{"componentChunkName":"component---common-build-tags-template-js","path":"/tag/arthritis/2","result":{"data":{"allArticle":{"edges":[{"node":{"id":"Article_2069-markdown","title":"Cannabis Soothes Arthritis Pain","slug":"cannabis-soothes-arthritis-pain","content":"DiDi Davis is founder of Sweet ReLeaf, a topical cannabis manufacturer located in California. Sweet ReLeaf has created one of the most effective and enjoyable topicals on the market today.\n\nAs Didi says, \"We believe in the healing power of plants, specifically how the human endocannabinoid system communicates with the compounds found in cannabis. We like to call it intelligent medicine.”\n\nIn this piece, Didi talks about how cannabis topicals can help ease the pain and swelling caused by arthritis.\n\nFOLLOW US ON [FACEBOOK](https://www.facebook.com/pg/hellomdcompany/posts/) & [INSTAGRAM](https://www.instagram.com/hellomd_com/?hl=en)\n\n### Medical Cannabis Helps Arthritis Patients Recover & Heal\n\nAccording to the Centers for Disease Control, nearly 50% of people over the age of 65 in the U.S. will be diagnosed with [arthritis](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/5aecf518b869a6000796590b/treating-arthritis-pain-via-the-endocannabinoid-system). Although arthritic pain is also diagnosed in hundreds of thousands of children under the age of 18, most arthritis patients are retirement age or older. \n\nArthritis commonly affects the hands and feet, with the exception of osteoarthritic pain, which causes hip pain and stiffness. The term arthritis refers to more than 100 joint conditions that cause stiffness, mild to severe pain, swelling and sometimes deformity. There’s no cure for arthritis (except gout).\n\nHowever, breakthrough studies have linked cannabis as a contender for even the most powerful prescription drugs. Medical marijuana has an advantage that painkillers don’t have: It works with the patient's body to help them recover instead of just masking the symptoms of arthritis.\n\n### The Many Types of Arthritis\n\nDespite the daunting number of arthritis forms, they can be categorized by one of the following types:\n\n* Inflammatory arthritis\n* Degenerative of mechanical arthritis\n* Soft-tissue musculoskeletal pain\n* Back pain\n* Connective tissue disease\n* Infectious arthritis\n* Metabolic arthritis\n\nArthritis in its various forms affects patients in different ways and carries with it different symptoms. This means that there’s no one way to treat it. \n\nRELATED: [TREATING ARTHRITIS PAIN VIA THE ENDOCANNABINOID SYSTEM](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/5aecf518b869a6000796590b/treating-arthritis-pain-via-the-endocannabinoid-system)\n\n### Traditional Arthritis Pain Management Medications\n\nPrescription drugs are the most common treatment for arthritis pain management. These prescription treatments can help reduce pain and treat symptoms such as swelling, stiffness and tenderness. Various types of medications are administered depending on what type of arthritis a person is dealing with.\n\n#### Prednisone\n\nPrednisone is an oral steroid prescribed to reduce inflammation in arthritis patients. Side effects include nausea, vomiting, headache, restlessness and weight gain. It’s most commonly prescribed as a short-term therapy due to the severity of its side effects.\n\n#### Acetaminophen & Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs\n\nAcetaminophen and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are common over-the-counter medications prescribed to relieve pain. Acetaminophen, though effective in treating arthritic pain, doesn’t address the accompanying inflammation. NSAIDs, though used to treat pain and inflammation, are processed through the liver; therefore, continued use can cause serious damage to this organ.\n\n#### Disease-Modifying Anti-Rheumatic Drugs\n\nDisease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) are often used by patients with rheumatoid arthritis. This medication essentially slows the progression of the disease by acting on the immune system. Side effects include upset stomach, bone marrow and liver damage, and shortness of breath. \n\n### Alternative Pain Management Options for Arthritis\n\nFor patients who seek alternative treatments for their arthritis, there are a few options that have proven to be effective, especially when accompanied by overall lifestyle changes. Exploring alternative treatments can help a patient live a normal life and even enjoy an active one.\n\n**Acupuncture** is an ancient Chinese method of healing. Practitioners use extremely tiny needles to trigger points in the body that release endorphins where it’s needed the most. \n\n**Hot and cold therapies** provide temporary relief from the burning sensations and stiffness that come with arthritis. Cold compresses, soaking in a hot shower or using hot paraffin wax can ease pain and/or swelling and increase blood circulation. \n\nOther alternative therapies include:\n\n* Yoga\n* Meditation\n* Electrotherapy\n* Nutritional supplements such as turmeric or fish oil, which are natural anti-inflammatories\n\n### Study Shows Cannabis Reduces Arthritis Pain\n\nMedical marijuana has the ability to treat the entire body without debilitating side effects—and often without any side effects at all. Cannabis is a known analgesic, with powerful pain-reducing components that rival prescription drugs and over-the-counter medications.\n\nA study funded by Arthritis Research UK that’s specifically meant to identify how cannabis works in arthritis patients has begun to make a clear connection between marijuana and pain. In this study, scientists examined nerve cells called CB2 receptors and found that activating specific marijuana pathways produced an anti-inflammatory effect. This is a groundbreaking clinical discovery, since inflammation is a major hindrance for patients with arthritic pain. These patients often rely on harmful prescription drugs for relief.\n\nRELATED: [3 POPULAR QUESTIONS ABOUT MARIJUANA & ARTHRITIS ANSWERED](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/5a720780f24d1300077ccb25/3-popular-questions-about-marijuana-and-arthritis-answered)\n\n### Cannabis Topicals Can Help Alleviate Arthritis Symptoms\n\nCannabis topicals provide a unique solution for patients with arthritis, mainly because their side effects are nonexistent. With proper and regular use, cannabis topicals can:\n\n* relieve arthritis pain almost immediately\n* reduce inflammation that accompanies arthritic joints\n* gradually restore mobility in arthritis patients who’ve been forced to live a stationary life \n\nCannabis topicals don’t travel through the bloodstream, as is the case with ingestion and inhalation. Therefore, marijuana-infused topicals don’t produce a euphoric high. Patients who use cannabis topicals can essentially apply their product to the desired area and return to their activities without interruption. Whether they operate heavy machinery, work in a corporate environment or care for children during the day, folks with arthritis find cannabis topicals can often be a life-changing therapy with none of the psychoactivity that comes with consuming cannabis, specifically tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).\n\n### Arthritis Patients Can Start by Consulting With a Cannabis Doctor\n\nThe best thing to do is to speak to a health-care professional who understands how cannabis works with the body. A great place to start would be by requesting a consultation with a doctor on HelloMD. Ask any questions you have concerning products to try, how to take them and how they may affect your life. If you’re recommended to receive medical marijuana, you can order a product from Sweet ReLeaf to reduce your arthritic pain and inflammation.\n\nThe best advice for anyone living with arthritis pain is to explore all possible options before resorting to the prescription drug path. Cannabis provides a treatment option that works with your body to heal. This can mean the difference between taking one medication after another to combat pain and medication side effects, and living a life unencumbered by joint pain.\n\nIf you’re new to cannabis and want to learn more, take a look at our [Cannabis 101](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/56201c206430320006bb0000/cannabis-101-your-quick-guide-to-medical-marijuana) post. [HelloMD](https://www.hellomd.com/) can help you get your medical marijuana recommendation; it's easy, private and 100% online.   ","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.3333333333333333,"src":"/static/71892d781dd29d38caf6a0592584250f/14b42/2c638d02e7f9a1a9f7c2dc3cb4a67148.jpg","srcSet":"/static/71892d781dd29d38caf6a0592584250f/f836f/2c638d02e7f9a1a9f7c2dc3cb4a67148.jpg 200w,\n/static/71892d781dd29d38caf6a0592584250f/2244e/2c638d02e7f9a1a9f7c2dc3cb4a67148.jpg 400w,\n/static/71892d781dd29d38caf6a0592584250f/14b42/2c638d02e7f9a1a9f7c2dc3cb4a67148.jpg 800w,\n/static/71892d781dd29d38caf6a0592584250f/47498/2c638d02e7f9a1a9f7c2dc3cb4a67148.jpg 1200w,\n/static/71892d781dd29d38caf6a0592584250f/54ac5/2c638d02e7f9a1a9f7c2dc3cb4a67148.jpg 1365w","srcWebp":"/static/71892d781dd29d38caf6a0592584250f/58556/2c638d02e7f9a1a9f7c2dc3cb4a67148.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/71892d781dd29d38caf6a0592584250f/61e93/2c638d02e7f9a1a9f7c2dc3cb4a67148.webp 200w,\n/static/71892d781dd29d38caf6a0592584250f/1f5c5/2c638d02e7f9a1a9f7c2dc3cb4a67148.webp 400w,\n/static/71892d781dd29d38caf6a0592584250f/58556/2c638d02e7f9a1a9f7c2dc3cb4a67148.webp 800w,\n/static/71892d781dd29d38caf6a0592584250f/99238/2c638d02e7f9a1a9f7c2dc3cb4a67148.webp 1200w,\n/static/71892d781dd29d38caf6a0592584250f/5e0b8/2c638d02e7f9a1a9f7c2dc3cb4a67148.webp 1365w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_2077-markdown","title":"Green Flower Online Video Course: Cannabis as Medicine","slug":"green-flower-online-video-course-cannabis-as-medicine","content":"Like us, our friends at [Green Flower](https://www.learngreenflower.com/), are building great content and educating new cannabis users to a world of alternative therapy. Green Flower focuses on offering high value online cannabis courses over a wide range of interesting and educational topics. These include valuable advice as to how to enter the cannabis industry state by state, how to treat of a variety of medical conditions, to different methods of cannabis ingestion and more. HelloMD is excited to highlight Green Flower's latest online video course entitled [Cannabis as Medicine](http://greenflowermedia.ontraport.net/t?orid=57479&opid=58). We hope you enjoy their first article below which talks about the history of cannabis and their educational video series.\r\n\r\n### A Brief History of Cannabis\r\n\r\nCannabis has been used for medicinal purposes for centuries. It's reported that the first documented use of cannabis for medical purposes was in 2737 BC by the Chinese Emperor Shen Nung. Medical cannabis products were even common in America until federal prohibition was passed in 1937. That complete prohibition on medical cannabis ended in 1976 when, after a successful legal challenge, the United States government started a program which supplies medical cannabis to patients.\r\n\r\n### The Legalization Wave\r\n\r\nIn 1996, California became the first state to legalize medical cannabis in America. Since that time, 24 more states followed suit. More states are voting on medical cannabis in November, and hopefully that will lead to more states being added to the medical cannabis legalization list. More and more people are using cannabis, which is a good thing. However, a lot of stigma and misinformation is still out there. That has led to a lot of patients being hesitant to use medical cannabis, even thought it would help them.\r\n\r\n### Cannabis As Medicine\r\n\r\nThe research study results are out there in regards to the medical properties of cannabis, as are personal testimonies from patients that have successfully treated their conditions with cannabis. So why are some patients so hesitant to consider medical cannabis? Obviously, more information needs to get in the hands and minds of people that need to hear it, and in a format and setting that works best for them to receive such important information.\r\n\r\nKeeping that in mind, we are excited to announce a new video series titled, [Cannabis as Medicine](http://greenflowermedia.ontraport.net/t?orid=57479&opid=58) which was produced and released by our team Green Flower Media. The series is comprised of three videos. The series includes leading experts in their fields of study, can be viewed completely free of cost (for a limited time), and all from the privacy of one's home.\r\n\r\nThe videos will cover all types of ailments, including Pain, Insomnia, Depression, Anxiety, Inflammation, Seizures, Nausea, Cancer, Arthritis, ADD, Headaches/Migraines, PTSD, Menstrual Cramps, Pediatrics, ADD, Alzheimer's\r\n& Asthma.\r\n\r\n### Learning the Value of Cannabis\r\n\r\nHealth issues are often private, sometimes embarrassing to talk about, and/or sensitive to discuss for the patient. That's one big reason why we feel this video series is so important to share with others, as they can view the videos in a private setting that they are comfortable with.