The current state of our technology lets us create wonderful things. Our innovations have certainly travelled very far and what was considered to be impossible hundreds of years ago is now done on a daily basis, but that’s not even the height of our technological achievements.
Nowadays, we are capable of creating what is called an AI, or Artificial Intelligence, responsible for making robots function and for Tesla cars to drive on their own. But what exactly is AI and can we make it work in a way that will not endanger us?
Contrary to natural intelligence, which humans and animals have, artificial intelligence is present in machines. It can be a term describing machines that copy the “cognitive” functions of a human being—including “problem solving” and “learning”—or it can be any device that observes its environment first, then takes actions that boosts its chances of maneuvering through the environment and successfully accomplishing its goals.
It’s used in a lot of fields now like business, medicine, food manufacturing, and more. One would often see examples of AIs on automated machines and systems. AI sounds pretty amazing, for sure, but what are the possible repercussions that we could face if we develop AI?
Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, once said that “If you’re not concerned about AI safety, you should be,” in a serious manner. The biggest risk that comes with AI is if a sci-fi kind of event happens and these artificial minds become rogue. Why is that dangerous? Well for one, we’ve already turned some of them into autonomous weapons.
Autonomous weapons, unlike humans, are much harder to disable during a combat due to their durability and armaments. If a cruel or heartless individual decided to deploy one in a populated area, hundreds of lives will surely be lost before the AI gets stopped.
Social manipulation is also a threat. Intrinsically, AIs run like programs, which means it has a goal to achieve. Social media is run by lots of autonomous-powered algorithms, which are very efficient at hitting their targeted market. If an AI’s goal is to spread propaganda, for example, then it would have no moral issue (and no problem with disseminating that kind of information rapidly) in doing just that, as shown by accusations on Cambridge Analytics claiming that they used data from 50 million Facebook accounts to try and change the tides during the 2016 U.S. Presidential election.
Making AI safe for everyone is challenging, but it’s not impossible. The best way to ensure that AIs would be kept in check is by having social scientists that’ll ensure that the AI’s algorithms and systems are aligned with human values. We can achieve such a thing by consciously optimizing AI systems, gather information about what people want, and train ML (Machine Learning) models based on the gathered data. It’ll take a lot of work, resolving biases, and collaboration, but it’s all definitely worth it.
At the end of the day, an AI is simply an artificial mind created by humans to help us with our tasks. They should be treated with respect and when programming them, human values should be instilled in everything that they do. By doing that, we can eventually be sure that AI safety is not only possible, but that it’s integrated in every single artificial mind.
]]>Dubbed as the “Father of Cannabis Research,” Dr. Raphael Mechoulam shared his latest discovery to the world just a couple of months ago. The discovery has sparked plenty of excitement from the medical cannabis industry. Some say that with this breakthrough, the future of medicinal cannabis is undoubtedly secured.
Given the name of EPM301, it is synthetic cannabis made of 100% stable acid-based cannabinoid molecules that Dr. Mechoulam discovered in partnership with EPM, a U.S.-based global biotechnology company. It has a scientific name of Cannabidiolic Acid Methyl Ester and can be used as alternatives for certain types of drugs. Let’s have a better look of EPM301 and find out how promising it can be.
Dr Mechoulam explains that everything started when “EPM developed a method to work with the original substances of cannabis.”He adds that “Originally, there is an acid that appears in the plant, and those acids are these mysterious worlds of compounds that are much more potent than cannabinoids.” The method lets scientists rework the acids found in the plants to make them stable enough for extensive use.
Reshaf Swisa, CEO of EPM, reveals a little bit of the process by explaining that they were able to stabilize the compound via esterification—a chemical procedure that induces a reaction between an alcohol and an acid to yield ester or water. He then expounds it by saying that the team began to observe the compound’s activities and found it to be useful in suppressing nausea and anxiety. According to Swisa, this means that the compound could be of huge help for cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy and patients suffering from Psoriasis or IBD (Inflammatory Bowel Disease).
At 88 years old, one would think that Dr Mecholaum would’ve been retired for a long time. After all, his discovery of the human endocannabinoid system and the cannabis plant’s active compounds during the 1960s, while he was still working at the Weizmann Institute, was considered to be more than good enough. But the good old researcher simply couldn’t stay away from the laboratory, a passion which ultimately led him to the discovery of EPM301.
According to Dr Mecholaum, the cannabidiolic acid in EPM301 is far more potent than THC or CBD, and it has no known negative side effects. Dr Mecholaum also believes that we badly need new medicines for various diseases, and that the newly discovered synthetic cannabis is the perfect opportunity for new ones. He says “We have two groups of compounds today that need to have a replacement: these are steroids and opioids,” and adds that “We believe that cannabis carries the ability to introduce replacements to these families.”
In search of evidence that can prove EPM301 has the capability to become an alternative for opioids and steroids, Dr Mecholaum and his team ran some tests, and discovered astonishing results. He explains that they compared EPM301 not only to cannabinoids, but also to the existing drugs in question. He and his team were proven to be successful, saying that “...in both of them, we managed to prove that the activity of our compound is very similar to the common one.”
Things are truly looking up for the medical cannabis industry, and with the advent of the synthetic cannabis EPM301, the future for manufacturers, businesses, pharmaceuticals, and especially for patients, looks very promising.
If you want to read more about EPM301, The GrowthOp’s article titled Newly-Discovered Cannabis Compound Stronger than THC and CBD is a good source of information. You can also check out the YouTube video titled New discovery! More potent than CBD, THC. by CBD Examine, if you prefer.
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Cannabidiol (or CBD for short) has finally been legalized here in New Zealand. But if you’ve actively been seeking to buy some CBD products, like CBD oil for example, you’ve probably noticed a wide variety of cheaper international products. The reason why this is happening is influenced by the country’s definition of what a CBD product is.
Today’s topic might be boring for some, but it’s a very important one, especially for the state of cannabis in New Zealand, its businesses, and its buyers. Knowing the expected costs of CBD products could help buyers to plan their purchases, making it more cost-efficient for them. But first, let’s find out how New Zealand’s definition of CBD products is affecting its costs.
CBD is extracted from the cannabis plant, which is known for its tetrahydrocannabinol (or THC for short) substance used by a lot of individuals for recreational purposes, and it’s where CBD products like CBD oil are derived from. There are different strains of cannabis plants and each strain has a different CBD:THC ratio. A CBD-rich oil extracted from a CBD-rich cannabis plant has an approximate CBD:THC ratio of 30:1 (or in other words there are 30 parts CBD and 1 part THC in the substance) in its unprocessed and natural state.
This unprocessed and natural state of the oil is what’s often called a “Full Spectrum” CBD oil, which refers to naturally occurring terpenes and cannabinoids found in cannabis plants. But unlike global trends, New Zealand’s definition of CBD products has a CBD:THC ratio of 50:1—significantly greater than most global standards. It’s impossible to achieve a 50:1 ratio naturally, so manufacturers end up processing the oil to strip away its terpenes and tweak the cannabinoids in the plant to remove miniscule traces of THC.
Not only does the process add more costs to the final product, it also eliminates the synergistic health benefits of the cannabinoids and terpenes, which is then labelled as “Broad Spectrum”.
