CBD Health

When it comes to the therapeutic potential of cannabidiol (CBD), researchers have only scratched the surface.

This phytocannabinoid, which was first isolated in 1940, has far-reaching effects due to its interactions with the receptors of the dynamic endocannabinoid system (ECS). Other Mechanisms and ways got involved too.

Diabetes, which affects about affects 32 million Americans, is a chronic disease that is associated with a disorder in the production or sensitivity of insulin. To date, no known medical cure is known for diabetes, although naturopaths often swear by nutrition-assisted diabetes reversal.

Since the endocannabinoid system is involved in maintaining a state of homeostasis in the body, it would be interesting to know what role it plays in controlling diabetes and how much of it can be influenced by CBD.

To determine this, it is important to look at the research results.

About 95% of diabetics have type 2 diabetes, which occurs when cells in the body become insensitive to insulin, also known as insulin resistance. This means that there is a large amount of sugar floating around. If this continues for a long period of time, it can cause significant inflammation that begins to damage the blood vessels.

The anti-inflammatory effects of CBD have been studied for decades. A study from 2007 entitled “Cannabidiol attenuates inflammatory reactions of endothelial cells and barrier disorders induced by high glucose” is one of interest for diabetes control. [1]

This study showed that CBD exerted potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects in non-obese diabetic mice. CBD has been shown to have beneficial effects on a number of markers of inflammation. This shows one way that CBD can mitigate some of the damage caused by chronic inflammation in diabetics.

This study also showed that the non-obese diabetic mice treated with CBD had a lower risk of developing diabetes. This forms a good basis to examine in randomized studies whether there is a similar effect in humans.

Patients with advanced diabetes may experience neuropathic pain commonly known as diabetic nephropathy.

Another study published in the Journal of Experimental Medicine, demonstrated the effectiveness of CBD in suppressing neuropathic pain in a rodent model. [2]

On the other hand a Study 2016 published in Diabetic Care showed low effectiveness of CBD on HDL cholesterol levels and other markers, including insulin sensitivity. [3]

In conclusion, there is enough preliminary evidence that CBD can be effective in relieving diabetes inflammation and pain, as well as preventing diabetes in non-obese individuals. On the other hand, there is insufficient evidence to support the effects of CBD on HDL cholesterol or blood sugar levels.

Image source

https://pixabay.com/photos/diabetes-blood-sugar-diabetic-528678/

References

1. Mohanraj Rajesh et al. (2007). Cannabidiol dampens the inflammatory reaction of the endothelial cells induced by high glucose and the barrier disruption. American Journal of Physiology-Cardiovascular Physiology. 293: 1, H610-H619
2. Wei Xiong et al. (2012). Cannabinoids suppress inflammatory and neuropathic pain by targeting α3-glycine receptors. Journal of Experimental Medicine. 209 (6): 1121-1134.
3. Jadoon, KA, Ratcliffe, SH, Barrett, DA, Thomas, EL, Stott, C., Bell, JD, O’Sullivan, SE, & Tan, GD (2016). Efficacy and safety of cannabidiol and tetrahydrocannabivarin on glycemic and lipid parameters in patients with type 2 diabetes: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group pilot study. Diabetes treatment, 39(10), 1777-1786.

One recently Article in Forbes described the Delta-8 (D8) frenzy as “a story of American ingenuity”. Delta 8 product sales have exploded in the recent past. This was good for both hemp farmers who had to dispose of their excess biomass and end users who could enjoy the feeling of getting “legally high” as it was described. On the other hand, it has led state regulators in some states to ban the sale of this cannabis-sativa-derived compound. But while we’re still enjoying the D8 frenzy, how will this affect CBD sales? are CBD and D8 Complementary or competing products?

The question begs another question, why are consumers turning to D8 and, for the same reason, why are they turning to CBD?

CBD sales have grown steadily over the years. It is estimated that the global CBD market will reach $ 2,740 million this year and will grow at a CAGR of around 51% over the 10 year period to 2030. This growth is accelerated by the entry of dominant players as well as smaller ambitious start-ups into the market. The therapeutic potential of CBD is a driver for clinical trials that also contribute to regional market growth.

However, CBD is not intoxicating and therefore has no meaning as a recreational substance.

Delta-8, like other cannabinoids, has therapeutic potential that deserves further research. The D8 frenzy, however, has more to do with the therapeutic potential of this Delta-9-THC analog.

The market in general is excited about the psychotropic properties of D8. Some consumers have described the D8 high as invigorating without having extreme effects like paranoia. The novelty and the legal gray area are another exciting feature that makes D8 attractive to younger age groups. The producers also get very creative in the way they market D8 products which, unlike THC products, are easily accessible from gas stations and shops.

