Monthly Archives: March 2022

People seeking treatment for substance abuse often face long wait times to get into treatment programs.

In a 2021 Herald-News story, Paul Lauridsen, executive director of Stepping Stones Treatment Center in Joliet, said Stepping Stones receives about 1,600 calls a year for help and can only serve 600 to 700 of those who are then referred to other resources.

That number dropped even further during the pandemic, Lauridsen said in the story.

But a new option is now available for people who need outpatient services only: Mindset Transformations of Mokena, which offers a holistic approach using Western and Eastern practices.

Valerie Hammond, chief executive officer of Mindset Transformations, said she is a licensed substance abuse counselor.

Mindset Transformations is licensed by the state of Illinois to offer outpatient substance abuse treatment, DUI evaluations and DOT SAP evaluations. Mindset Transformations offers a holistic approach to treatment, using Western and Eastern practices. Pictured is Valerie Hammond, chief executive officer of Mindset Transformations. (Photo provided)

Services

Hammond said Mindset Transformations is licensed by the state of Illinois to offer outpatient substance abuse treatment, DUI evaluations and Department of Transportation Substance Abuse Professional evaluations, according to a news release from Mindset Transformations.

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, a SAP is a substance abuse professional who evaluates employees who have violated a DOT drug and alcohol program regulation and makes recommendations concerning education, treatment, follow-up testing and aftercare.

Mindset Transformations is licensed by the state of Illinois to offer outpatient substance abuse treatment, DUI evaluations and DOT SAP evaluations. Mindset Transformations offers a holistic approach to treatment, using Western and Eastern practices. (Photo provided)

Practice areas include early intervention services for adults and adolescents at risk for developing a substance abuse disorder, basic outpatient and intensive outpatient services, partial hospitalization/day treatment programs and programs for families and children, according to the Mindset Transformation website.

Traditional treatment includes weekly groups and individual sessions, as well as medication-assisted treatment for those recovering from opioid use disorder, Hammond said.

However, Mindset Transformations also uses complementary therapies: ear acupuncture, clinical hypnotherapy, reiki, biofeedback/neurofeedback, neurolinguistic programming, Emotional Freedom Technique, sound vibration therapy, calming herbal detox teas and Christian counseling services, Hammond said.

There is a lot of research that shows they are effective in recovery, Hammond said.

Mindset Transformations is licensed by the state of Illinois to offer outpatient substance abuse treatment, DUI evaluations and DOT SAP evaluations. Mindset Transformations offers a holistic approach to treatment, using Western and Eastern practices. (Photo provided)

What the experts say

Its debatable if there is a lot of research, but there is some. A 2021 paper titled Complementary and Alternative Medicine for Substance Use Disorders: A Scientometric Analysis and Visualization of Its Use Between 2001 and 2020, said the problem with complementary therapies is that they lack sufficient evidence-based studies, such as randomized controlled trials and meta-analyses.

But that doesnt mean complementary therapies cant play a role, considering the high relapse rate among people who receive treatment and the fact substance abuse continues to rise.

For instance, nearly 296 million people worldwide use drugs, a 28% increase from 2009, the paper said. Furthermore, substance abuse disorders are multifactorial diseases compounded with psychology, biology, psychopathy, pharmacology and sociology, which need multidisciplinary, comprehensive, multisectoral collaborative treatment, the paper said.

Mindset Transformations is licensed by the state of Illinois to offer outpatient substance abuse treatment, DUI evaluations and DOT SAP evaluations. Mindset Transformations offers a holistic approach to treatment, using Western and Eastern practices. (Photo provided)

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs said on its website, that complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) practices can improve chances of recovery from substance use disorders, especially when used in addition to traditional SUD treatments and mutual self-help groups. They are not meant to replace traditional [conventional] treatments, however.

The website also discusses the following practices: mindfulness meditation, transcendental meditation, yoga, acupuncture, energy therapies, Qi gong, biofeedback, hypnotherapy, guided imagery/visualization and music therapy.

And the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration published a 12-page work, Complementary Health Approaches: Advising Clients About Evidence and Risks.

But thats why Mindset Transformations offers these complementary services because every recovery program doesnt work for every person, Hammond said.