\r\n\r\nHow can cannabis be an effective medicine? How can a patient get the benefits of cannabis without the 'high?' What are some of the fears and misconceptions that patients face when considering to use medical cannabis? Those are just a few questions that will be covered in this video series.\r\n\r\nCheck out the video series, and share it with anyone that you think would benefit from the information. Given the enormous amount of quality information involved, there's something for everyone. You can view the first video in the series by visiting [Green Flower Media](http://greenflowermedia.ontraport.net/t?orid=57479&opid=58) today.\r\n\r\n###[Find out more here](http://greenflowermedia.ontraport.net/t?orid=57479&opid=58)\r\n\r\n","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.3333333333333333,"src":"/static/58b6fc3b8a590e06050f0ca2d936e085/14b42/87601e652acd5d095e47844d3fefb457.jpg","srcSet":"/static/58b6fc3b8a590e06050f0ca2d936e085/f836f/87601e652acd5d095e47844d3fefb457.jpg 200w,\n/static/58b6fc3b8a590e06050f0ca2d936e085/2244e/87601e652acd5d095e47844d3fefb457.jpg 400w,\n/static/58b6fc3b8a590e06050f0ca2d936e085/14b42/87601e652acd5d095e47844d3fefb457.jpg 800w,\n/static/58b6fc3b8a590e06050f0ca2d936e085/47498/87601e652acd5d095e47844d3fefb457.jpg 1200w,\n/static/58b6fc3b8a590e06050f0ca2d936e085/54ac5/87601e652acd5d095e47844d3fefb457.jpg 1365w","srcWebp":"/static/58b6fc3b8a590e06050f0ca2d936e085/58556/87601e652acd5d095e47844d3fefb457.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/58b6fc3b8a590e06050f0ca2d936e085/61e93/87601e652acd5d095e47844d3fefb457.webp 200w,\n/static/58b6fc3b8a590e06050f0ca2d936e085/1f5c5/87601e652acd5d095e47844d3fefb457.webp 400w,\n/static/58b6fc3b8a590e06050f0ca2d936e085/58556/87601e652acd5d095e47844d3fefb457.webp 800w,\n/static/58b6fc3b8a590e06050f0ca2d936e085/99238/87601e652acd5d095e47844d3fefb457.webp 1200w,\n/static/58b6fc3b8a590e06050f0ca2d936e085/5e0b8/87601e652acd5d095e47844d3fefb457.webp 1365w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_2148-markdown","title":"Can Cannabis Help Autoimmune Disease Sufferers?","slug":"can-cannabis-help-autoimmune-disease-sufferers","content":"### What is an Autoimmune Disorder?\n\n50 million americans [suffer](http://www.honeycolony.com/article/%EF%BB%BF5-autoimmune-disorders-met-their-match/) from an Autoimmune Disorder and 75% of those who experience them are women. The main factor in all autoimmune diseases is inflammation, but there are many theories to what causes these conditions, ranging from genetic to environmental factors. While experiencing an Autoimmune Disorder, the body attacks itself because the immune system has trouble determining the difference between foreign agents and the bodies internal workings. The damage caused by the body attacking itself can be extremely detrimental and even fatal. \n\n### How can Cannabis Help?\n\nA University of South Carolina [study](http://www.iflscience.com/health-and-medicine/medical-marijuana-shows-promise-against-autoimmune-diseases/) revealed novel pathways through which THC can suppress the body’s immune function. The study was published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry and showed that the suppression of immune response by THC could be a useful treatment to autoimmune disease. THC is able to act as an epigenome, an outside molecule that has the ability to change DNA function, and affect DNA expression in the immune system. THC was able change the critical histones and suppress inflammation in the immune system of the rodents that the study was conducted on. In this study, THC was injected directly into the rodents and was able to substantially alter 13 microRNAs, which regulate the expression of genes. This study showed a large potential for THC to ease the symptoms of autoimmune diseases such as arthritis, lupus, and colitis. \n\nInflammation can be suppressed by activating the cannabinoid receptors, CB2, on immune cells. Though there have not yet been clinical human trials, this study opens up new avenues to investigate as possible treatment options for autoimmune diseases. Though this study only looked at THC, CBD is also known to help the immune system. CBD helps repair the bodies ability to recognize the difference between normal internal body functions and foreign entities, keeping the body from attacking itself.\n\n### Rheumatoid Arthritis\n\nCannabis has already shown promise in helping with specific autoimmune diseases. A Hebrew University [study](https://www.leafly.com/news/health/the-medical-minute-can-cannabis-help-repair-arthritic-joints) showed that lab mice experience a 50% increase in joint health while being  treated with CBD, showing promise for alleviating the symptoms rheumatoid arthritis. Another study, published in the journal Rheumatology showed that CB2 receptors are found in exceptionally large amounts in the joint tissue of arthritis patients. Cannabis can be used to reduce inflammation, and pain, by stimulating CB2 receptors found in the joints. \n\n### Celiac Disease\n\nCannabis may also work to help people with Celiac Disease, a severe gluten allergy that causes an autoimmune response. 1 in 141 americans have Celiac Disease, but it often goes undiagnosed. CBD can work on CB2 receptors in the gut and help fight against autoimmune attacks in the digestive system when gluten is consumed. \n\n### Fibromyalgia\n\nA survey published by Care By Design showed that 100% of fibromyalgia patients surveyed reported a reduction of pain when using CBD rich cannabis for at least 30 days. A University of Heidelberg [study](http://norml.org/library/item/fibromyalgia) out of Germany showed that when Fibromyalgia patients were given varying doses of THC, and no other pain medication, they all experienced a significant decrease in pain. \n\n### Inflammatory Bowel Disease\n\nCannabis promotes healthy gut activity and has been historically used to relieve digestive problems. CBD can help reduce inflammation throughout the digestive system and THC may also prove helpful for patients with various Inflammatory Bowel Diseases. A 2011 [study](https://www.medicaljane.com/2014/06/28/medical-marijuana-and-inflammatory-bowel-disease-ibd/) from the Institute of Gastroenterology and Hepatology found that 21 of 30 Crohn’s disease patients found a significant improvement in their symptoms while using medical cannabis. \n\n[Photo Credit](https://www.flickr.com/photos/vinally/5475673386/in/photolist-9kSfVQ-cL6ZzS-ePkJ6x-gYdZ9A-4yg275-eW1NYW-9gT4if-arrbd8-66JmzH-bXviVu-qpDE9i-29Nofz-9vX53p-WBdbs-eTXDHt-cYycRh-Kei68-d6Ch8f-ewUJjd-bNpKLp-bWPsRS-bWR5DG-Nr3KJ-bWRbif-ohRa5g-pddVQb-7wY4nG-buy6iM-cuQbXQ-bitb9r-7pZUqd-eewR5X-883kSe-uSWouQ-uSYxGJ-uThpC1-6QpkG5-enQuQt-6Bom6N-9fDbN9-6Bj9qV-pHEUeh-buy6o4-edeHm8-wLMZi-6Bjchk-dw3ai-6BjboK-sF1Mz-buy6cV)\n\n","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/png;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.3513513513513513,"src":"/static/c445132d4c9a2cf63810812dcb917cdb/31476/f148266d3e54b9588b28c6cafb3bbc1d.png","srcSet":"/static/c445132d4c9a2cf63810812dcb917cdb/69585/f148266d3e54b9588b28c6cafb3bbc1d.png 200w,\n/static/c445132d4c9a2cf63810812dcb917cdb/497c6/f148266d3e54b9588b28c6cafb3bbc1d.png 400w,\n/static/c445132d4c9a2cf63810812dcb917cdb/31476/f148266d3e54b9588b28c6cafb3bbc1d.png 761w","srcWebp":"/static/c445132d4c9a2cf63810812dcb917cdb/1d747/f148266d3e54b9588b28c6cafb3bbc1d.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/c445132d4c9a2cf63810812dcb917cdb/61e93/f148266d3e54b9588b28c6cafb3bbc1d.webp 200w,\n/static/c445132d4c9a2cf63810812dcb917cdb/1f5c5/f148266d3e54b9588b28c6cafb3bbc1d.webp 400w,\n/static/c445132d4c9a2cf63810812dcb917cdb/1d747/f148266d3e54b9588b28c6cafb3bbc1d.webp 761w","sizes":"(max-width: 761px) 100vw, 761px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_2085-markdown","title":"THC in Cannabis Topicals: Why It Matters","slug":"thc-in-cannabis-topicals-why-it-matters","content":"DiDi Davis is Founder of [Sweet ReLeaf](https://getsweetreleaf.com/), a topical cannabis manufacturer located in California. Sweet ReLeaf has created one of the most effective and enjoyable topicals on the market today which is creamy and smells wonderful. As Didi says \"We believe in the healing power of plants, specifically how the human endocannabinoid system communicates with the compounds found in Cannabis. We like to call it ‘Intelligent Medicine.’\" In her this blog post Didi talks about why THC matters in topicals.\n\n### The Importance of THC In Cannabis Topicals\n\nThough CBD has been on the tip of everyone’s tongue lately, we’re taking a look at how vital THC is to the pain equation.\n\nCannabis is made up of over 500 compounds and cannabinoids represent around 85 of them. The most significant cannabinoids, by and large, have been THC, THCa, and CBD. In today's news, CBD (or cannabidiol) has practically become a buzzword. Vogue magazine recently wrote about how marijuana-infused products can give you better orgasms. Whoopi Goldberg's new line of menstrual cycle pain relief products contains CBD exclusively. Even nuns have gotten into the CBD product market.\n\nAlthough CBD hosts a myriad of benefits and its non-psychoactive effects are a commercial favorite the star player is still THC when it comes to pain relief. CBD and THC have very similar benefits, but vary in how they interact with our bodies. \n\n### The History of THC\n\nTHC as an isolated compound was discovered by Dr. Raphael Mechoulam in 1964 at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot, Israel. He and his associates were able to successfully extract THC from cannabis allowing them to study it exclusively. Dr. Mechoulam is a strong advocate for cannabis as medicine and his research has led to several other discoveries about cannabis including the discovery of the human endocannabinoid system. This naturally occurring system communicates organically with cannabis compounds.\n\n### What is THC?\n\nTHC (or tetrahydrocannabinol) is the chemical compound found in most marijuana plants. When smoked or ingested, THC stimulates brain cells to release dopamine creating a euphoric high. If THC is applied to the skin, however, it skips the bloodstream and causes no mind-altering effects. It does, however, penetrate deeper tissues to bring relief for pain and inflammation.\n\n### What is THCa?\n\nTHCa, essentially, is the mother of THC. It is a non-psychoactive acid that, once heated to a certain temperature, eventually becomes THC. This process is called 'decarbing' (short for decarboxylating). When used in its purest form, THCa can relieve pain with less dosage than THC or CBD.\n\n### What is CBD?\n\nCBD is often the more submissive compound in cannabis strains. With selective breeding, however, there have been developments of strains containing mostly CBD and almost no THC. CBD is non-psychoactive and tends to create an all-over effect, flooding the entire body.\n\n### THC & Pain\n\nPain, in essence, is nothing more than a communication between our brain and our body to signify that something is wrong. Pain can be felt in different ways. We can feel pain through our nervous system, through our tissues and organs and even through our imagination. THC can intercept this communication and prevent pain from being experienced on a physical level. One of the mechanisms in our bodies which regulates pain is our own endocannabinoid system. \n\nInhaled or ingested, THC carries side-effects like euphoria, sleepiness and increased appetite. These are life-saving benefits to patients with AIDS, cancer, and other serious illnesses. \n\nBut for some, this could be a hindrance to their daily lives. Perhaps a patient has small children to look after and needs as much energy as possible. Those who work in fields that require random drug testing also have to avoid smoking and ingesting cannabis. In these cases, THC-rich topicals provide effective options.\n\n### THC vs. CBD\n\nThe comparison comes down to patient need. CBD is often prescribed to children and those who need a powerful medicine without mood or mind-altering side effects. However, THC is simply more potent. You need less of it to experience relief and it can be extremely useful in calming and sedating patients who need serious help overcoming intense pain or psychological episodes. \n\nTHC used topically is the best of both worlds. It affects the source of pain quickly and exclusively and produces no high to the user. Because it skips the bloodstream, cannabis topicals are undetectable in drug tests and don’t upset the patient’s ability to function. THC-based topicals are a great option for people living with conditions such as:\n\n### Chronic Pain and Arthritis \n\nBy applying directly on the joints, muscles and other parts of the body, even people with chronic pain see immediate results.\n\n### Menstrual Cramps \n\nMenstrual cramps are essentially muscle aches caused by minor contractions. Applying a THC-rich topical to the site will decrease cramps if not eliminate them altogether.