CBD oil shows promise

Arthritis, both rheumatoid and osteo, is one disease where cannabis is creating a lot of buzz, in large part because a growing number of patients swear by it for easing stiff, swollen and painful joints.

“We know there’s a lot of anecdotal evidence coming from patients who use medical cannabis to help manage symptoms of their arthritis, but of course we have to put some sort of scientific beef behind that,” said researcher Jason McDougall, a professor of pharmacology and anesthesia at Dalhousie University in Halifax.

Dr. Danial Schecter, co-founder of the Canabo Medical Clinic, says about 70 per cent of the patients referred to him are seeking relief for chronic pain. But he also has patients whose major complaint is some form of anxiety.

“The area where we have most difficulty is in mental health conditions,” says Schecter, who practises in Toronto and Barrie, Ont. “That’s probably where there’s the biggest disconnect is in the evidence in the use of cannabis for mental health disorders ... and the health claims that are made on the internet.”

He doesn’t recommend medicinal cannabis for general anxiety disorders except in specific cases. One backed by a growing body of research is post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, a condition marked by flashbacks, nightmares and intrusive thoughts related to a life-threatening experience such as combat.

“THC injected has been shown to be beneficial to reduce nightmares, allow these people to get a better night’s sleep, so that the next day they have more resilience and they can consolidate new ways of thinking in a much better way.”

Where cannabis — specifically CBD oil — is also showing promise is in the treatment of children with Dravet syndrome, a severe form of epilepsy that often doesn’t respond to standard anticonvulsant drugs.

A small number of studies have shown that CBD oil can reduce or virtually eliminate seizures in some kids with Dravet’s, and in June the U.S. FDA approved Epidiolex, the first cannabidiol-based medication for treating Dravet’s and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, another rare pediatric epilepsy.

Excitement over cannabis as a potential neurotherapeutic has prompted some parents to use CBD oil to treat their children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), despite a dearth of scientific support for any benefit and in the face of concerns over detrimental effects on the developing brain.

Chris Lawrence of Aurora, Ont., north of Toronto, says before he tried cannabis, he spent thousands of dollars on so-called therapies for his autistic son Logan, but none helped his symptoms.

The six-year-old is non-verbal, suffers from hyperactivity and engages in “stimming” — including rapid flapping of his hands for sometimes hours on end — and self-harm from slamming his head or heels against hard objects. Stimming is short for self-stimulatory behaviour, a common symptom of ASD.

Desperate for something to help his son, Lawrence turned to oral doses of CBD oil after researching its purported benefits online, most of that through anecdotal reports from other parents of children with autism.

“The very first day we gave Logan CBD, he didn’t have a single meltdown and he has not had a Level 5 since,” says his father, explaining that he and his wife assigned that number to his worst tantrums.

Since starting CBD oil in October 2017, “his temper was shot right down. His stimming was cut in half, his eye contact went up 10-fold. He started sleeping through the night.”

Yet Lawrence is quick to point out “it’s not a cure, it really isn’t, but it alleviates some of the major symptoms.”

So, is cannabis the panacea so many people seem to believe?

The consensus, at least from the scientific community, is that much more rigorous, high-quality research is needed to answer questions about marijuana’s legitimate therapeutic uses and — critically — its potential harms.

Shorehill Gentle Yoga is holding registration for the upcoming session of the Gentle Yoga program in Charlottetown beginning Sept. 6.

It is being offered on Monday and Thursdays at 11:30 a.m. at Trinity United Church.

New students are welcome anytime and the first class is always free.

Annella, yoga instructor, believes yoga is an excellent way to relax tense muscles, recharge energy, reclaim vitality and renew one’s spirit.

In the last several years yoga has become more popular as people seek a more holistic approach to health and exercise, and yoga, a dynamic exercise which is both relaxing and energizing, seems to have it all, she says.

Yoga balances the mind and body through physical exercises and breathing so that all of the body’s energies can achieve equilibrium and function in harmony, a news release states.

“Yoga challenges both mind and body, increases flexibility and stamina, builds strength, and improves balance and concentration,” she said.

“It also improves circulation, promotes relaxation and benefits internal organs, glands and muscles.”

Annella says that gentle yoga can be practised by anyone at any age and with any level of fitness and doesn’t require any special equipment.

“You can bring your body and mind back into balance through the practice of yoga. People seeking ways to improve their overall fitness in a non-competitive, stress free environment will benefit from the program. No yoga experience necessary,” she said.

To register or for more information, contact Annella at 902-626-7560 or shorehillyoga@ gmail.com.