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Barbara Roberts, Homeopath, Kerikeri (2025)

09/11/2025

𝐒𝐨𝐥, 𝐒𝐮𝐧 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞, 𝐒𝐤𝐢𝐧 𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐫 𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐤, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐮𝐧𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐧!
It’s that time of year again, it’s warming up and the sun is out - making sunburn a real risk.

This is the time to start using the remedy 𝐒𝐨𝐥. Sol is made from sunlight- and while there is a Northern Hemisphere version, Sol Britannica, we use 𝐒𝐨𝐥 𝐀𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐬, from Australia, Southern hemisphere, which is much more intense than the Northern Hemisphere version.

I recommend using Sol for exposure to the sun, either as a preventative, or (if needed) a treatment for the adverse effects of too much sun.

In my family we try to avoid the hottest part of the day and therefore not need to use sunscreen, but if we will be out all day Sol is an important part of our routine and we will repeat several times through the day. How often you need to take it will vary between people- someone who is very fair will need to take it more frequently than someone with olive toned or darker skin.

I use a 30c before exposure and repeat every couple of hours- but Homeopathy is individual and you may need more or less frequent dosing depending on your skin and susceptibility to the sun. If very fair a higher potency like 200c for less frequent dosing may be appropriate. If you make your own sunscreen you could consider adding a few drops of liquid Sol to your cream – make sure to do so at the end and not to heat the remedy.

Sol is also useful if you do slip up and end up red, hot and sunburnt. Belladonna can also be useful here for redness, heat, or throbbing feelings with the sunburn, and if needed you can alternate the Belladonna and Sol to treat the sunburn.

With all of the sun safety, avoidance and sunscreen talk, it is essential to remember that safe 𝐬𝐮𝐧 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭!
We need sun exposure to form vitamin D in the body. It is essential for so many processes in the body. These include (1):
* Calcium and phosphorus absorption balance, keeping our bones healthy
* Supporting immunity, including the defences against pathogens, and reducing allergic reaction
* Reducing the risk of developing autoimmunity, (very well published for Multiple Sclerosis risk
* May increase muscle strength, particularly in the lower limbs in the elderly
* Supporting those with type II Diabetes, with insulin regulation and cell functions.
While some of those effects can be utilised with vitamin D supplementation, there are also non-vitamin D positive effects from sun exposure. Sun exposure reduces all-cause mortality (2). There has not been a lot of research into this area, however sunlight supports the release of nitric oxide, which reduces cardiac risk (2). People with high blood pressure have low vitamin D levels, but supplementation makes no difference, and a non-vitamin D mechanism - such as the mobilisation of nitric oxide from stores in the skin - is likely responsible (2). There is also a reduction in inflammation, and potential changes for eyesight (myopia) from time indoors (2). Blue light into the eye (not shielded by sunglasses), also helps set the circadian rhythm, including the production of melatonin which not only helps sleep but also has other actions with low levels of melatonin increasing chronic disease and cancer risk (3).

It is also important to note that it takes time for the body to make vitamin D, and this depends on how fair your skin is. One theory is that the skin became more pale as humans moved to areas with less UV radiation or colder climates requiring us to cover up more, in order to increase the production of vitamin D (2). The NZ Ministry of Health consensus guideline suggests avoiding the sun between 10am and 4pm from September to April, and recommends sun exposure around noon from May to August (4). However there is also a calculation to figure out how much sun exposure you need in minutes at different times of the year in different parts of the world! (5) This publication even has a supplementary table at the end that suggests the length of time needed for maintenance of vitamin D levels at midday with 35% of the skin exposed - for people with fair skin that is 1-2 minutes for November to February, however with darker skin this could be 5 minutes or for black skin 8 minutes (using an average of 40° latitude for the whole of New Zealand)(5). However, earlier or later in the day, or with less skin exposed more time would be required.

What about 𝐬𝐤𝐢𝐧 𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐫 𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐤?
One of the major concerns with skin cancer is sun burn - repeated incidences of sun burn over your lifetime increase your risk of melanoma(6). I want to be clear here than I am advocating for safe sun exposure, which includes time without sunscreen early or late in the summer day to allow the conversion of vitamin D, but I am NOT recommending doing nothing and allowing yourself or your children to burnt to a crisp.

