Medical Marijuana: When Should Doctors Prescribe It?

4 Comments

1. 

   L Haffner, RN and acupuncturist says:

   March 14, 2013 at 4:14 pm

   Marijuana alters consciousness. It separates the mind and the body. Therefore, it should be used very judiciously in only certain situations – appetite stimulant in wasting syndromes, or nausea from chemo, for example; and perhaps in the hospice setting, when patients need support in releasing anxiety and certain pain syndromes. That said, marijuana is notorious for causing fear and paranoia, as but one of its many side effects. Perhaps it can be used in a controlled setting to stimulate creative solutions. But not on a continuous basis!

   And many recent studies link it to a precursor for schizophrenia, especially where there are already existing risk factors, and especially in younger populations where the brain has not fullly formed. Bipolar episodes are another concern being studied. All potent psychoactive drugs lend themselves to hallucinatory states, both auditory and visual, and affect good judgement and discrimination.

   Energetically, in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), it causes an excess in the heart (Fire element), and a deficiency in the the kidneys (Water element). In Chinese medicine, the heart houses the mind, the consciousness, dream states, etc., and psycho active drugs such as marijuana promote the ‘high’ (also manic state). Thus the ability to merge with others you may notmally not want to be in the same room with. In TCM, different emotional states are assigned to various body organs.The heart corresponds to emotions of joy and connectedness; and when deficient- apathy and anhedonia. The kidneys represent the will, the genetic material and fundamental reserve energy of the body and basic drive. Emotionally, they are associated with the continuum of fear and courage (thus the frequent complaints of feeling fear and paranoia, from mostly former marijuana users). Bravado and risk-taking would be another extreme on that continuum.

   This is not a benign drug because it is ‘natural’ plant. It has been manipulated and hybridized for decades, and the THC content has become so elevated in the process that is now a very potent mind altering drug, especially when ingested by smoking, a rapid delivery medium into the body. It could be that a tea form of marijuana might provide a slower release and therefore safer outcome, but again this woud need to be dose dependent.

   The pain relief aspects are not to be dismissed however; there are many anecdotal accounts of marijuana ‘ointments’ and topical creams that seem to provide relief for arthritis and other musculoskeletal pain.
   Make no mistake, marijuana is highly addictive. It depletes the body of B vitamins (essential nutrition for the central nervous sytem) and thus contributes to a marked depression when withdrawn (coming down off the high).

   There are two main categories: sativa and indica, the former stimulating a more mental ‘high’, and the latter, described as a ‘body- sense’ high. Because of the high potency marijuana available now, the experience of this drug is very internal, not relational – disconnecting the mind from the body, and altering and diminishing the ability to discriminate.
   Chronic users often exhibit a type of attention deficit disorder (ADD) functioning, with poor concentration and follow-through, loss of will to accomplish daily tasks and goals, time distortion and distorted sensory input .

   Just as with any other pain medication or psycho-active drugs, It should be dispensed as a controlled substance with THC dosage control.

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     shairston says:

     March 14, 2013 at 4:58 pm

     Thank you for sharing your professional insight. It would be interesting to learn more about your experience in this field.

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2. 

   Ricy Mardona says:

   March 19, 2013 at 6:53 am

   Excellent post. Keep posting.

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     shairston says:

     March 19, 2013 at 8:22 am

     Appreciate your feedback. Stop by anytime!

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