The Benefits of the Terepene Isopulegol in Cannabis

Isopulegol in Cannabis gives a minty odor and flavor. Found in eucalyptus it is a chemical compound formed from cintronellal to make a monoterpene. It's menthol properties gives a soothing taste and sensation that is calming.

Health benefits are minimal as it is usually found in low concentrations. The menthol scent can overpower the other medicinal properties.(Source) Isopulegol along with other menthol oils have shown to give a cooling effect, be anti-inflammatory, an emollient, aid in breathing and ease from aches and pains. It has the ability to target the nerve receptor TRPV1 to extend sensory feelings.(Source)

Research shows promising benefits with isopulegol for the gastrointestinal tract as well as reducing seizures. Ulcers were found to be improved by prostaglandins, K(ATP) channel openings and antioxidant properties.(Source) Seizures were found to be reduced for isopulegols ability to affect the GABA system and it's antioxidants.(Source)

Source:

https://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=295057

http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/296517/isopulegol

http://www.poseidonsciences.com/anti-inflammatory.html

http://planetofhealth.eu/uimage/product/MedicalSudiesOil77.pdf

http://www.google.com/patents/US6267974

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19479241

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19559770

The Benefits of the Terpene 1,8 Cineole in Cannabis

Cineole also known as eucalyptol is an essential oil found in rosemary, eucalyptus and cannabis. It is a monoterpene naturally found that is safe in low concentrations. Cineole contributes to an “Entourage Effect” to support other medicinal values of marijuana.

Cineole helps the blood-brain barrier to allow other cannabinoids to penetrate more readily into the bloodstream.(Source) This allows it to aid in topical applications for pain and inflammation.(Source) It has also shown to help with circulation.(Source) Cineole affects the GABA receptors of the brain creating a balance in mood.(Source)

Cineole is known to have a spicy, camphor scent that is refreshing like rosemary. It is generally found more in sativa strains being known to give energy and an uplifting effect. Strains like Super Silver Haze, ChemDawg, and Bubba Kush are known to be high in eucalyptol.

Source:

https://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=275717

http://www.feingold.org/Research/PDFstudies/Aoshima1999-open.pdf

http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10886-005-8393-0

http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ecam/2013/502727/

http://theida.com/ew/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/Neuropathies-Essential-oils-show-promising-results-in-the-fight-against-symptoms.pdf

Cannabis and How it Helps Anxiety

 

Cannabis Treatment for Anxiety

  Anxiety is a natural experience for most of us. It makes us feel uneasy, stressed and agitated. When anxiety disables someone from carrying on a normal life, it becomes a disorder.  Cannabis is a safe and natural way to cope with the symptoms of Anxiety Disorder. OUTCOin San Diego is a legally licensed dispensary which provides cannabis for a variety of medical issues, including Anxiety Disorder.

What is an Anxiety Disorder
  Anxiety disorder can occur as a panic, social, phobia or a generalized worry that won't go away. Symptoms include fear, panic, insomnia, quick breath, racing heart, inability to self-sooth, dry mouth, nausea, tense muscles, dizziness, and clammy or numb hands and feet. Environmental stress, heredity, and trauma are factors that contribute to this disorder.

Anxiety and the Brain
  Receptors in the brain that control fear and emotion contribute to the feeling of anxiety.  Prolonged stress can alter the way these nerve cells transmit information leading to a long lasting anxiety disorder.(Source)

  Commonly prescribed drugs to treat anxiety such as Valium and Librium block the GABA receptors. When these receptors are blocked, the body can calm anxiety and fear-based emotions.  Cannabis has been shown to regulate anxiety by blocking the GABA receptor.(Source)

  The CB1 receptor also controls anxiety in the brain functions.  Studies have shown that regulating the CB1 receptor reduces anxiety.(Source) Cannabis has been continually proven to affect the CB1 receptorthrough research studies.(Source) Cannabis regulates mood and anxiety by controlling the CB1 receptors.(source) 

   Sachin Patel, M.D., Ph.D., professor of Psychiatry and Molecular Physiology and Biophysics in Vanderbilt, has been at the forefront of research for the benefits of cannabis relating to brain function. Published in the March 2014 issue of Neuron he writes about endocannabinoids in the amygdala. The amygdala regulates memory, anxiety and the "fight or flight" response in the brain.