If they can control their thinking, they can control their body

For instance, some people respond to a traditional 12-step program, while others do better with one that is Christ-centered, such as Celebrate Recovery, Hammond said.

Its about whatever is going to work with that person, Hammond said. We offer a variety of support groups.

Moreover, some Eastern therapies may affect a persons energy flow or retrain the brain, Hammond said. Thats important because the subconscious affect ones behavior, she said.

They soothe them or relax them so they can be more receptive to the western therapy that is available to them, Hammond said. If they can control their thinking, they can control their body and then they have the abilities to relax themselves.

Mindset Transformations is licensed by the state of Illinois to offer outpatient substance abuse treatment, DUI evaluations and DOT SAP evaluations. Mindset Transformations offers a holistic approach to treatment, using Western and Eastern practices. (Photo provided)

When people gain the ability to relax themselves, they are less likely to revert back to drug use because some people do self-medicate with drugs, Hammond said.

Biofeedback, for example, uses equipment to actually monitor symptoms of anxiety, such as increased heart rate.

You can look at the system and know you not only feel as if youre able to calm yourself down, you can see that youre really able to do it, Hammond said.

Mindset Transformations currently accepts sliding scale, self-pay and Medicaid insurance pay methods. For more information, call 708-537-7332 or visit mindsettransformations.net.

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New outpatient treatment center in Mokena offers traditional, alternative therapies - The Herald-News

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Journal: Arthroplasty Today

Who: Neil Pathak, MD; Zachary J. Radford, MD; Joseph B. Kahan, MD, MPH; Jonathan N. Grauer, MD; Lee E. Rubin, MD

Public interest in alternative, nonoperative treatments for the management of arthritis has increased. Few have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration. The present study aimed to evaluate trends in public and scientific interest in 4 such treatments by assessing Google Trends and publication frequency data, respectively.

Turmeric, stem cell therapy, platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy, and cannabidiol (CBD) were studied. For 2010-2019, Google Trends data and publication frequency data on PubMed were collected by year for arthritis and each of the 4 therapies. Linear, quadratic, and exponential regressions were applied, and the best model of growth was identified.

From 2010 to 2019, Google Trends annual scores for arthritis and turmeric (exponential; R2: 90.5%, P < .001), CBD (exponential; R2: 99.3%, P < .001), stem cell therapy (exponential; R2: 86.7%, P < .001), and PRP therapy (linear; R2: 80.6%, P < .001) increased significantly. Search term frequencies for arthritis and CBD exhibited the highest increase (12,929%). Publications in arthritis and turmeric (linear; R2: 74%, P = .001), stem cell therapy (linear; R2: 94.8%, P < .0001), and PRP therapy (linear; R2: 97.1%, P < .0001) increased from 2010 to 2019. However, publications relating to arthritis and CBD have not increased (P = .122).

Regression analysis indicates that public interest in alternative therapies have had a marked increase. The rise in public interest for CBD, and to a lesser extent, turmeric, stem cell therapy, and PRP, has dramatically outstripped scientific evidence on these therapies. Rigorously designed, clinical studies may be beneficial to keep up with the growing popularity of these treatments, especially CBD.

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Publication Frequency and Google Trends Analysis of Popular Alternative Treatments to Arthritis - Yale School of Medicine

Herbal medicine may be a disputed issue, but the high cost of drugs and their unavailability in public hospitals have been forcing people to turn to alternative solutions in the eastern African nation of Uganda, which experts fear may lead people to falling prey to fake so-called cures.

Speaking to Anadolu Agency (AA) on the eve of World Medicine Day, which is being observed on Monday, Damali Nanfuka, a resident of the capital Kampala, said doctors were charging her 100,000 shillings ($29) to treat her diabetes. She dropped plans to consult the doctor further and turned to an herbal medicine clinic.

"I went to an herbal medicine clinic where I was given medicine at only 40,000 shillings ($11)," she said.

Patrick Kasadha, a pharmacist at a government hospital in the eastern Ugandan district of Iganga, said enough medicine was not stocked in government hospitals due to a paucity of funds. But Health Minister Ruth Jane Aceng recently told the media that some medical workers were stealing medicine and selling it to private clinics.

The problem has taken such acute turns that two weeks ago Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni closed all pharmacies operating in government hospital compounds, following reports that hospital authorities were stealing drugs and giving them to private pharmacies.

