A Budding Source of Targets for Treating Inflammatory and Neuropathic Pain ECS
The cannabinoid system provides momentum to develop cannabinoid-based medications to treat inflammatory and neuropathic pain as researchers continue to find promising therapeutic targets. These new targets may lead to the formation of novel pain-relief medications that may serve well to alleviate pain for those suffering from cancer, multiple sclerosis, and fibromyalgia. Cannabis-based pain medicine is also being researched for opioid-sparing effects and effectiveness in reducing the necessary dose of opioids.
Medical Marijuana in the Pediatric Population With Epilepsy—What You Should Know
A recent review has discussed the known benefits of treating children who are suffering from epilepsy with cannabis-based medicine. Medical marijuana (MM) is a viable option for treating this population that comes with risks due to the high that comes from THC and its legal status as a Schedule 1 drug. The legal status is currently preventing larger scale research to be done so that physicians can better educate parents on how to care for a child taking MM.
Researchers published a literature review that investigates the relationship between cannabis and sleep. They examined six major sleeping disorders: insomnia, sleep apnea, REM behavior disorder, nightmares, sleep with chronic pain, and daytime sleepiness.
They found that THC might worsen daytime sleepiness and delayed onset of sleep; however, THC might help patients who suffer from sleep apnea and nightmares. Meanwhile, CBD might reduce daytime sleepiness and insomnia while increasing the total amount of sleep.
Euphorbia honey and garlic- Biological activity and burn wound recovery
A recent study has shown that a combination of euphorbia honey and garlic can help heal burn wounds. Euphorbia honey and garlic have antioxidant, microbial, and healing properties that have now been confirmed to be effective when treating wounds resulting from exposure to extreme heat. Combining natural ingredients has been common in traditional medicine for years, but now western medicine is beginning to look at more natural compounds to aid in recovery and treatment methods.
A recently published study looking to expose the functional status of older drug users has found that most of their cognitive abilities are equal to their peers who have never smoked cocaine, except for a marginally lower verbal comprehension. Similar studies should continue in order to determine how chronic drug users will affect or challenge public health systems in the future.
A recent study has found that flavonoids isolated from Psoralea corylifolia are able to inhibit part of the insulin pathway.
Seeds of the P. corylifolia plant have been used in eastern medicine, primary in China, for years, and is now being further researched as flavonoids continue to intrigue researchers with their possible therapeutic benefits. The inhibitory activity found in this study provides evidence that flavonoids should be pursued as a potential treatment for Type-2 Diabetes.
A 2018 study showed that, for patients with schizophrenia, adding CBD to ongoing antipsychotic treatment reduced psychotic activity, as compared to placebo add-on
In a placebo-controlled study of a cannabis oral spray in patients with ADHD, there was no significant improvement in cognitive performance, but there was a significant improvement in hyperactivity and impulsivity.
Over the years, CBD has shown that it may play a therapeutic role in sleep regulation, adjusting sleep cycles, inducing sedative effects, increasing total sleep time and less frequent awakenings, reducing dream recall, and it has even been shown to REM sleep. Some of these studies have been levied against comparison with placebo medications, and some studies have been done looking very closely at individuals’ physiology as they sleep. Some studies even document a return of sleep disturbances once the CBD is removed from treatment. Doses have been explored ranging from 40, 80, or 160 mg per day, up to 600mg. CBD has been tried both alone and in combination with other cannabinoids.
Here, a study of 26 participants, were tried with CBD once, and then placebo once, after 2 weeks, and they found no significant impact of the CBD on sleep. The authors note that the small window (of personnel studied and of episodes of dosing CBD) is a concerning limitation. Another interpretation of these results is that CBD is not acting as an acute sedative. Its function may be situational (for certain states of mind, CBD may work in a quieting way) or it may be impacting the body at a much more basic level (for example, if it is reducing levels of stress or depression hormones, the effect of improving sleep may have a more gradual impact.
A related point – it is important for us to take note of studies that don’t necessarily have fireworks associated. Not every study will show amazing effects or overwhelming results. This helps us consider what is good or what is missing from the papers we read – and helps create a more realistic research culture. Every study helps teach, even if it’s not showing breathtaking results.