   Long term stress and trauma can result in a reduction of endocannabinoids being produced in the amygdala resulting in an increased feeling of anxiety. Light users of marijuana can experience treatment in anxiety by increasing the endocannabinoids needed to regulate the emotion. In contrast, chronic marijuana users reduce the effectiveness of the endocannabioids creating a paradox of an increase in anxiety.(Source) 

   Cannabis regulates the brain function to aid in the treatment of anxiety disorder.  OUTCO dispensary in San Diego has knowledgeable staff that can discuss which options are right for each patient.

Source:
http://www.webmd.com/anxiety-panic/guide/mental-health-anxiety-disorders
http://thebrain.mcgill.ca/flash/d/d_04/d_04_m/d_04_m_peu/d_04_m_peu.html
http://outcoca.blogspot.com/2014/11/how-marijuana-effects-gaba-in-nervous.html
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23647582
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16148437
http://news.vanderbilt.edu/2014/03/discovery-sheds-new-light-on-marijuana-anxiety-relief-effects/

The Benefits of Cannabis for Epilepsy

Cannabis with a high content of Cannabidiol CBD have been found to help treat epilepsy in some patients. A certain type of epilepsy, called Dravet Syndrome has shown the most promising treatment with marijuana than other types of epilepsy. Most treatment is administered with a cannabis oil from the Charlotte's Web Strain made by a non-profit organization Realm of Caring(Source), however much of the CBD rich cannabis administered gives similar treatment and different concentrations of CBD, THC and THCA are needed for a more precise treatment for the patient. Legislation and regulation of the medicine is targeting a CBD only medicine, but many believe it is the whole plant that offer the effects, not just the CBD cannabinoid.(Source)

Here is a compiled list of studies that show the benefits of Cannabis with Epilepsy:

September 2003 - The Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics - The Endogenous Cannabinoid System Regulates Seizure Frequency and Duration in a Model of Temporal Lobe Epilepsy
This study showed in rats that had epileptic seizures to be reduces or terminated with THC and CBD from the effect that the cannabinoids had on the CB1 Receptors.

March 2004 – US National Library of Medicine - Endocannabinoid Effects on Febrile Seizures: Not Just a Toke(n) Mechanism
This study showed that in rats a febrile seizure lasting up to 22 minutes was regulated or terminated with cannabis from it's ability to inhibit GABA, a form of neurotransmitters, which also shows that the result of seizures relies in the increase of GABA being released.

May 2004 – US National Library of Medicine - Cannabinoids: Defending the Epileptic Brain
Another study showing the benefits of Cannabis affecting mice in the CB1 receptors, using both the THC and CBD.

June 2004 – Neurology.org - Marijuana use and epilepsy
This is a telephone survey, calling people with epilepsy and finding if they have used marijuana treatment and their findings. 24% of patients called felt that marijuana was an effective treatment for their epilepsy.

November 2004 – ScienceDirect.com - On-demand activation of the endocannabinoid system in the control of neuronal excitability and epileptiform seizures
This study formulates a theory that certain types of seizures can be surpressed or increased with the cannabinoid system and how it regulates the GABA can help regulate the endocannabinoid system.

January 2006 – US National Library of Medicine - Endocannabinoids: A Critical Regulator of Activity in the Developing Brain
 Study showing that the theory that during pregnancy the interferance with marijuana to inhibit CB1 activity or an obesity drug that increases CB1 activity can disrupt the developing endocannabinoid system.

