Key Definitions

Analgesic – a medicine that relieves pain.

Anecdote – a short or interesting story about a real incident or person.

Antiemetic – a medicine that prevents or reduces nausea and vomiting.

Cancer cachexia – when cancer affects a person’s appetite, that results in the loss of skeletal muscle and fat.

Constituent - a component part of something

Contraindications – a condition or circumstance that suggests or indicates that a particular technique or drug should not be used in the case in question.

Hyperalgesia – abnormally heightened pain sensitivity.

Indications – A symptom that suggests certain medical treatment is necessary.

Metastasis – the spread of cancer cells from the place where they first formed to another part of the body.

Neurocognitive – having to do with the ability to think and reason.

Ophthalmic – relating to the eye and its diseases.

Oromucosal – the oral cavity and/or the pharynx.

Psychomotor – of or relating to motor action directly proceeding from mental activity.

Sublingual – situated or applied under the tongue.

Person harvesting hemp

Introduction

It is believed that Cannabis was first introduced to the African continent roughly one thousand years ago by Arabian and Indian travellers (Duvall, 2019) (Watt, 1961). The first prohibition against Cannabis usage came about in the 1860s when colonial authorities sought to regulate the consumption and possession of the plant amongst indentured Indian labourers. This prohibition was further formalised and expanded upon through the 1920s, in what is believed to be a means of oppressing and controlling people of colour in South Africa (Chanock, 2001).

Cannabis has become the boogeyman of phytotherapy through the many consumption and possession laws that have been enacted over the years. The passing of the Cannabis for Private Purposes Bill of May 2024 finally gives South Africans a chance to learn and explore the medicinal benefits of this miraculous plant. This blog aims to educate readers on the science behind Cannabis within the context of phytotherapy.

Hemp oil in a tincture

Constituents, Actions & Indications

Constituents

As of 2014, 545 compounds were isolated or reported as being contained within Cannabis. The following is a list of the main chemical substances found in Cannabis:

(-)-delta-9-trans-tetrahydrocannabinol (Delta 9 THC); (-)-delta-8-trans-tetrahydrocannabinol (Delta 8 THC); cannabigerol (CBG); cannabichromene (CBC); cannabidiol (CBD); cannabinodiol (CBND); cannabielsoin (CBE); cannabicyclol (CBL); cannabinol (CBN); cannabitriol (CBT); flavonoids; steroids; phenanthrenes; fatty acids; spiroindans; nitrogenous compounds; xanthones; biphenyls (ElSohly & Gul, 2014).

Actions

The main constituents of Cannabis, namely THC and CBD, bind with cannabinoid receptors CB1 and CB2 of endocannabinoids in the body. Read this blog post to learn more about the endocannabinoid system.

Indications

Cannabis has a range of indications, with evidence ranging from conclusive to limited. The following is a list of indications relative to their level of evidence (Amar, 2006) (Hazekamp & Grotenhermen, 2010) (Kowal, et al., 2016) (Legare, et al., 2022) (MacCallum & Russo, 2018):

Beakers with a Plant in the Background

Scientific Research

Refer to The Healing Potential of Medical Cannabis blog post.

Different forms of Cannabis

Preparations & Dosage

Refer to the Preparing & Dosing Medical Cannabis blog post.

Hemp tea

How to Make Cannabis-Infused Tea

Cannabis-infused tea is an easy way to participate in the medicinal benefits of Cannabis. Before making Cannabis-infused tea note that the quality and quantity of Cannabis used will dictate the strength of THC in each cup. As an example, 1 gram of an 8% THC Cannabis strain will contain 80 mg of THC. If the Cannabis you have procured has a high THC percentage, then use less of the plant material or make more cups of tea (dilute the concentration).
The following recipe is a simple way of making Cannabis-infused tea, that yields 4 cups of tea.