\n\n### Skin Conditions \n\nConditions such as eczema, psoriasis, and acne can all be treated and even cured with a THC-heavy cannabis topical. Because these conditions are often a sign of a larger problem, a cannabis topical should be part of a holistic approach to correcting the imbalance.\n\n### Migraine Headaches \n\nRecent studies have shown that topical cannabis reduces headache frequency when applied directly to the temple.\n\nWhether you prefer an all-over body high, a euphoric mindstate or area-specific pain relief, the first step is to do your research. Don’t be turned off by THC’s less desirable side effects. And don’t automatically assume CBD isn’t strong enough for your condition. Cannabis gives birth to a diverse array of options depending on needs and preferences. THC may be the very thing missing in your treatment plan. We encourage you to ask questions, do your research and stay open to how cannabis and all its cannabinoids can heal.\n\nDo you have questions about Sweet ReLeaf? Ask a question about the product in HelloMD's new Answers feature. A doctor or member of our community will answer.\n\nIf you are new to cannabis and want to learn more, take a look at our [Cannabis 101](https://hellomd.com/articles/cannabis-101-your-quick-guide-to-medical-marijuana) post. [HelloMD](https://www.hellomd.com/) can help you get your medical marijuana recommendation; it's 100% online, private and efficient.\n","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.5037593984962405,"src":"/static/4aae6fa7b89b34a82cb37e867c2e33fd/14b42/1f8d8f411142587c50e2c12260ca77a0.jpg","srcSet":"/static/4aae6fa7b89b34a82cb37e867c2e33fd/f836f/1f8d8f411142587c50e2c12260ca77a0.jpg 200w,\n/static/4aae6fa7b89b34a82cb37e867c2e33fd/2244e/1f8d8f411142587c50e2c12260ca77a0.jpg 400w,\n/static/4aae6fa7b89b34a82cb37e867c2e33fd/14b42/1f8d8f411142587c50e2c12260ca77a0.jpg 800w,\n/static/4aae6fa7b89b34a82cb37e867c2e33fd/47498/1f8d8f411142587c50e2c12260ca77a0.jpg 1200w,\n/static/4aae6fa7b89b34a82cb37e867c2e33fd/a6974/1f8d8f411142587c50e2c12260ca77a0.jpg 1536w","srcWebp":"/static/4aae6fa7b89b34a82cb37e867c2e33fd/58556/1f8d8f411142587c50e2c12260ca77a0.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/4aae6fa7b89b34a82cb37e867c2e33fd/61e93/1f8d8f411142587c50e2c12260ca77a0.webp 200w,\n/static/4aae6fa7b89b34a82cb37e867c2e33fd/1f5c5/1f8d8f411142587c50e2c12260ca77a0.webp 400w,\n/static/4aae6fa7b89b34a82cb37e867c2e33fd/58556/1f8d8f411142587c50e2c12260ca77a0.webp 800w,\n/static/4aae6fa7b89b34a82cb37e867c2e33fd/99238/1f8d8f411142587c50e2c12260ca77a0.webp 1200w,\n/static/4aae6fa7b89b34a82cb37e867c2e33fd/d5052/1f8d8f411142587c50e2c12260ca77a0.webp 1536w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_2039-markdown","title":"Topicals: A Revelation in Treating Pain with Cannabis","slug":"topicals-a-revelation-in-treating-pain-with-cannabis","content":"HelloMD welcomes Andrea Brooks, our newest guest blogger. Andrea is the founder of [Sava](https://www.getsava.com), the premier marketplace for high-quality, hand-crafted cannabis goods. Sava offers next day delivery for patients throughout California and is one of the newest collectives gaining a passionate following of enthusiastic medicinal cannabis patients. Andrea is extremely knowledgeable about how to use cannabis for pain and below she shares her personal story.\r\n\r\n**A Journey from Pain to Wellness**\r\n\r\nMy personal journey into the cannabis industry started with my own pain. Several years ago I was the program director for a San Francisco human and social services nonprofit, doing a job that I absolutely loved, when an injury caused systemic nerve damage and prevented me from being able to sit and use the computer for the long hours required, as well as other routine daily activities. The two years that followed were some of the harder times of my life, while I struggled to find a new way of caring for my body--one that would allow me to be pain free. \r\n\r\nLiving with chronic pain required me to do a lot of research and learning, and a lot of experimentation. I quickly realized that the side effects from pharmaceuticals were best avoided and thus began my trial and error with alternative forms of medicine. I always knew smoking cannabis could alleviate pain, but I’ve since learned that there is so much more to using cannabis than simply picking up a joint. Ultimately, cannabis and a solid self-care routine is what brought me back to health. \r\n\r\n**Beyond the Smoke**\r\n\r\nAt first I turned to smoking flower for pain relief. It did wonders--especially now that there is so much information available on strain types. The only downside of the some of the flower was I felt too high. I wanted to get back to life as usual and although I’ve always enjoyed smoking a joint from time to time, I’ve never been an all day every day smoker. I needed to find a way to manage my pain and stay more clear-minded. \r\n\r\nAs the medical cannabis industry has grown, we’ve seen an explosion in other methods of consumption. Learning about these products gave me a vast toolkit. Edibles and tinctures offer a discreet, easy to measure dose of cannabis available in many configurations. Some are low-dose, some are for sleep, some are high-CBD, and the list goes on. These products have been life-savers. But by far one class of products has helped me day in and day out more than any other is topicals. \r\n\r\n**Topicals - What Are They?**\r\n\r\nTopicals are a way to apply cannabis directly to your skin. Formulas come in many forms including oils, balms, salves, and lotion bars. Topicals are not psychoactive so you will not feel high after using them. \r\n\r\n**How Do They Work?** \r\n\r\nApplying a topical is a transdermal method of ingesting cannabis - meaning it goes through your skin. They work by binding to a network of receptors called CB2 that are found throughout the body and are activated either by the body’s naturally-occurring endocannabinoids or by cannabis compounds known as phytocannabinoids. \r\n\r\nWhen you apply most topicals, the cannabinoids don’t enter the bloodstream so you will not have a psychoactive experience. The two exceptions are with transdermal patches, which will deliver THC to the bloodstream and can cause psychoactive effects and cannabis-infused soaks, which allow THC to be absorbed through the colon. However, with lotions, salves, and the like, you can use them to relieve pain in a specific area while going about your day. \r\n\r\n**Penetration vs. Absorption** \r\n\r\nIn skincare, there is a difference between penetration and absorption. Skin penetration refers to the amount of a topically applied compound that exists between the top layer of skin, the stratum corneum, and the bottom layer of skin, the stratum basale. During penetration, the body does not absorb the compound so it does not affect the body systems. Skin absorption refers to the process where the compound breaks the skin barrier and enters the bloodstream.  \r\n\r\nMany factors influence penetration and absorption, including how thick the skin is in the area a formula is applied and the type of formula being applied. Most topicals will not pass the skin barrier and absorb into the bloodstream, but patches, for example, have been made with molecules small enough to do so. \r\n\r\n**Body Oils, Lotions and Salves**\r\n\r\nThrough my experimentation, I found each of these formulas have their own purposes. \r\n\r\nBody Oils - Coupling cannabis with self-massage (or massage from someone else if you’re lucky) can dramatically increase the therapeutic effects. Body oils stay on the skin long enough to provide lubrication for deeper massage, releasing of knots and tension. \r\n\r\nSalves and Balms - These absorb into the skin a bit faster and they are less messy to use, making them my go to for portable relief. Keeping a jar in my purse to apply as needed has been a lifesaver on many occasions. Salves and balms provide enough oil for some massage, but will sink into your skin faster than oil. \r\n\r\nBody Butters - Butters are one step down on the oily scale from salves and balms. Another great choice for relief on the go, body butters made with a natural butter base such as mango, shea, or cocoa. In my experience, the natural butters carry enough scent that they are the predominant smell, not the cannabis. \r\n\r\nLotions - the lightest in texture and oiliness, these will penetrate your skin the fastest. They are not good for massage, but they are great if you want to apply something under your clothes that will leave no mess. \r\n\r\nLotion Bars - lotion bars are solid bars that melt when applied to skin. Often made from a combination of natural butters and oils, these are great for an at home massage treatment. \r\n\r\nSoaks - A newer trend on the cannabis market are bath salts and bath bombs. Fill your tub, add the product, and soak. While you’re relaxing in the tub, the cannabis is penetrating your outer skin layers while also being absorbed by your colon. This leaves you with a very light psychoactive experience that is somewhere between very calm and slightly high. \r\n\r\n**...That Smells Nice**\r\n\r\nSome topicals have stronger cannabis scents than others. There are several options that do not smell like cannabis at all, offering you relief in places where you’d prefer not to unleash the smell of cannabis. Some companies add additional ingredients, such as wintergreen, eucalyptus, and lavender add to the experience. Some topicals are heating and some are cooling. Try a few to find your favorites. \r\n\r\n**What Can I Use Them For?** \r\n\r\nFor Inflammation and Arthritis - CBD has anti-inflammatory properties. If you’d like to combat inflammation or pain related to arthritis, look for a high CBD topical. \r\n\r\nFor Cramps - Topicals calm menstrual cramps. I’ve found body oils to be very effective, especially if applied to both the lower back and lower abdomen and paired with a hot water bottle. \r\n\r\nFor Sore Muscles - Soaking after a workout or self-massage with an oil will leave you less sore the next day. \r\n\r\nFor Better Sleep - a thorough rub down before bed with any topical makes me sleep more  soundly. My body relaxes more deeply as I drift off into my dreams. \r\n\r\n**A Self-Care Routine**\r\n\r\nFinding a way to handle pain that didn’t make me high was a game-changer. But cannabis alone is not a magic bullet. Developing a self-care routine was invaluable to my recovery. For some techniques, such as massage, pairing with cannabis magnified the healing effects.  \r\n\r\nStretching - Developing a 10-15 minute routine at the beginning and end of your day can make a world of difference. Luckily, the internet abounds with yoga and stretching videos if you’d like inspiration. \r\n\r\nMovement - A vital part of each day, especially if your job requires you to sit in one place. A brief daily walk or getting up once per hour move a bit will make the world of difference. Topical balm can be used in advance of any activity to loosen muscles, as well as be applied afterwards to soothe soreness.\r\n\r\nMassage and other Body Work - Massage alone is magnificently healing. Pairing it with a cannabis brings another level of relaxation. While a professional body worker will reach very deep levels of healing, self-massage on a regular basis is also fantastic. \r\n\r\nMini Foot Spa - While integrating massage into your life is a worthwhile luxury due to the health benefits, it’s not always possible to get a massage. Doing your own mini foot spa is another at-home, accessible self-care routine. Our feet carry so much tension a foot spa can release. Try a cannabis soak and rub some bath salts into your feet to exfoliate. Follow with an oil applied with massage. If you want to take it to another level, look at a reflexology chart and target areas specific to your tension. \r\n\r\nTake A Minute to Breathe - Much like stretching, just a few minutes each day makes a world of difference. While I was initially skeptical, meditation taught me a way to stay grounded during a flare up. I developed a pre-meditation ritual of rubbing some of my favorite scented topical into my temples and neck beforehand, helping me to settle in. \r\n\r\nAs I’ve come to find is often the case for providers of cannabis medicine, it was my own discovery of the vast and varied healing properties of this plant that inspired me to share it with others. In 2015 I founded [Sava](https://www.getsava.com), a marketplace for high-quality, hand-crafted cannabis goods. My hope is to share detailed information on use and dosage with patients while also providing access to safe, consistent medicine. \r\n\r\nIf you are new to cannabis and want to learn more, take a look at our [Cannabis 101](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/cannabis-101-your-quick-guide-to-medical-marijuana) post. [HelloMD](https://www.hellomd.com/) can help you get your medical marijuana recommendation; it's 100% online, private and efficient.