Placed side by side, the D8 frenzy is highly unlikely to harm CBD sales in any way. Consumers turn to the two products for different reasons, and the type of clientele is also very different. While the CBD group is the most medicinally, the D8 group is mostly made up of recreational users. As a result, it can be assumed that sales of both products will continue positively for the foreseeable future, as the two complement each other rather than competing products.

Image source

https://www.flickr.com/photos/elsaolofsson/51050011706

There is no age limit for the daily use of cannabidiol (CBD). Seniors can benefit from the cannabinoid just as much as anyone else, and the diseases that are more common in this population group make CBD a potentially useful addition to improving the quality of life of an aging person.

Here are some ways seniors can benefit from CBD.

Pain

As the body ages, there is a tendency for the aches and pains to increase, so many seniors may have a range of pain relievers in their medicine cabinet. But in addition to – or in place of – pharmaceutical medications, seniors may find CBD helpful in relieving their pain.

Studies show that the interaction of CBD with the endocannabinoids of the endocannabinoid system can help relieve pain, regardless of whether the cannabinoid is taken orally for a systemic effect or applied topically to treat certain ailments, be it arthritis, fibromyalgia, Circulatory problems, bowel disease, or any other disease that becomes more common with age. [1]

glaucoma

glaucoma includes a number of eye diseases that can damage the optic nerve and affect good vision. This damage is typically caused by increased intraocular pressure and is a major cause of blindness in people over the age of 60. In fact, the prevalence of the most common form of glaucoma increases with age.

There is growing evidence that cannabinoids like CBD can help ward off the harmful effects of glaucoma by lowering intraocular pressure. [2] This, in turn, can help slow down the harmful effects of glaucoma.

Alzheimer

Researchers are now investigating how CBD can play a role in treating or preventing Alzheimer’s disease. The results of the studies conducted so far show great potential for the cannabinoid and suggest that CBD may suppress the main factors linked to Alzheimer’s, including the elimination of a specific toxic protein associated with the disease. [3]

Additionally, scientists suggest that using CBD in conjunction with tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) could prove even more useful for this purpose.

Bone health

The elderly are more prone to bone loss as they age, which can lead to bone conditions like osteoporosis, which involve weakening bones to the point where they are easier to break. Interestingly, CBD can help slow down bone breakdown that can lead to diseases like these.

Studies have shown that cannabinoid receptors are expressed in bone and are involved in the regulation of bone homeostasis in both rats and humans. [4] The use of CBD as a treatment has been linked to improved fracture healing in rodents. However, further validation through clinical studies is justified.

Image source: Steve Buissanne from Pixabay

References:

1. Russian, EB, “Cannabinoids in the treatment of hard-to-treat pain“Ther Clin Risk Manag., Feb 2008, 4 (1): 245-259.

2. Tomida, i, et al. “Cannabinoids and glaucoma“, Br. J. Ophthalmol., May 2004, 88 (5): 708-713.

3. Kim, SH “A look back at studies on marijuana in Alzheimer’s disease – with a focus on CBD, THC“, J Pharmacopuncture, December 2019, 22 (4): 225-230.

4. Raphael-Mizrahi, B. & Gabet, Y., “The effects of cannabinoids on bone formation and healing“, Curr Osteoporos Rep., October 2020, 18 (5): 433-438.

Cannabis use in the United States has grown by leaps and bounds over the past decade and this has created new health problems for some users. One of these problems is cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (CHS).

CHS occurs in cannabis users with specific symptoms that include persistent cycles of nausea and vomiting. People often take hot baths to relieve nausea and suppress vomiting. Since cannabis is known to have anti-vomiting properties, it is paradoxical that its cannabinoids can also help induce vomiting under certain circumstances.[1]

Because CHS is a relatively newly recognized disease, it often is misdiagnosed and can stay there for years. Its symptoms are very similar to those of cyclic vomiting and other illnesses, and many health professionals initially choose these diagnoses over CHS.[1] However, CHS is a disease in its own right, affecting almost exclusively long-term users who use cannabis on a daily basis.

CHS manifests itself in three different phases. The first is called the prodromal phase. During this time, the affected person suffers from mild nausea, irregular eating habits and gastrointestinal complaints. However, at this stage, it is rare for patients or doctors to attribute these common symptoms to CHS. In fact, many patients use even more cannabis to manage symptoms.

