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Healing with Cannabis: The Evolution of the Endocannabinoid System and How Cannabinoids Help Relieve PTSD, Pain, MS, Anxiety, and More
An informative read for an audience interested in why and how medical cannabis helps treat a range of illnesses—maybe all of them.
With cannabis approved in 14 states (including the District and 2 US territories), medical cannabis approved in at least 35 states, and hemp (very-low-THC cannabis) off the controlled substances list, millions now treat their ills with medical cannabis or non-intoxicating cannabinoids like CBD. But lots of them don’t know why or how cannabis works in the body.
Healing with Cannabis has two parts.
First is a scientific but not too technical story of the endocannabinoid system, a billion-year-old system in vertebrates that allows cannabis to work in the body and brain. But its main role in the body is homeostasis—a state of balance—so it's an essential regulatory mechanism in the basic machinery of everyday life, not just about cannabis.
In part 2, about medical cannabis, interviews with some of the best international cannabinoid researchers tell why and how cannabis helps treat PTSD, pain, MS, anxiety, some elements of cancer, and many others. The book also describes clinical trials and has a resources section. It's available for classroom use and to every interested citizen.
With cannabis approved in 14 states (including the District and 2 US territories), medical cannabis approved in at least 35 states, and hemp (very-low-THC cannabis) off the controlled substances list, millions now treat their ills with medical cannabis or non-intoxicating cannabinoids like CBD. But lots of them don’t know why or how cannabis works in the body.
Healing with Cannabis has two parts.
First is a scientific but not too technical story of the endocannabinoid system, a billion-year-old system in vertebrates that allows cannabis to work in the body and brain. But its main role in the body is homeostasis—a state of balance—so it's an essential regulatory mechanism in the basic machinery of everyday life, not just about cannabis.
In part 2, about medical cannabis, interviews with some of the best international cannabinoid researchers tell why and how cannabis helps treat PTSD, pain, MS, anxiety, some elements of cancer, and many others. The book also describes clinical trials and has a resources section. It's available for classroom use and to every interested citizen.
288 pages, Hardcover
Published August 4, 2020
15 people are currently reading
3543 people want to read
About the author
Cheryl Pellerin
4 books45 followersCheryl Pellerin is a science writer with a bachelor of science degree in science journalism and nearly 30 years of experience writing about science in its many forms. Her first book was Trips: How Hallucinogens Work in Your Brain, translated into French and German, with art by Robert Crumb and the rest of the underground cartoonists from Zap Comix. She worked as a freelancer for the Discovery Channel and others, then as a science writer for the State and Defense departments. She lives in northern Virginia.
Her latest book, Healing with Cannabis, Skyhorse Publishing-NY, is available now at Amazon and at the Skyhorse website href=https://www.skyhorsepublishing.com/9781510751866/healing-with-cannabis/
Her latest book, Healing with Cannabis, Skyhorse Publishing-NY, is available now at Amazon and at the Skyhorse website href=https://www.skyhorsepublishing.com/9781510751866/healing-with-cannabis/
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
October 11, 2020
I won a copy of this book
This book is fantastic for anyone interested in cannabis. If you're on the fence about trying CBD or THC, I think this book will help you make an informed decision. Pellerin gives a great introduction to everything cannabis.
The first section of the book is full of scientific stuff, which will really interest doctors who are on the fence about giving a recommendations to their patients. It gets pretty technical at some points, but I found most of it interesting. Our federal laws need to catch up to our state laws (although, I think that may be changing soon).
The second half of the book is using cannabis for medicine. There's just a really nice in-depth look at all the different ways one can use cannabis. This is where Pellerin really gets into the endocannabinoid system and how it can be used to help everything from inflammation to cancer to mental instability.
There are resources in the back of the book for organizations and websites. This book is just a really good resource for all things cannabis. My main take away is there needs to be more research done; There is a usefulness to this plant and we shouldn't discount it any longer.
This book is fantastic for anyone interested in cannabis. If you're on the fence about trying CBD or THC, I think this book will help you make an informed decision. Pellerin gives a great introduction to everything cannabis.
The first section of the book is full of scientific stuff, which will really interest doctors who are on the fence about giving a recommendations to their patients. It gets pretty technical at some points, but I found most of it interesting. Our federal laws need to catch up to our state laws (although, I think that may be changing soon).
