More Marijuana Field Experience

In the last couple of months I have been trying to move towards mostly edibles, pills, tinctures and mists, away from smoking or even much vaping. Other than an occasional stomach upset when I take certain kinds of THC pills on an empty stomach, I could easily see myself moving completely away from smoking and vaping, except for enjoying a bit of Indica concentrate to vape in the evening. I've been experimenting with times and strains and amounts. This seems to work on average days:

1. Sometime after lunch I take a 40 mg THC capsule (it looks like finely ground green marijuana, but it's been decarboxylted and may have some THC oil in it to reach the right THC content). It's not clear if these pills are Sativa or Indica, but if I could choose, I would go with Sativa for daytime. It takes anything from 45 minutes to 2 hours to start to feel the effects (a mild high), which lasts a few. Once I run out of these capsules, I'll probably move to cannabis-infused oil capsules that have a more immediate and consistent effect.
2. Through the afternoon and evening I may vape some high-CBD Indica weed. There's not any kind of high to speak of, but it does seem to settle my stomach and reduce muscle pain. I'd prefer to try Sativa, but would probably go for a high CBD oil, if I could.
3. In the afternoon or evening I may use a Sativa mist or tincture sublingually, again to reduce discomfort and pain. I have learned NOT to buy high alcohol tinctures and mists because the pain of having pure alcohol under my tongue is too great. The oil tinctures are usually 30 mg per ml. I have taken to refilling the 8 ml mist bottles with bourbon and 250 mg THC oil pills, giving about 3 1/2 mg per spurt.
4. In the late evening I'll have a 50 mg Indica THC oil pill an hour or two before bed. That, and vaping some Indica concentrate usually put me to sleep nicely.
5. If the pain is REALLY bad, I use whiskey, but it seems that, if I head off the pain with marijuana, I don't need whiskey as much.

Note that almost all of these products come from the grey market since licensed producers offer very few of the products i want and when they do have them they are three times the cost of the grey market.

Primer on marijuana extracts

A primer on the various kinds of marijuana concentrate extraction methods and the resulting products. What it doesn't do is stress the importance of the strain and substrains used to make the extracts. A general strain rule for me: Sativa-dominant strains in the daytime, Indica-dominant strains before bed.

Click here for the Extract Primer

Interesting new technology for early detection of autoimmune diseases

This sounds interesting:

CYREX LABORATORIES INTRODUCES SALIVARY ASSESSMENT FOR EARLY AUTOIMMUNE DETECTION

Mucosal Immune Reactivity Screen is First to Encompass All Areas of The Cyrex System

PHOENIX (OCTOBER 10, 2017) – Cyrex Laboratories, a clinical laboratory specializing in functional immunology and autoimmune reactivity, continues to revolutionize the way healthcare professionals approach immune reactivity and intolerance. Today, Cyrex Laboratories unveils the Array 14 Mucosal Immune Reactivity Screen™, the first and only test capable of assessing mucosal immune reactivity in saliva as it measures SIgA and SIgM (Salivary Secretory Immunoglobulin A and M).

Early diagnosis of autoimmune reactivity is an essential step toward minimizing the severity and impact of a patient’s symptoms and condition. Mucosal production of IgA and IgM antibodies appears to be an early event in immune reactivity to dietary proteins, bacterial toxins and tissue antigens.

“Array 14 offers patients an excellent opportunity to identify an autoimmune response early,” said Jean Bellin, president of Cyrex Laboratories. “If an autoimmune issue is in the nascent phase of development, the dysfunction may not have reached the blood stream and standard blood tests would read as normal. There has never been such a comprehensive, early stage immune reactivity test like Array 14.” 

Array 14 is the first test to encompass all areas of The Cyrex System™, including:

• markers of barrier integrity
• immune reactions against all three environmental triggers associated with autoimmune reaction (food, chemical and pathogens)
• autoimmune reactivity to self tissue

Array 14’s comprehensive range and ability to identify autoimmune reactivity early makes it an ideal test suited for annual wellness visits, and anyone who suspects a recent change in diet may be impacting their overall health. The complex and comprehensive Array 14 is also an excellent option for pediatricians, patients who have trouble with blood draws, or naturopathic doctors who prefer saliva screens to blood tests.

