Effect of an acute consumption of a moderate amount of ethanol on plasma endocannabinoid levels in humans.

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“Animal experiments have shown that the endocannabinoid system (ECS) plays an important role in the regulation of ethanol intake. We investigated these effects in healthy volunteers who consumed a moderate amount of ethanol (red wine) and measured plasma levels of the endocannabinoids (ECs) anandamide (AEA) and 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) to test whether alcohol consumption influences the ECS in humans…

AEA, 2-AG and plasma glucose levels were significantly reduced after red wine consumption.

Water intake had no significant effect on AEA  but resulted in a gradual reduction in 2-AG concentrations…

The consumption of a moderate amount of red wine reduces plasma AEA and 2-AG concentrations, whereas the volume and caloric equivalent of the sugar containing, non-alcoholic liquid grape juice does not affect plasma ECs. Plain water has a differential effect on the ECS by reducing 2-AG concentrations without affecting AEA.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22278319

Exercise, Manual Therapy, and the Endocannabinoid System: Why we’re all inherently potheads

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“Have you ever heard of the digestive system? The lymphatic system? How about the muscular and nervous systems? Of course you have. Science has been studying them for years, making breakthroughs in our understanding of their inner workings that have lead to advancements benefited humanity in ways we now take for granted.

How about the endocannabinoid system? Have you heard of that?  If your profession has nothing to do with the biological sciences, I would expect the answer to be no (save a few individuals).  Don’t feel bad however, I have asked this question to many health and medical professionals that I have taught over the years and have received many a blank stare or look of confusion.

What if I were to tell you that this biological system permeates the entire human body with receptors located in skeletal muscle, the digestive tract, adipose (fat) tissue, and throughout the peripheral and central nervous systems (including the brain)? Again, you would question why this system is not studied, discussed, or even mentioned in most in physiology/health classes.

What if I were to tell you that the Endocannabinoid system (or ECS):

–   Helps regulate the central control of energy balance

–   Helps regulate metabolic processes (including storage)

–   Plays a key role in the maintenance of bone mass

–   Regulates intestinal motility

–   Promotes/regulates sleep

–   Is involved in neuromodulation and immunomodulation in the immune system

–   Is involved in modulating insulin sensitivity

–   Is involved in the regulation of pain signaling

–   And much more”

http://functionalanatomyblog.com/2014/03/27/exercise-manual-therapy-and-the-endocannabinoid-system-why-were-all-inherently-potheads/

“Exercise activates the endocannabinoid system.”  http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14625449

“Exercise-induced endocannabinoid signaling is modulated by intensity.”  http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22990628

“Effects of exercise stress on the endocannabinoid system in humans under field conditions.”   http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22101870

Cannabinoids inhibit neurodegeneration in models of multiple sclerosis

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“…exogenous CB1agonists can provide significant neuroprotection from the consequences of inflammatory CNS disease… Therefore, in addition to symptom management, cannabis may also slow the neurodegenerative processes that ultimately lead to chronic disability in multiple sclerosis and probably other diseases.

The results of this study are important because they suggest that in addition to symptom management, cannabinoids offer the potential to slow the progression of a disease that as yet has no satisfactory treatment.”

http://brain.oxfordjournals.org/content/126/10/2191.full

Summary of evidence-based guideline: Complementary and alternative medicine in multiple sclerosis: Report of the Guideline Development Subcommittee of the American Academy of Neurology.

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“Clinicians might offer oral cannabis extract for spasticity symptoms and pain (excluding central neuropathic pain) (Level A). Clinicians might offer tetrahydrocannabinol for spasticity symptoms and pain (excluding central neuropathic pain) (Level B). Clinicians should counsel patients that these agents are probably ineffective for objective spasticity (short-term)/tremor (Level B) and possibly effective for spasticity and pain (long-term) (Level C). Clinicians might offer Sativex oromucosal cannabinoid spray (nabiximols) for spasticity symptoms, pain, and urinary frequency (Level B). Clinicians should counsel patients that these agents are probably ineffective for objective spasticity/urinary incontinence (Level B). Clinicians might choose not to offer these agents for tremor (Level C). Clinicians might counsel patients that magnetic therapy is probably effective for fatigue and probably ineffective for depression (Level B); fish oil is probably ineffective for relapses, disability, fatigue, MRI lesions, and quality of life (QOL) (Level B); ginkgo biloba is ineffective for cognition (Level A) and possibly effective for fatigue (Level C); reflexology is possibly effective for paresthesia (Level C); Cari Loder regimen is possibly ineffective for disability, symptoms, depression, and fatigue (Level C); and bee sting therapy is possibly ineffective for relapses, disability, fatigue, lesion burden/volume, and health-related QOL (Level C)…”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24663230