The second half of the book is using cannabis for medicine. There's just a really nice in-depth look at all the different ways one can use cannabis. This is where Pellerin really gets into the endocannabinoid system and how it can be used to help everything from inflammation to cancer to mental instability.
There are resources in the back of the book for organizations and websites. This book is just a really good resource for all things cannabis. My main take away is there needs to be more research done; There is a usefulness to this plant and we shouldn't discount it any longer.
October 5, 2020
Every vertebrate on the planet has an endocannabinoid system and that is why cannabis works in the body. This book takes a deep dive into not only that system but also a scientific look at how this body system evolved into what we have today. This book reads similar to a textbook with accompanying photographs to match the text. I really appreciate that as a visual can really break up some heady scientific reading.
This book is really two different parts. Part 1 teaches the reader about the endocannabinoid system at length including how it evolved, how it was discovered and how cannabinoid (THC and CBD) work. This is a very abbreviated way of saying what is covered in part one on my behalf but the knowledge base in this section is super in depth and informative. Readers who enjoy learning about body systems, the chemical compositions that make them up and how they were ultimately found via research will really love this part.
Part 2 is all about cannabis as a medicine and my personal favorite part of the book. I am one of the lucky people who lives in the United States that has access to both medical and recreational use of cannabis, so knowing that I could go to my local dispensary with the knowledge given in this book with confidence to know about the products I would best benefit from is huge! This isn't about what strain of "weed" you should buy but rather a look at how cannabinoids can work/assist in human conditions ranging from PTSD to IBS. I loved reading about how these different chemicals work with the endocannabinoid system to help alleviate some serious issues like cancers and mental illness.
Ultimately this book has further concreted my understanding that cannabis is a plant that needs further research and support to get that research. It could possibly help so many people if it were just able to be removed as a drug "never to be studied on humans" due to the stigma it holds with it. I loved all the little nuggets of history in this book as well. Did you know that some large pharmaceutical companies that are still around today used to sell cannabis products as a cure-all for a multitude of illnesses? I didn't know but thanks to this book I now know so much more about healing with cannabis than I ever thought I would.
Highly recommended for anyone who would like to have a in depth look at this amazing plant!
This book is really two different parts. Part 1 teaches the reader about the endocannabinoid system at length including how it evolved, how it was discovered and how cannabinoid (THC and CBD) work. This is a very abbreviated way of saying what is covered in part one on my behalf but the knowledge base in this section is super in depth and informative. Readers who enjoy learning about body systems, the chemical compositions that make them up and how they were ultimately found via research will really love this part.
Part 2 is all about cannabis as a medicine and my personal favorite part of the book. I am one of the lucky people who lives in the United States that has access to both medical and recreational use of cannabis, so knowing that I could go to my local dispensary with the knowledge given in this book with confidence to know about the products I would best benefit from is huge! This isn't about what strain of "weed" you should buy but rather a look at how cannabinoids can work/assist in human conditions ranging from PTSD to IBS. I loved reading about how these different chemicals work with the endocannabinoid system to help alleviate some serious issues like cancers and mental illness.
Ultimately this book has further concreted my understanding that cannabis is a plant that needs further research and support to get that research. It could possibly help so many people if it were just able to be removed as a drug "never to be studied on humans" due to the stigma it holds with it. I loved all the little nuggets of history in this book as well. Did you know that some large pharmaceutical companies that are still around today used to sell cannabis products as a cure-all for a multitude of illnesses? I didn't know but thanks to this book I now know so much more about healing with cannabis than I ever thought I would.
Highly recommended for anyone who would like to have a in depth look at this amazing plant!
January 10, 2021
Let me start off with, I really loved this book. I love the cover, the way it's formatted, and all of the words and images inside. I feel it is really informative in a fun way, the book addresses the information in a way that is easy to understand and keeps you interested. The images included to help explain things are fantastic too. I personally use cannabis medically and while I do know a fair amount, there was some things I did not know and this book helped me broaden my range of information. I highly recommend giving this book a read, if you have no knowledge on the topic or a decent amount, it's worth your time. I believe cannabis is going to become more prevalent in medicine as time goes on, and this may book help take away some of the bad stigma it still withholds with some. Give this book a read, very educational, and very worth it!
