The rare skin disease epidermolysis bullosa (EB) is characterized by unusual blistering of the skin. Children with EB are called “butterfly children” because the skin is as delicate and fragile as a butterfly wing. Only about two to three out of 100,000 people are affected by the disease. The cause is hereditary, the genes that […]
If the hepatitis C virus (HCV) attacks liver cells, acute and chronic inflammation of the liver can develop. Normally the disease can be cured in about three months. Only in a few cases a chronic HCV infection develops. The infection can lead to liver failure or liver cancer without appropriate treatment. More than 70 million […]
Everyone has experience with sleep disorders, for example due to stress. Chronic sleep disorders are extremely stressful. Sufferers cannot get enough rest at night which affects health and productivity. However many sleeping pills have side effects such as daytime sleepiness and carry a risk of addiction. In a double-blind study an Australian research team investigated […]
Cannabis medications containing cannabidiol (CBD), tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidivarin (CBDV) can reduce the symptoms of autism spectrum disorders. CBD and CBDV improved the balance of excitatory and depressant neurotransmitters in the brain which is dysregulated in autistic individuals. These are the findings of a team of researchers from Brazil. Autism Spectrum Disorders – What is […]
Endometriosis – this means for the affected women severe pain and abdominal cramps, painful periods and pain during sexual intercourse. The disease is very stressful and often leads to other complaints such as insomnia and depressive moods. Can cannabis help as a medicine? Endometriosis – what is it? According to estimates two to ten percent […]
Chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a collective term for Crohn’s disease (MC), ulcerative colitis (CU) and a few lesser-known forms. Those affected have to struggle with persistent diarrhoea, weight loss, severe abdominal pain and loss of performance. The suffering is often enormous. Studies show that tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) can alleviate the symptoms […]
Serious diseases such as cancer, chronic infections or autoimmune diseases deplete the body and cause weight loss. Therefore experts also speak of consumptive diseases. Medical cannabis is known for its appetite-increasing effect. Studies show that cannabinoids can be an important option in the treatment of anorexia and cachexia in cancer and HIV patients. Cachexia and […]
Patients with neurological diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS) or cerebral palsy often suffer from spastic movement disorders. Spasticity is characterised by increased muscle tension (muscle tone) and involuntary muscle spasms. The cause is damage to motor nerve pathways of the central nervous system (brain, spinal cord) which are responsible for the voluntary movement of […]
Venous leg ulcers (Ulcus crusis venosum), also known as “open leg”, are poorly healing, deep wounds on the lower leg. They occur most frequently in older chronically ill patients. In an open-label study a team of Canadian researchers found that therapy with external cannabis-based medicines in addition to compression bandages accelerated wound closure. The scientists […]
Cancer – a diagnosis that causes anxiety. Medically, it is a variety of different diseases. But regardless of the type of cancer, they all have one thing in common: healthy tissue is destroyed by the uncontrolled proliferation of degenerate, malignant cells. These continue to divide and form tumours. When the cancer spreads in the body, […]
