Cannabis Use to Treat Eczema and Psoriasis

Many people that use cannabis to help with eczema and psoriasis. Marijuana helps with skin irritations by reducing inflammation. One third of the world population is thought to suffer from eczema.(Source)

Hemp seed, rich in linolenic acid (both α- and γ-), has shown benefits for reducing inflammation.(Source) Gastrointestinal problems have shown to increase skin problems. When the intestinal tract fails to absorb linolenic acid it is thought that skin abnormalities occur. Studies have shown that cannabis helps with gastrointestinal issues.

Auto immune deficiency can lead to skin abnormalities. Cannabis increases overall body immunity by being rich in globulin edestin. Immunity is increased by how it effects the endocannabinoid system, anandamide, and the 2-AG receptor.

Many dietary sources are rich in linolenic acid. Cannabis sets itself above the rest by the way it effects the endocannabinoid system. Abnormalities of cells attribute to skin problems. The endocannabinoid system regulates the cell proliferation, death and differentiation to maintain a homeostasis state.

http://sensiseeds.com/en/blog/cannabis-chrohttp://informahealthcare.com/doi/abs/10.1080/09546630510035832nic-skin-conditions/

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17498413

http://informahealthcare.com/doi/abs/10.1080/09546630510035832

What is 2-AG and Does it Relate to Cannabis?

   2-Arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) is the most abundant endocannaboinoid messenger molecule that effects the TRPV1, CB1 and CB2 receptor. 2-AG is 170 times the concentration of anandamide which also effects the same receptors. 2-AG is naturally created in humans and also found in human and cattle milk. (Source)

   So why does this matter? Because 2-AG and anandamide is created on-demand naturally by the body, and an imbalance to the body to produce too much or little is thought to lead to disorders. Drug therapies that target the CB1, CB2 receptors bring the body back to a balance where 2-AG is lacking.(Source) It is theorized that diseases such as bipolar(Source) and alzheimer's(Source) could occur from an imbalance of 2-AG being created in the body.

   The nerve cells affected by 2-AG control body temperature, appetite, memory, mood, inflammation, immunity and the sensation of heat and pain. Studies show that it may inhibit cancer cell formation. 2-AG is created from 20-carbon essential fatty acids (EFA). Cannabis is a good source of EFA's that mimics 2-AG functions.(Source)

   Cannabis drug therapies have been developed to treat symptoms of many problems by mimicking the 2-AG messenger molecule. Some examples of treatment are for memory, pain, nausea, wasting syndrome, cancer, spasticity from multiple sclerosis and tremors from Parkinson's disease.

   2-AG plays an important role in traumatic brain injuries. When a brain injury occurs 2-AG has been found to be elevated. A study with mice was done where they gave a drug to boost the levels of 2-AG after a brain injury. The results were a quicker recovery, reduced inflammation, swelling and brain cell death.(Source)

Source:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2-Arachidonoylglycerol

http://sensiseeds.com/en/blog/cannabinoid-science-101-what-is-2-ag/

https://www.caymanchem.com/app/template/Article.vm/article/2110

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21175579

http://bipolarnews.org/?tag=cannabidiol

http://www.jneurosci.org/content/34/45/14919.short

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11586361

How THC Mimics a Messenger Molecule

   Behaviors such as the  munchies, fertility and where you left your car keys all relate to a messenger molecule named anandamide. This molecule contributes to messages in the brain regarding to pain, depression, appetite, memory and fertility. The molecular structure of THC is very similar to anandamide. The similarity allows it mimic functions that this messenger molecule does. Anandamide breaks down very quickly not allowing humans to get to a “natural high”. THC takes more time to break down giving a psycho-active high.

   Messenger cells like anandamide are like a “key” that can attach to a nerve cell receptor acting like a “lock”. Once the messenger cell find a good connection with a receptor it can attach and open the nerve membrane to allow chloride ions to enter the cell. This equalizes the charges inside and outside the cell and prevents the cell from firing a charge. The “key” must be removed to allow the nerve cell to work again. Enzymes work to break down the “key” messenger molecules after a certain amount of time. The nerve cells will cease to work if the messenger molecule remains.(Source) In 1992 an Israeli scientist Raphael Mechoulam was able isolate anandamide as the “bliss” messenger cell that THC emulates. He was the same scientist that isolated THC in 1964.(Source)

How THC mimic's Anandamide

Anandamide and Memory
   Anandamide has been shown to create or destroy short term memory nerve connections. In animal studies an increase in anandamide results in forgetfulness.(Source) Anandamide helps to retain information like where you parked your car. It allows you to forget things like what the women was wearing at the checkout stand.(Source)

   A famous experiment known as the Morris Water Maze shows what happens to short term memory when anandamide is inhibited. Mice are placed in a water test area with a platform so they can climb out of the water. The platform is removed once the mice remember where it was placed. The mice will naturally look for the platform and realize it isn't there. They will then focus on surviving by swimming. Mice with a drug to block the anandamide will perpetually continue to look for the platform. They will forget that the platform isn't there.(Source)