In global market prices, a 1,500mg CBD bottle labelled as “full spectrum” is around $170 NZD ($100 USD). But for New Zealand, the prices range anywhere from $200 to $500, depending on the doctor’s mark up or the pharmacy selling it. Since CBD in New Zealand has just been widely legalised, thanks to the new Medical Cannabis Scheme (which also has steep fees for aspiring importers or producers of cannabis products), there’s a lack of a competitive market that lets pharmacies get away with tripling their prices due to limited supply.
Overall, one can expect for a somewhat stable price for a 1,500mg CBD bottle to be around $300, in best-case scenarios. It would last for about 1-3 months, but this is a variable that could quickly change based on a person’s CBD tolerance, their height and weight, and how long they’ve been using CBD products.
Misleading businesses are abundant nowadays, so it’s important to beware of those who claim to be selling "full-spectrum” or “cannabinoid-rich” products. Always check the label and the brand that’s selling the product. Choose only those who are certified to sell and distribute CBD products via stores, pharmacies, or online.
We encourage you to actively search for information and learn more about what’s happening to cannabis in New Zealand, both medically and economically.
If you want to read more about CBD costs in New Zealand, check out Medicinal cannabis prescriptions limited by cost, barriers, lack of evidence – survey by NZHerald. Take care, be careful, and keep yourselves informed!
Like any medicine, knowing the proper dose of how much Cannabidiol (or CBD) a person needs is important. Though improper dosage for CBD would only cause minor side effects, its efficacy would be significantly reduced. Fortunately, there are ways to know the right dosage, and we’ll be talking about how to safely identify the proper dosage for cannabis oil today.
But before we begin, we want anyone reading this to know that the article’s aim is to provide tips on how to find the right range of dosage for people. It’s in no way trying to replace a doctor’s medical prescription. Always refer to the dosage that the doctor prescribed and talk to them whenever you have questions or concerns.
The factors that doctors take into consideration when providing patients with dosage are weight, gender, body size, and age. After taking the appropriate measurements, they will then prescribe how much mg (short for milligrams) a patient must take. For most people that need CBD for pain relief, inflammation disorders, and sleep aid, a lower dose proves to be most effective.
A German study back in 2016, titled Cannabis and Cannabinoids in Medicine: Facts and Perspective, published in the German medical journal of Thieme stated that low doses of CBD helped with “neuroprotection, anti-oxidative, and anti-inflammatory effects”. Individuals could start taking around 10 – 25 mg, which is the safest and recommended dosage that many medicinal cannabis products suggest. After a while, they’ll eventually begin to bump up the doses to increase efficacy.
When entering a higher dose, not much really changes in terms of sensation and side effects. Higher doses of cannabis oil have been observed to help treat illnesses that range from Type 2 Diabetes and nausea to psychiatric disorders like dementia and schizophrenia.
There was a study back in 2018, published in the Brazilian Journal of Psychiatry titled Cannabidiol Presents an Inverted U-Shaped Dose-Response Curve in a Simulated Public Speaking Test, showing participants who took 300 mg doses helped calm their anxiety down. Doses of 150 mg and 60 mg were to be found less effective for anxiety, compared to the 300 mg dose that its participants described as “just right”.
Understandably, there are a lot of people worried about overdosing on CBD. However, plenty of research suggests that it’s highly unlikely to overdose on the compound. A study published in the medical journal PubMed titled Safety and Side Effects of Cannabidiol, a Cannabis Sativa Constituent, found that 1,500 mg of CBD can be taken by humans daily, without any adverse side effects.
Dosage is all about taking the right amounts of medicine for your body and it’s vital to follow them. But it’s equally important to listen to your body and the effects it is feeling. When taking CBD, cannabis oil, or any medicine for that matter, always consider whether the symptoms your feeling are getting better or worse and immediately contact your doctor.
Read more stuff about CBD dosage by reading a Healthline article titled CBD Dosage: Figuring Out How Much to Take and video by WayofLeaf titled How to Dose CBD Oil Properly
]]>Arguably, the most cannabinoids present in the cannabis plant are CBD (or Cannabidiol) and THC (or Tetrahydrocannabinol). Once they’re inside a person’s body, both CBD and THC interact with our cannabinoid receptors differently. The effects can range from pain relief to getting high, depending on which substance in the plant is more prevalent.
Now, there’s still a lot that we can learn from CBD and THC. We still haven’t fully discovered the cannabis effects from these compounds, scientists all over the world are doing their best to fully uncover the secrets of these cannabinoids. But in general, we do have a better understanding of the two now, and we’re able to derive an informative comparison between them.
When talking about their differences, the most notable one is the effects of getting high. You see, CBD lacks the psychoactive components of THC—the one responsible for giving people a high. There are different cannabis plant strains that are being cultivated around the world and the secret to having a psychoactive drug, or a medicinal one, is in the strain.
THC is the main reason why the cannabis plant is being used for recreational purposes, prompting lots of cultivators to grow cannabis plant strains that have high levels of THC. On the other hand, medical cannabis is a CBD dominant strain that has little to no THC in it, which means people won’t get high by taking it in any shape or form.
Both CBD and THC have almost similar effects that are being used to treat a variety of medical conditions. There are distinctions, however, on how they’re being used as medicine by different people. For CBD, individuals often use it to help treat ailments such as:
While the THC and its cannabis effects have been used in treating and providing relief for:
Some could also use both as an aid to treat nausea, pain, and anxiety. However, experts would advise using CBD for anxiety because THC has been seen to increase it in some patients.
Here in New Zealand, CBD has already been legalised, with the Ministry of Health launching its new Medical Cannabis Scheme on April 1, 2020. Dr. David Clark, Minister of Health, explains that the new medical scheme will allow local cultivation and production of medicinal cannabis products. The scheme allows CBD products to be manufactured as liquids, tablets, dried, or vaporized—except for smoking.
Additionally, THC has also been approved for medicinal use, which can be available in tablets, capsules, or dried flowers (for vaporisation). It’s also important to note that medicinal cannabis products may contain THC in them, which manufacturers and distributors will indicate via percentage, in compliance with the Medicines Act 1981 and the Misuse of Drugs Act 1975.
CBD and THC share the same plant, but they are vastly different from each other. However, each has medicinal cannabis effects that are helpful to people. Before getting in any cannabis treatment, remember to do some research about them first. To get you started, we recommend watching this YouTube video titled THC vs CBD: What’s in Your Weed? By AsapSCIENCE. Want to read some more about THC and CBD’s differences? Try checking out an article titled CBD vs THC: What’s the difference? By Leafly.com for some informative dose of cannabis education!
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Technology is one of the biggest advantages that we’ve made. Everyone could benefit from technology, especially those that cultivate and produce cannabis, help them learn how to grow cannabis properly. With technology, they can also ensure that they can efficiently cut costs and keep their workers are safe from any harm. Here are 5 ways that cannabis businesses could utilise technology to do just that!