Ingredients

  • 1 gram of Cannabis (based on a 4-8% THC content strain of Cannabis)
  • 1 tbsp of coconut oil or unsalted butter
  • 4 cups of water
  • Teabag of your choice
  • Sweetener (optional)

Instructions

  1. Separate seeds and stems from your Cannabis flower.
  2. Chop or grind the Cannabis flower.
  3. Add the coconut oil or butter to water and boil in a teapot or saucepan on the stovetop until the oil or butter dissolves and the water boils. Stir the mixture vigorously while it boils.
  4. Add the teabag and your Cannabis to the boiling water and simmer for 7-10 minutes. Stir the mixture intermittently during this time.
  5. Taste the tea to check if it has reached your desired strength/flavour and remove the teapot or saucepan from the stove.
  6. Discard the teabag and strain the tea of Cannabis plant material.
  7. Add sweetener, milk or lemon if desired. You can also add cinnamon or a sprig of peppermint to the hot tea to mask the Cannabis taste.
The word Safety highlighted in Green

Safety Considerations

Refer to the Safety of Medical Cannabis blog post.

Disclaimer spelled out wusing Scrabble Tiles

Disclaimer

The information presented in this post is intended as an informational guide. The remedies, approaches and techniques described herein are meant to supplement, and not to substitute for, professional medical care or treatment. They should not be used to treat a serious ailment without prior consultation with a qualified health care professional.

References

  1. Amar, M., 2006. Cannabinoids in medicine: A review of their therapeutic potential. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, Volume 105, pp. 1-25.
  2. Chanock, M., 2001. The Making of South African Legal Culture 1902-1936: Fear, Favour and Prejudice. 1st ed. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
  3. Chayasirisobhon, S., 2020. Mechanisms of Action and Pharmacokinetics of Cannabis. The Permanente Journa, Volume 25, pp. 1-3.
  4. Duvall, C., 2019. A brief agricultural history of cannabis in Africa, from prehistory to canna-colony. EchoGéo, Volume 48.
  5. ElSohly, M. & Gul, W., 2014. Constituents of Cannabis Sativa. In: R. Pertwee, ed. Handbook of Cannabis. Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp. 3-22.
  6. Hazekamp, A. & Grotenhermen, F., 2010. Review on clinical studies with cannabis and cannabinoids 2005-2009. Cannabinoids, 5(Special Issue), pp. 1-21.
  7. Kowal, M., Hazekamp, A. & Grotenhermen, F., 2016. Review on clinical studies with cannabis and cannabinoids 2010-2014. Cannabinoids, 11(Special Issue), pp. 1-18.
  8. Legare, C., W.M, R.-K. & Vrana, K., 2022. Therapeutic Potential of Cannabis, Cannabidiol, and Cannabinoid-Based Pharmaceuticals. Pharmacology, Volume 107, pp. 131-149.
  9. Le, J., 2022. Drug Bioavailability. [Online]
    Available at: https://www.msdmanuals.com/professional/clinical-pharmacology/pharmacokinetics/drug-bioavailability
    [Accessed 10 September 2024].
  10. Lim, S., Sharan, S. & Woo, S., 2020. Model-Based Analysis of Cannabidiol Dose-Exposure Relationship and Bioavailability. Pharmacotherapy, 40(4), pp. 291-300.
  11. MacCallum, C., Lo, L. & Boivin, M., 2021. “Is medical cannabis safe for my patients?” A practical review of cannabis safety considerations. European Journal of Internal Medicine, Volume 89, pp. 10-18.
  12. MacCallum, C. & Russo, E., 2018. Practical considerations in medical cannabis administration and dosing. European Journal of Internal Medicine, Volume 49, pp. 12-19.
  13. Mayo Clinic Staff, 2024. Parkinson's disease. [Online]
    Available at: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/parkinsons-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20376055
    [Accessed 10 September 2024].
  14. McGilveray, I., 2005. Pharmacokinetics of cannabinoids. Pain Res Manage, 10(Suppl A), pp. 15A-22A.
  15. MedlinePlus, 2023. Crohn's Disease. [Online]
    Available at: https://medlineplus.gov/crohnsdisease.html#:~:text=What%20is%20Crohn's%20disease%3F,beginning%20of%20your%20large%20intestine.
    [Accessed 11 September 2024].
  16. Watt, J., 1961. Dagga in South Africa. [Online]
    Available at: https://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/data-and-analysis/bulletin/bulletin_1961-01-01_3_page003.html
    [Accessed 09 September 2024].
Cannabis infographic
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