Ambien
For the Female Patients out there
There are very few acronyms that effect our lives as much as the one that torments women monthly, PMS. Premenstrual Syndrome is something that will effect most women at some point throughout their lives. On a far lesser scale, men can also be impacted by PMS, especially if they are concerned with providing relief for their loved ones. So how is it that this syndrome which can cause such discomfort and pain to so many people is still left to pharmaceutical treatments with such mixed results that many women often don’t know where to turn? The problem is for over a century doctors have turned a blind eye to the herbal remedy which has helped so many women. For hundreds, if not thousands of years women have used the cannabis plant to help alleviate the symptoms of PMS. It varies in symptoms and intensity from patient to patient, but often includes headaches (even migraines), cramping, bloating, pelvic pain, breast pain, sleep difficulty, irritability, anxiety, depression, and inability to concentrate. Most men have difficulty understanding it, and just opt to keep their distance. Perhaps giving herbal-infused chocolates as a gift would be a more helpful approach.
As doctors’ understanding of the female biology has increased, they have prescribed numerous pills to help ease women’s suffering. For those who endure mood swings, irritability, depression or anxiety they have offered Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRI) as antidepressants. These may include Celexa, Lexapro, Prozac, Paxil or many others. Unfortunately they do not always work and carry a long list of side effects that can be much worse than the PMS itself. Also, these drugs take time to come to full strength in the body, so they must be taken over periods of time. So, patients must take a potentially dangerous drug for long term, even though it is only to treat symptoms that effect them for just a few days per month. For pain relief, doctors offer Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) like Advil and Midol. These are better because women need only take them as symptoms occur. But these also have a potential to cause harm, from intestinal bleeding or renal damage. They may also interact with other drugs for other dangerous effects. For those with trouble sleeping, physicians recommend Ambien, but that leaves users very groggy, and has instigated many scary sleep-walking stories. Once again, modern science offers a glimmer of hope, but casts a long shadow uncertainty.
Luckily, for all the women there exists a natural-occurring remedy that can treat any or all of their symptoms with minimal side effects, none of which can be called dangerous. Before marijuana prohibition went into effect, cannabis was a standard item in doctor’s tool bags, and often prescribed to females. One doctor answered to the highest (pun not intended) woman in the world. In the 19th century Sir Russell Reynolds was the Royal Physician for Queen Victoria of England. As many women before her, she suffered from painful menstrual cramps. So he dug into his black bag and offered tincture of the Indian Hemp plant for her relief. He even included it in the first issue of The Lancet (a foremost medical journal) writing, “When pure and administered carefully, [cannabis] is one of the most valuable medicines we possess.” As many states have passed compassionate use laws, doctors are willing to again utilize this plant for treatment.
Dr. Breen, of Medical Cannabis of Southern California, sees many women everyday who come to him for help with their PMS suffering. Many have tried pharmaceuticals for years without satisfactory treatment. He prescribes cannabis because it is safe and effective. He counsels his patients that while it may not be the right fit for every woman, it is worth trying out. It can treat the headaches and pains, bloating and cramping. It helps mellow out those mood swings, and can assist with sleeplessness. It also can aid flagging libido (exactly opposite to the effects of SSRIs). And finally, it is safe and has short term effects. When it works for a patient, she can self-medicate as she sees fit. For those who do not receive any benefit from it, or if they don’t agree with the “high” feelings associated with smoking, they can discontinue its use without any fears.
So, for all the female patients out there who are dealing with such discomfort, there is something out there that can help with the pain. Next time you are sifting through ineffective pills at the pharmacy, remember the remedy that has been used for far longer and with greater success.
The Sandman and the Greenman
“Mr. Sandman bring me a dream…” Sometimes it’s not that easy. According to the NIH 10-15% of adults complain of chronic insomnia, with as many as 40% suffering in the short term throughout the year. This is no laughing matter. Sleep is a very important bodily function. It allows the body to relax and recuperate from the stresses that make up daily life. It is necessary also to keep the mind healthy. Insomnia can lead to many neurological disorders including hallucinations, memory failure, psychotic episodes and many more. “I’ll sleep when I’m dead.” Stay awake long enough and that will happen sooner rather than later.
For those who suffer from sleep disorders, there are many treatments available. Some problems can be solved with a change of diet or behavior. Other people benefit from meditation and relaxation techniques. For many others, the only solace lies in a doctor’s prescription. Many narcotics, such as Valium, are derived from opiates. They are effective, but do have their drawbacks. Most sleeping medications, like Lunesta, Ambien, Rozerem, and Halcion can be habit forming and need to be carefully regulated. And a common problem with any drug, taken over extended periods is tolerance. As the body grows used to it, more and more of the drug is necessary to achieve the desired effect. On a long enough time scale, or at high enough doses, all of these drugs can be lethal or can cause dire withdrawal symptoms.
There is a natural alternative to these pharmaceuticals, and that alternative is Marijuana. Actually, there are many other naturally-found sleep aids available, such as Melatonin, but today let us discuss the wonder plant cannabis. Many patients prefer cannabis because it not only has sedative properties and causes drowsiness, but because it helps stimulate a sense of personal well-being. Many people’s insomnia is partially due to anxiety, and this reduces that feeling while also bringing on sleep. But how does it work? Luckily, this is a time where science is bringing all its tools together and our understanding of the plant is growing in leaps and bounds. The chemicals in marijuana, amongst them cannabinoids and terpenes, are numerous but many studies are underway to gain further knowledge of them. Terpenes are lipophilic (from latin “fat” + “love” so they work well with fats, just like cannabinoids) compounds found in almost every plant. They are the essential oils that are responsible for the odors we smell, such as pine, citrus and marijuana’s unique fragrance.
THC, the most famous of marijuana’s active compounds, has been shown to cause anxiety in some patients, but when it works in synergy with the many other compounds has sedative effects. When combined with the terpene Myrcene, THC can be sedating and acts as a muscle relaxant; Also, studies show it to “potentiate sleep time,” helping people to stay asleep. Some users refer to this as “couch-lock,” the feeling that they are melting into the couch, which is generally enjoyed by the cannabis crowd, and decried by its many detractors. Two other terpenes enjoy the “entourage effect” (synergy) of THC; they are Nerolidol and Linalool (also found in lavender). These are not the only interactions scientists have found. Limonene (found highly in lemons) works with CBD (cannabidiol) as an anti-anxiety compound to counter THC’s anxiety causing effects. And Nerolidol (also found in oranges) combine with THC and CBN (cannabinol) to augment the sedative qualities. CBD also works to counter the accelerated heartbeat that many users feel when smoking, an effect of the THC.
These are just a few of the 300+ chemicals and compounds found in marijuana. They work in conjunction to create the many effects that people feel when they medicate with cannabis. This is why many patients did not warm up to Marinol (Big Pharma’s pill) when it was released in the 1980’s. THC is not the only thing going on in that plant which helps so many people. One patient’s testimony, “I used to take Ambien for sleep, but I’d wind up sleepwalking. And in the morning, I’d be so groggy I could barely function. When I vape a little before bed, I feel peaceful and sleep well. Sometimes I am a bit foggy when I wake, but as soon as I get moving, the fog lifts and the day awaits. Before that, I slept poorly for years. I wish I could get a prescription for it where I lived.” With proper, regular sleep many of the little aches and pains that bother people from day to day vanish. When the Greenman meets the Sandman, people sleep at night and prosper in the day.