In terms of 𝐬𝐮𝐧𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐧, there are two options: physical and chemical blockers.
Physical blockers, usually zinc oxide or titanium dioxide, provide a barrier on the skin that reflects the sun’s rays. Many physical blockers can have a whitening effect, and they are often in a thick, natural base so that they stay on the skin, however there are nano versions that will absorb into the skin and are usually as effective as the more waxy version.
Chemical blockers feel more like a moisturiser and sink into the skin. The active ingredients can include avobenzone, octinoxate, octocrylene, or oxybenzone, or other chemicals. However there are some serious concerns with chemical sunscreens. The environmental working group discusses how some of them are not safe at the amounts used, that they are absorbed and found in the blood stream (and other parts of the body, and how some sunscreens are endocrine disruptors, affecting hormones (7). They state that out of 16 sunscreens tested the FDA only recognised zinc oxide and titanium dioxide as “generally recognised safe and effective” (7). Some chemical sunscreens are implicated in the destruction of coral reefs, leaching nutrients and damaging the marine ecosystem, and oxybenzone and octinoxate are now banned in some places (like Hawaii) (8). However, our physical blockers are not necessarily safe either, with Zinc Oxide being implicated for chemical reactions causing hydroxyl radicals (9). Selecting a ‘reef friendly’ sunscreen is not necessarily safe for marine life, as there is no regulation overseeing that as a claim (8), and now with the increasing research shown zinc oxide is unsafe for marine life many of those products considered reef friendly may no longer be (9). The research for what is and isn’t safe is still developing, so hopefully in the future there will be more clarity about what is and isn’t going to damage our ecosystem.

My recommendation, when you need to use a sunscreen on land, is find a physical blocker that contains titanium dioxide or zinc oxide. If you don’t like the residue on your skin, look for a nano version. If you are going to be in the water, covering up with long sleeve rash vests and shorts, and for sunscreen choice balance the personal effect with the effect on marine life. Personally we are currently using a sunscreen brand called Earth’s Kitchen, but I will also get an Invisible Zinc option for my older kids who dislike the whitening effect, and I’m considering Skinnies for marine use (but more research required).

If you would like to buy some Sol for your family, or you would like a link to order Earths Kitchen sunscreen, please email me at barbara@homeopathbarbara.nz

I hope you have a fantastic summer and enjoy the sun without consequences!

References:
1. Rebelos, E., Tentolouris, N., & Jude, E. (2023). The Role of Vitamin D in Health and Disease: A Narrative Review on the Mechanisms Linking Vitamin D with Disease and the Effects of Supplementation. Drugs, 83(8), 665–685. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40265-023-01875-8
2. Sunlight: Time for a Rethink? - ScienceDirect. (n.d.). Retrieved November 8, 2025, from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022202X2400280X
3. Wahl, S., Engelhardt, M., Schaupp, P., Lappe, C., & Ivanov, I. V. (2019). The inner clock—Blue light sets the human rhythm. Journal of Biophotonics, 12(12), e201900102. https://doi.org/10.1002/jbio.201900102
4. Consensus statement on vitamin D and sun exposure in New Zealand. (2012). Ministry of Health.https://www.health.govt.nz/system/files/2012-03/vitamind-sun-exposure.pdf
5. Globally Estimated UVB Exposure Times Required to Maintain Sufficiency in Vitamin D Levels. (n.d.). Retrieved November 8, 2025, from https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/16/10/1489
6. Dennis, L. K., VanBeek, M. J., Beane Freeman, L. E., Smith, B. J., Dawson, D. V., & Coughlin, J. A. (2008). Sunburns and risk of cutaneous melanoma, does age matter: A comprehensive meta-analysis. Annals of Epidemiology, 18(8), 614–627. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annepidem.2008.04.006
7. Sunscreens, E. G. to. (n.d.). The trouble with sunscreen ingredients | EWG’s Guide to Sunscreens. Retrieved November 8, 2025, from https://www.ewg.org/sunscreen/report/the-trouble-with-sunscreen-chemicals/
8. Miller, I. B., Pawlowski, S., Kellermann, M. Y., Petersen-Thiery, M., Moeller, M., Nietzer, S., & Schupp, P. J. (2021). Toxic effects of UV filters from sunscreens on coral reefs revisited: Regulatory aspects for “reef safe” products. Environmental Sciences Europe, 33(1), 74. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12302-021-00515-w
9. Battistin, M., Pascalicchio, P., Tabaro, B., Hasa, D., Bonetto, A., Manfredini, S., Baldisserotto, A., Scarso, A., Ziosi, P., Brunetta, A., Brunetta, F., & Vertuani, S. (2022). A Safe-by-Design Approach to “Reef Safe” Sunscreens Based on ZnO and Organic UV Filters. Antioxidants, 11(11), 2209. https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox11112209