State-of-the-art technology offers boundless opportunity to enhance monitoring, recording, and adjusting climate controls in an indoor grow room. Daily garden tasks like fertilising and watering can be handled by an automated system, giving employees the chance to focus on more important tasks, like trimming, to improve the product’s quality. Companies can opt to use machine trimmers, but the amount of care needed wouldn’t be the same compared to a human’s handiwork.
Medical cannabis companies could also use technology to improve safety measures. Developing standard operating procedures and improved workflows not only maximises production efficiency, but also increases the overall safety of a company. New automation systems would also decrease working hazards, especially when it comes to dealing with complex and potentially dangerous machinery.
Whenever a company grows and expands, requiring more man-power. Hiring employees can be expensive and without an automation system, a company might end up hiring more people than they need.
Using technology to implement automation systems like crop-steering technology scheme to know how to grow cannabis and monitor the crop’s health, growth, and yield is vital to keep the business growing. Its presence also means that the number of people needed to perform such tasks is lesser now, giving companies more time to evaluate which tasks really need a human to do the job.
Joe Caltabiano, Cresco Labs co-founder and Chicago-based cannabis entrepreneur, said “Gone are the days of dragging a hose and pumping water room by room,” thanks to the many advances we’ve made in the field of technology. Nowadays, automated systems allow cultivators to gain better control and give proper doses of water amounts, nutrients, and more. The automation system also uses less water that can decrease operational costs by about 20%.
Cultivators won’t have to get very “close and touchy” to their crops as often anymore, thanks to new inventions like The Box—a cannabis purifying tool that uses “reactive oxygen” to eliminate microorganisms and mould. Mark Radtke, CEO of Bonsai, was losing around 70-85 pounds of flower per month, with a wholesale price of $1,000 per pound. With the help of The Box, he says that his company was able to stabilise the situation and added that “It also keeps the room cleaner, with less people walking back and forth in the room”.
Growing cannabis can truly be a challenging task. Aside from learning how to grow cannabis, you’d have to master techniques and use the right tools to achieve maximum results. Fortunately for us, we have various technologies that help make the cultivation of cannabis easier, faster, and with better results.
In the pursuit of enhancing and finding new medicines for everyone, researchers and scientists have decided to look deeper into the benefits of cannabis plants. Medical cannabis New Zealand has already taken off and the first licenses are expected to be issued by mid-2020. There are plenty of lists out there that talk about the cannabis plant’s benefits, but some of them don’t mention the cannabis benefits that you probably didn’t know—and we have them here!
Dravet Syndrome causes severe developmental delays and seizures in sufferers. The acclaimed chief medical correspondent for CNN, Dr Sanjay Gupta, is using a cannabis strain that’s low in THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol—the one responsible for the plant’s psychoactive effects) and high in CBD (Cannabidiol) to treat Charlotte Figi, a five-year-old girl who has Dravet’s Syndrome. During his documentary titled “WEED”, Dr Gupta interviewed the girl’s family and discovered that the child’s seizures were significantly decreased from 300 times a week, to once every 7 days.
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus is an autoimmune disorder that makes a person’s immune cells attacks their body for unknown reasons. It is theorised that chemicals in the cannabis plant calm the immune system down.
A study from the journal Cerebral Cortex showed promising possibilities that medical cannabis can aid the brain heal after a traumatic injury or concussion. The experiments were performed on mice, which cannabis was shown to help activate healing mechanisms and reduce bruising of the brain after a significant head injury. Medical cannabis New Zealand would do really well with this, especially in cases of vehicle accidents or work-place mishaps.
Back in January 2012, the Journal of the American Medical Association showcased that medical cannabis actually increased lung capacity and improved lung functions. Researchers tested 5,115 young adults over a period of 20 years, looking out for risk factors of heart disease, discovered that cannabis users revealed an increase in lung capacity, compared to those who smoked tobacco. Vaporised forms are now available for medical cannabis as well, which is a safer alternative.
The side effects of treating Hepatitis C infection can be so severe that a lot of individuals do not finish it. Side effects include nausea, depression, fatigue, loss of appetite, and muscle pains. Fortunately, a 2006 study by the European Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology observed that 86% of cannabis users were able to successfully complete their treatments. The study also revealed that it improves 54% of the treatment’s efficiency.
Now that you know about some not-so-popular medical benefits that medical cannabis has, you have a better understanding of how vital this plant is. Legalising medical cannabis New Zealand is a life-changing choice for both the government and especially for the patients. With it being legally available, it’s easier for a lot of people to get the medicine they truly need.
Medical cannabis has been making a lot of headlines among researchers, policymakers, and healthcare professionals. In fact, New Zealand’s Ministry of Health recently made it legal and in the U.S., a total of 22 states have legalised its use. The world is certainly beginning to loosen up on its bias about the plant.
The reason why a lot of folks are now looking at cannabis in a better light is thanks to the many health effects of cannabis that both scientists and researchers have uncovered. While it’s true that cannabis does have a substance that can make an individual high, it also has a very helpful chemical in it. Let’s take a better look at how medical cannabis can help improve one’s health!
Promising results have been discovered pertaining to the treatment of patients who suffer from PTSD, anxiety, and depression. It’s been observed to reduce tension and uplift mood. Compared to other known anxiety-reducing medicines like benzodiazepines, medical cannabis has shown to minimise drug reliance by up to 47%.
Additionally, a California study discovered that war veterans suffering from PTSD reported having fewer nightmares and have shown to be less sensitive towards audio triggers.
Pains and aches are common for the elderly, especially when arthritis, diabetes mellitus, and other cardiovascular and neurologic diseases set in. The health effects of cannabis for the elderly are known to be a safe alternative than opium-based medicines, since most of them can’t use those drugs due to ulcers or kidney problems. Medical cannabis is particularly effective in treating pain linked to multiple sclerosis and arthritis.
Cancer treatment can prove to be a life-saving procedure for a lot of patients. However, they’re known to cause weight loss, nausea, and loss of appetite. Medical cannabis has been shown to mitigate these side effects.
Patients who have Parkinson’s Disease have fewer numbers of cannabinoid receptors called CB1. With medical cannabis, the cannabidiol (or CBD for short) could bind to those receptors and use its muscle relaxant properties to reduce the frequency of tremors. Although more research is needed to really pinpoint how cannabinoids react within the patient’s body, the initial results are quite promising and show great potential for future use.
A study in Colorado discovered that one in three individuals using medical cannabis declared to have been sleeping better. It acts in the same way for those with Parkinson’s Disease, with the CBD binding to the cannabinoid receptors to help the muscles to relax, ease up anxiety, and tension. Once in a relaxed state, the body would then naturally produce melatonin, making the person feel sleepy.
There are a lot of businesses, medical professionals, researchers, and scientists who are excited about the legalisation of cannabis. Its legalisation means that they could study it, do some tests, and finally uncover the full potential of the health effects of cannabis!
In order for a business to operate legally, they’d need a government-approved license. Now that cannabis in New Zealand has been officially legalised by the Ministry of Health, pioneering and new businesses are more than eager to apply for a license. But before all of us can get our hands on that valuable permit, we should know about the 5 crucial questions we need to ask first.
