As marijuana (for medical and recreational use) is becoming more widely accepted in our society, it is only natural that the opportunities to study the medicinal uses of the plant are becoming easier to achieve. Unfortunately, not all of these studies – though remarkable – get the media attention they deserve.
Below are four recent studies that show the surprising ways in which cannabis and CBD oil can affect various health conditions.
CB1 Receptors
Research out of Texas A&M and UConn focused on how THC reacts with CB1 receptors in particular, which could lead to an understanding of how THC compounds are able to alter the duration, intensity and/or effect of said receptors. This research could lead to scientists being able to target which receptors are effected by certain cannabis-based medication. (For example, a treatment that triggers the receptor for pain reduction, but ignores the one(s) that leads to paranoia or the munchies.)
Anti-Psychotic Property Study
Researchers from the University of Western Ontario are working to reveal cannabis’ promise by helping manage schizophrenia. While THC is currently good at hitting all the right receptors that cause schizophrenia-like symptoms (i.e. confusion, hallucinations, etc.), CBD oils show promise at curbing these same symptoms.
CBD and Neurodegenerative Disorders
Researchers from the University College of Dublin, Ireland are testing the effects of CBD oil on neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer’s. The research team is drawing on cannabis’ anti-inflammatory properties, as well as the neuroprotective effects that have been recorded when studying cultured brain cells.
CBG and Muscle Loss
A study out of the University of Reading, Berkshire (UK) focused on the way CBG (cannabigerol) – not to be mistaken for CBD – interacts with muscles, specifically how advance-stage cancer patients rapidly lose muscle mass. The study’s goal was to discover what triggers this loss and how to stop/reverse it.