© 2007 The Earth Eden Project
Marijuana: Healing Herb Or Harmful Weed?
So which is Marijuana, healing herb or harmful weed? We know what the pot smoker advocates have to say and we know what the conventional medical community has to say on the subject. But what about the naturopathic community? Here is what the well known and well respected author of the book, "Healthy Healing," and N.D., and PhD, Doctor Linda Rector Page has written on the subject. "We should be clear about what Marijuana is and what it isn't. Marijuana is no longer the mildly euphoric 3 or 4 hour high of the 60's and 70's." Many claim that Marijuana is not addictive. However Doctor Linda Page says, "It IS addictive." And as for the effects of smoking Marijuana she says, " Both mental and physical health are clearly affected, especially in the terms of blood sugar balance, muscle coordination, reaction time and emotional deteration. Work suffer from lack of ambition and direction, family life and relationships suffer because of apathy and non-communication."
Doctor Page also points out that a vast majority of Marijuana users who have been smoking weed since the 60's and 70's and more often than not completely unaware that since the Marijuana of today is so many more times stronger than that which most smoked some 20-years ago or more, new more exaggerated bad side effects have been discovered and reported by many users. These new stronger bad side effects include reports of, "acute aniety attacks (see Hippie Planet online to read verified accounts of this), paranoia, incoherent speech, extrme disorientation and hallucinations lasting up to 12 hours. Marijuana also impairs the reproductive system, specially in terms of reduced male sperm count, and both long and short term memory, and depressed immune system, by as much as 40%..
Does Marijuana Have Less Health Damaging Effects Than Smoking Tobbaco?
Doctor page continues:
"Marijuana smoke today contains the same health damaging carcigogens as tabbaco, only now in much higher concentrations. Because Marijuana smoke is inhaled more deeply and and held in the lungs longer than tabacco, it leads to servere lung damage. All the attendant doseases of nicotine smoke are now besetting Marijuana smokers- especially chronic bronchitis, emphysema and lung cancer as chararterized by anxiety, sleeplessness, temors and chills."
What About Marijuana As Medicine?
In considering possible medical uses of Marijuana, it is important to distinguish between the whole Marijuana and pure THC or other specific chemicals derived from cannabis. Whole Marijuana contains hundreds of chemicals, some of which are clearly harmful to health. TCH, manufactured into a pill that is taken by mouth , can be used for treating the neusa and vomiting that goes along with certain cancer treatments and is avialable by prescription. Another chemical related to THC (nabilone) and has been approved by the Foods and Drug Administration for treating cancer patients who suffer nausea. The oral THC is also used to help AIDS patients eat more to keep up their weight. Scientists are studying whether THC and other related chemicals in Marijuana (called cannabinoids) may have other medical uses. But again, this also differs from merely recreational Marijuana smoking.
Dr.Page's Guild To Repairing That Damage Done By Marijuana Smoking...
The following information can be found on page 338 in Dr.Page's book, "Healthy Healing,"
1. Take a protein drink every morning
2. Because Marijuana leaches B vitamines....Dr.Page recommends following the diet outline for HYPOGLYCEMIA and to also controll sugar cravings.
Natural & Healthy Alternative To Marijuana For Calming Nerves:
That natural food storess and even many regular grocery stores carry herbal teas that relax the nerves. You can also try aromatheraphy with such soothing scents as rosemary.
What are some of the immediate effects of smoking marijuana?
Some immediate physical effects of marijuana include a faster heartbeat and pulse rate, bloodshot eyes, and a dry mouth and throat. No scientific evidence indicates that marijuana improves hearing, eyesight, and skin sensitivity. Studies of marijuana's mental effects show that the drug can impair or reduce short-term memory, alter sense of time, and reduce ability to do things which require concentration, swift reactions, and coordination, such as driving a car or operating machinery.
Are there any other adverse reactions to marijuana?
A common bad reaction to marijuana is the "acute panic anxiety reaction." People describe this reaction as an extreme fear of "losing control," which causes panic. The symptoms usually disappear in a few hours.
What about psychological dependence on marijuana?
Long-term regular users of marijuana may become psychologically dependent. They may have a hard time limiting their use, they may need more of the drug to get the same effect, and they may develop problems with their jobs and personal relationships. The drug can become the most important aspect of their lives.
How does marijuana affect driving ability?
Driving experiments show that marijuana affects a wide range of skills needed for safe driving -- thinking and reflexes are slowed, making it hard for drivers to respond to sudden, unexpected events. Also, a driver's ability to "track" (stay in lane) through curves, to brake quickly, and to maintain speed and the proper distance between cars is affected. Research shows that these skills are impaired for at least 4-6 hours after smoking a single marijuana cigarette, long after the "high" is gone. If a person drinks alcohol, along with using marijuana, the risk of an accident greatly increases. Marijuana presents a definite danger on the road.
Does marijuana affect the human reproductive system?
Some research studies suggest that the use of marijuana during pregnancy may result in premature babies and in low birth weights. Studies of men and women may have a temporary loss of fertility. These findings suggest that marijuana may be especially harmful during adolescence, a period of rapid physical and sexual development.
How does marijuana affect the heart?
Marijuana use increases the heart rate as much as 50 percent, depending on the amount of THC. It can cause chest pain in people who have a poor blood supply to the heart - and it produces these effects more rapidly than tobacco smoke does.
How does marijuana affect the lungs?
Scientists believe that marijuana can be especially harmful to the lungs because users often inhale the unfiltered smoke deeply and hold it in their lungs as long as possible. Therefore, the smoke is in contact with lung tissues for long periods of time, which irritates the lungs and damages the way they work. Marijuana smoke contains some of the same ingredients in tobacco smoke that can cause emphysema and cancer. In addition, many marijuana users also smoke cigarettes; the combined effects of smoking these two substances creates an increased health risk.
Can marijuana cause cancer?
Marijuana smoke has been found to contain more cancer-causing agents than is found in tobacco smoke. Examination of human lung tissue that had been exposed to marijuana smoke over a long period of time in a laboratory showed cellular changes called metaplasia that are considered precancerous. In laboratory test, the tars from marijuana smoke have produced tumors when applied to animal skin. These studies suggest that it is likely that marijuana may cause cancer if used for a number of years.
Now that we have read about the health effects of recreational Marijuana use..,let's now read about the spiritual effects....
The Spritual Effects of Recreational Marijuana Use
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