In order to get a winning application, there’s a need for us to consider how our team would match up with the skills and expertise needed to make the business successful—as well as the application. Gaps in expertise should be filled with a specialist on a consulting contract. Sure, it’s going to be an extra investment upfront, but it can certainly aid to improve the preparation of business operations and enhance application scoring.
Businesses mainly serve to provide profit for the person(s) who started it. However, our businesses should be built on the basis of caring for the people, making sure they get quality products, provide jobs, and improve the quality of life; ensuring that we are part of something larger than ourselves then it’s missing a vital element of helping the cannabis in New Zealand industry and the people.
Clients or customers will still need a huge amount of time to build up. During those slow days, cannabis business owners need to have an extensive amount of funds to cover significant expenses like lease or mortgage payments, consultant payments, and legal fees. Running financial modelling could help to understand of pre-operational cash flow better and a strategy to deal with it.
Opening up a business can be truly expensive, which is especially true for a medical cannabis business. According to Ken Cera, founding partner of the law firm Schwartz & Cera counsel, the best way to raise money is by approaching smart investors.
He says “Smart investors see a downturn as an opportunity to invest in good companies at a lower price. Show them why you are going to make it happen. Show them how you will be ready when the time is right. This is a time full of opportunity. Valuations may be lower, but I still see many deals going forward.”
There are a lot of licenses that we could apply for, which we can’t apply for everything, and choosing the right one is the best option we have. Knowing one’s strengths and understanding how they can turn it into a competitive advantage will make it easier for them to decide which license suits them best.
Cannabis licensing is like a game of planning and details. Medical licensing for cannabis in New Zealand is complex and “harder than anything you’ve ever done”. But with good ideas, loyal partners, and the right questions to ask, it can turn into most “rewarding venture that you’ve ever done.”
Work has been a part of our lives for so long that some of us are addicted to it. Others even use it as an escape, keeping themselves “too busy” to deal with anything other than work. Whether we admit or not, work does take up a lot of our time.
However, working for too long could soon lead to burnout, and the only cure or prevention is relaxation, which some medical cannabis products can help with. In the book titled “The 4-Hour Workweek” by Timothy (or Tim) Ferriss, an angel investor and advisor to startups who is the author of the book, he explains how important relaxation is, and how to give yourself more free time to do what you want!
Relaxation is the state of being free from tension and anxiety. The physical implications of relaxing increases the flow of blood increase in our bodies, which gives us more energy. It also aids in letting us have a clearer and calmer mind, helping us concentrate better, think more positively, and better memory. It also slows our body’s heart rate down, relieving tension and reducing blood pressure.
According to Ferriss, the best way to free up more time is by learning how to disregard everything that isn’t helping us grow or things that aren’t important. By doing so, we’d be eliminating distractions unworthy of our time, use our working hours in total productivity, making you finish your tasks earlier, which gives you more free time. Various medical cannabis products can help with the relaxation process, especially if someone is in pain.
One can also save time by using the Pareto Principle, also known as the 80/20 rule. The Pareto Principle is a notable concept in economics that states 80% of effects are derived from 20% of the causes. For example, if you were a car seller, this means that 80% of your successful sales come from only 20% of the total customers you’ve handled, which gives you the opportunity to focus only on the 20%, in order to maximize the results.
Overall, the book is a reflection of Ferriss’ insights and experience regarding lifestyle development. Whether you believe in the book’s principles or not, there are still some valuable takeaways you can get, such as:
• Shifting the image of productivity from the hours spent to how much work is done.
• Don’t wait for your retirement to relax and live the lifestyle you want.
• Being flexible and mobile is a commodity that is just as valuable as money, giving you more time to relax.
• Automate, outsource, and delegate easy tasks to give you more time to focus on the strategic and creative side of the business, or for your leisure and relaxation.
• Remove distractions and minimise time-wasting activities so you could get the most out of your time, be it for relaxing, pursuing other stuff, or work.
Human life is riddled with tons of thoughts that range from a spectrum of positive, neutral, and negative. More often than not, it is our thoughts and emotions that give colour and vibrancy to our lives. However, we should be mindful about our thoughts too, and mindfulness meditation is the best tool for the job!
People view meditation in different ways. At its core, meditation is training in an awareness that leads to a healthier sense of perspective. It’s not about trying to tune your feelings or thoughts off. It’s about learning how to observe all of them with no judgment, which could eventually, start to have a better understanding of them.
With the popularity of meditation on the rise, lots of people are beginning to look more into its benefits. We’ll introduce you to a couple of them here, so you’d be able to familiarise yourself with them.
• Increases Self-Awareness – Since meditation is focused on learning how to not judge your thoughts or feelings, it helps those who practice it become more self-aware.
• Stress Reduction – Stress is a constant in our lives, especially in the modern time we live in now. A lot of folks are learning mindfulness meditation to reduce stress and lead a more comfortable life.
• Helps Mitigate Anxiety – Less stress means less anxiety, which makes living in such a hectic life be more manageable.
• Improves Sleep – Mindfulness-based meditations work like counting sheep, capable of minimising the noise of anxious thoughts that keep people up at night.
• Prolongs Attention Span – Focused-attention meditation aids in increasing the endurance and strength of your attention span.
Meditation is a simple, yet difficult, task to successfully perform. There are steps that you can take to make sure that you can have a proper meditation.
1) Find a place where you can sit on which you feel that it’s quiet and calm.
2) Time limits are important here and beginners should start with a 10-minute time limit.
3) Sit either cross-legged or on a chair and feel every sensation in your body.
4) Follow and time yourself to track your breath as you inhale and exhale.
5) When you notice that your mind has wandered, refocus your attention to your breathing.
6) Don’t be too hard on yourself if you catch your mind wandering off.
7) Once you feel like you’re done or once the alarm goes off, simply open your eyes.
Our minds are capable of figuring out complex puzzles, giving us brilliant ideas, and thinking for everyone’s welfare. However, it is also capable of terrifying, negative, and debilitating thoughts that if left unchecked, could become the biggest source of our bane. To tame the mind is to gain mastery over it and here are 3 steps that’ll help you subdue it while meditating:
Step 1: Pay very careful, yet non-judgmental attention to the contents of consciousness that are in the present moment—listen to the sounds, feel the many sensations, uncover emotions and thoughts—but never spend too much time getting lost in thought.
Step 2: Confront that voice in your head that is mostly negative. However, do not argue or battle with it. Approach it with understanding and kindness. Observe it. Feel it. Listen to it. Give it attention. And then let it go. Accept the fact that our minds are constantly thinking every single second and that the best way to keep it from running all over the place is being mindful about it.
Step 3: Acknowledge that most of the time, the negative voice in your head is simply just noise. It is not “who you are” or “what you are thinking”. Like Sam Harris, a best-selling author, said during an interview with Dan Harris, author of 10 Percent Happier: How I Tamed the Voice in My Head, Reduced Stress Without Losing My Edge, and Found Self-Help That Actually Works, “The self that we all think we have riding around inside our heads is an illusion—and one that can disappear when examined closely.”
Meditation can be used to acquire both physical and mental benefits. Anyone can perform mindfulness meditation at any time of the day. It is a relaxing, mindful, and beneficial practice that everyone should definitely try.