Image credit: Megapulse on Pixabay

04/11/2025

There is still a chance to get tickets for this seminar on 𝐒𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝟐𝟐 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫.

I have been looking at the lineup of speakers and I'm not sure what I want to learn about most - nutritional and environmental factors, oral myofunctional therapy, medicinal cannabis, emotional links with disease, mental health, a functional doctor, and physical therapies.

Don't miss out on your chance to see a range of fantastic practitioners: www.ginawilson.co.nz/seminar

02/11/2025

𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐙𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝’𝐬 𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐛𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤

At the moment we have an outbreak in New Zealand… of fear. There is a lot of effort going into scaring the population about measles and its complications, and pushing MMR vaccination.

My personal opinion is that vaccination is a personal choice- and if you consider all of the risks for the disease and the vaccine, and you choose to go ahead with vaccination I am happy to support you- this includes with homeopathy and targeted supplements like vitamin C and cod liver oil (for vitamin A and D) to support the production of antibodies.

But first let’s address the fear.

Here is the most inflammatory news post I have seen: “The potentially fatal measles virus has broken out…” (1)

So let’s have a look at that. “Potentially fatal” - the last time there was a death in New Zealand was 1991 - it is hard to get accurate numbers for this outbreak, because measles did not become a notifiable disease, but there was an estimated 40,000-60,000 cases, and 7 deaths - so 0.0175% to 0.0117% of people died from measles (2).

The last measles major outbreak in New Zealand was in 2019, with 2190 cases (3). There were no deaths. Of those, 80% were unvaccinated, but of the 20% of vaccinated cases, 35% had received their two doses (and therefore were considered “fully vaccinated”) (3). There were 678 hospital admissions for measles, and 108 for “other relevant diagnoses” with measles as an additional diagnosis. ESR calculates this as 35% of cases, however they also note that “Hospital admission data may include multiple admissions (to the same or different hospitals) for the same case” (3). I remember seeing after this an official information act request that showed that a hospital admission was counted as a certain number of hours at the hospital, whether or not you were ‘admitted’, however I have no reference for this.

I would like to acknowledge that the NZ outbreak of 2019 spread to Samoa, where there were many more deaths. In my opinion this is likely due to poorer nutritional status and lifestyle factors, similar to how there are many more deaths from many communicable diseases in Africa and Asia for similar reasons. It does not make it any less tragic, but we need to be careful about extrapolating data to New Zealand.

Physicians for Informed Choice is a US based website, run by doctors, that considers the real risks of a range of disease, and the vaccines themselves. I highly recommend reading their information on measles, but here is the highlights. Their data is taken from the CDC, so is based on the US population.

“Research studies and national tracking of measles have documented the following:
* 1 in 10,000 or 0.01% of measles cases are fatal.
* 3 to 3.5 in 10,000 or 0.03–0.035% of measles cases result in seizure.
* 1 in 20,000 or 0.005% of measles cases result in measles encephalitis.
* 1 in 80,000 or 0.00125% of cases result in permanent disability from measles encephalitis.
* 7 in 1,000 or 0.7% of cases are hospitalized.
* 6 to 22 in 1,000,000 or 0.0006–0.0022% of cases result in subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE).
* 1 in 93,000 or 0.001% of measles cases with normal levels of vitamin A result in permanent disability or death.” (4)

So just to clarify here - their data verifies my numbers from the 1991 outbreak in New Zealand for fatal cases of measles. The other complications they mention - seizures, encephalitis, and SSPE are RARE.

Most importantly, vitamin A is protective and reduces the risk of permanent disability or death SIGNIFICANTLY.

