Nonfiction Book Award Status: GOLD
Synopsis
Healing with Cannabis informs readers about an ancient biological system newly discovered in every vertebrate on the planet—the endocannabinoid system. This system is the only reason cannabis works in the body, and it’s why cannabis is effective in a broad range of disorders. Readers will find an informal tone, a little humor, interviews with some of the world’s most knowledgeable cannabinoid scientists, 170 color images, and a selection of research and clinical trials to recount the story of the endocannabinoid system and the value of cannabis medicine.
The book has two parts. First is a scientific but not too technical story of the endocannabinoid system, a billion-year-old system in vertebrates that allows cannabis to work in the body and brain. But its main role in the body is homeostasis—a state of balance—so it’s an essential regulatory mechanism in the basic machinery of everyday life, not just about cannabis. Part 2 is about medical cannabis and some of the illnesses it works best for, including PTSD, neurodegenerative disorders, psychiatric disorders, cancer and others. It’s available for classroom use and written, as much as possible, for a general but interested audience. Foreword by Jeffrey Hergenrather MD.
Author Bio
Cheryl Pellerin is a science writer with a bachelor of science degree in science journalism and nearly thirty years of experience writing about science in its many forms. Her first book was Trips: How Hallucinogens Work in Your Brain, translated into French and German, with art by Robert Crumb and the underground cartoonists from Zap Comix. She worked as a freelancer for the Discovery Channel and others, then as a science writer for the State and Defense departments. Cheryl resides in Virginia.