Magic mushrooms have been widely cultivated by individuals for its psychedelic effects to achieve highs called "trips". What causes these "trips" is psilocybin—a naturally occurring hallucinogenic and psychoactive compound. Due to psilocybin, magic mushrooms (or Psilocybe Cubensis in scientific terms) have earned a bad reputation with both local and international authorities.
But are magic mushrooms really that bad? Or are they like cannabis leaves that have medicinal value hiding in plain sight? Let’s take a better look at psilocybin and discover its secrets gram for gram!
Magic mushrooms have a rich and long history of being associated with self-discovery and spiritual experiences. Shamanistic rituals were performed using these to create a sensation of connection, euphoria, or a skewed sense of time. These mushrooms contain a hallucinogenic and psychoactive compound called psilocybin, which is responsible for the “trips” that users experience.
The psilocybin compound enters the body and gets converted from psilocybin to psilocin, a substance that is believed to influence the levels of serotonin available in the brain. The effects kick in at around 20 to 40 minutes after consumption. Its effects can last up to 6 hours, which is the same time amount of time that psilocin is metabolised and excreted from the body.
Nootropics are drugs, supplements, and various other substances that may enhance cognitive functions, specifically executive functions such as motivations, memory, or creativity. Psilocin attaches to the brain’s serotonin receptors, particularly 5HT2a (as well as 5HT1A, 5HT2C, and 5HT1D), which indirectly increases dopamine production, without any direct link to our body’s dopamine system. Dopamine plays an important role in how we feel pleasure, making a person feel happy and generally in a good mood.
However, that’s not all the benefits that psilocybin has to offer because the simulation of the 5HT2a receptor can enhance cortical neural plasticity (the process of reorganising neural connections found in the brain), enhance cognitive flexibility (multi-tasking), enhance associative learning (a type of learning that forms in response to an environmental stimulus), and sustain all of the improvements in a person’s overall well-being.
Some people have a bias towards magic mushrooms, similar to how folks view cannabis leaves, and believe that they are nothing but a bad bunch. But researchers from Johns Hopkins University have actually recommended that psilocybin should be reclassified for its potential medical use. With the use of microdosing, psilocybin can potentially be used to treat nicotine addiction, depression, substance use disorders, anxiety, and cancer-related psychiatric distress. Other possible benefits include an increase in creativity and a boost in the brain’s emotional responsiveness.
Cannabis leaves were once thought to be bad back in the past, but it has now been slowly accepted for its medicinal value. While psilocybin is still not quite there yet we would like to see more studies on the positives and negatives, but we shouldn’t lose hope. There is great potential for its medicinal value and with hard work and studies on its benefits one day we will think of it as part of everyday life.
Breathing is arguably the most important function that our bodies have. It’s through breathing that we acquire oxygen, molecules that our cells use as fuel to release energy to sustain the living processes via cellular respiration. Cut off our ability to breathe and cells will begin to asphyxiate and expire almost immediately.
Our respiratory system is the one responsible for the near-involuntary action of breathing. We say “near-involuntary” because as humans, there’s a way for us to alter how we breathe to produce advantageous outcomes. The Wim Hof Method is a unique breathing practice that gives practitioners multiple beneficial results, like positive cannabis effects, that could grant a person with super awesome benefits!
It’s fair for anyone to say that it’s impossible for breathing to grant superpowers. However, there is a breathing (pun intended) and a living example that makes the superhuman claim true. The example we’re talking about is none other than Wim Hof himself!
Hof, who is now 61 years old, has done amazing stunts like dive beneath the frigid ice of the North Pole, partake in freezing ice baths for 90 minutes, and run marathons shirtless and barefoot above the Arctic Circle. Hof says that he is able to endure and perform all of these activities thanks to a unique type of breathing practice he made called the Wim Hof Method.
The Wim Hof Method is a straightforward, yet powerful breathing practice that has its roots from three pillars: Cold Therapy, Commitment, and Breathing. Together, these three elements make up the secrets behind the uniquely powerful effects of the method. Similar to how medicinal cannabis effects improve one’s health, the Wim Hof Method has various benefits that include:
• promoting better sleep
• reducing stress
• giving more mental clarity and focus
• faster recovery from physical exertion
• enhancing creativity
• increases energy
• increases willpower
• a more healthy and stronger immune system
• heightens determination and focus
Other benefits that are also linked to the Wim Hof Method are lessening of symptoms for diseases like Parkinson’s disease, numerous autoimmune ailments, multiple sclerosis, vasculitis, asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, and sarcoidosis.
According to Robert Fried, a retired clinical respiratory psychophysiologist from the Biopsychology and Behavioral Neuroscience Program at the City University of New York in 2010, deep breathing methods slow the body’s metabolic state down. He said “The purpose of deep breathing is to induce a ‘hypometabolic state,’ where autonomic and mental arousals are minimal. It is a resting, restorative state, a counter anxiety, counter stress response of the body induced by using the breathing that goes with relaxation to trigger a similar muscle response in the body.” It also helps release adrenaline into our bodies, making an individual feel stronger.
You would never be able to fully appreciate the benefits of the Wim Hof Method without trying it for yourself. Now, you might be thinking that you’d have to be in extremely cold conditions for it. However, anyone can do it at the comfort of their homes by following some guided steps!
Fair warning though: the Wim Hof breathing method can affect motor control, and in rare cases, can cause a person to lose their consciousness. Before we reveal the steps, we highly advise anyone who’s interested in trying to do so while lying or sitting down. Under no circumstance should they do it while they’re in or near bodies of water, or while driving any type of vehicle.
Step 1: Find a Comfortable Position
Get into a meditation posture: be it lying or sitting down, whichever you’re most comfortable with, then make sure that your lungs can expand freely without any sensation of constriction.
Step 2: Take 30 - 40 Deep Breaths
Now, close your eyes and focus on your breath. Be conscious about it and try to fully connect with every air passing into your lungs. Take a deep inhale through the mouth or nose, and exhale freely through the mouth. Fully inhale the air through your belly, then your chest, and then let it go freely. Repeat for 30 - 40 times via short, powerful bursts. Keep in the mind that during this process, it’s normal to experience tingling sensations in your feet and fingers, or a bit of light-headedness. Rest assured, however, that they are all completely harmless side effects.
Step 3: Hold Your Breath
Right after the last exhalation, inhale as deeply as you can for a final time, then release the air freely and stop breathing. Keep holding your breath until you get the urge to breathe again.
Step 4: Recovery Breath
Once you get the urge to breathe again, draw in one big breath in order to fill your lungs. Notice the sensation of your chest and belly expanding. When you feel like your lungs are at full capacity, hold that breath for about 15 seconds, and then release it. There you have it. That concludes the first round and you can repeat this cycle for about 3 - 4 times without stopping.
Pain is a complex sensory response that our bodies make to signal the brain of possible damage to the tissues of our body. We’ve studied how to mitigate pain for centuries, and for years, a lot of studies have suggested that a substance within the cannabis plant is effective against it.
A new study from the University of New Mexico discovered that extracting cannabis oil and using it as a topical solution, or ingesting it, can free a person from one of the most debilitating pain known to man—neuropathic pain. But what exactly is a neuropathic pain and how can we be sure that the infamous cannabis plant is now truly on our side?
