Guest guest Posted August 8, 2000 Report Share Posted August 8, 2000 I noticed the Shen nong ben cao describes the use of cannabis flowers and leaves, not just the seeds like modern materia medica. In light of this, I wonder what role TCM has to play in the medical marijuana debate. http://www.cnn.com/2000/HEALTH/alternative/08/03/medical.marijuana/index.html Click HereClick Here Hollywood Minute: Rob Schneider, Ice-T and more Play video Watch more CNN VIDEO health > alternative CNN Sites CNN CNNfn CNNSI myCNN AllPolitics Languages myCNN | Video | Audio | Headline News Brief | Free E-mail | Feedback CNN Sites CNN CNNfn CNNSI myCNN AllPolitics Languages Search CNN.com CNNSI.com CNNfn.com The Web HEALTHTOP STORIES Study: Sudden infant death risks higher in day care setting Gene therapy shows promise against cancer Slim Fast recalls more than 1 million cans of diet drink British researchers suspect better living standards linked to childhood leukemia 3 deaths in California linked to virus previously unknown in North America Pfizer halts trial of drug for prostate and lung cancer (MORE) TOP STORIES Eight killed in Moscow bomb explosion Chilean Supreme Court strips Pinochet of immunity Gore, Lieberman prepare for public debut of Democratic ticket Clinton heading to wildfire zone in West (MORE) BUSINESS Wall St. gets early boostProductivity jumps in 2QVerizon: a deal and a miss (MORE) MARKETS 11:12am ET, 8/8DJIA29.6010896.60 NAS 0.093863.08 S&P1.761477.56 SPORTS Indians close wild-card gap with 2-0 win over Texas Schilling silences Expos, now 3-0 with D'backs West calls it quits after 40 years with Lakers (MORE) All Scoreboards WEATHER Enter your U.S. Zip:Click here for U.S. States or world cities WORLDChilean Supreme Court strips Pinochet of immunity U.S.Clinton visits wildfire zone in West POLITICSGore, Lieberman prepare for public debut of Democratic ticket LAWCourt ruling on Pinochet expected today TECHNOLOGYScientists reveal nine new planets ENTERTAINMENTThe Edinburgh Festival - The Greatest Show in the World TRAVELUnited Airlines scraps nearly 2,000 flights FOODFor foodies who are mad about mangoes ARTS STYLEAntique dealers tap new customers on the Web (MORE HEADLINES) MAINPAGE WORLD U.S. WEATHER BUSINESS SPORTS TECHNOLOGY SPACE HEALTH AIDS aging alternative cancer children diet & fitness men women ENTERTAINMENT POLITICS LAW TRAVEL FOOD ARTS & STYLE BOOKS NATURE IN-DEPTH ANALYSIS LOCAL myCNN Headline News brief news quiz daily almanac MULTIMEDIA: video video archive audio multimedia showcase more services E-MAIL: Subscribe to one of our news e-mail lists. Enter your address: DISCUSSION: message boards chat feedback CNN WEB SITES: AsiaNow Spanish Portuguese Italian Swedish Norwegian Danish Japanese FASTER ACCESS: europe TIME INC. SITES: Go To ... Time.com People Money Fortune EW CNN NETWORKS: more networks CNN anchors transcripts Turner distribution SITE INFO: help contents search ad info jobs WEB SERVICES: Federal court in California hears arguments on medicinal use of marijuana Case pits doctor against feds In this story: ACLU enters the fight Long legal fight expected RELATED STORIES, SITES From Greg Lefevre CNN San Francisco Bureau Chief SAN FRANCISCO (CNN) -- A federal judge is pondering arguments over California's voter-approved law that allows very sick patients under a doctor's care to use marijuana for medical purposes. Although the state law was passed in 1996, marijuana remains illegal under federal law, and federal authorities have threatened that a doctor who even suggests marijuana use to a patient could lose his license. "That means that a patient walks into my exam room, and I close the door, and I tell them something that the government objects to, they can take away my right to make a living, they can take away my right to practice medicine, they can take away my right to tell you what I honestly believe is true," said Dr. Marcus Conant of San Francisco. No doctor yet has had his or her license revoked, but the threat remains. Federal prosecutors are especially nervous about pro-marijuana opinions that conflict with federal law, especially when those opinions come from so respected a source as the family doctor. ACLU enters the fight But Conant, supported by the American Civil Liberties Union, argues the federal prohibition is censorship, and he sued in federal district court. "They do not want doctors talking about marijuana to their patients at all," said Graham Boyd of the ACLU. "And they're willing to use federal power to try to censor, to stifle physicians." In hearings Thursday, Justice Department attorney Joseph Lobue argued that federal law against marijuana should prevail. "There is a national standard here," he said, arguing that using marijuana should not be up to a single physician. Federal Judge William Alsup seemed unbelieving. "Who better," asked the judge, "to decide the health of a patient, than a doctor." The California Medical Association agrees, saying in January that "A desperate patient with the advice of his or her physician must be able to explore all potential courses of treatment." Alsup's ruling, expected in several weeks, will affect several other states that have approved similar medicinal marijuana measures, including Alaska, Arizona, Hawaii, Maine, Nevada, Oregon and Washington. Long legal fight expected A California patient needing marijuana would go to a marijuana organization in Oakland, which is also fighting in federal court to stay open. "I'm very disappointed and disheartened by our government being so indifferent to people who are