Tag Archives: cannabis

Pro-resolution, protective and anti-nociceptive effects of a cannabis extract in the rat gastrointestinal tract.

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“Cannabis is widely used for treating a number of gastrointestinal ailments…

In the present study, we tested the effects (in rats) of a simple extract of medicinal cannabis (called “MFF”) for its ability to promote resolution of colitis…

These results demonstrate that a simple extract of medicinal cannabis can significantly enhance resolution of inflammation and injury, as well as prevent injury, in the gastrointestinal tract. Interestingly, different cannabinoid receptors were involved in some of the effects. MFF may serve as the basis for a simple preparation of cannabis that would produce beneficial effects in the GI tract with reduced systemic toxicity.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23756391

Mom looks to medical marijuana to cure daughter’s seizures

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“Kaercher said no matter what treatments Grace is on, the seizures continue. She has tried every option except medical marijuana, which isn’t legal in Pennsylvania,

Kaercher said. “Marijuana isn’t that extreme compared to all these other things we have done,” Kaercher said. Kaercher, 45, has watched her daughter suffer from seizures since Grace was a baby. Kaercher said Grave is so brave for going out into the world every day and her heart breaks every time Grace has a seizure.“It’s been a long road for us,” Kaercher said. “We hope medical marijuana will be a viable option for her.””

More: http://www.pottsmerc.com/general-news/20140211/mom-looks-to-medical-marijuana-to-cure-daughters-seizures

The Neuroscience Of Munchies: Why The Scent Of A Burger Gives Us A High – npr

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We Didn't Make This Up: The scientists who performed the study on how cannabis triggers the munchies through the sense of smell commissioned an artist to put this illustration together.

“From cinnamon buns in the morning to a burger after a long run, food never smells as good as when you’re superhungry.

Now scientists have uncovered a clue as to why that might be — and it lies in the munchies and marijuana.

Receptors in the brains of mice that light up when the animals are high are also activated when the critters are fasting, French scientists reported Sunday in the journal Nature Neuroscience.

In other words, skipping a meal triggered the same hunger-inducing brain receptors that marijuana does. And it works, at least in mice, by boosting the sense of smell, neuroscientist Giovanni Marsicano and his team at the Universite de Bordeaux report.

That’s because the receptors that get activated are located in the smelling center of the brain. And sense of smell is known to be a key factor driving appetite.

In case you’re wondering, the mice didn’t toke up. The researchers injected the rodents withTHC, the active ingredient in marijuana.”

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2014/02/10/274660785/munchies-neuroscience-why-the-scent-of-a-burger-gives-us-a-high?live=1&utm_content=socialflow&utm_campaign=nprfacebook&utm_source=npr&utm_medium=facebook

“The endocannabinoid system controls food intake via olfactory processes.” http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24509429

Neurotrophins, endocannabinoids and thermo-transient receptor potential: a threesome in pain signalling.

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“Although pain is multifactorial at cellular and molecular levels, it is widely accepted that neurotrophin (TrkA, p75NTR, Ret and GFRs), cannabinoid (CB1 and CB2), and thermo-transient receptor potential (TRPs; TRPV1, TRPA1 and TRPM8) receptors play a pivotal role.

…the available information confirms that pharmacological modulation of this signalling triad is a highly valuable therapeutic strategy for effectively treating pain syndromes.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24494676

Cannabis extract treatment for terminal acute lymphoblastic leukemia with a Philadelphia chromosome mutation.

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” This case study is on a 14-year-old patient diagnosed with a very aggressive form of ALL (positive for the Philadelphia chromosome mutation). A standard bone marrow transplant, aggressive chemotherapy and radiation therapy were revoked, with treatment being deemed a failure after 34 months.

Without any other solutions provided by conventional approaches aside from palliation, the family administered cannabinoid extracts orally to the patient.

Cannabinoid resin extract is used as an effective treatment for ALL with a positive Philadelphia chromosome mutation and indications of dose-dependent disease control.

The clinical observation in this study revealed a rapid dose-dependent correlation.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24474921

Effect of cannabinoid receptor activation on spreading depression.