\r\n\r\n","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/png;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.3333333333333333,"src":"/static/180c0d5969d8f620ba0d0b33edcea28f/ee604/55f4db69ab8fef1c1754e43421bdfbb3.png","srcSet":"/static/180c0d5969d8f620ba0d0b33edcea28f/69585/55f4db69ab8fef1c1754e43421bdfbb3.png 200w,\n/static/180c0d5969d8f620ba0d0b33edcea28f/497c6/55f4db69ab8fef1c1754e43421bdfbb3.png 400w,\n/static/180c0d5969d8f620ba0d0b33edcea28f/ee604/55f4db69ab8fef1c1754e43421bdfbb3.png 800w,\n/static/180c0d5969d8f620ba0d0b33edcea28f/f3583/55f4db69ab8fef1c1754e43421bdfbb3.png 1200w,\n/static/180c0d5969d8f620ba0d0b33edcea28f/f90fa/55f4db69ab8fef1c1754e43421bdfbb3.png 1365w","srcWebp":"/static/180c0d5969d8f620ba0d0b33edcea28f/58556/55f4db69ab8fef1c1754e43421bdfbb3.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/180c0d5969d8f620ba0d0b33edcea28f/61e93/55f4db69ab8fef1c1754e43421bdfbb3.webp 200w,\n/static/180c0d5969d8f620ba0d0b33edcea28f/1f5c5/55f4db69ab8fef1c1754e43421bdfbb3.webp 400w,\n/static/180c0d5969d8f620ba0d0b33edcea28f/58556/55f4db69ab8fef1c1754e43421bdfbb3.webp 800w,\n/static/180c0d5969d8f620ba0d0b33edcea28f/99238/55f4db69ab8fef1c1754e43421bdfbb3.webp 1200w,\n/static/180c0d5969d8f620ba0d0b33edcea28f/5e0b8/55f4db69ab8fef1c1754e43421bdfbb3.webp 1365w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_2084-markdown","title":"Cannabis Topicals Provide Relief for Sore Muscles & Pain","slug":"cannabis-topicals-provide-relief-for-sore-muscles-and-pain","content":"This past winter, I seemed to be sick non-stop. As a result, my normal exercise regime wasn’t an option. So now that I’ve started back up with early morning boot camp and daily hikes, my muscles have been screaming. After my first few days back at it, I can barely walk, feel hobbled and the aching muscles leave me seriously cranky. Could a marijuana topical balm help relieve my tired sore muscles? The answer is, as you may have guessed, yes.\n\n### What Are Cannabis Balms?\n\nMarijuana topicals can come in the form of a salve, cream or even oil. They're meant to be applied to the skin and provide localized relief for pain. Pain may be from nerves, arthritis, inflammation and general soreness, among other conditions. The benefit of a topical for many patients is that it can provide pain relief without creating a sense of being high. \n\nCannabis-infused balms work by absorbing through the skin and binding to our CB2 receptors, which are found throughout the body. Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD), along with other cannabinoids, have an analgesic and anti-inflammatory effect on the body once they come into contact with these receptors. In general, topicals won’t get into the blood stream, which is one of the reasons you don’t get high when using them.\n\nTransdermal patches are another way to administrater medical marijuana. And since transdermals actually do get into the blood stream, they’re somewhat different from topicals.\n\nFOLLOW US ON [FACEBOOK](https://www.facebook.com/pg/hellomdcompany/posts/) & [INSTAGRAM](https://www.instagram.com/hellomd_com/?hl=en) \n\n### My Top 4 Marijuana Topicals\n\nCannabis salves are said to help with sore muscles, back pain, arthritis and many other aches and pains. I’ve used different balms to help me with acute lower back pain, sore muscles, tendonitis and bursitis in my hips. Many marijuana topicals on the market today carry some of the same ingredients found within drugstore muscle creams, including eucalyptus, camphor, menthol and others. \n\nThere are a couple of downsides to using topicals; many smell like cannabis and they can often feel greasy due to their carrier oils.  Although there’s little to no research on topicals, anecdotally I found that people who use cannabis topicals uniformly seem to like or love them.\n\nAs you may know, numerous marijuana balms are out on the market, and many that I’ve yet to try. That said, I'm going to tell you about four topicals that I use and like. \n\n### Sweet Releaf Cannabis Body Butter\n\nI’m going to start with this cannabis body butter from [Sweet ReLeaf](https://www.hellomd.com/biz/56dddcac02baab0008000042/sweet-releaf/products), because I absolutely love it. It has a creamy texture, doesn’t smell like cannabis and provides fast relief from sore muscles.\n\nI was barely able to walk after my workout, my quads were so sore, and a colleague at work mentioned this wonder cream. I happened to have a sample size at home, so I popped it open, and with the smallest amount it went straight to work. Within half an hour my pain had decreased significantly.\n\nA 1 oz jar is $20, which may seem pricey, but a little goes a long way. I’m now a huge fan and plan to buy this one in bulk.\n\nA testimonial on the Sweet Releaf site states, “Sweet ReLeaf is the most effective pain-relieving cream I have ever used. The smell is pleasant and enchanting and it has a nice body feel. When I have sore muscles, I rub it in and the pain and discomfort melts away.” I have to say, I back this statement up with my own experience.\n\n### The Original Kind Rub Cannabis Menthol Formula\n\n[The Kind Rub](http://kindmedicineproducts.com/) is a very popular brand I've seen in many dispensaries. I’ve used this balm for some time, and it works well. When my back hurts after a workout, I put some on and find that it definitely lessens the pain.\n\nThat said, the smell of this balm is very powerful—you wouldn’t want to go on a date after using it. It also has a greenish hue that makes me think of the Wicked Witch of the West. This salve has a fantastic ingredient list, which includes eucalyptus, rosemary, sage, lavender and chamomile, among other natural herbs.\n\nOn the product page for this product, Kind Medicine says, “Great for arthritis, bone and muscle pain, backaches, neck aches, gout, chest congestion, sore feet, dry skin, and much more. Apply to the affected area as often as needed. You won’t experience any THC side effects, only the soothing comfort of being free of pain.”\n\n### Xternal Topical Balm\n\nAgain, this seems to be a popular cannabis balm that’s carried by many dispensaries. The packaging feels very generic, but I suppose it’s about what’s inside that matters.\n\nThat said, I’ve carried this in my purse for the past few months. When I’ve had a really sore muscle, it seems to help. It tends to be on the greasier side of topicals, so you need to rub this one in well.\n\nThe Xternal site says it helps combat many conditions and that, “Xternal Balm is a non-petroleum-jelly topical rub with our proprietary active ingredients. This formula was originally designed for MMA fighters who found it greatly improved recovery time.” \n\n### HerbaBuena Body Balm Topical Cannabis Rub\n\nI keep the HerbaBuena body balm on my bedside table. HerbaBuena pays particular attention to the quality of the cannabis it uses, and I appreciate this very much.\n\nThe balm has a very distinctive smell—it’s sort of planty-medicinal, which I happen to like. It has a yellowish hue and feels a bit grainy, so you also need to really rub it in before you can put clothes on over it. The jar’s description states that it contains 1,000 mg of THC, so a little goes a long way.\n\nOn the HerbaBuna site, it says, “Our proprietary blend of oils eases all types of muscle and joint pain, and has been reported to be particularly effective as a sports rub and for assisting with arthritis. Starring critically extracted cannabis as well as oils of coconut, jojoba and avocado, cacao butter and beeswax.”\n\nHopefully this list gives you a good place to start if you want to explore how marijuana topicals can help your sore muscles. And if you’re a pro when it comes to balms, salves, lotions and oils, let us know what your go-to topical is in the comments section. \n\nIf you’re new to cannabis and want to learn more, take a look at our [Cannabis 101](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/cannabis-101-your-quick-guide-to-medical-marijuana) post. [HelloMD](https://www.hellomd.com/) can help you get your medical marijuana recommendation; it's easy, private and 100% online.\n","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/png;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.3333333333333333,"src":"/static/476d04b038f8cc4677f569639151766e/ee604/79d1f129d6170b2d12dbb6ae5db92a6a.png","srcSet":"/static/476d04b038f8cc4677f569639151766e/69585/79d1f129d6170b2d12dbb6ae5db92a6a.png 200w,\n/static/476d04b038f8cc4677f569639151766e/497c6/79d1f129d6170b2d12dbb6ae5db92a6a.png 400w,\n/static/476d04b038f8cc4677f569639151766e/ee604/79d1f129d6170b2d12dbb6ae5db92a6a.png 800w,\n/static/476d04b038f8cc4677f569639151766e/f3583/79d1f129d6170b2d12dbb6ae5db92a6a.png 1200w,\n/static/476d04b038f8cc4677f569639151766e/f90fa/79d1f129d6170b2d12dbb6ae5db92a6a.png 1365w","srcWebp":"/static/476d04b038f8cc4677f569639151766e/58556/79d1f129d6170b2d12dbb6ae5db92a6a.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/476d04b038f8cc4677f569639151766e/61e93/79d1f129d6170b2d12dbb6ae5db92a6a.webp 200w,\n/static/476d04b038f8cc4677f569639151766e/1f5c5/79d1f129d6170b2d12dbb6ae5db92a6a.webp 400w,\n/static/476d04b038f8cc4677f569639151766e/58556/79d1f129d6170b2d12dbb6ae5db92a6a.webp 800w,\n/static/476d04b038f8cc4677f569639151766e/99238/79d1f129d6170b2d12dbb6ae5db92a6a.webp 1200w,\n/static/476d04b038f8cc4677f569639151766e/5e0b8/79d1f129d6170b2d12dbb6ae5db92a6a.webp 1365w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_2053-markdown","title":"Download our Medical Marijuana Patient Study","slug":"download-our-medical-marijuana-patient-study","content":"For us at HelloMD, the medical cannabis industry is an exciting and fascinating business to be in. Every day we leave the office knowing that we are improving people's lives and helping further the cause for mainstream acceptance of this amazing plant.  In the short time since we’ve been providing our service (one year) we’ve witnessed a positive shift in how the broader population perceive the legal cannabis market. The collective contribution of the industry has performed a remarkable feat in changing attitudes and in moving us from back-alley to the main street.\r\n\r\nWe have come far. Yet, for anyone entering the industry, indeed for anyone in it, it can still be difficult finding information to help plan and grow a business. Very little is published indicating patient preferences, methods of use, reasons for use, etc. Most in the industry are planning products and services based upon small sample sets of anecdotal data and intuition. Not that there is anything wrong with that. After all, we did that. But if that’s all you’ve got, then it’s really difficult to identify trends and to plan ahead. \r\n\r\nThat is why, in January of this year, we conducted a detailed study of patients that use medical marijuana. \r\n\r\n[Download the medical marijuana patient study here](https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/hellomd-news/HelloMD_Medical_Marijuana_Patient_Survey.pdf).\r\n\r\nWe believe it to be the most comprehensive study to date and we are very pleased to share it with the community at large. Our methodology included surveying our membership of 17,000 patients (all of whom have been evaluated by our own doctors), correlating with other data sets (public and private), analyzing, and then using the results to form key findings. Thanks to our friends at [FireFly](http://www.thefirefly.com) (of whom generously donated 5 of their beautiful vaporizers as an incentive to participants) we had an exceptional response of over 1,400 patients. Anonymously, every one of them answered an extensive questionnaire that detailed their own experience and details regarding conditions leading to use, modes of use, efficacy, and much more.\r\n\r\nAll this data led to key findings and learning's that helped us understand:  \r\n\r\n - The demographic of patients using medical marijuana today, and how it has been changing overtime\r\n - Conditions being treating with medical cannabis\r\n - How effective cannabis is as a treatment modality\r\n - How patients feel about using cannabis as an alternative, or as a compliment, to other more-traditional prescribed pharmaceuticals\r\n - How, or if, patients talk about their use of cannabis among family, friends and colleagues.\r\n - Where medical cannabis purchases are made\r\n - Where patients obtain education and knowledge of medical cannabis\r\n\r\nPerhaps the most surprising finding; an emerging demographic that, indisputably, is eclipsing the recreational demographic. This has all sorts of implications – politically and otherwise.\r\n\r\nWe have compiled all findings into a report that can be [downloaded as a PDF here](https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/hellomd-news/HelloMD_Medical_Marijuana_Patient_Survey.pdf).","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.5151515151515151,"src":"/static/e8673bbdb39b8593fd7a7da80b6c7825/14b42/38cff30a6e1ef5b926d055a399eae91d.jpg","srcSet":"/static/e8673bbdb39b8593fd7a7da80b6c7825/f836f/38cff30a6e1ef5b926d055a399eae91d.jpg 200w,\n/static/e8673bbdb39b8593fd7a7da80b6c7825/2244e/38cff30a6e1ef5b926d055a399eae91d.jpg 400w,\n/static/e8673bbdb39b8593fd7a7da80b6c7825/14b42/38cff30a6e1ef5b926d055a399eae91d.jpg 800w,\n/static/e8673bbdb39b8593fd7a7da80b6c7825/47498/38cff30a6e1ef5b926d055a399eae91d.jpg 1200w","srcWebp":"/static/e8673bbdb39b8593fd7a7da80b6c7825/58556/38cff30a6e1ef5b926d055a399eae91d.