Pneumonia is the most common cause of hospitalisation from measles, and the protocol for anyone hospitalised with measles is high dose vitamin A for two days: From the starship website
* 200 000 IU for children ≥ 12 months of age
* 100 000 IU for infants 6-11 months of age
* 50 000 IU for infants younger than 6 months of age (5)

I hope this dose of real life facts has reduced your anxiety around the complications of measles.

In the case of measles infection, I would also recommend vitamin C and the appropriate homeopathic remedy. Some of the common ones are:
𝐴𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑒– this is your remedy for first stages of anything. You can also use it if you have been exposed and anticipate getting measles, to reduce the severity. Symptoms include a high fever, especially coming on late at night around midnight, thirst and eyes may be painful.
𝐸𝘶𝑝𝘩𝑟𝘢𝑠𝘪𝑎– swollen, streaming eyes, with tears that may irritate the face, as well as a runny nose, may have a headache and chills.
𝑃𝑢𝑙𝑠𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑙𝑙𝑎– when the rash is slow to appear, and it is more like a cold, with thick yellow mucus, and may have a chesty cough. They feel better in the open air and want company and sympathy.
𝐵𝑟𝑦𝑜𝑛𝑖𝑎– also when the rash is slow to appear. May have a painful Cough, a headache and feel worse when moving, so want to stay perfectly still. They can also have a fever with chills, a dry mouth and be thirsty.
When the rash appears you may consider
𝐴𝑝𝑖𝑠 – burning, stinging rash, may appear shiny or puffy. Rash is better for cold applications and worse for getting hot (like in bed). Person is thirstless.
𝑅ℎ𝑢𝑠 𝑇𝑜𝑥 – rash is very itchy, and feels better from warmth. The person is very restless and can’t sit still, they may have fever with chills, and feel better from warmth and motion.

Prevention of measles with homeopathy, aka Homeoprophylaxis, is also possible. If you would like to discuss your personal situation, ask questions and come up with a plan, please make an appointment at www.homeopathbarbara.nz

1. https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/360871899/measles-outbreak-one-case-auckland-grammar-school
2. https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/111238229/people-have-forgotten--past-measles-epidemics-killed-hospitalised-hundreds
3. ESR Notifiable diseases annual surveillance summary 2019, https://www.phfscience.nz/digital-library/notifiable-diseases-annual-surveillance-summary-2019/.
4. https://physiciansforinformedconsent.org/measles/
5. https://www.starship.org.nz/guidelines/measles/

Image credit: Dan the Librarian on Pixabay

EDITED TO ADD:
In case you don’t read the comments, here is some updated 2025 data about the incidence around the world.
Measles in the USA: the 2025 case fatality rate is 0.18%: 3 deaths in 1648 cases, https://www.cdc.gov/measles/data-research/index.html
It’s interesting to note the US data shows a much lower level of hospitalisation than here in New Zealand, only 12%, compared to 35% in our 2019 outbreak. I have many questions about why this is, and note the difference in the way healthcare is provided in the USA compared to NZ. Unfortunately the CDC does not provide further information about the deaths to better understand what happened.
However, this report from the last big outbreak in 2019 showed 1249 cases and zero deaths in the USA. https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/68/wr/mm6840e2.htm

If we are looking at 2025 data, let’s also consider Canada, which up til October 18th has had 5,109 cases and only 2 deaths, an incidence of 0.039%, both of these babies who contracted measles in utero. https://health-infobase.canada.ca/measles-rubella/

In the UK, the 2025 case fatality rate is 0.061% (2 cases in 3268 cases)- however only one of those is from acute measles, the other is a death in an adult from late effect of measles (and no indication of age or other health issues in the adult). This puts the correct case fatality rate for the acute outbreak at 0.031%. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/measles-historic-confirmed-cases-notifications-and-deaths/measles-historic-confirmed-cases-notifications-and-deaths -notifications-and-deaths-in-england-and-wales-1940-to-2025

Our closest neighbour, Australia, is also experiencing a higher number of cases this year, currently sitting at 146 cases, the highest in a year since 2019 when they had 284 cases. https://nindss.health.gov.au/pbi-dashboard/
In this report, they note that there were 4 deaths between 2020 and 2022. I added up all the cases from the above monitoring, and in those 22 years there were 2347 cases, which gives a case fatality rate of 0.043%.
https://www.aihw.gov.au/getmedia/a4adb0e5-6f93-49b4-80ba-ba38989c35fa/aihw-phe-236_measles_2025.pdf

29/10/2025

If you are in Auckland, don't miss this awesome seminar on 𝐒𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝟐𝟐 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫.