AAN calls oral cannabinoids effective for MS pain, spasticity

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“An expert panel organized by the American Academy of Neurology called oral cannabis extract the only complementary and alternative medicine unequivocally effective for helping patients with multiple sclerosis, specifically easing their pain and symptoms of spasticity, medicine possibly for as long as 1 year of treatment.”

http://www.clinicalpsychiatrynews.com/cme/click-for-credit-articles/single-article/aan-calls-oral-cannabinoids-effective-for-ms-pain-spasticity/6ca42663d197581d76107390a304ec4d.html

Study: Marijuana only alternative therapy showing promise for MS patients

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MarijuanaGrow-Medicinal

“Researchers said medical marijuana seems to be the only “alternative therapy” showing promise for helping those with multiple sclerosis.

Officials at Oregon Health and Science University said research shows therapies like massage and acupuncture aren’t as effective as medical marijuana.”

http://kfor.com/2014/03/24/study-marijuana-only-alternative-therapy-showing-promise-for-ms-patients-massage-acupuncture-dont/

Neurologists Say Medical Marijuana Effective in Treating MS

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Image courtesy of GW Pharmaceuticals

“The American Academy of Neurology has become one of the first medical organizations in the U.S. to endorse the use of medical marijuana.

In new guidelines published in the journal Neurology, the Academy said oral cannabis, medical marijuana pills and medical marijuana spray may help ease symptoms of muscle spasticity and frequent urination caused by multiple sclerosis (MS).”

http://americannewsreport.com/nationalpainreport/neurologists-say-medical-marijuana-effective-treating-ms-8823383.html

Smoked Cannabis Reduces Some Symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis

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“Controlled trial shows improved spasticity, reduced pain after smoking medical marijuana

A clinical study of 30 adult patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine has shown that smoked cannabis may be an effective treatment for spasticity – a common and disabling symptom of this neurological disease.”

http://health.ucsd.edu/news/releases/Pages/2012-05-14-smoked-cannabis-reduces-symptoms-of-multiple-sclerosis.aspx

Medical marijuana

“Medical marijuana eases some MS symptoms, neurologists report” http://www.latimes.com/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-treating-ms-with-cannabis-20140324,0,2596095.story

Medical Marijuana Pills May Ease Some MS Symptoms: Review

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Medical Marijuana Pills May Ease Some MS Symptoms: Review

“Medical marijuana pills and sprays might ease the symptoms of multiple sclerosis, but most other alternative therapies do little to lessen the pain and muscle rigidity that often accompanies the disease, according to new guidelines.

To reach that conclusion, an expert panel from the American Academy of Neurology reviewed more than 40 years of research on alternative medicine treatments for multiple sclerosis (MS)…

The guidelines are published in the March 25 issue of the journal Neurology.”

http://consumer.healthday.com/public-health-information-30/marijuana-news-759/guideline-medical-marijuana-may-ease-some-ms-symptoms-686096.html#.UzDKXsAnP9M.twitter

“Marijuana May Ease Some Symptoms of MS, New Guidelines Find. Medical marijuana pills or an oral spray made from cannabis may help ease some of the painful spasms caused by multiple sclerosis that make day-to-day life hard for patients, according to new guidelines from the American Academy of Neurology.” http://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/marijuana-may-ease-some-symptoms-ms-new-guidelines-find-n60626


Control by the endogenous cannabinoid system of ras oncogene-dependent tumor growth.

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“Because THC-like compounds are used to inhibit nausea and induce appetite in cancer patients, and anandamide appears to be an endogenous orexigenic mediator, the finding of possible antitumor effect for these substances might have a tremendous potential for therapeutic intervention in preventing the progression of cancer and, at the same time, in alleviating its symptoms.

Because multiple pathways are important for the proliferation of tumor cells and because combination therapies are often more effective than single-drug administration, cannabimimetic substances may complement other anticancer agents…”

http://www.fasebj.org/content/early/2001/12/02/fj.01-0320fje.long

“[Targeting the RAS signalling pathway in cancer].”  http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21715253

“Targeting the RAS oncogene.”  http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3804031/