In the second phase, the so-called hyperemetic phase, those affected experience vomiting and / or abdominal pain for 24-48 hours. Dehydration is a common occurrence during this phase as well. As in phase one, patients also tend to increase their cannabis use to relieve symptoms. Patients also compulsively immerse themselves in baths or showers, which many believe provides relief from their discomfort.

Recovery is the third phase. It sees the end of vomiting and a return to normal eating habits. In addition, people stop bathing and showering frequently and stop all cannabis use, which is one of the pillars of CHS treatment. The other is symptom management through the use of IV fluids and relaxation. Dopamine antagonists and benzodiazapenes have also shown promise in treating symptoms, but opioids have not.

Perhaps the most difficult aspect of treating CHS is diagnosis. Its symptoms are similar to many other diseases, and its cause (cannabis) is often used to alleviate these symptoms. However, with more research and more patients presenting with CHS, at some point more information will become available about how to treat this new disease.

Image source: https://www.pexels.com/photo/man-in-white-button-up-shirt-holding-white-paper-5028382/

References:

1. Galli, Jonathan A. et al. Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome. Curr Substance Abuse Rev. 2011, Volume 4 (4): 241-249

The entourage effect may still be largely puzzling by the scientific standards of concrete evidence, but when it comes to anecdotal evidence and plausible theories, it is the X-factor of green magic.

An educated approach to combining CBD and terpenes to create synergy and double certain effects could likely go a long way.

Anti-inflammatory

Anti-inflammatory is one of the most pronounced properties of CBD, and most of the terpenes studied, including pinene, humulene, caryophyllene, myrcene, terpinolene, ocimen, borneol, and bisabolol, also show anti-inflammatory effects. It’s only natural to assume that any combination between them and CBD would catalyze this effect.

antioxidant

Both CBD and terpenes have shown promise in various studies of their activity against oxidative stress. After all, one of the main causes of oxidative stress is rampant inflammation, so all of the terpenes mentioned above are also antioxidants to some extent.

In antioxidant studies, the terpenes limonene, humulene, myrcene and terpinolene are outstanding.

Since neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s are also caused by inflammation and oxidative stress in the brain, some terpenes, such as linalool, have shown neuroprotective potential in particular – another area that scientists rely on CBD.

Anti-fear

The anxiolytic properties of CBD are another important point on his business card, but here, too, this effect is also evident with terpenes, namely limonene and linalool.

Dr. Russo on CBD and terpene combinations

Much of our knowledge and / or speculation about the peculiarities of the entourage effect comes from Dr. Ethan Russo, one of the founding fathers of cannabis research, and his iconic overview paper. Taming THC.

Russo suggests that the “psychopharmacological effects of limonene, pinene and linalool could supposedly prolong” [CBD’s] Advantages in mood in such [Alzherimer’s] Patients. “

In addition, he believes that “terpenoids with analgesic, anxiolytic or sedative effects can complement this (anti-insomnia) activity, particularly caryophyllene, linalool and myrcene”.

Russo also cites promising studies on CBD’s ability to break the vicious circle of addiction and cites a clinical study that found that a black pepper essential oil significantly reduced nicotine cravings.

While the researchers behind the study attributed these results to the “irritation of the bronchial tree that simulates the act of cigarette smoking”, Russo suggests a pharmacological cause of the effect – the terpenoid profile of black pepper, namely “myrcene from sedation, pinene from increased or in particular Caryophyllene via CB₂ Agonism and a newly discovered putative mechanism of action in addiction treatment. “

In particular, he names caryophyllene as a particularly strong factor, as it is a highly selective CB. acts₂ Agonist that can simulate the activity of the synthetic agonist JWH144, which was shown to be effective in the fight against cocaine in a rat study.

Of course, many of these hypothetical manifestations of the entourage effect fall into the speculative realm, but there is a huge difference between educated, thoughtful speculation and wishful thinking and / or shots in the dark.

Medical cannabis is now legal in 36 states and South Dakota bet on joining in July the number will be 37 and count. As a result, cannabinoids as the basis of cannabis as a medicine are receiving increasing attention. Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) have long been the focus. Now scientists are paying more attention to lesser-known cannabinoids, and cannabigerol (CBG) is now to be in the spotlight.

A recent study published in Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics highlighted some important things we need to learn about CBG in the context of its therapeutic potential. [1]

Below is a breakdown of the same.

How does CBG come about?

CBGA, the acidic form of CBG, is a precursor molecule for most cannabinoids. As a result, it is found in tiny amounts in raw cannabis.

Olivetolic acid and geranyl pyrophosphate normally form cannabigerolic acid (CBGA). Decarboxylation (when exposed to heat) converts CBGA into CBG.