I will be coming down from Kerikeri to speak about homeopathy, and there are other fantastic practitioners speaking to share their knowledge that can have a direct impact for your family.

www.ginawilson.co.nz/seminar

27/10/2025

There are two remedies from cannabis in our homeopathic literature: 𝐂𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐬 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐚 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐬 𝐒𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐚.

Cannabis Indica is what we call ma*****na, while Cannabis Sativa is h**p. John Henry Clarke notes in his Dictionary of Practical Materia Medica that they are botanically identical, and that Cannabis Indica is East Indian Cannabis Sativa, what is different is the soil and climate in which they are grown.

However, as we now know, there can be differences in plants considering the quantities of THC and CBD they have, as well as the terpenes, flavonoids and other minor cannabinoids. (If you haven’t already read it, check out last week’s post about medicinal cannabis to learn more). Cannabis Indica definitely appears to be a plant with a reasonable quantity of THC, but the psychoactive symptoms are much less prevalent in Cannabis Sativa.

𝑪𝒂𝒏𝒏𝒂𝒃𝒊𝒔 𝑰𝒏𝒅𝒊𝒄𝒂 (𝑪𝒂𝒏𝒏-𝒊) may feel intensely vulnerable, and there may be a traumatic history, but they don’t really want to confront this, preferring to find ways to pretend it is not a problem. This means they can be confused, disoriented and dreamy, and may have trouble concentrating.

They can have lots of thought and plans, theorise a lot, but they can’t actually turn those plans into action. They are great conspiracy theorists, and can be restless and impulsive in their thoughts and actions. It is also a remedy for anxiety and panic attacks, and as part of their anxiety they want approval and acceptance of others. They can feel dissociated and numb, lacking connection with others and easily tearful - depression can be a diagnosis. They may lack focus and have a poor memory, particularly for words.

In homeopathy we talk about delusions - which are sensations or feelings that they have. There are many delusions for Cann-i (probably the most of any remedy), but some of the strong ones are a feeling of detachment or disconnection, feeling alone, or the opposite with a feeling of oneness with the world. They may also feel they will lose control, or have a delusion of floating. There could be a distortion in time, or even a feeling that they are in a different world. They may fear insanity and claustrophobia, and social anxiety can be common.

There are also a wide range of physical symptoms. These include fatigue and exhaustion, as well as a feeling of being heavy or dragging sensations (the opposite of the floating delusion). There can be vertigo and dizziness, which can go with the mental spaciness and confusion. Headaches and migraines are felt in the back of the head and can have a feeling of tightness, heaviness or squeezing sensation. With the confusion and headaches this could be indicated for concussion and other brain injuries.

Interestingly it is not noted for an increased appetite, but there can be cravings of sweet or spicy food, oranges, berries, sour foods, egg and cheese. Beer could be an aggravation, and they may be averse to fatty, rich, or excessively sweet foods. Reflux, sour belching, heavy sensations and flatulence are all seen in Cann-i, and they may have a loose, urgent or involuntary stool.

There could also be a frequent urging for urination with burning sensations, and even dribbling of urine after urination. There could also be excessive sexual desire.

With medicinal ma*****na having effects on inflammation, and being used for epilepsy, it is no surprise in Cann-i to see there is back pain, stiffness and aching joints, and violent jerking during sleep.

They may love to sleep, and find it difficult to wake up and get going in the morning. It could also be a remedy for someone with insomnia from a fears or too many thoughts, and they may talk or walk in their sleep, and wake around 3-4am.

If we compare Cannabis indica to 𝑪𝒂𝒏𝒏𝒂𝒃𝒊𝒔 𝒔𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒗𝒂 (𝑪𝒂𝒏𝒏-𝒔), we can see there is still a small mental picture of confusion and depersonalisation, but it is much less indicated for this, and there are not the large number of delusions see in Cann-i.