Marijuana and Epilepsy – page on Neuro Science Fundamentals This article talks about Charlotte Figi's story and the introduction of the Charlotte's Web strain to help treat epilepsy.
Edward Maa M.D, an assistant professor at the University of Colorado Department of Neurology,is conducting a study at University of Colorado Anshutz Medical Campus on epilepsy research. The study will separate epilepsy sufferers in two groups of whether the Charlotte's Web strain reduces the epilepsy symptoms by 50% and another group that the symptoms are not helped by the cannabis strain. He will do genetic analysis to find out what the differences in the epilepsy is to help target the marijuana to the correct patients.(Source)

On July 28^th, 2014 The Realm of Caring released the Charlotte's Web Medical Hemp Act of 2014 to legalize federally the CBD only oil for epilepsy. Many believe this is not a complete effort for treatment, Edward Maa is at the forefront in writing articles on how important it is for the treatment to use the whole plant, just not the isolated Cannabidiol CBD.(Source) Jason David, a parent treating his 7 year old son with epilepsy mentions in a report by ladybud.com that his son Jayden suffered from the wrong concentration of cannabinoids from the Charlotte's Web strain. He states:

“They’re not telling the whole truth,” says David. “There’s no way possible that all these children in Colorado could get seizure control and get off all their medications without using different ratios and adding THC and THCA (which are not allowed by the newly proposed legislation). Charlotte’s Web can work great in the beginning but it’s impossible to get off all the medications and go through benzo withdrawals without being able to play with the THC ratios.” (Source)

 
Source: http://time.com/3264691/medical-marijauna-epilepsy-research-charlottes-web-study/ http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/epi.12610/abstract http://www.ladybud.com/2014/07/29/a-limited-amount-of-caring-parents-and-advocates-react-to-realm-of-carings-federal-cbd-only-bill/ http://theroc.us/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=22:charlotte-s-web-medical-hemp-act-of-2014&Itemid=498

How Marijuana Effects GABA in the Nervous System

In short, GABA is a neurotransmitter in the mammal central nervous system that can repress excitability in the neurons in the nervous system and regulation in muscle tone. GABA is an abbreviation for gamma-Aminobutyric Acid which is an amino acid, which are secondary to water to being the biggest component in cells, tissue and muscle that are critical to biosynthesis and being a neurotransmitter. Cannabis plays a crucial role with the endocannabinoid system in suppressing the GABA, aiding in increasing dopamine levels which can help in treatments with medical marijuana.

GABA acts differently in stages of life, playing a roll in the developing brain as an excitatory component in the brain, while in adulthood acting as an inhibition in the brain. GABA regulates embryonic and neural stem cell growth. GABA has been found in the intestine, stomach, pancreas, fallopian tubes, uterus, ovaries, testis, kidney, bladder, lung, liver, lungs, melatonin and eye lens.(Source)

GABA makes up 40% of nerve cells, where glutamate makes up 30%. Glutamate offers excitability to the nervous system and also the brain synthesizes glutamate into GABA, which regulates the excitability, causing a check and balance, or ying and yang effect of controlling the functions. GABA inhibits nerve cells from growing, aggressive behavior, and regulates hyperactivity. (Source)

How Marijuana Inhibits GABA

Marijuana use effects the neurotransmitter GABA by blocking it. The result is increasing dopamine levels which normally GABA inhibits or regulates. Dopamine offers a mood shift of reward for the brain that is released with sex, exercise, appetite, learning, sleep, movement and mood.(Source)

Cannabis effects the cannabinoid receptors, namely Cb1 and Cb2 that mimic a naturally created endogenous molecule, anadamide. Anadamide is an Omega 6 fatty acid that regulates appetite, cognition, emotion, memory, mood and pain. Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and other Cannabinoids found in marijuana can effect anadamide and therefore effect the endocannabinoid central nervous system.

THC, for instance, binds to the CB1 receptors, which reduces the enzyme cAMP which results in less protein kinase A. This results in potassium and calcium channels that ends up reducing the amount of neurotransmitters being released. This chemical reaction is the result of reducing GABA. A reduction in GABA results in an increase in dopamine. Dopamine do not effect the CB1 receptors. (Source)

Treatments From Inhibiting GABA

Research is still needed for more conclusive results, but promising studies and theories show that cannabis can be an effective treatment for it's ability to effect GABA including:

• Tinnitus – A brain induced ringing in the ear.