Anandamide and Fertility
   Anandamide acts as a signaling when an embryo attaches to the female uterus. In fact anandamide is at a higher concentration in the uterus than the brain. Sperm contain receptors that accept the anandamide molecule. It is theorized that disrupting the function of anandamide therefore could interfere with fertility. More research is need to further investigate the relation between fertility and drugs that act like anadamide.(Source)

Similar Sources to Anandamide
   Chocolate has a similar structure to anandamide much like THC. Daniele Piomelli studied this as a scientist at the Neuroscience Instititute in San Diego. He found that chocolate has three compounds that mimic anandamide. Chocolate and THC behave differently as a messenger.  Piomelli states, “The response to THC and to the chocolate anandamides are not at all the same, even if the concentrations could be made comparable.” Chocolate may create a blissful feeling while not giving a high.(Source)

   Recently Piomelli found a naturally occurring molecule in the body that mimics anandamide. Sn-2 arachidonylglycerol (2-AG) can lock into the same bliss receptors. It is unique in that it works at 170 times the concentration of anandamide. The 2-AG molecules are found in different parts of the brain. Piomelli theorizes that the functions of anandamide and 2-AG are complementary.(Source)


Source:
http://antoine.frostburg.edu/chem/senese/101/features/anandamide.shtml
http://thesilvertour.org/cannabis-professor-raphael-mechoulam-discovery-thc-1964-anandamide-1992
http://www.marijuanalibrary.org/981217.html#nfo
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21684528
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0091305799001069
http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v388/n6644/full/388773a0.html
https://www.exploratorium.edu/exploring/exploring_chocolate/choc_8.html

The Benefits of Cannabis for Autism

Reports have shown that cannabis can help treat symptoms of autism. Autism is a disorder in brain development that affects social interaction, verbal and non-verbal communication and signs of repetitive behaviors. Autism has a broad spectrum of symptoms and sources in the body for the resulting behavior.(Source) Five percent of autism cases have also an occurrence of Fragile X Syndrome.

Fragile X Syndrome occurs when the X chromosome has a failure to express the fragile X mental retardation protein or FMRP. There are varying degrees of severity to how bad the mutation is. Symptoms include attention deficit, hyperactivity, anxiety and aggression.(Source)

Studies show that the Fragile X Syndrome affects the part of the body known as the endocannabinoid system. Cannabis affects the endocannabinoid system in the body which is made up of lipids and receptors.  The function of these receptors is to process appetite, feelings of pain, mood as well as memory functions. One of these lipids is 2-AG or 2-arachidonoylglycerol, which is crucial for cell function and communication. People with fragile X syndrome have a non-functioning 2-AG lipid. This lipid is found as a non psycho-active cannabinoid found in cannabis. Studies showing this correlation help explain why these symptoms are reduced when marijuana use replace this non functioning 2-AG in the body. (Source)

Researchers at Stanford University studied mice in which two synapse-adhesion proteins led to a block or slowing of signaling in their brains. This study reflects another form of the spectrum of autism in which there are mutations in neurologin-3 (NL-3) and R451. This study showed that the CB1 receptors  which are affected by these mutations can be helped through targeting of this receptor through use of marijuana treatment.(Source)

The researchers studied mutations in neurologin-3 (NL-3) and R451. . The mutation of neurologin-3 (NL-3), a gene encoding a protein that builds and maintains synapses, demonstrated a deletion of the entire gene.  In contrast the mutation of R451, demonstrated a single amino acid substitution. Both of these mutations have shown to be associated with autism in humans. (Source)

Success Stories

A family in San Diego wrote about their adopted son Sam that who showed signs of autism at 18 months old. The family gave doses of marijuana to their son at age 8 and documented changes in his behavior through a daily journal  read here). Their observations showed behaviors of agitation and aggression diminished leaving their son with a calm focused attention which was previously unobserved in his daily behavior.

Alex Echols, a resident of Oregon, suffers from a form of autism called tuberous sclerosis.  This form of autism has been shown to cause non-malignant tumors in organs. These tumors have affected his brain functions  to the point where he experiences powerful seizures and engages in self- inflicted harm. After trying many different drugs with Alex to no avail his parents decided to give him cannabis.   This resulted in a major reduction in self inflicted harm and a an increased relaxation in use of his hands for exploration. (Source)

Source:

http://www.autismspeaks.org/what-autism

https://decryptedmatrix.com/live/marijuana-cannabinoids-found-to-help-combat-autism/

http://www.nature.com/ncomms/journal/v3/n9/full/ncomms2045.html?WT.ec_id=NCOMMS-20120925

http://www.letfreedomgrow.com/cmu/SamsStory.htm

http://www.autismdailynewscast.com/studies-finds-link-between-autism-and-cannabinoids/921/laurel-joss/