Blog

THE LATEST ON CANNABIS OIL FOR HEALTH CONDITIONS

In the UK today, we are told that cannabis oil is allowed to be prescribed by GP’s and you might think you can go to your doctor now and ask for a prescription.

You probably won’t get one!  Why?  GP’s need to be educated on what it is, what it is for and who they can prescribe it to, and that is going to take some months. Not every GP will be allowed to subscribe it either.

You may be one of those people in chronic pain and heard that CBD Oil can help you but are confused.  Yes so are we! In this article we will educate ourselves and go over some of the myths and mysteries of cannabis and cannabis oil.

WHAT IS CANNABIS?

Cannabis as we know it as a recreational drug that can have psychoactive effects because of a compound in it called delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (known as THC) – the primary psychoactive ingredient.  This compound is important and abbreviated is known as THC.

Cannabis Oil and CBD oil is not the same.

There is a difference between Cannabis Oil and CBD oil which is available for sale in some health shops, but know what you are buying, look at the ingredients.

What is CBD Oil?

CBD is another compound known as cannabidioil abbreviated to (CBD).

Cannabis oil contains both CBD and THC.

CBD oil contains no THC.

CBD oil is created by extracting CBD from either Cannabis or Hemp plant and diluting it with a carrier oil like coconut or hemp seed oil. It still contains no THC.

Confusing – right?

What is Hemp Oil?

Hemp oil is obtained by pressing hemp seeds and is different to cannabis oil although they come from the same species “Cannabis Sativa”.  Hemp is from cannabis, but the hemp contains only a very small amount of THC and used commonly for oils and ointments. It is common for CBD oils to contain hemp. The legal definition of hemp is less than point three percent THC which is the psychotropic agent. Marijuana is point three percent or greater. Hemp is used primarily as a food supplement due to its high levels of vitamins E and B. It’s also rich in antioxidants and is a popular in health food products.

Summary:

CBD Oil = no TCH

Cannabis Oil = TCH +CBD

They are not the same.  CBD oil is available to buy in health food shops.

CBD does not produce the “high”, that cannabis oil can.

To make it even more confusing we can have CBD cannabis oil and CBD hemp oil, both considered non-psychoactive as it works differently in the body compared to THC cannabis oils. Most CBD oils come from hemp, which contains more CBD than marijuana, therefore less psychoactive.  CBD oil is legal in many states in the USA.

CBD oils are sold in mainstream health shops in our country primarily as food supplements, and advertise benefits such as relieving inflammation, pain relief and reducing anxiety, but there is not enough studies to scientifically prove such effects.

WHAT CAN MEDICAL CANNABIS OIL HELP WITH?

Medical Cannabis Oil can help with a whole host of different conditions and has been noted in medical journals. It can help with pain, MS, Cardiovascular disorders, Cancer and Sleep.

• Cannabis oil helps the body to relax and makes you feel calm and peaceful and therefore helps you deal with stress and anxiety better.
• Due to its calming effect it can aid in better sleep.
• Can help increase or suppress appetite
• Helps with fibromyalgia
• Relieves pain and neuropathic pain
• Helps reduce tension in blood vessel walls which is good for coronary heart disease, stroke and hardened arteries
• Applied to skin helps eczema and dermatitis – can stop itching
• Used personally by some cancer patients themselves

You cannot buy cannabis oil with the active compound TCH in the shops or health food stores.  Some people buy seeds off the internet and grow cannabis and extract the oil to use themselves.  This then falls into all the legalities you are faced with and what some mums have been fighting for in the “news” as they go overseas to purchase it.  It is from their efforts that the medical establishment has said it will allow medical cannabis to be prescribed, which can help their children and many others who suffer from severe epilepsy.

There are two cannabis-based medicines in the UK, which contain both CBD and THC.

Sativex has been licensed for a decade and is approved to treat shakes and spasms associated with multiple sclerosis.

However, NHS spending watchdogs in England and Scotland have said it is not cost-effective, however it is recommended in limited cases in Wales.

Epidiolex ia a medication used to treat two rare forms of epilepsy and is made by the same UK company that makes Sativex, GW Pharmaceuticals. A European license is currently pending.

Following on from the new ruling today on Cannabis Oil you will see it marketed everywhere and we will see an increase in CBD oil in all sorts of products including beauty products.  Remember this is not the TCH Cannabis Oil and its effects are limited, which is why it is important to educate ourselves that not all CBD Oils are the same.

If you decide to purchase CBD oils off the internet be careful of the ingredients and make sure that it has been tested by accredited laboratories to ensure that is free of pesticides, solvents, bacteria, fungus, foreign matter and heavy metals.

Janis Laking

Bournemouth Chiropractic Clinic