Abiaz Rwamwiri, a government official at the drug regulatory authority, said there were reports of people making fake herbal drugs.

"As the national drug authority, we are mandated to regulate drugs made here or imported. In our country some people are making fake herbal drugs," he said.

Isac Kiburaba, a pharmacist in Kampala, said some people simply mix conventional medicine with some concoctions from tree leaves to trick people. He said at some places, it was seen that these people mix medicine meant for malaria with water and mango leaves.

Rwamwiri noted that his authority has so far certified 194 herbal drugs for medical use after testing them in laboratories.

"There has been a fall back to herbal medicine. Due to many people turning to herbal medicine, many unscrupulous people are taking advantage and selling fake herbal medicine to unsuspecting people," he said.

Just on the outskirts of the capital Kampala, herbal medicine shops sell different concoctions, claiming they cure cancer, high blood pressure, diabetes, malaria and all sexually transmitted diseases.

"We have medicine that relieves HIV, AIDS. We also treat toothaches without removing rotten teeth. We have medicine that makes barren women give birth and for weak men, we have medicine that makes them strong," claims Nakakawa, who manages the shop.

She said that her boss Andrew Luwanga, who calls himself a doctor, has inherited the medical practice from his late father.

She said that they get many people who come to buy their herbal medicine for the treatment of various diseases because conventional medicine is very expensive.

She said that government hospitals either lack medicine, or what little they have, are stolen by medical officers and sold to private pharmacies.

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The Local Best Sioux Falls, SD, announced Sioux Falls consumers voted Orthopedic Institute the #1 Orthopedics & Sports Medicine practice in the region.

SIOUX FALLS, S.D., March 15, 2022 /PRNewswire/ --The Local Best Sioux Falls, SD, announced Sioux Falls consumers voted Orthopedic Institute #1 in Orthopedics & Sports Medicine for 2021.

"We have raving supportive fans, and we are honored to serve them. For nearly 50 years, the greater Sioux Falls region has placed its trust in Orthopedic Institute to provide the highest quality of care at the most efficient cost," said Peter Looby, MD. "Being voted #1 by our patients and our community is validation that our team consistently delivers on our patient experience pillars of prioritizing access, eliminating barriers, and being remarkable."

The Local Best enables consumers to find the best, most trusted businesses by asking locals to vote on their favorite businesses in over 200 different categories. "It's very effective and is one of the best word-of-mouth recommendations from locals who know which companies to trust." In addition, Nate Henry, of Sioux Falls Local Best, says, "Our award shows that a business has been 'pre-vetted' by others, trustworthy, and worth a premium."

"People trust word-of-mouth recommendations, and we are privileged to have consumers trust us with their care," said Lynda Barrie, CEO. "Winning Local Best awards for multiple categories including Orthopedics and Sports Medicine, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and alternative medicine is a testament to our daily commitment to transforming lives through extraordinary orthopedic care."

With an average star rating of 4.8 out of 5 on Google My Business, the highest consumer satisfaction rating of any independent orthopedic practice in the region, Orthopedic Institute consistently outperforms larger health systems by creating an extraordinary patient experience that inspires individuals to live stronger.

"We are thankful to serve the orthopedic needs of our region. The Local Best voting reinforces patients feel Orthopedic Institute provides the highest-quality, compassionate orthopedic care at the most affordable prices in our community," said David Jones Jr., MD and Board President at Orthopedic Institute.

Consumers trust smaller independent businesses more than large businesses. According to the Better Business Bureau, 84% of consumers trust independent companies, compared to only 16% that trust large companies. In addition, consumers stated that these independent business owners "take better care of their customers" and are "more responsive to the varying needs of individual customers." With nearly 30 million local businesses in America that employ almost 60 million people, they may call these "small" businesses, but that is half of the US workforce in the U.S.

ABOUT ORTHOPEDIC INSTITUTE:

Orthopedic Institute (OI), one of the most highly respected independent physician groups specializing in orthopedics and sports medicine in the Midwest, was founded in 1972. Located on the Avera McKennan Health main campus, in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, the group has steadily grown in size and scope, with 19 physicians and over 200 employees serving 17 satellite locations in South Dakota, Minnesota, and Iowa. Through empowering the private practice model, OI delivers the most efficient, compassionate, and highest-quality care to the communities it serves. Nationally recognized and renowned in the region for providing extraordinary orthopedic care, OI is the proud sports medicine provider for local professional, university, and high school teams in southeast South Dakota, southwest Minnesota, and northwest Iowa. Visit orthopedicinstitutesf.com to learn more.

