Possible Neuroprtoctive Qualities of Cannabis
 

In a couple of posts I have mentioned how i have found the use of cannais to be beneficile. This thread is for a disussion of this, any personal experiances people have and links to studies.

My experience:

I have found that when I can get some it is the only thing that reduces pain, eases anxiety/fears, enables me to access and create memories easier, prompts hungar pangs hat I do not feel other wise. I would also say it gives me a better quality of sleep, but this may be subjective to the ease it brings to other symtoms.

Most and best of all it provides a great releif to the sense of pressure in my head, eye and ear.

Studies:

1.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases...0530132531.htm

2013, mice exposed to cannabis prior/after brain damage showed greater improveent in behaviour/memory and heightened amounts of neuroprotective chemicals.

2. Similar to above, 2014. Skip to the last sentance to get past heavy science. Cannabanoids help regulate innflamation and neurovascular response. Abstract:

http://www.jneuroinflammation.com/co...1/191/abstract

3.
Study of 446 patients with brain trauma found those who had cannabis in their system had significantly decreased incidence of death.

Abstract: http://www.ingentaconnect.com/search...ize=10&index=7

Article: http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/...0I21UI20141013

Related: http://www.leafscience.com/2014/03/0...rain-injuries/

Related Studies:

1. Combination of cannabaniods and irridation highly effective in minimising often fatal brain tumours.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases...1114085629.htm

2. Cannabis oil effectively used to damped severely epileptic child.

http://time.com/pot-kids/

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I think thats enough links to be getting on with. I only did a quick search and flick through my browser history but have tried to include reputable sites. I know there are some better articles out there but cannot remember where.

Some extra info, though I am not an expert and if you are thinking of doing this, and are able to, do talk to the person in the dispensarary and tell them of your inury.

Also I'm not telling you to do this. Make your own informed decisions.

THC is the chemical found in cannabis that makes you feel stoned. It does look like this also has health benefits but if you have never smoked get something with a low/moderate.

CBD (Cannabanoids) are the neuroprotective bit.

Try to get something that is balanced between the two.

If you live somewhere where it is illeagle a rule of thumb is that "skunk" variations are high THC, little CBD whereas "Old School" variations are more balanced (and often dont stink.) If you know the name of the variation you can check online, some seed shops have good breakdowns of the chemical content.

***A note of caution***

Although in Britain we are develping a strain of cannabis that may be used to treat schitzophrenia (the one and only goverment licensed company in a war-on-drugs-country)...

If you have a gentic predispostion to schitzophrenia, or it runs in your family be very careful. Cannabis may antagonise your symtoms or even bring a latent case into forefront. If you get extreme paranoia or get nasty stop smoking immediately and do not smoke again. This happens to a very small percentage of people.

It is also possibly not good for brains that are still developing, IE teenagers, but this is an uncertain point.

Lots of information to digest. You last comment has been well studied. Regular cannabis use in the teen years has been shown to cause a serious increase in psychological problems noticeable in the mid 20's. It is also shown to cause long term problems with memory such that the ability to retain information is negatively effected. This appears to be a permanent effect.

When the term neuro-protective is used, one must consider it different meanings. Some substances are neuro-protective at a cellular level. Progesterone is on such substance. Others act be reducing inflammation. Alcohol and CBD appear to be valuable for their anti-inflammatory value. Although alcohol has been know to reduce brain injury if it is on-board at the time of the injury, it is well known that alcohol does not enhance healing and should not be on-board during the healing process.

As the CBD study says, more research is needed to define what the value of CBD is to injured brain cells. The study used subjects with more severe TBI than those experienced by concussion subjects. Unless the subject was driving a car, it would not be a normal procedure to do a tox screen on a concussion patient at the ER / A&E. This limits the subjects in the studied group.

It is odd that the study looked for a positive THC in the tox screen when the other research suggests that it is the CBD that has the anti-inflammatory effect. It does not look for other co-factors than may have played a part.

The article about CBD use with intractable epilepsy has no bearing on the value of CBD in TBI recovery unless the TBI subject is suffering from intractable seizures. Resolving intractable seizures after a TBI would only be a small part of the recovery needed. Those with TBI caused intractable seizures have a low survival rate due to the totality of the injury.

The comment that Cannabis was a life saver in the poster's injury is without basis. It does not sound like ASH's injury was ever a life threatening situation.

Neurogenesis:

Here's an articlelooking at "A synthetic chemical similar to the active ingredient in marijuana makes new cells grow in rat brains. What is more, in rats this cell growth appears to be linked with reducing anxiety and depression. The results suggest that marijuana, or its derivatives, could actually be good for the brain."

http://www.newscientist.com/article/...ml#.VJcwscSz4Q