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“Cannabis has been used for centuries for both symptomatic and prophylactic treatment of different types of headaches including migraine…

Suppression of CSD (cortical spreading depression) by activation of CB1 receptors suggests the potential therapeutic effects of cannabinoids in migraine with aura as well as other CSD-related disorders.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3586901/

Using cannabis to help you sleep: Heightened frequency of medical cannabis use among those with PTSD.

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“The use of cannabis for medical purposes is proliferating in the U.S., and PTSD is an explicitly approved condition for accessing medical cannabis in 5 states. Prior research suggests that people with PTSD often use cannabis to help cope with their condition…

Those with high PTSD scores were more likely to use cannabis to improve sleep, and for coping reasons more generally, compared with those with low PTSD scores. Cannabis use frequency was greater among those with high PTSD scores who used for sleep promoting purposes compared with those with low PTSD scores or those who did not use for sleep promoting purposes.

Consistent with prior research, this study found increased rates of coping-oriented use of cannabis and greater frequency of cannabis use among medical users with high PTSD scores compared with low PTSD scores. In addition, sleep improvement appears to be a primary motivator for coping-oriented use…”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24412475

Spontaneous regression of septum pellucidum/forniceal pilocytic astrocytomas–possible role of Cannabis inhalation.

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“The purpose of this report is to document spontaneous regression of pilocytic astrocytomas of the septum pellucidum and to discuss the possible role of cannabis in promoting regression.

We report two children with septum pellucidum/forniceal pilocytic astrocytoma (PA) tumors… Neither patient received any conventional adjuvant treatment.

The tumors regressed over the same period of time that cannabis was consumed via inhalation, raising the possibility that the cannabis played a role in the tumor regression.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21336992

Targeting astrocytomas and invading immune cells with cannabinoids: a promising therapeutic avenue.

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“The last quarter century has borne witness to great advances in both the detection and treatment of numerous cancers. Even so, malignancies of the central nervous system, especially high-grade astrocytomas, continue to thwart our best efforts toward effective chemotherapeutic strategies.

With prognosis remaining bleak, the time for serious consideration of alternative therapies has arrived. Various preparations of the marijuana plant, Cannabis sativa, and related synthetic and endogenous compounds, may constitute just such an alternative.

Cannabinoids, although much maligned historically for their psychotropic effects and clear abuse potential, have long been used medicinally and are now staging an impressive comeback, as recent studies have begun to explore their powerful anti-tumoral properties.

In this study, we review in vitro and in vivo evidence supporting the use of cannabinoids for treatment of brain tumors. We further propose the continued intense investigation of cannabinoid efficacies as novel anti-cancer agents, especially in models recapitulating such properties within the unique environment of the brain.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17952648

Cannabinoid and cannabinoid-like receptors in microglia, astrocytes and astrocytomas

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“…compounds targeting cannabinoid-like receptors constitute promising therapeutics to manage neuroinflammation and eradicate malignant astrocytomas.

Importantly, the selective targeting of cannabinoid-like receptors should provide therapeutic relieve without inducing the typical psychotropic effects and possible addictive properties…

 Taken together, the studies outlined in this review suggest that stereotactic injection of high concentrations of CBD could constitute a useful regimen for neurosurgeons to use in the treatment of malignant astrocytomas and of excessive/chronic neuroinflammation.

Such a treatment could provide therapeutic effects both directly, by killing the astrocytoma and limiting its propagation, and indirectly, by reducing the accumulation of activated microglia or invading peripheral immune cells.

The fact that non-psychotropic cannabinoids acting through CB-like receptors affect such fundamental processes involved in microglial cell activation and astrocytoma propagation constitutes, in my opinion, one of the most exciting areas of research in our search for new chemotherapeutic agents to treat malignant brain tumors and new anti-inflammatory agents to temper the damage linked to chronic neuroinflammation.

Furthermore, the curative properties of cannabinoids do not overlap with currently available medicines, and therefore cannabinoid-based treatments constitute a new therapeutic platform.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2919281/