All posts tagged: Science

Development of Cannabis-Based Treatment for Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder and the endocannabinoid system

A recently published article serves as a call for research to be conducted to discover how cannabis could impact the management of bipolar disorder (BD). Presented in the article is a full review of the advantages and disadvantages of cannabis-based medicine in the treatment of BD and provides insight into possible mechanisms might affect the pathophysiology of the disorder. The insights listed within the article provide the rationale for examining the endocannabinoid system, specifically the cannabinoid receptor 2, with the hopes of finding therapeutic targets for mood control associated with BD.  

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Benjamin Caplan, MDDevelopment of Cannabis-Based Treatment for Bipolar Disorder
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Study Reveals that Flavanoids can act as Allergy Medications

Anti-histaminic Effects of Resveratrol and Silymarin on Human Gingival Fibroblasts

It has recently been revealed that the flavonoids resveratrol and silymarin have an anti-histaminic effect on human gingival fibroblasts (HGF). HGF are cells that compose part of the gum tissue in the oral cavity. Silymarin and resveratrol were already known to have anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, but a recently published study has now revealed that silymarin alone and a combination of the two flavonoids both provide novel therapeutic approaches for inflammation due to allergies.

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Benjamin Caplan, MDStudy Reveals that Flavanoids can act as Allergy Medications
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Looking for a genetic explanation for “Cannabis Use Disorder”

Genome-wide association study implicates CHRNA2 in Cannabis Use Disorder

Roughly 9% of cannabis users become dependent. In a recent study, scientists identified a significant association between CHRNA2 gene expression and a diagnosis of Cannabis Use Disorder. In other words, genetics might help to explain why some people may find themselves more dependent upon cannabis than others.

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This paper is also stored here:    http://bit.ly/2IVZJvJ     inside the CED Foundation Archive

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Benjamin Caplan, MDLooking for a genetic explanation for “Cannabis Use Disorder”
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A systematic review of Safety and effectiveness of cannabinoids for the treatment of neuropsychiatric symptoms in dementia

A 2019 literature review summarizes the finding on using THC and CBD on patients with dementia. Researchers found that Dronabinol and THC were associated with significant improvements in a range of psychiatric scores. Interestingly, cannabis products showed the most promising results in patients whose symptoms were previously unmanageable or resistant to other treatments.

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This paper is also stored here:    http://bit.ly/2IWFA8R     inside the CED Foundation Archive

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Benjamin Caplan, MDA systematic review of Safety and effectiveness of cannabinoids for the treatment of neuropsychiatric symptoms in dementia
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The Cannabinoid System is a Promising Source of Targets for Treating Pain

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.

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This paper is also stored here:  http://bit.ly/2FfLorA        inside the CED Foundation Archive

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Benjamin Caplan, MDThe Cannabinoid System is a Promising Source of Targets for Treating Pain
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Cannabidiol May Provide Novel Treatment for Rare Ovarian Cancer

Dramatic response to Laetrile and cannabidiol (CBD) oil in a patient with metastatic low grade serous ovarian carcinoma

A recent case study has examined a patient’s response to the consumption of cannabidiol (CBD) as a treatment for a rare type of ovarian cancer. Rather than participate in chemotherapy, which has been shown to only be effective in 5% of patients with low grade serous ovarian carcinoma, an 81-year-old decided to take a combination of amygdalin and CBD. Although CBD has only been shown to have effective anti-cancer properties in murine models the featured patient reported a significant decrease in tumor size, revealing that CBD may, in fact, be an effective treatment for patients looking into alternative care methods.

Although proven ineffective, the use of amygdalin highlights alternative therapies derived from naturally occurring chemicals found in common plants. Flavonoids and terpenes are chemical components of cannabis plants, also found in a variety of fruits and vegetables, that are just now being investigated for their therapeutic benefits. The results of those inquiries may prove useful for similar patients suffering from illnesses that are resistant to the usual treatments.

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Benjamin Caplan, MDCannabidiol May Provide Novel Treatment for Rare Ovarian Cancer
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Video: The Endocannabinoid System’s Intriguing Role in Gut Health

A 2018 literature review summarizes the findings on cannabis and gut health. The endocannabinoid system plays a key role in gut motility, obesity, and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Targeting the endocannabinoid system with CBD oil or other cannabinoids seems to reduce colonic inflammation and relieve stress, at a microscopic level, inside the gastrointestinal tract. Watch our video adaptation of the effects of cannabis on IBD:

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Benjamin Caplan, MDVideo: The Endocannabinoid System’s Intriguing Role in Gut Health
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Cost-effectiveness of treating pediatric drug-resistant epilepsy

Cannabis-based treatments may reduce seizures among children with drug-resistant epilepsy, but are these treatments cost-effective? 

Economic evaluations of cannabis treatments are needed, and they should address issues including weight-gain over time, switching or discontinuation of treatments, the effectiveness of interventions, and long-term success, beyond the duration of available clinical studies.

This paper is also stored here:     http://bit.ly/2INWAOJ    inside the CED Foundation Archive

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Benjamin Caplan, MDCost-effectiveness of treating pediatric drug-resistant epilepsy
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CBD antibacterial properties, topically

Preliminary testing shows positive results towards using CBD as an antibiotic topically, but also potentially to deal with systematic infections, such as pneumonia, using oral dosing. One of the present concerns is the struggle of getting permits to handle these cannabinoids to do further testing.

While these specific findings have not yet been published in a peer-review journal, this is far from the first time we have seen antimicrobial activity associated with plants or with cannabis. Evolutionarily, this trait is believed to be adaptive for the plant, and within cannabinoid, terpenoid, and flavonoid compounds, this activity has been demonstrated reproducibly, both in the lab and in clinic.
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Benjamin Caplan, MDCBD antibacterial properties, topically
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Cannabinoids + opioid pain relief: subjective effects in healthy humans

Human study finds that, when taken with opioids, dronabinol (THC) may increase impairment and decrease, or not affect, pain relief. Researchers conclude that THC might NOT protect the body from the adverse effects of opioids. However, the study examined only 10 participants, and such a small sample size should give pause to the validity and applicability of the findings. 

View this review (yellow link) or download:

This paper is also stored here:    http://bit.ly/2IHJuSO     inside the CED Foundation Archive

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Benjamin Caplan, MDCannabinoids + opioid pain relief: subjective effects in healthy humans
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