ABOUT THE LOCAL BEST SIOUX FALLS:

The LocalBest.com Sioux Falls is a unique business directory for the regions residents that is revolutionizing the way consumers search for businesses. Each year Local Best holds an online vote for just locals to select their favorite businesses. This competition helps businesses improve their customer service to win the hearts and minds of local consumers, in turn providing a better consumer experience to local consumers. The results of the surveys are businesses locals know they can trust. Visit thelocalbest.com/sioux-falls/ to learn more.

Media ContactChristopher Holman6127993019[emailprotected]

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Orthopedic Institute Voted the #1 Orthopedics & Sports Medicine Practice in Sioux Falls by Consumers - PR Newswire

The vaccination selfie, showing a gloved hand holding a needle and a smiling face hidden behind a mask, looked like thousands of others posted to Instagram as the COVID-19 vaccine rolled out across the U.S.

But the comments it drew did not. Sell out puppet, sneered one user in response to Dr. Michael Gregers photo. Burning your book tonight in my fire pit, said a second. Another simply wrote: .

Greger is a prominent advocate for a plant-based diet, with a devoted following among people who believe food is the best medicine. But his statement on vaccines that sometimes, medicine is the best medicine put him directly at odds with many of his fans, and thrust him into the ugly, conspiratorial fight over vaccination roiling the online worlds of wellness and nutrition.

You cannot help but be bombarded by it, Greger said. The online wellness world, he said, is one of the rare spaces where you can say the most bats crazy things and get a million-dollar book deal as a reward. Its a no-holds-barred, almost a truth-free, area.

Health and nutrition influencers have whipped up a frenzy about the COVID-19 vaccine and other public health guidance during the pandemic, Greger said, steering people already skeptical of pharmaceutical companies and traditional healthcare away from vaccination and toward health-related conspiracy theories.

Some were Gregers colleagues and peers, including a filmmaker known for advocating for a low-fat, vegan diet who invited the doctor to a mask-burning party in Southern California.

The anti-vaccine movement has some overlap with right-wing politics and the QAnon conspiracy theory, which is popular in wellness and spirituality circles. But vaccine skepticism is a far more widespread phenomenon, drawing support from alternative medical practitioners, including chiropractors, as well as professional athletes, chefs, models, entrepreneurs and actors.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 69.3% of people 5 and older in the United States had been fully vaccinated as of Friday; 58 million have yet to receive even one dose of what medical experts say is the best line of defense against severe illness and death.

Americans influenced by misinformation are less likely to get vaccinated, polling shows. In a survey released in late December, the U.S. Census Bureau said 42% of those who have not been inoculated report that they dont trust the COVID-19 vaccine.

The tidal wave of misinformation about whats healthy and what isnt has pushed vaccine-hesitant people into unproven remedies against COVID-19, including strict elimination diets, tinctures of turmeric and quercetin, a battery of dietary supplements, and mega-doses of vitamins C, B-12 and D.

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Research has not shown that any supplement prevents COVID-19 or lessens the symptoms of the disease. Some can have serious side effects when taken in large quantities.

But people are drawn to influencers who push such narratives because they are frightened and need to feel control over their lives, said Rene DiResta, the technical research manager at the Stanford Internet Observatory and part of the Virality Project, which tracks misinformation about the COVID-19 vaccine rollout.

These are natural human impulses, and its very, very hard to counter, DiResta said.

The desire for control has become clear in one house in the San Fernando Valley, where a high school science teacher found six bottles of vitamins stashed in the closet of her husbands home office.

Always skeptical of doctors and of big pharma, he is now avoiding genetically modified foods, wont use fluoridated toothpaste and, rather than get vaccinated against COVID-19, takes a battery of daily vitamins, said the teacher, who requested anonymity to speak frankly.

She said his interest in conspiracy theories grew after he became a fan of former President Trump and started following more YouTube channels, cryptocurrency influencers and activists on Telegram, the messaging app popular with anti-vaccine activists.

People who are conspiracy theorists cant deal with the unknown, the teacher said. But if you show that youre scared of something, thats a sign of weakness. So instead, theyre telling themselves that they know more about the virus than other people. It gives them a feeling of power.

One of the vitamin bottles contains 180 capsules and sells for $97.25 on the website of Dr. Mark Hyman, who advised Bill Clinton on his diet and wrote the preface for a book by anti-vaccine activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Taking the recommended six pills per day would provide 618% of the needed daily amount of vitamin A, 666% of vitamin C and 41,567% of vitamin B-12, the labels show.

The wellness industry also has directed a wave of fat shaming and ableism at people who have disabilities and other underlying health conditions. Popular health influencers have posted anti-vaccination memes on Instagram that say things such as: If youre not athletic and healthy, your opinion on health is irrelevant, and, My diet wont work unless you stop eating cake.

The chief executive of Sweetgreen, the fast-casual chain that sells $15 salads, faced backlash in September for saying that no vaccine nor mask will save us, and proposed the concept of government health mandates.

Jonathan Neman added: What if we made the food that is making us sick illegal? What if we taxed processed food and refined sugar to pay for the impact of the pandemic? He has since taken down the offending LinkedIn post.

President Bidens November announcement that American companies with more than 100 employees must require the vaccine or weekly testing was the last straw for one Los Angeles influencer, who goes by the name Jonny Juicer. His feed is a steady stream of shirtless selfies and promotions for his $11 juicing e-book and a $10 book of plant-based dog food recipes.

He wrote to his 305,000 followers: Now youre being FORCED against your will to inject a synthetic, experimental concoction into your bloodstream (where a side effect has resulted in clotting, neurological issues & death) OR YOU LOSE YOUR JOB.

(The vaccines are based on more than a decades worth of research into mRNA technology, and have been put through standard safety testing. Many reports of post-vaccination injuries are self-reported and unverified. Bidens mandate has been tied up in the courts and has not gone into effect.)

Just a dozen people are responsible for spreading nearly two-thirds of online misinformation about the COVID-19 vaccines, according to the Center for Countering Digital Hate, a U.K.-based research group. Eight are connected to health, wellness and nutrition, including osteopathic physicians, alternative-health influencers, and a Tennessee couple who gained a mass following by questioning chemotherapy and other traditional cancer treatments.

Perhaps the best-known is Dr. Joseph Mercola, a controversial osteopathic physician who was warned by the Food and Drug Administration last year to stop representing vitamin C, vitamin D3 and quercetin supplements as COVID-19 treatments. His YouTube channel was removed last fall after the platform banned anti-vaccine misinformation.

Much of the vaccination fight in wellness circles has played out on Instagram, rippling outward from influencers to everyday people searching for healthy lunch ideas and green smoothie recipes. The platform has implemented filters that flag posts discussing the vaccine; to avoid it, influencers use a creative array of misspellings of vaccine, including vacseen, the v and the Virgo emoji.

Celebrities have also pushed the debate into the public eye. Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers told reporters that he was immunized before testing positive for the virus. The NFL Network said he had sought homeopathic treatment from his doctor in lieu of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Surfer Kelly Slater recently tore into Biden on Instagram, asking why the White House was focusing on vaccine mandates instead of promoting eating organic foods and taking the right supplements.

It seems no wellness brand that takes a stand on vaccination is safe from blowback. When the San Diego County organic soap company Dr. Bronners announced that every employee vaccinated against COVID-19 would receive a $1,000 bonus, a wave of criticism followed.

How about give all of your employees $1,000 to buy organic groceries, Vitamin C, zinc and quercetin? wrote one user with nearly 46,000 followers, who calls herself the Healing Cave Lady. She sells a COVID-19 immunity protocol bundle of 10 supplements online for $393.46.

Greger, the doctor who advocates for a plant-based diet, is still receiving nasty comments nearly a year after describing vaccination as a civic duty. His staff has been reluctant to post content about COVID-19 vaccines because anything that even vaguely mentions it is just a firestorm.

Doctors will always recommend a balanced and healthful diet, said Dr. Danielle Belardo, a cardiologist in Newport Beach. But believing a certain diet, supplement regimen or exercise routine will save someone from severe illness during a pandemic is rooted in the naturalist fallacy, that anything that isnt natural is harmful.