July 22, 2024
"Healing with Cannabis: The Evolution of the Endocannabinoid System and How Cannabinoids Help Relieve PTSD, Pain, MS, Anxiety, and More" is an enlightening and comprehensive guide that delves into the incredible therapeutic potential of cannabis. This book is a treasure trove of information for anyone interested in the medicinal uses of cannabis, from patients to healthcare professionals.
The author does a fantastic job of explaining the complex endocannabinoid system in a way that is both engaging and easy to understand. The book covers a wide range of conditions that cannabinoids can help alleviate, including PTSD, chronic pain, multiple sclerosis, and anxiety, providing scientific evidence and personal anecdotes to support these claims.
I was particularly impressed with the detailed discussions on how cannabinoids interact with the body's endocannabinoid system to promote healing and relief. The book also provides practical advice on dosing, delivery methods, and selecting the right strains for specific conditions, making it a valuable resource for both new and experienced users of medicinal cannabis.
As someone who works in the cannabis industry, I found this book to be incredibly informative and inspiring. It's a must-read for anyone looking to understand the profound impact cannabis can have on health and wellness. Highly recommend!
The author does a fantastic job of explaining the complex endocannabinoid system in a way that is both engaging and easy to understand. The book covers a wide range of conditions that cannabinoids can help alleviate, including PTSD, chronic pain, multiple sclerosis, and anxiety, providing scientific evidence and personal anecdotes to support these claims.
I was particularly impressed with the detailed discussions on how cannabinoids interact with the body's endocannabinoid system to promote healing and relief. The book also provides practical advice on dosing, delivery methods, and selecting the right strains for specific conditions, making it a valuable resource for both new and experienced users of medicinal cannabis.
As someone who works in the cannabis industry, I found this book to be incredibly informative and inspiring. It's a must-read for anyone looking to understand the profound impact cannabis can have on health and wellness. Highly recommend!
September 28, 2021
This full-color textbook is something you dip in and out of-- wide, double-column pages; plenty of footnotes everywhere; liberal use of charts, graphs and cited scientific studies, biographies and clinical trials; and full-color printing on glossy stock from cover to cover.
The book starts with an overview of the endocannabinoid system ("A Critical Biological System No One's Ever Heard Of") and takes us through the human digestive system (wheee!), THC, CBD and their molecular components, terpenes, what the endocannabinoid system looks like in deficiency and then smoothly opening the door on cannabis as medicine; barriers to medical cannabis, cannabinoids for everything from Crohn's and Huntington's to inflammation, stress, PTSD, multiple sclerosis, IBS, cancer, opioid addiction and tumors--- in short, a laundry list of the modern American plagues. This book is dense, beautifully put together and a resource for medical students, those with an interest in cannabis for health, the history of cannabis regulation, or anyone who is curious about the benefits of this ancient plant that grew in tandem with our own biology.
The book starts with an overview of the endocannabinoid system ("A Critical Biological System No One's Ever Heard Of") and takes us through the human digestive system (wheee!), THC, CBD and their molecular components, terpenes, what the endocannabinoid system looks like in deficiency and then smoothly opening the door on cannabis as medicine; barriers to medical cannabis, cannabinoids for everything from Crohn's and Huntington's to inflammation, stress, PTSD, multiple sclerosis, IBS, cancer, opioid addiction and tumors--- in short, a laundry list of the modern American plagues. This book is dense, beautifully put together and a resource for medical students, those with an interest in cannabis for health, the history of cannabis regulation, or anyone who is curious about the benefits of this ancient plant that grew in tandem with our own biology.
March 31, 2025
Alternative treatment
This book is full of knowledge that cannabis could be the answer to help with symptoms of various diseases. We need to full open up research and allow the researchers to explore this wonderful plant.
This book is full of knowledge that cannabis could be the answer to help with symptoms of various diseases. We need to full open up research and allow the researchers to explore this wonderful plant.
April 6, 2021
Very comprehensive and great information! Recommend to anyone with any curiosity or knowledge of Cannabis!
August 21, 2021
An amalgam of interesting studies and testimonies to the benefits of cannabis, however, several times redundant
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews