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.
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