Instead historically Cann-s seems to have been used for gonorrhoea, with associated conjunctivitis and genital-urinary symptoms. This was considered a first line remedy for acute diarrhoea, particularly with irritation and swelling of the urethra and discharge. Pain and burning sensations, that are worse for touch and pressure.

It could also be indicated for cystitis with burning at the end of urination, particularly if the pain is focused in the urethra, and there could be straining to urinate, with urine only passed drop by drop. Like Cann-i, there could be increased sexual desire, but it is also noted for impotence after ‘sexual excess’.

It may also be indicated for asthma and bronchitis with tightness and heaviness. There could be fear during the attack and they feel better standing, sitting up or leaning forward.

One of the interesting thing when I was looking at the two remedies, was the note from Roger Morrison that he could only find 3 documented modern cases of cannabis sativa, compared to 36 modern cases or case reports for cannabis indica. I’ve decided to do some more investigating, so check back next week for a discussion about my theory related to this!

23/10/2025

𝐌𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐣𝐮𝐚𝐧𝐚, 𝐂𝐁𝐃 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐓𝐇𝐂

Every year as a Pharmacist I need to identify two goals to focus on for my Continuing Professional Development. This year, I chose to look at Medicinal Cannabis, as we are dispensing more CBD and THC, and I recognised I didn’t know much about it. For me, writing helps me learn and assimilate the information I have found out, so over the next couple of days I want to discuss Medicinal Cannabis, and then to take it back to homeopathy, I will look at the two remedies Cannabis Sativa and Cannabis Indica and what they look like.If you would like to know more about CBD or THC and whether they are right for you, then I highly recommend you see a practitioner who specialises in this.

Let’s look at history. Cannabis has been used for thousands of years - as far back as 2800BC it was mentioned in a Chinese Pharmacopoeia, and it is also in ancient texts about healing and medicine from the Hindus, Greeks, Romans and Assyrians (1). Western medicine however went through a dark period in the Middle Ages when much of this knowledge was lost, so cannabis was not reintroduced to western medicine until 1841 by William Brooke O’Shaughnessy (1). He had lived in India and wrote about many different therapeutic uses of cannabis, including its efficacy in a case of convulsions in a child (1). Cannabis probably came to New Zealand in the mid 1800s, and cannabis ci******es were advertised in the NZ Herald in the 1860s as a ‘immediate relief’ for asthma, bronchitis, influenza, coughs and shortness of breath (2). Cannabis was recommended for everything from anaesthetics to coughs and chilblains (2).

Things changed around in the world in the early 1900s, and by 1927 New Zealand had passed the Dangerous Drugs Act in which cannabis was listed - although you could still get this on prescription (2). The import of medical cannabis was ended in 1955, but it wasn’t completely banned for medical use until the 1975 Misuse of Drugs Act (2). In the 1960s and 70s there was an increase in recreational use, and the Misuse of Drugs act made possessing cannabis criminal (2).

Investigation into cannabis was ongoing, from the first Cannabinol isolated in 1898, to Cannabidiol (CBD) discovered in the 1940s, and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) isolated in 1964 (1). It wasn’t until 1988 that CB1 receptors were first discovered in a rat brain, 1992 when anandamide, a naturally occurring cannabinoid was discovered, and 1993 when CB2 receptors were found(1). Now that there was a growing understanding of how cannabis worked, there was an increase in interest in the use of cannabis as a medicine.

California, USA was the first place to legalise medical cannabis (2). New Zealand’s first approval was a single case, approved by the Associate Health Minister, of cannabis oil for a teenager in an induced coma in 2015 (2). Australia legalised medical cannabis in 2016, and in 2018 in New Zealand the Misuse of Drugs Act was amended to allow the use of terminally ill people to use cannabis (2).

New Zealand now has a Medicinal Cannabis scheme which allows licensed growers to cultivate, manufacture and supply cannabis as a medicine, and it makes cannabis available on prescription (2). CBD is a prescription medicine, and THC is still a controlled drug - but both are readily available, although not funded and can be expensive to access.

Before we consider the medicines and remedies, let’s look at how the endocannabinoid system works throughout the body.