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/e8673bbdb39b8593fd7a7da80b6c7825/61e93/38cff30a6e1ef5b926d055a399eae91d.webp 200w,\n/static/e8673bbdb39b8593fd7a7da80b6c7825/1f5c5/38cff30a6e1ef5b926d055a399eae91d.webp 400w,\n/static/e8673bbdb39b8593fd7a7da80b6c7825/58556/38cff30a6e1ef5b926d055a399eae91d.webp 800w,\n/static/e8673bbdb39b8593fd7a7da80b6c7825/99238/38cff30a6e1ef5b926d055a399eae91d.webp 1200w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_2054-markdown","title":"3 New California Regulations Aim to Protect Cannabis Consumers ","slug":"3-new-california-regulations-aim-to-protect-cannabis-consumers","content":"This past October, Governor Jerry Brown signed into law three unique bills making up the new [California Medical Marijuana Regulation and Safety Act (MMRSA)](http://www.safeaccessnow.org/the_medical_marijuana_regulation_and_safety_act). This is great news as it means new, robust regulations will be put into place to protect the California cannabis consumer. Going forward growers, distributors and product manufacturers will no longer be able to operate within gray areas of legality. The MMRSA will affect almost everyone involved in the state’s cannabis industry, forcing industry players to operate within the boundaries of new state laws and robust regulatory compliance. \r\n\r\nThe three bills focus on different aspects of the industry, but seek to create a framework for regulating everything from dispensary licensing, taxation on products to consumer safety. In regards to consumer protection, three topics are of particular interest which include accurate labeling, appropriate childproof packaging and comprehensive lab testing on products. The bills have gone so far as to detail areas such as licensing and growing, but have yet to define the specific rules and systems for labeling, packaging and lab testing. What we do know is that they will be addressed and ultimately if done well, the consumer will be much safer for it.\r\n\r\n[Dixie](http://dixieelixirs.com) has become one of the largest, most well known product manufacturers within the cannabis industry. Since its inception in 2010, it has placed emphasis on being a trusted source for both innovative and safe products, advocating on behalf of consumer safety. Starting in Colorado, a state with much stricter regulatory compliance rules, Dixie’s products already go to market with detailed labeling which includes accurate dosage information, child resistant packaging and extensive lab testing. Lindsay Topping, Dixie’s Marketing Director, took time out of her busy schedule to give Dixie’s view on the new California regulations and how they may benefit cannabis consumers. \r\n\r\n**During the past year, Dixie began servicing patients within California in addition to its production in Colorado and many other legal states. What are Dixie’s views on California’s new consumer protection regulations put forward this past October by Governor Jerry Brown?** \r\n\r\nCalifornia is a well-established market, which has been around for 20 plus years. At Dixie, we believe that a stricter regulatory environment will result in better consumer empowerment. The new California regulations, which are expected to come into effect in 2016 and beyond, will hopefully help consumers know exactly what is within a product, allow consumers to be more exact with dosages, provide child resistant packaging and demand comprehensive laboratory testing. All of these changes will work to ensure a higher quality, safer product at the end of the day.\r\n\r\nAs most people know the laws from state to state differ in regards to cannabis. From the beginning of legalization, Colorado’s regulatory oversight has focused on making sure consumers know what is in a product, and that that information is verified and that the packaging is safe.  All of this is meant to protect the consumer and to ensure that the product is safe for consumption. This is very important to us at Dixie as we always want to ensure the consumer is safe with any one of our products. Consumers should be able to trust all products that are currently on the market.\r\n\r\n\r\n**1. Accurate Dosage Information**\r\n\r\n**Why is accurate labeling and dosage information important for consumers?**\r\n\r\nDixie has worked hard within the state of Colorado to provide accurate dosage information to all consumers. Knowing correct dosages per product is currently very difficult for consumers in California’s marketplace. Dosages are very different from product to product and this makes it difficult for a patient to find what is right for them. In addition, a product manufacturer can say what a dose is, but if this is not checked by a lab, then this can really be arbitrary as no one is verifying it is correct. \r\n\r\nIn general, edibles are a good example of why current dosage information is misleading. A patient might find an edible that works for them and their specific condition. It may take a period of time to find what the right dosage is through trial and error. If they happen to switch to a different edible, it unfortunately ends up not being apples to apples or comparable at all with the previous dosage. The patient needs to go through another period of trial and error to find the correct dosage. Streamlining the labeling of products will allow patients to know exact milligrams and other important information. At that point, they can work with their doctors and care givers more reliably. \r\n\r\nOne of the hot topics we hear doctors and caregivers discussing is micro dosing. Micro dosing is about starting with the minimum amount of a product and working up to the dosage that is right for the individual, for their particular needs. It is hard to reliably micro dose a patient without having a good baseline of what is within the product. Appropriate regulatory changes will help to get patients more accurate information.\r\n\r\nWhen it comes to product information and education, the cannabis industry often operates within a gray area. Patients today are not able to ask questions of their bud tenders, caregivers and doctors and be assured that they are getting the best, most accurate information. As a result, this does not always make consumers comfortable with cannabis.  We at Dixie would like to see this change so that every patient, in every legal state has the best information possible.\r\n\r\n\r\n**2. Child Resistant Packaging**\r\n\r\n**What is Dixie’s stance on child and pet resistant packaging & how do you feel this type of packaging will protect consumers?**\r\n\r\nAt Dixie we feel very passionate about child and pet resistant packaging.  Unfortunately, children and pets do get into cannabis products, not because people want this to happen, but because the products are not resistant to their efforts. An edible, such as a chocolate, may lie around the house and eventually a child or pet may find their way to it. We believe that child and pet resistant packaging is not only safer, but will help people feel better about having these products in their house. \r\n\r\nThis type of regulation will help everyone and decrease the possibility of an accident occurring. Currently, California legislation has written broad regulation covering this, and over the next year we will see how the more detailed nuances plays out and what will go into effect. When it comes to cannabis, child resistant packaging is the trend across the country.  We believe California tends to have very strict consumer advocacy regulations in other areas, and as a result will lean this way in regards to packaging. Dixie has always taken child resistant packaging very seriously, incorporating it into our products from the get-go. We hope regulatory changes will force other manufacturers to address this issue comprehensively as well. \r\n\r\n\r\n**3. Lab Testing**\r\n\r\n**Why is lab testing of products so important in regards to consumer safety?**\r\n\r\nIn Colorado, Dixie already tests for mold, mildew, microbials, residual solvents, and pesticides within all of our products. We hope as regulations take effect in California in 2016, that patients will start to feel more secure about the products they are ingesting. A patient should not have to worry about what is in their product and whether it is safe. Today they do need to think about this, or at least they should be thinking about it. Clearly, many products on the market are not safe enough for consumption. For instance, there is no other industry where pesticides are used and end up in the final product, which is ingested, where it is not disclosed to the consumer. \r\n\r\nIn California, Dixie tests for toxic elements with [SC Labs](http://sclabs.com/), our chosen laboratory. Lab testing is critical for knowing what is in your end product. It is not only important to know the potency and dosage of your product, but to know that the plant material that went into product is safe and there are no residual pesticides or residual solvents such as butane and propane. Patients should never ingest residual solvents as this is obviously dangerous to your health. The patient should be able to trust that the product is safe and that regulatory oversight is doing its job. Ultimately, the patient should feel they are protected.\r\n\r\n\r\n**Dixie already incorporates many of the elements that will be asked of product manufacturers within the new California regulations. What else does Dixie think will be needed for regulatory control to be successful in California?**\r\n\r\nYes, for sure Dixie is ahead of the game in California in that we have already focused on more accurate dosage information, child resistant packaging, and stringent lab testing. We believe that California regulations will require all of this, as it is not only common sense, but also what is best for the cannabis consumer. California is now in the tricky place of figuring out their regulatory oversight without over-regulating the industry. \r\n\r\nEducation is also a big part of this. Patients need to understand what is changing and why it is changing. In a market like California, you have so many people that have been using cannabis regularly and successfully for medical conditions for a long time. The last thing regulators want to do is make it hard for people to get their medicine and send the last twenty years of progress backwards. This is a very tricky line to walk and so far government has been working well with the industry to figure out the path to success. Regulatory oversight, when done well, is our friend. It will allow for better products to get to more people, ensuring everyone’s safety. \r\n\r\nIf you are new to cannabis and want to learn more, take a look at our [Cannabis 101](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/cannabis-101-your-quick-guide-to-medical-marijuana) post. [HelloMD](https://www.hellomd.com/) can help you get your medical marijuana recommendation; it's 100% online, private and efficient.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/png;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.3333333333333333,"src":"/static/2b244c93afa91992d9705743f5271852/ee604/6f100edbcbbd58af10767a59257f1185.png","srcSet":"/static/2b244c93afa91992d9705743f5271852/69585/6f100edbcbbd58af10767a59257f1185.png 200w,\n/static/2b244c93afa91992d9705743f5271852/497c6/6f100edbcbbd58af10767a59257f1185.png 400w,\n/static/2b244c93afa91992d9705743f5271852/ee604/6f100edbcbbd58af10767a59257f1185.png 800w,\n/static/2b244c93afa91992d9705743f5271852/f3583/6f100edbcbbd58af10767a59257f1185.png 1200w,\n/static/2b244c93afa91992d9705743f5271852/f90fa/6f100edbcbbd58af10767a59257f1185.png 1365w","srcWebp":"/static/2b244c93afa91992d9705743f5271852/58556/6f100edbcbbd58af10767a59257f1185.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/2b244c93afa91992d9705743f5271852/61e93/6f100edbcbbd58af10767a59257f1185.webp 200w,\n/static/2b244c93afa91992d9705743f5271852/1f5c5/6f100edbcbbd58af10767a59257f1185.webp 400w,\n/static/2b244c93afa91992d9705743f5271852/58556/6f100edbcbbd58af10767a59257f1185.webp 800w,\n/static/2b244c93afa91992d9705743f5271852/99238/6f100edbcbbd58af10767a59257f1185.webp 1200w,\n/static/2b244c93afa91992d9705743f5271852/5e0b8/6f100edbcbbd58af10767a59257f1185.webp 1365w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_1994-markdown","title":"Why Your Parents Need to Learn About Cannabis","slug":"why-your-parents-need-to-learn-about-cannabis","content":"**The Dream of Retirement**\r\n\r\nThe golden years: that bastion of life that promises retirement from the grind, financial independence, and unfettered access to all the things we enjoy. At least, that’s the dream. A dream pushed upon us by relentless advertising from the pharmaceutical, life insurance, and banking industries.