Belardo, a vegan, said many of her vegan patients initially questioned whether they needed to get vaccinated because they saw themselves as healthy. They are all vaccinated now, she said.

People who believe the vaccine is unhealthy or dangerous simply found the wrong echo chamber, she said, and are victims of people who peddle misinformation and products such as juice cleanses and dietary supplements.

They profit off of it, and they actually harm people, Belardo said. People who didnt get vaccinated and died, they listened to these gurus.

Belardo said she also was concerned to see some online diet communities once diametrically opposed veganism and the all-meat diet, high-fat keto and low-fat regimens have started to unite around a common hatred of vaccination.

Claims that diet, exercise and nutritional supplements can protect against COVID-19 are so common that Baltimores public health department tackled the topic in a series of public service announcements staffers jokingly dubbed mean PSAs.

Each was released as a meme, with a big image and a caption in bold red letters. One read: Green tea cant cure COVID, Trina. Another said: Salad doesnt cure COVID, Connor.

The department launched the series to confront issues people faced most often when they tried to persuade friends and family to get vaccinated, said Adam Abadir, who helped launch the series.

Yes, you are generally going to be better off if youre living a healthy lifestyle, said Abadir, who was the health departments director of communication and now works in the Baltimore mayors office. But dont let that be the reason that you dont get vaccinated.

A careful regimen of organic foods, special supplements or other wellness behaviors can help bring a sense of control to unknowable, uncontrollable world events, like a pandemic, said Heather Simpson, the co-host of a podcast called Back to the Vax, hosted by two former self-described anti-vaxxers.

Eating organic food, having a toxin-free lifestyle, it gives people a sense of control over their mortality, said Simpson, who is now vaccinated against COVID-19 and has brought her daughter up to date on her childhood vaccinations. I felt that if I fed my daughter and my family the healthiest foods, all organic, no toxins, that wed never get cancer, wed never have auto-immune diseases, wed never encounter anything bad.

What began for one Pennsylvania woman as a suspicion of traditional healthcare and an interest in alternative medicine escalated during the pandemic into something far more serious, said her daughter-in-law, who requested anonymity to speak openly.

The woman, a doctor, has refused to get vaccinated against COVID-19. Instead, she is taking spoonfuls of vitamin C powder at meals and more than 2,000 milligrams of niacin per day about 142 times the recommended daily amount as part of a protocol promoted on Telegram by a man with no medical degree. In large doses, niacin can cause blurred vision and liver damage.

She is having difficulty discerning truth from the misinformation and the disinformation that she keeps feeding herself, her daughter-in-law said. Shes now in an alternate information bubble that is completely separate from what is actually going on in the world.

See the article here:

The wellness communitys fight over COVID vaccine misinformation - Los Angeles Times

Early-stage research suggests that cannabis-derived medicines could be effective in treating various cancers. Recent experimental treatments and small-scale clinical trials have shown the importance of showing the efficacy of these medicinal cannabis formulations and will be a crucial and necessary path leading the way for medical cannabis to enter mainstream treatment for cancer patients.

For centuries, the plant Cannabis sativa L., has been used across the world as a herbal remedy. After ending its 50-year prohibition, medical cannabis was legalised in 2018 in the UK sparking renewed interest and research into the plants properties.

In cancer treatment, cannabinoids, the group of molecules, including CBD and THC, which constitute the active compounds in cannabis, have been primarily used as a part of palliative care to alleviate pain, relieve nausea and stimulate appetite. However, early-stage research and testing have suggested that medical cannabis may also be a highly effective treatment for killing cancer cells itself.

Several pre-clinical laboratory studies have shown that cannabinoids may reduce cancer cell growth and could disrupt the blood supply to cancerous cells, including brain tumours [1], breast cancers [2,3] and prostate cancer [4], among others.

As medicinal cannabis moves away from the novel and into the mainstream, pharmaceutical companies will need to ensure that these medical formulations comply with current pharmaceutical gold standards with respect to consistent dosing, routes of administration, stability, clinical efficacy and safety. The new medicines will need rigorous protected intellectual property via defendable international patents, with actual clinical efficacy in patient data.