Neuropathic pain is pain brought by disease or damage to the somatosensory nervous system. It may often be associated with allodynia, a bizarre pain coming from usually non-painful stimuli. It can also manifest as dysesthesia, an unpleasant, abnormal sense of touch that’s often presented as pain, but may also be an inappropriate, but not disquieting, sensation. According to healthline.com, a 2014 study estimates that as many as 10% of the American population experience some type of neuropathic pain.
Researchers of the study, which was published on mdpi.com titled “The Therapeutic Effectiveness of Full Spectrum Hemp Oil Using a Chronic Neuropathic Pain Model”, noted that cannabis or CBD (Cannabidiol) oil was so effective, numerous lab mice were able to experience pain sensitivity similar to those of the control mice that had no pain issues and didn’t receive any form of treatment.
Reducing pain, of any kind, by tenfold is a feat that not a lot of medicines can do, and the study was the first to really measure CBD oil’s therapeutic potential. This certainly encourages companies that are extracting cannabis oil to provide better pain-relieving oils for those in need.
Our mental state is intertwined with our somatosensory system, which can either lessen or worsen the pain we feel. Dr Jacob Miguel Vigil, associate professor in The University of New Mexico states that “profound and often immediate relief from symptoms such as pain, anxiety, and depression” are all felt by patients when extracting oil from cannabis plants with minuscule levels of THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol). Another researcher from the study, Jegason P. Diviant, said that cannabis plants have various therapeutic constituents, all of which are believed to make analgesic responses in the body that soothes the patient’s pain.
Cannabidiol oil offers a very promising future for a lot of patients. A future that paints an image where extracting cannabis oil is part of the wider medicinal community, offering its pain-relieving powers to those who really it. With a few more studies and researches ahead, we're confident that getting CBD oil would become a great boon to all of us and improve the quality of our lives very soon.
Arguably, the Cannabis plant is one of the most stigmatized floras in the world. According to Isaac Campos, author of the book entitled Home Grown, the plant’s stigmatisation first started in Mexico. He writes that it was first introduced to Mexico by Pedro Quadrado, a conquistador, and it was initially considered as a strong fibre.
However, people soon began to use the plant as a drug and by the 18th century, cannabis was soon linked to indigenous traditions as an ingredient for divine rituals. Due to its psychoactive effects, it has since been branded as a drug that causes madness and violence. Fortunately, research has shown that the cannabis plant is anything but evil, and one CBD oil New Zealand study suggests that the plant’s good side outshines the bad press.
Plenty of New Zealand researchers voiced out concerns regarding the lack of data on the effects cannabis have to its medicinal users. Further researches and studies have been launched to further verify its helpfulness in the field of medicine, and one study seems to have a promising tale to tell.
GP Graham Gulbransen’s medicinal clinic in Auckland partnered with the University of Auckland, as part of the University’s joint study, to assess 400 people and have them self-report any changes in their quality of life, including side effects, from before and after getting treatment. The treatment involves taking the CBD (short for Cannabidiol) oil for 4 weeks. Cannabidiol is one of cannabis’ main substances, which does not have psychoactive effects compared to its cousin, THC (short for Tetrahydrocannabinol).
After 4 weeks, 250 of the original 400 patients actually rated their results, and 70% of them reported to have experienced good, very good, or excellent benefits from using CBD. Bruce Arroll, professor and lead author of the study says “The findings are consistent with other evidence and underline the need for more research to allow us to fully realise the therapeutic potential of medical cannabis.”
Dr. Arroll adds that the findings on the CBD oil New Zealand study were well-tolerated in most patients, along with some folks who would like to have access to the study and even self-fund the medication. He does note, however, that since the results were self-reported by the patients themselves, it’d be impossible for the study’s author to know whether the placebo effect was factored in or not.
Though the legal status of medicinal cannabis here in New Zealand seems already obvious, there is still a referendum that people will be voting on in the coming 2020 elections. The study would certainly be helpful information to aid people in realising that cannabis isn’t really the evil drug we first thought it was.
The CBD oil New Zealand study makes one thing crystal clear: there are a lot of things in this world that we need to understand better, instead of just outright demonising it for no apparent reason. Dr. Erik Messamore, a psychiatrist at Northeast Ohia Medical University said it best during his interview with TVNZ1’s Breakfast “If cannabis is secret and forbidden and in the shadows, then people who love it will tell everybody how much they love it and that's all you hear. If it's out in the open, we can know about its risks.”
Image by Nikhita S on Unsplash
In today’s world, information can move extremely fast. We have the Internet to thank for this, making it possible for information to be stored without the limits of physical space. However, what can be seen as a boon can also be a bane, especially for those who would want to know more about what is medicinal cannabis. False information and misrepresentations run amok in the modern world, some of which can be very damaging.
Dishonest data has long pushed back important and helpful facts about cannabis to the sidelines, leaving only its psychoactive and “evil” side in the spotlight. Fortunately, numerous studies have shown how helpful the plant can actually be, proving that cannabis education is important for everybody. But why exactly is it important for everyone to be properly educated about cannabis?
Cannabis education is essential because people need useful and legitimate information about cannabis, including its products, the industry it is in, and how its chemicals react to a person’s body. Not a lot of people may know about it, but cannabis actually has many benefits, and boosting our understanding of the plant opens up the door that lets us access its healing powers.
From its compounds, various products can be made for everyone’s welfare. Chronic pain sufferers would get to enjoy relief brought by the cannabis’ effects to our Endocannabinoid Systems (or ECS for short). Inflammation would also be lessened, alleviating allergies and discomfort in a more natural and safer way.
For years, the cannabis plant has received lots of prejudice from both the government and the people. The explanation behind such bias is simply due to our fear of the unknown. Humans can’t help but fear what they don’t understand, and unfortunately, we have proven this to be true time and time again.
Good thing some researchers and scientists didn’t let their fears get to them, and approached the plant with curiosity instead. Thanks to their work, those who are looking to understand what is medicinal cannabis know that Tetrahydrocannabinol (or THC for short) is responsible for the drugs psychoactive effects, while Cannabidiol (or CBD for short), another substance from the plant, carries most of its medicinal benefits.
Learning more about cannabis would help encourage people to invest in it. The field of Health and Wellness is a multi-billion dollar industry that the cannabis plant is quickly becoming a part of. With everyone’s health and wellness a hot topic in today’s time, people are sure to be looking for a more natural alternative from regular medicine pills and bottles.
A mysterious veil still shrouds the cannabis plant and we still haven’t fully answered the question “what is medicinal cannabis?” yet. However, numerous studies keep on revealing just how powerful an ally the plant is. An ally that promises to open new doors for us that would rid us of our pain, ushering in a new era of natural medicines.
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Nowadays, most medicines and supplements are readily available and can be easily purchased in pharmacies. Popular brands like Thompson’s, Schuessler Tissue Salts, Wild Nutrition, and Spatone have long provided folks with their much-needed vitamins and minerals. But a new contender is just beyond the horizon, providing folks with supplements from a unique source—cannabis.