\r\n\r\nOf course, I want that dream. Who wouldn’t? But, if reality is to have it’s way – and it most often does – then the grind is likely to have its grip on me until the very end. And that dream? Well, it’s probably destined to remain as just that – a dream. \r\n\r\nAs a doctor, I meet with many seniors. I listen to them, and I watch them as they age. I see their attitudes change. I see their needs, wants, and desires change. I see their lives change – often for the worse. I hear them wish for a good nights sleep, hands that don’t shake, knees that don’t hurt, a day of comfort – things we take for granted while younger. These observations have influenced me and, as I near the so-called golden years period myself, the way I think about the effects of aging. \r\n\r\nI keep arriving at the same place...\r\n\r\n**Getting old sucks!**\r\n\r\nIf you live long enough – and most of us will these days – the adverse symptoms of aging are hard to avoid. While many people are healthy and active into their late 90s, the majority of us will face typical aging related health issues such as insomnia, chronic pain, impaired vision and motor function, reduced appetite – the list goes on and on. Many will deal with symptoms so degenerative – like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s – that they will lose their independence and require assisted living facilities or hospitals for the reminder of their days.\r\n\r\nWhile we consider it very fortunate to have a long life, the ailments associated with aging have not been easy to treat with conventional medicine. Often, the pharmaceuticals prescribed can cause health implications of their own. Prescribing them is a bit hit-or-miss. We don’t really know how an individual will react. We can’t know. Different people react differently to the same pharmaceutical. It becomes trial and error, rinse and repeat. For many, one pill begets the next and before you know it you have a potpourri of pharmaceuticals that are organized, by the bucket, for swallowing at scheduled times through the day – every day. For patients that are agitated, uncomfortable, or in pain, the entire process can be frustrating and the results are often questionable if not disappointing.\r\n\r\n**Pills, pills, and more pills**\r\n\r\nIt pains me to watch as some folk react badly to this routine. Side effects occur more often than not - often in the form of seizures, nausea or emotional disturbances such as uncontrollable crying and depression (this is especially true for some sleeping pills on the market today). When these reactions occur, more pharmaceuticals are prescribed to deal with the side effects. And, those are the side effects we know about. What about the unseen side effects? The potentially irreparable damage we may do at cellular level, or at a neurological level?\r\n\r\nDon’t get me wrong; with the advent of many pharmaceuticals we’ve improved the overall health of society immensely. Many drug discovery and pharmaceutical innovations have been nothing short of revolutionary at turning back disease and improving people’s lives. But that’s not really what I’m talking about. I’m talking about the habitual crutch that prescribing pharmaceuticals has become – especially to the elderly.     \r\n\r\n**It's just not right**\r\n\r\nOver the years, as a doctor, observing all of this trial and error, and the general reliance on prescription pharmaceuticals for uncertain results – well, it no longer sits right with me. And it flat out saddens me when I see powerful painkillers and antipsychotics used to sedate some elderly into a manageable submission.\r\n\r\nThese are our seniors, they deserve our respect and they deserve better treatment. At the very least, they deserve an alternative. \r\n\r\n**There is an alternative** \r\n\r\nIt’s been under our nose for millennia, it’s less toxic, and it’s entirely natural. It’s cannabis. Or, to those conforming to legislation, it’s medical marijuana.\r\n\r\nAs cannabis slowly emerges from a long quarantine imposed by authorities acting on misinformation, fear, uncertainty and doubt, we are beginning to learn of its medicinal and health properties. Several years of research performed by many credible institutions are all arriving at the same result. Indeed, cannabis looks like a wonder plant – nature’s gift to humanity. The list of conditions that cannabis is most effective for reads like a list of typical ailments afflicting seniors. Chronic pain (from inflammation of joints and stiff limbs), insomnia, lack of appetite, lethargy and reduced energy, anxiety, are but a few. All affect ones mood and general sense of well being of which cannabis is also said to elevate. There are even reports suggesting certain cannabinoids (found within cannabis) have been effective at arresting some cancers, restoring motor control, and eliminating seizures. \r\n\r\n**Their own worst enemy**\r\n\r\nSuffice to say, this is a population that could benefit tremendously from cannabis, yet their access is limited -- if even considered.\r\n\r\nSeniors themselves are often the first to resist using medical cannabis because of societal concerns about using a drug that the federal government deems illegal. For those that do want to use cannabis, they often don’t know where to go, or how to get it. Only rarely will their doctor support the use of cannabis (it’s more common for a doctor to steer away from the cannabis conversation). This last fact, I can attest. I was that doctor – shaped by decades of misinformation. Prevailing attitudes will change, although it may take a full generation cycle before we see results.\r\n\r\n**It starts with you**\r\n\r\nFor many, cannabis is making their lives more tolerable. For others, it is extending their lives. These are not isolated cases. As Chief Medical Officer at HelloMD.com, I’m hearing such testimonials on a daily basis. Legalization aside, for widespread acceptance there is still one large obstacle to overcome – education. And for your parents, that might start with you.\r\n\r\nIf you are new to cannabis and want to learn more, take a look at our [Cannabis 101](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/cannabis-101-your-quick-guide-to-medical-marijuana) post. [HelloMD](https://www.hellomd.com/) can help you get your medical marijuana recommendation; it's 100% online, private and efficient.","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.5151515151515151,"src":"/static/9bb3d1cbcc24e1e968d7d7d45654de66/14b42/2f1205dc5df5fb3975b1f71f90b0f6a7.jpg","srcSet":"/static/9bb3d1cbcc24e1e968d7d7d45654de66/f836f/2f1205dc5df5fb3975b1f71f90b0f6a7.jpg 200w,\n/static/9bb3d1cbcc24e1e968d7d7d45654de66/2244e/2f1205dc5df5fb3975b1f71f90b0f6a7.jpg 400w,\n/static/9bb3d1cbcc24e1e968d7d7d45654de66/14b42/2f1205dc5df5fb3975b1f71f90b0f6a7.jpg 800w,\n/static/9bb3d1cbcc24e1e968d7d7d45654de66/47498/2f1205dc5df5fb3975b1f71f90b0f6a7.jpg 1200w","srcWebp":"/static/9bb3d1cbcc24e1e968d7d7d45654de66/58556/2f1205dc5df5fb3975b1f71f90b0f6a7.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/9bb3d1cbcc24e1e968d7d7d45654de66/61e93/2f1205dc5df5fb3975b1f71f90b0f6a7.webp 200w,\n/static/9bb3d1cbcc24e1e968d7d7d45654de66/1f5c5/2f1205dc5df5fb3975b1f71f90b0f6a7.webp 400w,\n/static/9bb3d1cbcc24e1e968d7d7d45654de66/58556/2f1205dc5df5fb3975b1f71f90b0f6a7.webp 800w,\n/static/9bb3d1cbcc24e1e968d7d7d45654de66/99238/2f1205dc5df5fb3975b1f71f90b0f6a7.webp 1200w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_1970-markdown","title":"Cannabis Helps Women Cope with Stress & Anxiety","slug":"cannabis-helps-women-cope-with-stress-and-anxiety","content":"A lot is asked of women within our society and anxiety and stress levels seem to be on the rise.  Stay-at-home moms face a grueling and somewhat thankless job. Raising children is hard work, which includes managing multiple schedules, juggling family & personal commitments in addition to possibly holding down a job. Women who work outside of the home are often faced with similar commitments in addition to the stress of meeting workplace expectations. Modern society expects so much of women and the pressures to keep up can seem overwhelming to the point of exhaustion. Due to this, some women turn to substances like alcohol or anti-anxiety pharmaceuticals in order to cope. However, many stressed out women have come to realize, in light of continuing education and further marijuana legalization, that cannabis can be a safer alternative. Using cannabis may actually enhance one’s experience without any of the negative repercussions of alcohol and pharmaceutical use.\n\nMedical marijuana is currently being used [legally in 23 states](http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/view.resource.php?resourceID=000881) and the District of Columbia and is available in a variety of forms, meaning that people do not need to smoke in order to use cannabis. In fact, women using cannabis do not even need to get high in order to feel the effects and potential benefits of cannabis. Of course, women can still smoke if they choose to, but there are tinctures, mouth sprays, low dose edibles, transdermal patches and more. While many people know that these products are often used to treat serious illnesses, people are beginning to realize that many different types of cannabis products can also be very effective for treating things like sleep issues, depression, anxiety and stress. Cannabidiol (CBD) is a cannabinoid within cannabis that is both an anti inflammatory and an anelgesic. When combined with appropriate amounts of THC, which is the psychotropic element in cannabis, it can produce a calming effect, without producing the high that is so well known for cannabis. For moms struggling with stress and anxiety, it's likely that there's a cannabis product that can help resolve the issue.\n\n**The Benefits of Cannabis**\n \nWomen who use marijuana have many reasons: Some suffer from [insomnia](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/56340eebc91411000c000054/cannabis-as-a-sleep-aid-for-insomnia-an-interview-with-pianta-tinta) or [chronic body pain](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/562150d03232620006450000/top-14-marijuana-strains-for-different-kinds-of-pain), while others battle [anxiety](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/5596a61939653800064a0000/how-medical-marijuana-tinctures-helped-melt-away-my-anxiety-and-stress) or [depression](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/55c101d766653800060c0000/depression-sufferers-find-relief-in-medical-marijuana). For the former group of women, the use of marijuana products derived from an [Indica](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/55d4c0dc6338310006000000/indica-or-sativa-making-the-right-choice) strain (which has a soothing, relaxing effect) may be helpful. The latter group, on the other hand, may choose to use a [Sativa](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/56201c206430320006bb0000/cannabis-101-your-quick-guide-to-medical-marijuana) strain, which gives the user more energy and increases functionality, a good alternative for those that want to maintain productivity during the day.\n\n**Cannabis vs. Alcohol**\n\nFor many women, a glass of wine or cocktail is the perfect way to unwind at the end of the day. However, alcohol can quickly become a habit or an addiction. Alcohol may lead to troublesome hangovers and over the long term, possibly even dangerous health issues, such as cancer. Many women who have turned to cannabis find that [cannabis has a much lower intoxication level](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2722956/) compared to that of alcohol.\n\nCannabis happens to be safer than alcohol. According to the World Health Organization, [3.3 million deaths in 2012](http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs349/en/) could be traced back to alcohol. A [2015 report published in Scientific Reports](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4311234/), a subsidiary of Nature, said that alcohol is a whopping 114 times more deadly than cannabis. These facts, combined with the clarifying and pain-reducing effects of cannabis, make it a much better choice for women who strongly need stress, pain, anxiety or insomnia relief. Depending on the type of cannabis and an individual’s reaction to it, cannabis does not force women to sacrifice mental clarity and function in the same way alcohol might.\n\n**Cannabis vs. Pharmaceuticals**\n\nAnxiety rates have sky rocketed in the US and accordingly the use of pharmaceuticals to treat both anxiety and depression have also grown exponentially. In a 2009 study, it was reported that some [40 million Americans took pharmaceuticals](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/5596a61939653800064a0000/how-medical-marijuana-tinctures-helped-melt-away-my-anxiety-and-stress) to help alieve symptoms of anxiety. Drugs of choice, such as Xanax, are often highly addictive and include horrendous side effects. A recent [New York Times article](http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/19/health/overdose-deaths-reached-a-new-high-in-2014.html?_r=0) exposed that ‘fatal drug overdoses reached a new high in 2014, killing nearly 50,000 Americans, more than were killed in auto accidents.’ This includes drugs such as Oxycotin, a prescription pain killer, which is also often abused by people who happen to suffer from intense anxiety. \n\nIn contrast, cannabis has not been attributed with any direct deaths due to ingestion. Unfortunately, many medical care professionals [ignore the benefits of medical marijuana](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/5660ceb8584a7100080000c1/death-score-opioids-16235-cannabis-0), choosing to simply prescribe opioids and other drugs that mask symptoms and have terrible side effects. Prescription drugs have led to an enormous rate of addiction, affecting between [26.4 and 36 million patients around the world](http://www.drugabuse.gov/about-nida/legislative-activities/testimony-to-congress/2015/americas-addiction-to-opioids-heroin-prescription-drug-abuse), according to a presentation to the Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control in 2014.’\n\n[Photo Credit](https://www.flickr.com/photos/marisaysfuckoff/6059864539/in/photolist-aeuoB6-6nCKuY-dHbmyJ-h4m5mH-ss7197-9sN4WS-49e6Bg-dVVH1b-9qRvJo-4pLBM-7kXDaa-8DHbbw-4kJFkD-8DCWHP-aN8ZSX-8DG2qU-q56nfF-9Yz4R6-5h6UUw-5XQmZz-5RoKnw-r2Yvts-5FKx3B-rTP1ks-3f1UFa-BCM8fR-cEMtCG-aww3am-BAtfCq-BAsZsf-BvtMqH-9sK4NM-g2GTxr-wct3kA-rS5iva-cEMsTW-9qrvFd-gS8Wjm-smmmiD-bakMm2-bMKyp8-7gZRJB-7ubWrT-kbNcFq-5nDuBj-i2Bkio-cZagds-4wdQUg-357HeL-2RHeE1)","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/png;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.408450704225352,"src":"/static/6a5d02da2fe35aab30d526956472ab59/ee604/a8266d79ee36c9a6fd999f9ca791515f.png","srcSet":"/static/6a5d02da2fe35aab30d526956472ab59/69585/a8266d79ee36c9a6fd999f9ca791515f.png 200w,\n/static/6a5d02da2fe35aab30d526956472ab59/497c6/a8266d79ee36c9a6fd999f9ca791515f.png 400w,\n/static/6a5d02da2fe35aab30d526956472ab59/ee604/a8266d79ee36c9a6fd999f9ca791515f.png 800w,\n/static/6a5d02da2fe35aab30d526956472ab59/6df68/a8266d79ee36c9a6fd999f9ca791515f.png 1020w","srcWebp":"/static/6a5d02da2fe35aab30d526956472ab59/58556/a8266d79ee36c9a6fd999f9ca791515f.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/6a5d02da2fe35aab30d526956472ab59/61e93/a8266d79ee36c9a6fd999f9ca791515f.webp 200w,\n/static/6a5d02da2fe35aab30d526956472ab59/1f5c5/a8266d79ee36c9a6fd999f9ca791515f.webp 400w,\n/static/6a5d02da2fe35aab30d526956472ab59/58556/a8266d79ee36c9a6fd999f9ca791515f.webp 800w,\n/static/6a5d02da2fe35aab30d526956472ab59/fa3a9/a8266d79ee36c9a6fd999f9ca791515f.webp 1020w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_2034-markdown","title":"Death Score: Opioids 16235. Cannabis 0.","slug":"death-score-opioids-16235-cannabis-0","content":"Living with chronic pain and trying to treat it can be difficult and frustrating. Unfortunately, many healthcare professionals ignore or are unaware of the benefits of medical marijuana for pain management, choosing to prescribe opioid-type drugs to mask symptoms. \n\n[Marijuana has been used to effectively battle chronic pain for centuries](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/55dfb34e3763370006c70000/the-history-of-medical-marijuana-usage). But despite the success patients have achieved through the use of medical cannabis, its usage still lags far behind opioids. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that 10% of prescribing medical professionals account for 50% of opioid prescriptions, illustrating a pattern of over-usage in chronic pain situations. While surveys show that [76% of doctors approve of medical marijuana](http://www.cbsnews.com/news/survey-76-percent-of-doctors-approve-of-medical-marijuana-use/), statistics indicate that [only 1.1 million patients have current prescriptions](http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/view.resource.php?resourceID=005889),\na number that falls far short of opioid usage. However, [92% of users say medical\ncannabis absolutely works](https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2014/10/01/92-of-patients-say-medical-marijuana-works/) to treat their conditions.\n\nFOLLOW US ON [FACEBOOK](https://www.facebook.com/pg/hellomdcompany/posts/) & [INSTAGRAM](https://www.instagram.com/hellomd_com/?hl=en)\n\n### Medical Marijuana Could Save Lives\n\nThe _Washington Post_ reports that [changing from a regimen of addiction-inducing opioids to non-addictive medical cannabis could literally save lives](https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2015/07/14/how-medical marijuana-could-literally-save-lives/). Everyone agrees with their claim of saved lives, considering the tens of millions of patients currently addicted to opioids and a frightening CDC-compiled statistic that [more than 1,000 people a day are treated in emergency rooms for opioid misuse](http://www.cdc.gov/drugoverdose/data/overdose.html).\n\nTo put this into perspective, [43,982 people died of drug overdoses in 2013](http://www.cdc.gov/drugoverdose/data/overdose.html), and more than 50% of those deaths were from prescription drugs. Of the prescription drug overdoses, more than 70% were due to opioid-based medications, totaling 16,235 people. \n\nThat’s an astronomical number of lost lives stemming from doctors prescribing opioid pain medication. During the same year, [exactly zero people died from marijuana use](http://www.drugwarfacts.org/cms/Causes_of_Death). There could truly be no deeper disparity than losing tens of thousands of lives per year to opioids, which are addictive and may or may not work, versus medical cannabis usage that doesn’t lead to addiction and has a far higher number of patients reporting positive results.\n\n### Cannabis Helps With Chronic Pain \n\nIn addition to treatment for non-specific chronic pain, medical cannabis is also a successful treatment option for painful disorders like arthritis. Where pharmaceutical painkillers may fall short and opioids over-treat and overwhelm, [medical marijuana with high concentrations of cannabinoids can lead to decreased inflammation](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/5a720780f24d1300077ccb25/3-popular-questions-about-marijuana-and-arthritis-answered) and increased pain relief. While other pain medications simply mask pain or decrease pain sensitivity for shorter periods of time, medical marijuana can actually get to the root of the problem and provide longer-lasting relief with fewer side effects or long-term implications.\n\nMedical marijuana can improve the quality of life for chronic pain patients; it can also save lives. Meanwhile, opioids don't treat chronic pain as effectively and claim more lives per year than suicide, car accident fatalities and gun-related deaths combined. A National Bureau of Economic Research study shows that [increased medical marijuana use is directly proportional to decreased opioid abuse](http://www.nber.org/papers/w21345). The positives of saved lives and reduced levels of addiction could not possibly be overstated, and those positives tie back to responsible medical cannabis usage.\n\n### An Argument for Medicinal Marijuana Legalization\n\nA _Washington Post_ article shows a [direct correlation between states that have legalized medical marijuana dispensaries and the subsequent reduction of opioid-linked deaths](https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2014/08/25/is-medical-marijuana-the-answer-to-americas-prescription-painkiller-epidemic/). \n\nAdd to that a study published in the [_Journal of American Medical Association Internal Medicine_](http://archinte.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=1898878) that found \"states with medical cannabis laws had a 24.8 percent lower mean annual opioid overdose mortality rate\" than states that hadn't yet legalized medical marijuana.\n\nNeedless to say, the argument is very strong to push for cannabis legalization across the rest of the U.S. Millions of patients suffering from a variety of disorders could find much-needed relief with medical cannabis. In addition, the lives of countless chronic pain patients could be preserved and bettered through medical cannabis instead of dangerously addictive opioid drugs.\n\n[Photo Credit](https://www.flickr.com/photos/26553756@N06/2653991611)\n\nIf you’re new to cannabis and want to learn more, take a look at our [Cannabis 101](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/cannabis-101-your-quick-guide-to-medical-marijuana) post. [HelloMD](https://www.hellomd.com/) can help you get your medical marijuana recommendation; it's easy, private and 100% online. ","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.5151515151515151,"src":"/static/639367d57eb29c210f60ee59f076f66e/14b42/d74555200ef8a176627c7c62c973c2b5.jpg","srcSet":"/static/639367d57eb29c210f60ee59f076f66e/f836f/d74555200ef8a176627c7c62c973c2b5.jpg 200w,\n/static/639367d57eb29c210f60ee59f076f66e/2244e/d74555200ef8a176627c7c62c973c2b5.jpg 400w,\n/static/639367d57eb29c210f60ee59f076f66e/14b42/d74555200ef8a176627c7c62c973c2b5.jpg 800w,\n/static/639367d57eb29c210f60ee59f076f66e/47498/d74555200ef8a176627c7c62c973c2b5.jpg 1200w","srcWebp":"/static/639367d57eb29c210f60ee59f076f66e/58556/d74555200ef8a176627c7c62c973c2b5.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/639367d57eb29c210f60ee59f076f66e/61e93/d74555200ef8a176627c7c62c973c2b5.webp 200w,\n/static/639367d57eb29c210f60ee59f076f66e/1f5c5/d74555200ef8a176627c7c62c973c2b5.webp 400w,\n/static/639367d57eb29c210f60ee59f076f66e/58556/d74555200ef8a176627c7c62c973c2b5.webp 800w,\n/static/639367d57eb29c210f60ee59f076f66e/99238/d74555200ef8a176627c7c62c973c2b5.webp 1200w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_2022-markdown","title":"Medical Cannabis Counseling: Helping Dementia and Cancer Patients Find Relief","slug":"medical-cannabis-counseling-helping-dementia-and-cancer-patients-find-relief","content":"If you are in the cannabis industry in Northern California, it does not take long before you hear the name Eloise Theisen (MSN, RN, AGPCNP-BC), the founder of [Green Health Consultants](http://www.greenhealthconsultants.com/). Eloise spent 15 years as a patient-focused nurse specializing in cancer, epilepsy, chronic pain, ALS, dementia, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, PTSD, fibromyalgia, and various autoimmune and neurological diseases. She founded Green Health Consultants because she saw a gap in the market for services that catered to patients needing individualized cannabis counseling. \n\nGreen Health Consultants is unique in that it is one of the first such services being provided within the state of California. Eloise has an extensive medical background as well as in-depth experience with cannabis treatments. This experience provides credibility as she helps develop individualized treatment plans for her patients in collaboration with dietitians and/or a patient's doctor. Unlike your local dispensary’s ‘bud tender’ (people who help you select cannabis at a dispensary), Eloise is able to thoroughly evaluate a patient’s medical history and current diagnosis. Through this analysis she is better able to guide her patients towards the best application of medical cannabis. \n\nEloise counsels patients [in person, over Skype or by telephone](https://www.vcita.com/v/ghc.eloisetheisen) and will often stay with patients throughout a treatment plan giving additional counsel when needed to ensure the right treatment plan is found. Since opening her service in Northern California last year, Eloise has seen a full roster of patients on a weekly basis. She has been covered by [CBS](http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2015/09/12/senior-citizens-bay-area-medical-marijuana-club/), [Fox News](http://www.foxnews.com/health/2015/09/04/how-weed-is-being-embraced-by-wellness-movement.html), [Newsweek](http://thenationalmarijuananews.com/2015/09/could-legal-marijuana-be-the-first-billion-dollar-industry-not-dominated-by-men/) and [SF Gate](http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Rossmoor-seniors-fired-up-about-curative-powers-6210220.php) among others.\n\n**What led you to start Green Health Consultants?**\n\nI was an Oncology nurse for thirteen years and in addition I did palliative care as well as hospice care. During this time I went into management at John Muir hospital in Walnut Creek, where I managed the oncology, geriatric and endocrine units. Around this time, I unfortunately got in a terrible car accident. I was injured badly and essentially became disabled. Unable to work, I lost my job and I ended up trying to manage my pain with standard pharmaceuticals with little to no success. A close friend pushed me to try cannabis, and after a certain point I decided I had nothing left to lose, so I tried it. It was the first time I felt my pain was well managed. I started with [edibles](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/5a7ce0f6f24d1300077ccb3d/3-popular-questions-about-marijuana-and-edibles-answered), then I did a lot of high CBD, [full extract cannabis oil](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/562fc90bb8c41f000c000000/cancer-cannabis-oil-and-the-united-kingdom) and I smoked periodically. Eventually, I decided to wean myself off of all pharmaceuticals and I used cannabis to go through the withdrawals.