Patients with chronic inflammatory bowel conditions, a family history of autoimmune disease or who think they may be suffering from immune reactivity and intolerance are advised to inquire with their physician about ordering this innovative Array 14 from Cyrex Laboratories.

The Cyrex clinical consulting team is readily available for a consultation to discuss the results of patient testing upon request from a patient’s healthcare provider.

Physicians and other licensed healthcare professionals, as well as patients, can learn more about Array 14 and the other unique arrays that comprise The Cyrex System, at www.joincyrex.com.

Marijuana Field Research

In order to reduce pains (arthritis, MS) and stomach discomfort, I have been trying various strains and substrains of marijuana and, more recently, various product types: shatter, oils, tinctures, pills and other edibles (brownies from a Mary Jane mix). I think I'm honing in the strains and products to get me through the day.

I recently tried some 25 mg THC pills and found that they were great for reducing and even preventing pains... and giving a light buzz for about 6 hours. The effects start in about 1/2 hour after taking the pill, ramps up for another 15 minutes, then maintains its efficacy for another 5 or 6 hours. I think that the first ones I bought were Indica-based, which tends to make a person more drowsy. I want to try some Sativa-based pills in the future.

I also have an oil-based Sativa tincture. A few drops under the tongue and I feel better for a few hours. Its much more fast-acting than marijuana edibles (like the pills above) because it is absorbed quickly when taken sublingually. I think that this tincture also works to prevent pain, so is best taken before the pain or discomfort gets bad. Four drops gives about 12 mg of THC, which is about as much as you can hold under your tongue for a while until you have to swallow it. What you swallow isn't wasted: it just takes longer to affect you.

The brownies I find to be much too sweet, though if I stay up late enough and get the munchies, a half a brownie goes down very nice.

Of course, the fastest way to get marijuana-based relief is to vape or smoke dry weed or concentrates. For the day-time, a high THC Sativa weed or concentrate (like shatter) that doesn't make me too sleepy can be used as a quick pick-me-up on bad days. In the evening, just before bed, I vape my old standby: a 9/9 (%THC/%CBD) dry weed from Cannimed that usually helps me get to sleep quickly (along with sleeping pills). If I have a severe pain just before I go to bed, I take whiskey to calm it down. Sometimes I take whiskey even if I'm feeling no pain. 😁

It is now possible to get all these products from online dispensaries (usually based in BC) without a medical marijuana prescription... you just need to send them a digitized copy of government-issued ID. There are quite a few dispensaries that sell quality-controlled products and provide very clear information about what is in it. Contact me if you want to know more.

Changes

My last MRI showed more plaques and a shrinking hypothalamus. Not good news, but not surprising.

My mobility is quite obviously getting worse: mostly because of the weakness in my left leg and arm. Except for really short distances where I use my poles or a cane and someone's arm, I am only able to get around on my small scooter  (EV Rider Transport) which I use in the apartment and to the YMCA and in malls/restaurants, etc. I would recommend this to anyone that still has balance and enough strength to transfer yourself to chairs and so on.

My pain continues, especially in my left hip. Since my back surgery over two years ago, my sciatic pain continues to to be almost non-existent. Lower back pain, however, continues to get worse due to my osteoarthritis.

Pain is also the reason that my stomach is often upset. For pain I take neuro pain killer, Tylenol, marijuana and whiskey. Usually they work well enough to allow me to fall asleep. I would like to use less whiskey because it causes a poorer night's sleep... but that is still better than falling asleep at all.

My night spasms are almost gone: Baclofen and marijuana takes care of that. I rarely nap during the day any longer and seem to have more energy during the day. That may be because of the Modafinil I'm now taking.

I still do some exercises (when I'm not feeling lousy), either at physio, the pool, or at home.

But the real change for me is that my kids have both moved back into town from overseas AND I have a beautiful 9 month old granddaughter who has greatly increased the joy in my life. Pain or stomach upset, it doesn't matter... all I have to is think of her and my day feels so much better. I would recommend it to anyone!