The CB1 receptor is predominantly found in the nervous system, specifically the brain and the spinal cord, and they are way more prevalent than opioid receptors. Because these CB1 receptors are not found in high concentrations in the brainstem, which manages cardiac and respiratory function, there isn’t a risk of lethal overdose like you get with opioids. CB1 can also be found in peripheral nerves.

CB2 receptors are found in the immune system like monocytes, macrophages, B Cells and T cells, as well as the liver, spleen, and tonsils and can reduce inflammation. They are also found in the central nervous system (although not as prevalent as CB1) and are associated with inflammation.

The endocannabinoid system is one that balances the body - the endocannabinoids anandamide and 2-AG are released as a response to other neurochemicals, and travel backwards to the pre-synaptic neuron releasing these substances to reduce or stop over-expression. The word we use for this is homeostasis, which is about being in balance, and is important for everything from stress, sleep, mood, memory and brain function, to digestion, inflammation, pain, movement, cardiovascular and immune function.

Medicinal cannabis interacts with the endocannabinoid system, and while THC and CBD are the most talked about substances, there are so many more that all can have effects - minor cannabinoids, terpenes and flavonoids. It’s why there can be vastly different effects from different brands or formulations within a brand, because different strains of cannabis contain different levels of these substances, and they act in a synergistic way.

THC is the substance with the psychoactive effects of cannabis, and activates both CB1 and CB2 receptors. The CB1 receptors in the brain are responsible for changes in thinking and judgement, euphoria and slow reaction times, as well as reducing nausea, increasing appetite and altering pain sensations. However, it can also cause panic and paranoia, impaired memory and concentration.

CBD modulates the effect of THC and works in multiple places in the body. This means it has a wide variety of actions, including reducing pain perception, inflammation, anxiety and depression, stress responses and compulsive behaviours, as well as reducing nausea.

The minor cannabinoids, terpenes and flavonoids can have a wide variety of therapeutic effects, including reducing inflammation, depression and pain, as well as antiviral, antimicrobial and anti fungal effects.

The evidence for the use of medicinal cannabis in different conditions is variable, and recommendations for use by health authorities are conservative, usually as an adjunct and only if other options have failed. Some conditions that either THC, CBD or a combination are used for include chronic pain, intractable nausea/vomiting associated with chemotherapy, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis and more. If you do want to investigate medicinal cannabis for yourself, then talking with someone who specialises in this area is essential - someone who is aware of the ‘entourage effect’ of the other minor cannabinoids and which particular formulation would be the best for your situation. It is not a one-size fits all, and all preparations are not created equal.

There are also different ways of consuming medicinal cannabis.

Smoking is not recommended - not just because of the lung cancer risk, but because it also burns and destroys some of the cannabis, meaning you get less effect.

Inhalations - where it is vaporised then inhaled - is a quick and effective way of getting the medicinal effect. It is quick to take effect, but reasonably short lived.

Oromucosal drops is the most common form I see prescribed. Oromucosal forms are where the drops are placed under the tongue (sublingual), or in the buccal cavity between the cheek and gum. The effect is slower than for inhalations, but it does last longer, and may be better when a longer lasting effect is needed.

Oral forms - edibles - also work but the time for onset can vary depending on food in the stomach, and the bioavailability tends to be lower than the oils that can be absorbed through the mucous membranes in the mouth.

It is also important to note there can be interactions with other medication, and that in general starting low and slowly increasing is the safest way to start using medicinal cannabis.

As above, I recommend seeing someone who specialises in medicinal cannabis if you would like to explore if this is the right option for you.

I will be back next week with a post looking at the two homeopathic cannabis remedies, Cannabis Indica and Cannabis Sativa, and considering the indications for them.

𝑹𝒆𝒇𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆𝒔:

1. https://www.sydney.edu.au/lambert/medicinal-cannabis/history-of-cannabis.html #:~:text=Cannabis%20has%20a%20long%20and,hypothalamus%20to%20reduce%20body%20temperature.

2. https://orapharm.co.nz/the-history-of-medicinal-cannabis-in-nz/

3. Medihuanna Medicinal Cannabis for Pharmacists course

Barbara Roberts, Homeopath

09/11/2025

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