Cannabis for Chronic Pain

August 1, 2017

Cannabis has a long history of medicinal use; its prohibition is relatively recent. Ivker, an osteopathic physician who practices holistic medicine, explains why it is useful and when it can help, noting that he used the drug when he was afflicted with shingles. Ivker discusses the relevant pharmacology with detailed descriptions of the active components of the different varieties of cannabis. He also considers its medical application, listing conditions that respond to the treatment (chronic pain, arthritis, migraine headaches, fibromyalgia, cancer pain), methods of administration, and side effects. Legal issues are addressed and readers learn how to find reliable suppliers and physicians who will provide medical marijuana cards. He stresses the importance of proper guidance and dosage, telling patients to accept the lowest effective amount and limit use to occasions when it is medically necessary. The author also provides a resource list and some standard self-help advice as well. VERDICT An excellent source of objective information about medical marijuana.--Barbara Bibel, formerly Oakland P.L.

Copyright 2017 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

August 1, 2017
When he got shingles and suffered pain so awful that he felt as if he were being electrocuted, Ivker, a doctor of osteopathy and past president of the American Holistic Medical Association, self-medicated with medical marijuana and became an even bigger believer in the power of pot. He talks about how to treat pain from such conditions as arthritis, migraines, menstrual cramps, and cancer with cannabis in many forms, including transdermal patches. He divides his guide into three parts Cannabis as Medicine, Self-care 101, and Fully Alive and concludes with a chapter titled Everything in Moderation. If marijuana is no longer needed to treat discomfort or disease, he says, it's best to gradually reduce intake. Otherwise, like drinking coffee or alcohol, it can lead to psychological dependence and tolerance. He wants people to discipline themselves and use pot as a sacred medicine. An informative approach to an increasingly mainstream topic, and even skeptics may find Ivker's positive energy, encouraging view of life, and generous sprinkling of inspirational quotes from the likes of F. Scott Fitzgerald and Albert Einstein beneficial.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2017, American Library Association.)