Healing with Hemp

There are so many names and claims associated with Cannabis, it gets a little confusing trying to understand the difference between hemp, Marijuana, CBD, and the types of extraction and dosage. We thought it was high time we explain which part of the plant is healing, which part you can use to make clothing and which part makes you high.

I called on Anthony Cohen from Elixinol to explain what the hype is all about, to clarify why we should be taking it and how. And the question everyone wants to know: does it really have the healing qualities everyone attributes it with?

The first thing to be aware of, explained Anthony, is that we all have a connection to plants. Humans have been involved for thousands of years in a vast 'clinical trial' with medicinal plants. Most of our healing innovation comes from plants and in times when people were more connected with the plant world they were also aware of and connected to their specific healing qualities. Cannabis has been around since the age of the dinosaur. Every plant has evolved with our natural surroundings and Anthony stresses, 'Humans evolved as part of this world and are not separate. These plants are there to heal us and supplement our beings.'

What's remarkable about our connection to the plant cannabis is that our bodies have an endocannabinoid system (ECS) which has receptors designed to receive cannabinoids from the plant in a healing relationship. The ECS is a biological system consisting of neurotransmitters that bind to cannabinoid receptors in the brain and nervous system. This system regulates body and brain processes some of which are appetite, pain sensation, mood and memory. The ECS has been referred to as the master controller of the body, controlling the immune system, neurological system, pain and inflammation. It also combats stress.

Having this system suggests we are designed to receive cannabinoids. In fact it only gets activated by cannabinoids, and when the body receives cannabinoids it has the positive effect of restoring the body back to its optimal state. So banning the source of our cannabinoids and eradicating it from the food chain surely makes us deficient? Well, some researchers believe many of our modern diseases stem from cannabinoid deficiency and that's why there's such a resurgence of interest in using cannabis as a food supplement and medicinally.

ABOUT THAT HIGH

Most people associate cannabis with getting high and yes, there is a cannabinoid called THC that has that effect. THC is only one of 144 cannabinoids that creates the high. Many of the strands of cannabis sold on the market for the purpose of getting high have been specially bred to increase the THC levels. This is not the type of plant used for the therapeutic variety.

ABOUT THE BENEFITS

Hemp has so many cited benefits, from general wellbeing to calming, increasing focus, balancing attention deficit, helping athletes with muscle recovery. It's been used to help stroke victims, neurological conditions, reduce inflammation, with cancer recovery, pain relief and more. We have endocannabinoid receptors in every organ and throughout the body. When there is an injury a plethora of endocannabinoid receptors are activated looking for cannabinoids. When they get the cannabinoids they're looking for the cells are nourished and broadcast the information to the rest of the body. Anthony recommends taking it daily as a wellbeing supplement and if required to combat a disease, then to take it in higher doses.

ABOUT THE QUALITY

It's important to be aware of the origin and type of plant. If there is too high a level of THC in relation to CBD then it doesn't have the right profile. What happens in this instance is that both fight for the receptor. In a balanced plant the beneficial parts work in a synergistic way, something called the entourage effect. This simply means the effect of the whole is more than the effect of all the isolated parts. Synthetic CBD is also on the market but it doesn't have the entourage effect and in many instances has been reported to be dangerous.

ABOUT THE EXTRACTION

Cold pressing the oil from the seeds results in an omega rich oil and a minute level of CBD more commonly in hemp oil used in cooking and salads etc. Getting a therapeutic dose of CBD with a full range extract is successfully done with a carbon dioxide extraction. There are many different methods of extraction some using butane, some alcohol or isolates although isolate extracts are said to be 1/30th as effective as a full plant extract. According to leading scientists the best extraction is from CO2, and it's a process that doesn't leave any heavy metal extracts in the mix.

ABOUT THAT LABEL

Something to note when choosing a good source of CBD is to carefully gauge the percentage of active CBD included. On the label it may say 24% CBD and that doesn't necessarily mean that there is 24% CBD included in the product. It simply means that at some point in the process 10% of something was CBD. People are often misled by this information. Rather look at the label to see how many milligrams are in the bottle.

WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CANNABIS, HEMP & MARIJUANA?

Although there are many definitions some legal, others botanical and more scientific, a simple clarification is that Cannabis Sativa is the primary name of a plant with different strains and variations. Hemp is a variation of Cannabis sativa used for fibre, clothing, construction, nutrition, oils, ointments and various other purposes.

Marijuana is a slang word to describe Cannabis Sativa with high levels of THC from the resin on the flowers and buds primarily used for its intoxicating effect.

NUTRITION & THE PLANT

Cannabis is known to be one of the most nutritious plants on the planet. It is a complete protein source, is easy to digest and has Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids than any other plant. Dr. William Courtney, a medical doctor and outspoken advocate of the 'raw greens' cannabis movement says, 'Whether Sativa, Indica, Ruderalis, male, female, hermaphrodite, native, feral, bred for fibre, seeds or medicinal resin, cannabis is the best source for [beneficial cannabinoids]' Over 50 of my patients have used only [cannabinoids] to put their cancer in remission; and over 150 have found symptomatic relief.'

After researching the benefits of raw cannabis Dr. Courtney concluded:

*Smoking cannabis may not treat the disease, only the symptoms

*Therapeutic levels of cannabinoids are better achieved through ingestion

*When cannabis is heated or burned, the chemical structure of the plant compounds are changed, specifically the acidity of THC, which alters its ability to be therapeutic

*Raw cannabis activates the brain's cannabinoid system, which triggers an antioxidant release

*These antioxidants act as a 'cleaner' and remove damaged cells from the body

*Raw cannabis improves the efficiency of the cells in our body

*Creating oils, butters or eating the raw plant is the best way to get the necessary beneficial compounds

For more information about the healing effects of cannabinoids contact Anthony Cohen on [email protected] or log onto www.elixinol.co.za