you’d like to join the Patriot Care team, you can sign up online.

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Even those who can’t make it on June 5 have the option of being a “virtual walker” who will be there in spirit. Please sign up to join us today. “The 2015 AIDS Walk Boston was a powerful event, and I was glad to attend and support this great cause,” said Nathan Costello, general manager of the Lowell dispensary. “It was so impactful to me to meet so many dedicated patients, supporters, and fundraisers. I’m excited to be part of the event in 2016 again, and to be able to continue serving patients of Massachusetts.” Click here for more information on AIDS Walk Boston.

CB2 Cannabinoid Receptor Regulates Sperm Creation, Researchers Consider Fertility Treatments

The latest buzz on the cannabis front is that marijuana might be able to help infertility. It stems from a research paper printed in the April 2016 issue of The FASEB Journal. Scientists were able to demonstrate that one cannabinoid receptor, called “CB2,” is associated with the regulation of creating sperm and that activating this receptor could cause the process to move more quickly. CB2 receptors are located throughout the immune system on organs like the spleen, tonsils, and thymus gland and within the gastrointestinal system. They are the receptors generally cited by medical marijuana activists. For entire article, click here: http://www.inquisitr.com/2966651/cb2-cannabinoid-receptor-regulates-sperm-creation-researchers-consider-fertility-treatments/#utm_campaign=Blogs%2FNews&utm_content=28902048&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook

Terpenes vs. Terpenoids

The words “terpenoid” and “terpene” are often used synonymously, but the two words actually have different meanings: Terpenoids are terpenes that contain additional functional groups (functional groups are what make chemicals unique like alcohols, esters, carboxylic acid, etc). Terpenoids may refer to terpenes that have been chemically modified to produce a desired effect. There are increasing studies on the medical benefits of the active cannabinoids such as delta9THC and CBD, but that is only part of what makes cannabis medically beneficial, and now there is a new dimension by looking at the secondary active ingredients (terpenes).

The terpenes most commonly found in cannabis are as follows. Keep reading for the science of each terpene!

Betacaryophyllene
Linalool
Pinene
Myrcene
Limonene

Beta-caryophyllene

Scent: Spicy/peppery/woody

Foods that contain beta-caryophyllene: black pepper, rosemary, oregano, cloves, and other dark leafy green herbal plants.

Medical benefits: Because BCP binds to CB3 receptors, it can be highly useful for inflammatory disorders (example: arthritis, multiple sclerosis or chronic pain). BCP can also be beneficial for treating anxiety & depression without the overwhelming mental effects from THC. BCP can also be gastroprotective, which can be helpful for patients with ulcers or even just regular indigestion. BCP will selectively bind to CB2 receptors (which are actually found outside of the brain and in all other parts of the body), so it is not a psychoactive component of cannabis. There is some debate on whether or not BCP is actually a cannabinoid or a terpene because of it’s ability to selectively bind to the CB2 receptors.

Types of strains that betacaryophyllene is commonly found: Arjan’s Haze #2, Super Silver Haze, Neville’s Haze.

Linalool

Scent: Floral, a terpene that is commonly used in perfumes.

Foods that contain linalool: bergamot, coriander, cinnamon, clary sage, geranium, lavender, petitgrain, rosewood, sweet basil, thyme. Medical benefits: Linalool differs from other terpenes commonly found in cannabis in that it has an OH group attached to it, making it a terpene alcohol. Linalool has been shown to be helpful with treating mental disorders such as depression and anxiety. It has been shown to reduce psychosis, relieve stress and help improve mental health. Linalool may even be used as a sedative (sleep aid) as well as an anticonvulsant. Some studies even report antiinflammatory and analgesic effects from linalool essential oil.

Types of strains that linalool is commonly found: Cannabis strains with purple leaves and flowers tend to have higher concentrations of linalool, however, the specific phenotype of each plant will have different levels of linalool present. Strains that have qualities such as this are GDP (Grand Daddy purple), Grape Ape, and Amnesia Haze.

Pinene

Scent: Pine/woody

Foods that contain pinene: Basil, parsley, dill and pine nuts. Can also be found in pine needles that can be seeped in hot water and consumed as a tea. Medical benefits: Bronchodilator (helps patients with asthma), anti-inflammatory/painreliever. Pinene can be helpful for memory retention/mental clarity. May counteract some negative qualities of THC. Pinene is an antioxidant (prevents oxidation damage to other molecules in the body) and also has antimicrobial and antibacterial qualities. There are two isomers of pinene (isomers are molecules with the same chemical formula, but they have different arrangement of atoms). There is an alphapinene and a betapinene, but the alphapinene (the left structure in the image above) is more commonly found in cannabis. Types of strains that pinene is commonly found: Trainwreck, ChemDawg, and Jack Herer normally will test high in pinene.

Myrcene

Myrcene is found to be the most abundant terpene in cannabis. Scent: Earthy, sweet and somewhat clovelike.

Foods that contain myrcene: Mango, hops, lemongrass, thyme, and guava melon. Medical benefits: Analgesic/antiinflammatory, anti-proliferative/anti-mutagenic (inhibits cell mutation, including cancer cells), suppresses muscle spasms, sleep aid, and also has antibacterial properties as well. Studies show that myrcene may make THC more effective, which is why it has been said that consuming fresh mango (or other foods with high concentrations of myrcene) prior to consuming cannabis will increase the effects of the cannabinoids.

Types of strains that myrcene is commonly found: El Nino, Himalayan Gold, Skunk # 1, White Widow.

Limonene

Scent: Citrus

Foods that contain limonene: Oranges, grapefruit, lemon/lime, and other citrus fruits. Medical benefits: Anti-depressant / mood elevator, antimicrobial/antifungal, may be helpful for acid reflux or indigestion, and even stimulate the immune system. Types of strains that limonene is commonly found: Tangie, Super Lemon Haze, Chernobyl, and can even be found in some indica strains, like Berry White!

*Not every plant of any given strain will have the same levels of terpenes due to the expression of the individual plant’s phenotypes. The only way to be sure is through a terpene analysis from a cannabis testing laboratory. Love talking terpenes? Stop by and talk to Alicia!