Understanding how cannabis can treat cancer depends on the cannabinoids and the type of cancer in question, thus complicating the matter.

Results have shown that different cannabinoids can cause cell death (apoptosis), block cell growth through various inhibitors, stop the development of blood vessels (mTOR inhibitors) which are needed for tumours to grow, reduce inflammation through induction of apoptosis, inhibition of cell proliferation, suppression of cytokine production and induction of T-regulatory cells [5], and reduce the ability of cancers to spread (cell migration and metastasis).

With over 100 naturally occurring cannabinoids, there is no one size fits all for medical cannabis in cancer treatment. Cutting edge work using artificial intelligence (AI) is being carried out to analyse cannabis plant genetics and phenotypes, to determine the best combination of cannabinoids, terpenes and flavonoids to target and optimise the treatment of various cancers.

Numerous scientific papers looking at cannabinoids and cancer have been published to date. However, due to years of prohibition, cannabis and its role in oncology currently lack the robust scientific evidence gained through extensive clinical trials.

Before authorising human trials, potential cancer treatments can be tested through 2D or 3D cell culture testing. 3D cell culture models allow researchers to recreate specific pathophysiological environments and tumorigenic processes to identify potential biomarkers for therapeutic targeting or assessing cell response to therapies and drug efficacy.

The improvement in 3D cell culture technology has led to the generation of in vitro models that can encompass more physiological and tissue-specific microenvironments, with the aim to overcome the drawbacks observed in other pre-clinical models and have better predictive value for clinical outcomes.[6]

Despite the advancements in pre-clinical testing, the key to gaining cannabis full acceptance in the scientific community is real human data from clinical trials.

In the UK, researchers at the University of Birmingham are looking at the efficacy of Sativex commonly associated with the treatment of Multiple Sclerosis in treating Glioblastomas, the most common and most aggressive form of brain cancer. The second phase of human testing will assess whether adding Sativex to chemotherapy could extend the life of those diagnosed with Glioblastoma, which sadly has an average survival of less than 10 months [7].

Over in Europe, the University Medical Centre Groningen, in the Netherlands, is in phase II of testing the effect of cannabis oil on 20 liver cancer patients who have exhausted all other treatment options [8]. The trial, which launched in 2021, will run for three years and uses Transvamix which contains 10% THC and 5% CBD [9].

These small scale clinical trials need to be licenced and expedited globally. Knowledge sharing in the scientific community will help remediate the years of lost research through prohibition.

As our understanding of medical cannabis and its potential in oncology continues to grow, scientists are assessing the role of personalised medicines. As mentioned, with over 100 naturally occurring cannabinoids and many different types of cancer, there is no one size fits all for treatment.

Personalised medicine recognises that we are all physiologically unique and uses individual DNA sequencing to target treatment according to human microbiomes. As all cancers have a genetic base, personalised medicine is already commonly used in the traditional treatment of cancer. When combined with the powers of AI, personalised medicine presents a huge opportunity for medical cannabis and the treatment of cancer. It is estimated that one in two of us will get cancer within our lifetime [10] and in 2019, cancer caused more than one in four of all deaths in the UK [11]. By researching new alternative treatments, such as medical cannabis, we stand a real chance at improving survival rates and extending lives.

References

(1) Rocha, F. C. M., dos Santos Jnior, J. G., Stefano, S. C., & Da Silveira, D. X. (2014). Systematic review of the literature on clinical and experimental trials on the antitumor effects of cannabinoids in gliomas. Journal of neuro-oncology, 116 (1), 11-24.

(2) Apollon Formularies plc, https://polaris.brighterir.com/public/apollon_formularies/news/rns/story/r726zjw, Accessed January 2022

(3) Apollon Formularies plc, https://polaris.brighterir.com/public/apollon_formularies/news/rns/story/xq749kw, Accessed January 2022

(4) Apollon Formularies plc, https://polaris.brighterir.com/public/apollon_formularies/news/rns/story/x8ql8jx, Accessed January 2022

(5) Nagarkatti P, Pandey R, Rieder SA, Hegde VL, Nagarkatti M. Cannabinoids as novel anti-inflammatory drugs. Future Med Chem. 2009;1(7):1333-1349. doi:10.4155/fmc.09.93

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