Promising research and scientific results have proven that Cannabidiol (or CBD for short) is a great candidate for providing people with some brand new supplements. The medical cannabis New Zealand community is clearly looking forward to its fruition, but is it really beneficial to use CBD on a daily basis to promote good health?
The endocannabinoid system (or ECS for short) plays a vital homeostatic role by governing various metabolic functions like nutrient transport and energy storage. To complete its duty, it uses peripheral tissues such as the gastrointestinal (or GI) tract, endocrine-pancreas, hepatocytes, skeletal muscles, and adipocytes. It also helps balance and regulates bodily processes including the immune response, memory, cell communication, and more.
ECS is truly a very important bodily system, right? However, the ECS can slowly become deficient throughout the years. The only way to revitalise it is by consuming CBD or tetrahydrocannabinol (or THC for short), which is CBD’s more psychoactive cousin. Daily consumption medicinal cannabis supplements would mean that we are restoring our body’s homeostasis or internal balance.
It may not look like it, but the medical cannabis New Zealand community had long been established, way before the government passed a new law that was launched back in April of 2020. A couple of individuals have already been using medical cannabis and one example is a man who used it every day as a supplement, and claims to have his chronic pains reduced from an 8 to a 3 on the pain scale.
Another example is a woman who was diagnosed with endometriosis, a serious medical condition that was caused by the inflammation flare-ups her body was creating. She says that CBD’s anti-inflammatory properties have made her symptoms less severe and has even significantly reduced her anxiety. CBD can also be used to aid in recovery after a vigorous exercise, which is a benefit that she is now experimenting with.
Although CBD is generally safe, there are still things that one should look out for, as with any drug. Individuals who will be taking CBD as a daily supplement have to:
• be aware of the dose that they’re taking for CBD
• research about the laboratory testing results of the CBD they’ll be buying
• try and find out where the source of the CBD is coming from
They should also talk to a doctor about any pre-existing medical condition that they have, to see if CBD is compatible with their current health state.
Our health is the biggest asset that we have. The medical cannabis New Zealand community, as well as its government, have recognized how beneficial medical cannabis is. Right now, CBD is offering us a deal that we can’t afford to say no to, which is: promoting good health every day in the most natural way!
A lot of news has been going around medical cannabis lately and it hasn’t been all that bad. People are mainly talking about Cannabidiol (or CBD for short), an ingredient of the hemp plant where it is directly extracted from. There’s been a lot of talk pertaining to its legalities or its safety, but there isn’t much discussion about the facts pertaining to this healthy substance. With that being said, we’re taking the liberty today to introduce you to some interesting facts about CBD and why it offers a lot of potential in the field of medicine.
One of the most common drugs that people ingest from around the world are painkillers, and among the strongest of these drugs is morphine. Unfortunately, morphine can be quite addicting, leading patients to a self-destructive path. Luckily, in a 2013 study done on rats, scientists discovered that CBD reduces the pleasurable effect of morphine in the brain, making it less likely to be treated by the body as a reward.
One of the most dangerous aspects of cancer is its ability to metastasize—the development of secondary malignant growths at a distance from a primary site of cancer. Numerous studies done by the National Cancer Institute suggests that medical cannabis could potentially reduce the chance for some types of cancer from metastasizing. Scientists believe that CBD might naturally inhibit ID-1, a DNA-binding protein inhibitor, thus restricting the cancer cells from getting into the bloodstream and reaching other tissues.
Tetrahydrocannabinol (or THC for short) is one of the main components of the Cannabis Indica variant, also known as marijuana. It has psychoactive effects and it is the main reason why people get high. CBD, on the other hand, is non-psychoactive in nature, which means that patients taking it as medication wouldn’t feel any sort of high nor have their mental states altered.
CBD gets naturally absorbed by our bodies thanks to our cannabinoid receptor sites that mammals have. The endocannabinoid system (or ECS for short) is primarily found within the central nervous system and brain. CBD binds to our cannabinoid receptors that relieve pain, helps with relaxation, reduces the severity of epilepsy, and more.
For over 10,000 years, humans have been using hemp, along with its oils and seeds, for numerous reasons. It was among the first plants to be used for making shoes, clothing, paper, and rope. The seeds and oils that our ancestors extracted from hemp were used for all sorts of medicines, and it was also being used as a food source.
Medical cannabis isn’t new, and it has been in fact, used by ancient human civilizations. Now that it’s making a comeback and with the high level of technology we have today, we are sure to find and make better use of CBD. Right now though, a lot of scientists and researchers are looking into it for health purposes to find a cure, treat ailments, and provide people with a much better life.
Medical staff can simply access the site, look at detailed information about medically registered cannabis commodities, and purchase them. Fowlie says that “We want to retain control in New Zealand and are currently seeking strategic partners who share our vision and passion for helping patients,” as well as open up the cannabis market for everyone.
Hikurangi Cannabis was founded by a group of Marae representatives back in 2015. One of the co-founders, Caddie, mentions that he’s seen lots of new company founders show up to capitalise on the trend. He says that they seem to not have any intention of “…establishing a long-term business that is good for sick patients, shareholders, employees and the wider society."
The company has been in the CBD industry for about 5 years now, showing how much they’re committed to the industry. They’ve already established vital partnerships with local growers, international organisations, and researchers. Along with their experience and how long they’ve been in the business, these factors have certainly made Hikurangi as one of the most influential pioneers of the cannabis industry.
Here at Whakaora we’ve chosen the high-tech approach and have several international partnerships in place to complete it. With this, our company is able to use some of the most advanced technology in the world today, to produce our products. We’ve opted to go with the most advanced aeroponic vertical farming technology available, using individual growth habitats to prevent the risk of any cross-contamination.
We’re also using a highly advanced AI (short for Artificial Intelligence) aptly named Sprout AI the smart grow system. Sprout AI automatically monitors and maintains the optimal growth environment to increase yield, shorter growth cycle, promote a pesticide/fungicide-free environment, while using less water and power than any other system.
Despite being unpredictable, as with any new market, it’s good to know that certain pioneers have stood the test of time. Using their different visions, approaches, and medical cannabis marketing plans, these companies have proven that it is possible to thrive in the industry. An industry that offers potential medicines and CBD products that can benefit our health.
Cannabidiol (or CBD for short) has been gaining a lot of traction lately. Numerous articles have been written about it on the Internet, along with media coverage from prominent news sources. But despite the buzz around CBD, no one truly understands it.
Not a lot of people are aware of its many medical cannabis facts, its side effects, and how it’s different from marijuana. Today, it’s time to help clear things up and answer some of the most compelling questions that people have regarding CBD. Let’s dive right into it!
CBD is derived from the same family of plants as marijuana. There are three major species of the Cannabaceae plants, which are: (a) Cannabis Sativa, (b) Cannabis Indica, and (c) Cannabis Ruderalis. Cannabis can be farmed for their fibres, which are used to make clothes, their seeds for food, and CBD for medicinal uses.
Unfortunately, it has been cultivated primarily to extract tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive chemical found in the plants that give people a “high”, giving cannabis its infamy. But thanks to the scientists and researchers who discovered the amazing health benefits of the plant’s CBD chemical, we might be looking to clear the confusion between the two and improve the plant’s reputation.
