Cannabis Can Help Regulate Inflammation
Inflammation is a symptom and cause of many diseases, and research is now focusing on how cannabis may help. We take a look at some of the science, exploring what science suggests so far.
CANNABIS FOR INFLAMMATION
The healthy benefits of cannabis are manifold. The cannabinoids have a complete repertoire of beneficial effects for human beings. Cannabinoids are known as premier topical applications, psychological stimulants and internal medicines for a number of ailments.
The endocannabinoid system is an important biological regulatory system in most mammals including humans. "Cannabis for inflammation" is a far reaching term that covers many systems of the body. There are a number of endocannabinoids within the body and marijuana itself has over 60 cannabinoids.
This makes for a widely varied amount of cannabis derived cannabinoid applications and just as many effects. The anti-inflammatory actions of cannabinoids helping prevent brain damage are different actions to when other cannabinoids reduce inflammation of the gut.
It is known that CB1 receptors occur primarily in the brain and central nervous system, especially on pre-synaptic nerves. It is also recognized that CB2 receptors occur primarily on the surfaces of immune cells.
CANNABINOIDS PROTECT THE BRAIN
Cannabinoids have neuroprotective and immunosuppressive properties.
They exert their immunosuppressive influence on astrocytes. Astrocytes make up 70-90% of the brain-cells and are needed for neuronal growth and signalling and metabolizing glucose.
The introduction of cannabinoids into the central nervous system (CNS) protects nontransformed cells from apoptosis (cell death). This is thought to play a protective role against auto-immune conditions that affect the CNS such as Multiple Sclerosis. In this instance cannabinoids assert immunosuppressive characteristics.
Beneficial anti-inflammatory actions occur on the CNS that is unfortunately already afflicted with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Cannabinoids perform several complex functions that ease the effects of MS significantly. They initiate apoptosis in pro-inflammatory cytokine secreting cells that are responsible for some of the accumulating symptoms of MS.
Cannabinoids also facilitate the cellular system used for replenishing and rebuilding the myelin sheath that protects nerve cells. The increased expression of chemokines and their receptors exacerbates the traffic of progenitor cells into the inflamed tissue.
CANNABINOIDS HELP HEAL THE GUT
Tests on mice show the anti-inflammatory properties of cannabinoids when used to treat colitis. One of the two ulcerative intestinal diseases, the other being Crohns. The data showed that the early activation of CB1 receptors and the endocannabinoid system is an important early step in the self protection of the colon from inflammation.
Inflammation of the gut can lead to several pathological states of the intestinal tract. Artificial stimulation of cannabinoid receptors has shown to inhibit the effects of experimental colitis in mice. Positive responses were observed for symptoms such as inflammatory damage and colon shrinkage.
Studies suggest that cannabinoids can play an important part in mediating protective mechanisms during colitis.
CANNABINOID QUIK-TAKES
Cannabinoids have beneficial therapeutic effects for the liver. They act to protect the liver from (CON-A) induced acute hepatitis in mice which mimics viral or autoimmune hepatitis. A single dose of THC that acted on multiple pathways was shown to ameliorate the CON-A induced hepatitis.
Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects 1% of the global population. It is associated with loss of joint function, swelling, stiffness, pain and eventual joint destruction. Cannabinoids and their properties have been studied in human cells from RA patients. CBD, the non-psychoactive cousin of THC, was shown to have anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic properties. A daily dose of 5mg/kg was enough to noticeably inhibit the diseases progression.
The inflammatory response from some cancers is responsible for 15-20% of deaths for all cancer victims globally. Inflammation with cancer is now generally accepted and non-steroidal treatments that reduce risks in cancer are often used. 25% of mice with T-cell leukaemia were cured with a treatment of THC.
Conclusive scientific study is still in its infancy, but many investigations are proving cannabinoids to be premiere anti-inflammatory compounds. There are a lot of people who don't need scientific proof as they are living examples of the power of cannabis as medicine. Maybe just a small squeakout to all the mice who took one for the team so that we may have this outstanding knowledge.
