From: [l--i--n] at [gate.net] (Ivan )
Newsgroups: rec.drugs.cannabis,alt.drugs.pot,talk.politics.drugs,alt.drugs,alt.hemp,rec.drugs.misc,alt.drugs.psychedelics,rec.drugs.psychedelic,alt.drugs.chemistry,alt.drugs.culture,alt.drugs.hard,alt.folklore.herbs,alt.hemp.recreational,alt.drugs.pot.cultivation,alt.drugs.usenet,alt.hemp.politics
Subject: The Cannibis Collection (immunosuppression)
Date: Thu, 15 Feb 1996 12:32:06 -0500

One criticism of this report: it focuses on the immune action of the
cannabinoids as "immunosuppressive" and goes on to consider whether this
is a danger.

Immunosuppression can be quite a boon to a person with severe allergies
and chronic inflammation.  The precise manner in which cannabis suppresses
immune response is frequently called "anti-inflammatory" in the
pharmacology literature. The action of the cannabinoid receptors in
general tends to reduce inflammation and, in the CNS, the CNS version of
an allergy which is anxiety and stress.

People with stress-related illnesses might see an overall improvement in
their immune response even, from cannabinoids, because inflammation from
an overactive immune system can make one more vulnerable to random
infections.

Since I have been using marijuana for my anxiety, I also notice that my
skin allergies and interstitial cystitis have subsided greatly.

Interstitial cystitis is a chronic inflammation of the bladder that is
horribly painful and quite disabling.  It used to come in flare-ups that
lasted months and responded to no medications my urologist could come up
with. The chronic inflammation made my bladder much more susceptible to
random bacteria.

There were days when I really could not leave the house because of this.

Now I think that my anxiety and the cyctisis were connected.  Traumatic
stress has been shown able to sensitize the immune system to further
stress, so that mental stress and anxiety can stimulate the body to attack
itself wrongly and harmfully. The action of the cannabinoid receptors
seems to be to calm the mind and body at once, together.

I never would have dreamed that pot could have helped my awful bladder
problem. But somehow since I started calming my anxiety with pot, the
physical problems I've been suffering are all but gone. Not only the
bladder inflammation but also the chronic hives and some of the joint
swelling are much better now.

I'd like to see a comparative safety study done between cannabinoids and
steroids.  I have been given steroid shots before for my allergies but
they came with severe health warning attached.  So far on marijuana I've
been able to face the allergy season without the shot.  I will keep my
fingers crossed and hope this situation will continue.


The section in this report on therapeutic uses needs to be vastly
expanded.  It didn't even touch on the potential psychopharmacological
uses.

there must be something i can dream tonight
                -patti smith

(Standard disclaimers apply.)

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