\n\nDuring this time, while I was going through my journey to better health, I realized none of the medical professionals knew how to help me with cannabis. In fact, when I told them of my success with cannabis, they did not even have much curiosity to find out more. I had worked with many of them and I knew them well, so I was surprised. As a result of my experience, I decided to go back to school to become a nurse practitioner, initially thinking I might go back to oncology. I was doing my nursing hours at a local clinic and about 50% of my patients started asking me about incorporating cannabis into their treatment plan. With my own success with cannabis, I realized the need for someone to guide patients in how to properly incorporate cannabis into their treatment regimen.\n\nThere is such a gap from when the doctor gives a person their recommendation to when they take their medicine. So many physicians I knew did not want to deal with it, as they did not want their patients to get hurt or to fall into a hole. So essentially, they turn their back on it. My point has always been that patients are already using it, and it is in the physician’s best interest to help their patients find the right solution. Patients need to learn and become educated so that they can take the medicine safely and effectively.\n\nWhen I was injured, I met an experienced cannabis oil maker. She knew I was a nurse practitioner and she was looking for a case manager, for someone to follow her patients throughout their treatment. Working with her I researched applications of cannabis, learned best practices, monitored drug interactions and potential side effects. This experience really helped influence and shape my knowledge base, giving me the more in depth experience for when I opened my business just over a year ago.\n\n**What are the most common conditions you treat within your practice?**\n\nPain, sleep and dementia are some of the most common ailments people would like to treat when they see me. Based on my oncology background, I see a lot of cancer patients. Many people with cancer find me online and are seeking symptom management and may or may not be dealing with chronic pain. Probably 50% of my patients are oncology patients and around 50% are [senior citizens](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/55b929f53632330006140000/retirees-flock-to-states-with-medical-marijuana).\n \nA lot of seniors that come to see me are from Rossmoor, a local retirement community here in the East Bay of San Francisco, but I also see seniors from all over California. In most cases, senior citizens need a lot of reinforcement and ongoing education. They are used to being told to take a certain dosage at certain times of day, but cannabis does not typically work this way, so they need a lot of extra support. I typically spend at least an hour with a senior patient and often my consultations continue so that I may help them with the appropriate type of medication and ongoing dosage recommendations. Many times it takes time to find the right combination.\n\nThe [‘Truth About Cancer’](https://go2.thetruthaboutcancer.com/global-quest/episode-1/) is a video series that was recently released and based on that, I have gotten a lot of people seeking my services. I also do a lot of patient outreach and education, so that people start to understand better the options that are available to them.\n\n**You are also active with the American Cannabis Nurses Association?**\n\nYes, I am a board member on the [American Cannabis Nurses](http://americancannabisnursesassociation.org/), a national organization dedicated to expanding the knowledge base of endo-cannabinoid therapeutics among nurses. We are developing a curriculum so that people who would like to advise others can become competent in cannabinoid therapies. ACNA currently offers a course for nurses that demonstrates competency after 6 hours of instruction. At the beginning of the year we hope to launch a new online program. There is a great need for education and standards among nurses and nurse practitioners.\n\n**People often ask “Can CBD oil cure cancer?”  What is your answer to this question?**\n\nThis is a big topic and I try to be as straightforward as possible when people come to me asking this question. People with cancer are desperate for an answer and most people hope for a miracle cure. From my experience in treating hundreds of patients, I can count on my two hands the number of people I have known that have gone from stage 4 and have 'cured themselves' of cancer. Many within that handful, the cancer did come back and some have since passed away. \n\nI am not sure that we fully understand how [CBD oil can cure cancer](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/55f4574a3366380006540000/government-cancer-study-shows-cannabis-kills-cancer-cells). Everyone’s response is unique and often THC is needed. CBD only has been, in my experience, less effective than a combination of THC and CBD. That said, it does reduce tumors and stabilize their tumors and most importantly there is a quality of life that comes along with its use. Often people will use it in conjunction with their chemotherapy, and I believe there is only positive value in using CBD oil in addition to traditional therapies. I believe there are a lot of misconceptions about CBD oil and people read various things online that may not be true.\n\n**What guidance do you give to senior citizens who are new to cannabis?**\n\n85% of my elderly patients have never tried cannabis and the average age of an elderly patient who sees me is about 76. These people typically missed the time period in the sixties where everyone was smoking weed at the Grateful Dead. My number one concern for them is their safety, so I always start them “low and slow”. It is important for them to know that typically there is no magic bullet and that this process may take time in order to find the right dosage and ratio. \n\nMost often, an elderly person will not understand self-titration, so I spend a lot of time with them to empower them with going up and down on their dosages. I try to tell them what they should expect based on what is the most common outcome, but I also prepare them for the fact they might be on the opposite end of the spectrum. Sometimes, I get really complicated cases, mainly women who have mystery illnesses where their doctors have been unable to help them. Although I would like to work with their doctors, many people do not want me to tell their doctor and frankly many doctors are still not open to an elderly patient seeking out cannabis as a treatment. This is very unfortunate.\n\n**How do you help people actually get the right medicine for their condition?**\n\nIt depends on where the patient is located. If they are local to me it is easier as I work with a local dispensary, which carries the medicine I prefer to use. If someone is not local, sometimes I will call the local dispensary for them to find out if they are willing to carry products I would like to recommend. It can be challenging, because even dispensaries that carry the products I recommend, may run low or be out of stock. It’s important people go to the right dispensary and get the right medication for their condition.\n\n**There have been new studies on how cannabis may affect dementia, what are your thoughts on this?** \n\nThis is a hot topic. Dementia is a big issue and I work with a facility that is an assisted care facility where many of the dementia patients are in a locked unit. Often they will have very aggressive behavior which pharmaceuticals are unable to manage. Cannabis has been shown to help with aggressive behavior. Most of the dementia patients I see, we use cannabis to manage their behavior not to actually slow down the onset of dementia. These patients often become so aggressive that they need one on one care, which many families are unable to afford. An aggressive dementia patient will often disrupt other residents and often they may even be on the verge of being kicked out of the facility. This is a really, really big problem. Right now, I have a patient who had to be removed from his living situation within his facility. We are in the midst of finding the right dosage of medication for him, so he can better manage his behavior and frankly, have a better quality of life.\n\nCannabis for a dementia patient can bring relaxation, happiness and joy back into a patient’s life. Dementia can cause aggression, anger and total loss of control. The introduction of cannabis can bring back a sense of calm and peace for these patients. A positive outcome with cannabis can be very powerful for both the patient and the family. Family members can be so stressed about taking care of a family member with dementia. It negatively impacts everyone involved.\n\n**Can cannabis help people get off of and stop chronic over use of pharmaceutical drugs?**\n\nIn my experience it certainly seems to help. Recently I treated a patient that was about to be moved to a care facility for the onset of dementia. I learned she had been on narcotics for over 40 years and so we decided to slowly wean her off the narcotics and have her use cannabis as the replacement. Very quickly she became a different person, for the better, and she became as sharp as a tack. People were amazed because what they believed was dementia was actually the side effects of so many years of narcotic use. The cannabis was able to help her manage chronic pain and allowed her to sleep well. She is a new woman! She is now able to stay in her independent living facility where she lives today. This patient is the walking poster child of how cannabis can turn someone’s life around for the better. Yes, cannabis can help people get off of pharmaceuticals.\n\n**What else would you like to communicate to people who are new to cannabis?**\n\nI think people need to manage expectations as to what cannabis can do for them and in what time frame. At the moment, cannabis is on a pedestal as almost a ‘cure all’. It is often superior in terms of effectiveness in lieu of other medications, but at the same time many people need to realize that some things may not work for them and it will often take time to explore what does actually work. Often people will try cannabis, it does not work well for whatever reason, and then they want to give up trying. Sometimes it takes a lot of back and forth to find the right medication and the right dosage. \n\nI also think it is important for a medical professional to follow someone who is new to cannabis, throughout the initial stages of their treatment. Too often people get their recommendation and that’s it. They go to the dispensary ‘bud tenders’, they get the wrong medication and then receive free samples on top of that, and often things will go terribly wrong for the patient. What I really hope for is better education, outreach and for medical professionals to step up and help patients out when they need it most.\n\nGreen Health Consultants operates within the San Francisco Bay Area and welcomes new patients both nationally and internationally. You may book an [appointment online](https://www.vcita.com/v/ghc.eloisetheisen). Eloise conducts her consultations in person, over the phone or on Skype.\n\nIf you are new to cannabis and want to learn more, take a look at our [Cannabis 101](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/56201c206430320006bb0000/cannabis-101-your-quick-guide-to-medical-marijuana) post. [HelloMD](https://www.hellomd.com/) can help you get your medical marijuana recommendation; it's 100% online, private and efficient. \n","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.3333333333333333,"src":"/static/e51d16687ead3f07b32db0551119a2be/14b42/7b38d96b8bd9a699fa50212b9c08bdca.jpg","srcSet":"/static/e51d16687ead3f07b32db0551119a2be/f836f/7b38d96b8bd9a699fa50212b9c08bdca.jpg 200w,\n/static/e51d16687ead3f07b32db0551119a2be/2244e/7b38d96b8bd9a699fa50212b9c08bdca.jpg 400w,\n/static/e51d16687ead3f07b32db0551119a2be/14b42/7b38d96b8bd9a699fa50212b9c08bdca.jpg 800w,\n/static/e51d16687ead3f07b32db0551119a2be/47498/7b38d96b8bd9a699fa50212b9c08bdca.jpg 1200w,\n/static/e51d16687ead3f07b32db0551119a2be/54ac5/7b38d96b8bd9a699fa50212b9c08bdca.jpg 1365w","srcWebp":"/static/e51d16687ead3f07b32db0551119a2be/58556/7b38d96b8bd9a699fa50212b9c08bdca.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/e51d16687ead3f07b32db0551119a2be/61e93/7b38d96b8bd9a699fa50212b9c08bdca.webp 200w,\n/static/e51d16687ead3f07b32db0551119a2be/1f5c5/7b38d96b8bd9a699fa50212b9c08bdca.webp 400w,\n/static/e51d16687ead3f07b32db0551119a2be/58556/7b38d96b8bd9a699fa50212b9c08bdca.webp 800w,\n/static/e51d16687ead3f07b32db0551119a2be/99238/7b38d96b8bd9a699fa50212b9c08bdca.webp 1200w,\n/static/e51d16687ead3f07b32db0551119a2be/5e0b8/7b38d96b8bd9a699fa50212b9c08bdca.webp 1365w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}}]}},"pageContext":{"limit":12,"skip":12,"numPages":3,"currentPage":2,"id":4964,"name":"Arthritis","slug":"arthritis","country":"US"}},"staticQueryHashes":["3949754563","4179947113","4202924991"]}