sick and dying," said Jeff Jones of the Oakland Cannabis Buyer's Cooperative. Both sides of the debate agree on one thing: The issue will likely wind up in the Supreme Court. RELATED STORIES: Government to appeal ruling OK'ing pot for sick people July 26, 2000 Federal judge clears way for Oakland club to distribute marijuana July 18, 2000 Hawaii governor signs medical marijuana bill June 14, 2000 Health - Maine sheriff proposes seized pot be used for medicinal purposes May 12, 2000 Links found between marijuana and vision December 7, 1999 Medical marijuana rules criticized November 30, 1999 Medical marijuana grower slapped with stiff sentence August 7, 1999 Federal report reignites medical marijuana debate March 17, 1999 RELATED SITES: The National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws Oakland Cannabis Buyers' Cooperative Californians for Compassionate Use Partnership for a Drug-Free America Drug Information : Marijuana Drug Enforcement Administration Note: Pages will open in a new browser window External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive. Search CNN.com CNNSI.com CNNfn.com The Web Back to the top © 2000 Cable News Network. . 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Guest guest Posted August 8, 2000 Report Share Posted August 8, 2000 > > I noticed the Shen nong ben cao describes the use of cannabis flowers > and leaves, not just the seeds like modern materia medica. In light of > this, I wonder what role TCM has to play in the medical marijuana > debate. Which version of the Ben Cao do you have? Is it in English? Incidently, I found this old book that was written by a few MD's sometime between 1850 and 1950 and then published in the 70's that has this to say about Huo Ma Ye: (or Da Ma as it is referred to in the mean streets of Bei Jing) _____ Hemp has been known from most ancient times in China; there being a tradition that the Emperor Shen Nung (28th century B.C.) taught the people to cultivate it, as he did also the mulberry tree for raising silkworms. On the other hand, flax was unknown to the ancient Chinese, and even at the present date the plant is only cultivated for its oil. Every part of the hemp plant is used in medicine; the dried flowers, the achenia, the seeds, the oil, the leaves, the stock, the root, and the juice. The flowers are recommended in the 120 different forms of wind disease, in menstrual disorders, and in wounds. The achenia, which are considered to be poisonous, stimulate the nervous system, and if used in excess, will produce hallucinations and staggering gait. They are prescribed in nervous disorders, especially those marked by local anesthesias. The seeds, by which is meant the White kernels of the achenia, are used for a great variety of affections, and are considered to be tonic, demulcent, alternative, laxative, emmenagogue, diuretic, anthelminic, and corrective. They are made into a congee by boiling with water, mixed with wine by a particular process, made into pills, and beaten into a paste. A very common mode of exhibition, however, is by simply eating the kernels. It is said to it that their continued use renders the flesh firm and prevents old age. They are prescribed internally in fluxes, postpartum difficulties, aconite poisoning, vermillion poisoning, constipation, and obstinate vomiting. Externally they are used for eruptions, ulcers, favus, wounds, and falling of the hair. The oil is used for falling hair, sulphur poisoning, and dryness of the throat. The leaves are considered to be poisonous, and the freshly expressed juice is used as an anthelmintic, in scorpion stings, to stop hair from falling out and to prevent it from turning gray. They are especially thought to have antiperiodic properties. The stock, or its bark, is considered to be diuretic, and is used with other drugs in gravel. The juice of the root is used for similar purposes, and is also thought to have a beneficial action in retained placenta and postpartum hemorrhage. An infusion of hemp (for the preparation of which no directions are given) is used as a demulcent drink for quenching thirst and relieving fluxes. from: Chinese Medicinal Herbs Compiled by Li Shih-chen Translated and Researched by F. Porter Smith, M.D. and G.A. Stuart, M.D. Copywrite Beatrice Bliss 1973 Georgetown Press San Francisco ______ -- Al Stone L.Ac. <AlStone http://www.BeyondWellBeing.com Pain is inevitable, suffering is optional. Attachment: vcard [not shown] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 8, 2000 Report Share Posted August 8, 2000 , Al Stone <alstone@b...> wrote: > Which version of the Ben Cao do you have? > Is it in English? from blue poppy in english Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 8, 2000 Report Share Posted August 8, 2000 > > from: Chinese Medicinal Herbs > Compiled by Li Shih-chen > Translated and Researched by F. Porter Smith, M.D. and G.A. Stuart, M.D. > Copywrite Beatrice Bliss 1973 > Georgetown Press San Francisco > I am familiar with this source; it is interesting, but I do not find it clinically useful. It is a perfect example of how failing to have open translation standards (which is different from standardization) prevents a book with potentially good info from being of any use at all. The " translation " is purely connotative and medicalized, using terms from western herbalism and omitting or replacing TCM terminology. Cryptic passages like " good for 120 wind diseases " are meaningless to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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