Here in New Zealand, CBD products like oil, vapours, liquid, tablets, and dried (except for smoke) are legal. Just recently, the Medicinal Cannabis Agency, a branch under the Ministry of Health, successfully launched its new Medical Cannabis Scheme on April 1 of 2020. The Minister of Health himself, Dr. David Clark, verified that by mid-2020, the first medicinal cannabis licenses are anticipated to be issued.
Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome and Dravet Syndrome are two of the cruellest childhood epilepsy syndromes. Sufferers uncontrollably experience multiple types and multiple bouts of seizures multiple times throughout the day. To make matters worse, antiseizure medications do not work for any of the two.
Luckily, numerous studies show that CBD is capable of minimising the number of seizures and in some cases, stop the seizures entirely. Studies also suggest that CBD can help patients with anxiety, while sufferers of chronic insomnia can enjoy the CBD’s effect on falling and staying asleep. In another study from the European Journal of Pain, it was discovered that CBD could lower the intensity of pain and inflammation caused by arthritis on an animal model.
Though the plant has been under scrutiny due to how people have been using THC’s psychoactive effects, cannabis is generally safe and the medical cannabis facts around CBD helps shed light to its medicinal value. Scientifically, cannabis is a truly complex plant that both scientists and researchers are still studying. What’s clear, however, is that there have not been any reported cannabis overdose to date and it has a lower rate of health risk (around 114 times less deadly) compared to alcohol.
Although it’s true that there are still a lot of things we don’t know and understand about CBD, here at Whakaora, we believe that we should give it a chance. Numerous scientific studies and medical cannabis facts have already proven how helpful it can be for thousands of patients.
The benefits truly outweigh the risks with this one, and if given enough time, we could find ways to mitigate—if not eliminate—the side effects, prove that it is 100% safe, and change the lives of thousands of people for the better.
New Zealand has made a huge decision that couldn’t have been timelier. As of this moment, a lot of places around the globe have been put in lockdown, making it difficult for medical cannabis patients to acquire their prescriptions. Fortunately, New Zealand’s Medicinal Cannabis Agency, a branch under the Ministry of Health, successfully launched its new Medical Cannabis Scheme on April 1, 2020.
Its goal is to enhance the quality and improve the accessibility of medical cannabis products for patients. Let’s take a deeper look into how this scheme benefits patients in New Zealand!
New Zealand’s Ministry of Health developed the scheme to grant the domestic manufacture, distribution, and cultivation of medical cannabis. They will also be setting out the quality and licensing requirements for future medical cannabis providers. The scheme is in line with the commencement of the Misuse of Drugs (under Medicinal Cannabis) Regulations of 2019.
Dr. David Clark, Minister of Health, explains that the new regulations will permit local cultivation and production of medicinal cannabis products that could help alleviate ailment-related pain for people. According to a research paper co-authored by David Moore (an accountant and economist) and Preston Davies (a seasoned economist) titled “The Problem of Chronic Pain and Scope for Improvements in Patient Outcomes” about 770,000 New Zealanders suffer from chronic pain—a number that is expected to rise around 1.26 million by 2048—who need the help of medical cannabis. Dr. Clark verifies that by mid-2020, the first medicinal cannabis licenses are anticipated to be issued.
Currently access is limited, medical cannabis patients can get prescriptions for cannabis products, but they would have to source it from other countries, a transaction that is extremely costly for the patients. The scheme aims to greatly lower the cost by providing them with locally manufactured medicine.
The types of medical cannabis products allowed under the scheme include a variety of liquids and tablets, and dried. Although they do not permit products that can be smoked, vaporised products are acceptable. The only way that patients can get a hold of the cannabis products is via prescription from a doctor.
The Medicinal Cannabis Agency has started taking applications for licenses, and those who’d like to apply should already be able to meet the requirements set out by the Agency. In particular, all of the products must meet a minimum quality standard ordained by the new regulations, designed to present doctors with quality and consistent medicinal cannabis products.
Although it’s going to take a while for the Medical Cannabis Scheme to fully take effect, medical cannabis patients have a more promising future to look forward to. A future where they won’t have to spend an irrational amount of money for their medicine. A future we can all look forward to.
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We all aim to live a fulfilling, happy, and healthy life. But our circumstances often lead us to live lives that aren’t exactly what most folks would call rosy. Take our day-to-day grind full of ridiculous expectations and tons of responsibilities, for example. Things can get very stressful, leaving plenty of us to wallow in anxiety and a general loss of bliss.
Due to the increasing number of individuals suffering from stress, numerous medicinal products have been invented that claim to boost a person’s mood or help alleviate pain. Cannabidiol (or CBD for short) is often thought of as promising product of them all. It can be derived from cannabis or hemp —processed into medicinal CBD oil. Hemp has been cultivated by humans for hundreds of years from all around the world. But what exactly is CBD and how can it be beneficial for people?
CBD is a naturally occurring chemical compound found in the cannabis plant (particularly in hemp) that has no psychoactive properties—which means it won’t affect or impair one’s mental state of being. Alas, it is often confused with its cousin, Tetrahydrocannabinol (or THC), which is a bit unfair because this derivative is purely medicinal. The compound is extracted from hemp as an essential oil, which is then used as an active ingredient in other products for topical or oral use.
Let’s take a look at the health benefits that its products have to offer, so we could better appreciate how CBD works.
Benefit #1: Helps You Remain Calm and Relaxed
Worries and anxieties are part of everyone’s daily life. Sometimes, you may be faced with overbearing clients or complicated tasks. But in order to successfully channel one’s energy, persevering through stressful situations is a must. CBD can help you keep calm and relax by activating serotonin receptors, effectively alleviating a person’s anxiety.
Benefit #2: Helps Reduce After Workout Inflammations
Muscles undergo wear and tear after a good workout. They become inflamed due to the healing process being jumpstarted by the micro-tears inside the muscle fibres. Naturally, your body would eventually produce endocannabinoids to reduce inflammation. CBD hastens this process by impacting endocannabinoid receptor activity to interact with neurotransmitters, leading to a quicker decrease in inflammation and pain.
Benefit #3: Helps Improve Quality of Sleep
There are a lot of factors that could affect a person’s quality of sleep. They range from pain, anxiety, depression, and a bunch of other factors (from biological, genetical, and environmental). CBD helps improve sleep quality by interacting with the CB1 and CB2 cannabinoid receptors that affect your sleeping cycle. Aside from that, CBD also alleviates anxiety and helps reduce chronic pain, both of which are huge determinants for how much quality sleep an individual could get.
Benefit #4: Helps Fight Against Dry Skin
Skin conditions are something that most people will go through at some point, dry skin after a day in the sun, irritations or burns can be quite painful. Fortunately, medicinal CBD oil contains an excellent amount of substances and nutrients that both moisturises and nourishes the skin. Furthermore, CBD’s anti-inflammatory properties help the skin recover and heal deep into the tissue, perfect for those with arthritis.
CBD goes a long way to improving the quality of life for many people all over the world. Whakaora is excited to be part of this process as new products are developed for the kiwi market. Keep an eye out!
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