• Fibromyalgia – Tenderness in joints, muscles and other soft tissues.

• Anxiety – Stress inducing fear, unease and worry.

• Addiction – The difficulty to stop using substances.

• Schizophrenia – Difficulty knowing what is real and not, thinking clearly to have normal responses.

Source:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gamma-Aminobutyric_acid

http://www.leafscience.com/2014/05/10/marijuana-dopamine-science/

http://countyourculture.com/tag/gaba/

http://thebrain.mcgill.ca/flash/i/i_03/i_03_m/i_03_m_par/i_03_m_par_cannabis.html

An Explanation of the Effects of the CB1 and CB2 Receptors

Cannabis has been found to have a direct effect on the cannabinoid receptors system in the brain. These receptors have a direct relation to appetite, pain-sensation, memory and mood. As the largest receptors in the body, they are influenced by ligands, endocannabinoids, phytocannabinoids like cannabis echinacea purpura, and synthetic cannabinoids. Cannabis as well as the endocannabinoids are fat-soluble, or lipophilic. The two known cannabinoid receptors are CB1 and CB2.(Source)

Plants create cannabinoids to help their homeostasis as a plant, having antioxidant properties to protect from UV rays which in turn helps the plant from disease. In animals, antioxidants help to protect as well from UV rays and free radical damage that can result in cancer and disease.(Source)

Interestingly, the marijuana plant also uses THC and other cannabinoids to promote its own health and prevent disease. Cannabinoids have antioxidant properties that protect the leaves and flowering structures from ultraviolet radiation - cannabinoids neutralize the harmful free radicals generated by UV rays, protecting the cells. In humans, free radicals cause aging, cancer, and impaired healing. Antioxidants found in plants have long been promoted as natural supplements to prevent free radical harm.

Cannabinoid receptors effect the G protein coupled receptor family, which are the cause of many diseases, 40% of all modern medicinal drugs target the G protein receptors.(source) The goal of the endocannabinoid system in the body is to maintain homeostatis, or an internal stable environment in the body. (Source)

Important Functions of the Cannabinoid System

There are many important and diverse functions to keep the body in a constant homeostasis. Here are a couple examples:

1. The cannabinoid system deals with autophagy, where a cell self-digests and recycles itself. This process keeps healthy cells healthy and also rids the body of malignant tumor cells having them consume themselves in a cellular suicide.
2. The cannabinoid system reduces pain to injuries. The injured tissue sends activators and sensitizer signals to stop excessive nerve cell firing, calming the sensation and the immune cells to not have them cause an excessive inflammation.
3. The cannabinoid system effects human behavior and mood. The receptors trigger a neuronal placticity, allowing for the brain to be open-minded and able to move beyond common patterns of thought to allow for creativity and aid in social interaction.

CB1 Receptor

CB1 receptors are in the central nervous system of the brain, lungs, liver and kidneys. They are the biggest group of G-coupled receptors in the brain. Cannabinoids effect a reduction of the GABA mediated neurotransmission, which results in an increase of neuron excitability.(Source) They effect memory processing, pain regulation and motor control. (Source)

CB 2 Receptor

CB2 receptors are in the immune system and hematopoietic cells (Blood cells that help create other blood cells found in red bone marrow), white blood cells, tonsils and spleen. This receptor effects the relief of pain, and more research is showing that it effects smooth muscle, fibroblasts and others. The main function of the CB2 receptor is the regulation of cytokine release, which research is looking into the benefit of anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer treatments. (Source) Cytokines signal cells to communicate in immune responses to inflammation, infection and trauma.(Source)

Source:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabinoid_receptor

http://pubs.acs.org/subscribe/journals/mdd/v07/i11/html/1104feature_filmore.html

http://norml.org/library/item/introduction-to-the-endocannabinoid-system

http://www.news-medical.net/health/Cannabinoid-Receptors.aspx

http://www.news-medical.net/health/What-are-Cytokines.aspx