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Working with the Heavy Cannabis User

Working with the Heavy Cannabis User

This product is delivered as a Digital Download of Audio (mp3) and Document/text files (pdf). The recorded lectures were delivered in a classroom setting by Paul Bergner, Medical Herbalist, Clinical Nutritionist, and founder of the North American Institute of Medical Herbalism (NAIMH).
 
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Overview
  • ​Review the scientific literature behind a dozen of the most common approved conditions for medical Cannabis.
  • Describe forms and dosing strategies to increase effectiveness or reduce side effects for various approved medical conditions.
  • Describe the process of down-regulation, dependence, and withdrawal symptoms which can occur with daily use.
  • Describe the most common chief and secondary complaints of the heavy user in detail.
  • Describe the most common side effects and withdrawal symptoms, according to our case experience and surveys in the scientific literature.
  • Describe a strategy to delay or minimize down-regulation and withdrawal symptoms.
  • Offer a basic nutritional protocol and dosing strategy to minimize the effects of down regulation.
  • Review the effects of long term heavy daily use on cognition.
  • Review the effects of heavy use on the male and female reproductive systems, with case studies.
  • Describe the pattern of appetite loss, daily cyclic vomiting, and Cannabis emesis commonly occurring in heavy users – about 1/3 of our heavy users described such issues in their chief complaints or histories.
  • Review the typical pattern of effects in patients with post-traumatic stress disorder, with initial benefits but eventual loss of benefit and aggravation after down regulation and dependence, with case studies.
  • Describe nutritional and herbal strategies and formulation for the heavy user attempting withdrawal.
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Description
In our teaching clinical at the North American Institute of Medical Herbalism in Boulder, Colorado, we began to see an increasing number of heavy Cannabis users as patients after the legalization of Cannabis dispensaries in 2010. This course is based on a review of the cases and histories of more than 40 patients using between 4 and 10 doses of Cannabis per day, or using highly concentrated forms more than once a day. We began to recognize a consistent pattern of complaints and side effects in these patients which were consistent with side effects and withdrawal symptoms reported in the scientific literature and by such groups as Marijuana anonymous. About 1/3 of these patients were seeking assistance to cut down or quit Cannabis use after repeated attempts on their own to do so, and we got hands-on experience with different strategies. Beginning in 2016 we did a thorough scientific literature review of issues surrounding tolerance, dependence, side effects and withdrawal symptoms, and updated this review in 2021. In this course, we include example case reports, and also present more than 35 fully referenced scientific articles and literature on the topic, as well as specialized intake forms and educational materials for patients.
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We are vigorous advocates for the complete legalization of Cannabis, but we feel that the safety insert on a package of medical marijuana should say more than “But it’s safer than alcohol.” Practitioners and patients should know what to expect and how to recognize the common effects, side effects, and withdrawal symptoms.
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Materials Included
  • 11 audio recordings (5 hours and 16 minutes in all)
  • More than 180 slides to accompany the lectures
  • Supplementary notes and readings
  • More than 30 full-text scientific articles
  • Clinical Intake forms
 
Lessons
  • Adverse Effects
  • Dose and Strength
  • Tolerance and Dependence
  • Adverse Effects II
  • Psychosis Symptoms
  • Adverse Effects III
  • Natural Therapeutics
  • Pain
  • More Approved Conditions
  • Support for Withdrawal
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Important Information
This product is delivered as a Digital Download of audio and print files. After you purchase this course you will see a link to download the zip file and you will receive an emailed link that will last for 30 days. Once you download the zip file you will need to extract or unzip the files to access the audios and reading materials.
 
The recorded lectures were delivered by NAIMH Director Paul Bergner in classroom settings. These audios are a part of the curriculum for the ACORN School of Herbal Medicine’s Advanced Herbalism in the Vitalist Tradition program. We are making these audios accessible for self-study and independent learning. These independent study audio lectures are for personal use only (copyright laws apply). They do not come with faculty support, grading, or a certificate of completion.
 
Our online programs offer deeper instruction and guidance to apply the teachings within these audio recorded lectures, where you can earn a certificate of completion. If you would like faculty support within a community learning environment to enrich your educational experience, please see our webpage to learn more about certificate programs https://www.acornherbschool.com/online-programs
    $79.00Price
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