How does CBG work?

The study found that CBG has close similarities to THC and CBD in its interaction with the endocannabinoid receptors. However, it has unique interactions with serotonin and adrenergic receptors. [1]

CBG acts similarly to Δ9-THC on the cannabinoid receptors (CB1 & CB2). However, it shows an affinity that is 5-27 times lower at both receptors. A Human Cell Culture Study showed negligible activity at both receptors. [2] Therefore, more in vivo research is needed to elucidate the true interaction of CBG with these receptors.

CBG’s activity on TRP channels compare with that of CBD, but with a slight difference in affinity. [3] These are TRPA1, TRPV1 and TRPV2. TRPV3, TRPV4 and TRPM8.

What is the therapeutic significance of CBG?

This is the whole point, and it appears that CBG has great promise in this area. The researchers highlighted four potential benefits of CBG that require further study.

1. Neuroprotection and neuromodulation that can be used to reduce the severity of neurological conditions including Parkinson’s and Huntington’s diseases.
2. A therapeutic agent for GI diseases such as colon cancer and colitis. This has been demonstrated in mouse models.
3. Play a potential role in multifactorial pharmacotherapy for the components of metabolic syndrome
4. Antibacterial activity against antibiotic-resistant strains such as Staph aureus

CBG shows promise as a therapeutic molecule and more research is needed to determine its safety and effectiveness.

Image source

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cannabigerol.png

References

1. Rahul Nachnani et al. (2021). Potential clinical applications of CBG. Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics. 376 (2), pp. 204-212

2. Granja, AG et al. (2012). A cannabis olquinone alleviates neuroinflammation in a chronic model of multiple sclerosis. Journal of Neuroimmune Pharmacology: the official journal of the Society on NeuroImmune Pharmacology, 7th(4), 1002-1016.

3. Muller C, et al. (2019). Cannabinoid Ligands Targeting TRP Channels. Front Mol Neurosci 11:48.

“Two eminent scientists said the endocannabinoid system is implicated in essentially all human diseases.” said Mechoulam. “This is a very strong statement, but it seems correct. “

The endocannabinoid system, abbreviated as ECS, was discovered in 1992This is many years after the other systems made their way into medical textbooks. To keep everything up to date, the other systems include:

• The respiratory system
• The circulatory system
• The integumentary system
• The kidney system
• The digestive system
• The musculoskeletal system
• Reproductive system
• The nervous system
• Endocrine system
• Lymphatic system

Along with the profound ECS, we now have 11 systems that have been identified in the human body.

The ECS consists of three main components; Endocannabinoids, endocannabinoid receptors, and metabolize enzymes that break down the endocannabinoids.

Endocannabinoids are similar to neurotransmitters in many ways. However, they are made very differently. While most neurotransmitters are produced and stored in vesicles, endocannabinoids are produced when needed.

Since this is a “new system”, its mechanisms have not been fully elucidated. However, it is clear that the ECS is responsible for maintaining physiological balance in the body Homeostasis.

In maintaining a state of homeostasis, the ECS has been involved in the following functions:

• Pain and inflammation
• memory
• Sleep
• Hormonal control
• metabolism
• Immune reaction
• appetite
• Moods
• Sperm production among other

Consequently, dysregulation of the ECS can trigger debilitating conditions. This was confirmed by Dr. Ethan Russo described as clinical endocannabinoid deficiency syndrome (CEDS). Conversely, if the endocannabinoid tone is maintained, the body can wade away from infection and disease.

Insofar as there is a lack of knowledge of how this incredible system works, current evidence suggests that understanding this system could facilitate understanding of health and disease. For example, CECD has been linked to the pathology of autoimmune diseases. [1] At the same time, the ECS has shown that it offers a “protective function” against many diseases. Modulation of the ECS could help in the treatment of a variety of diseases such as vomiting, inflammation, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, glaucoma, depression, diseases related to metabolic syndrome, and Alzheimer’s disease.

In summary, the ECS appears to be a system that underpins the functions of most of the other systems in the body. it has a hand in everything. However, the most unique thing about it is the connection to a plant.

As Dr. Mechoulam aptly puts it:

“Using a plant that has been around for thousands of years, we have discovered a new physiological system of immense importance. We wouldn’t have got there if we hadn’t looked at the facility. “

Image source

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Interoception_and_the_body.png

References

1. Russo EB (2016). Clinical endocannabinoid deficiency rethought: Current research supports the theory in migraines, fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome and other treatment-resistant syndromes. Cannabis and cannabinoid research, 1(1), 154-165.