Saturday, November 9, 2013

Cannabis Can Treat Bladder Pain, Inflammation

Cannabis for the bladder has this to say:
A new study published in the Journal of Urology has found that activation of the body’s CB2 receptors has the potential to treat bladder pain and inflammation, and can increase bladder urinary frequency.

For the study, researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison used mouse models to examine whether or not activation of CB2 receptors (something which cannabis does naturally) can treat serious bladder issues; the results were quite clear that it does.

Here is the study conclusion:
Treatment with a selective CB2 agonist reduced severity of established acrolein-induced cystitis and inhibited bladder inflammation-associated increased referred mechanical sensitivity and increased bladder urinary frequency. Our data indicate that CB2 receptor is a potential therapeutic target for treatment of painful inflammatory bladder diseases.

Note: an agonist enhances activity. An antagonist reduces activity.

Sunday, November 3, 2013

Cannabidiol Reduces Tobacco Use

You can find the full report at Science Direct.
The role of the endocannabinoid system in nicotine addiction is being increasingly acknowledged. We conducted a pilot, randomised double blind placebo controlled study set out to assess the impact of the ad-hoc use of cannabidiol (CBD) in smokers who wished to stop smoking. 24 smokers were randomised to receive an inhaler of CBD (n = 12) or placebo (n = 12) for one week, they were instructed to use the inhaler when they felt the urge to smoke. Over the treatment week, placebo treated smokers showed no differences in number of cigarettes smoked. In contrast, those treated with CBD significantly reduced the number of cigarettes smoked by ~ 40% during treatment. Results also indicated some maintenance of this effect at follow-up. These preliminary data, combined with the strong preclinical rationale for use of this compound, suggest CBD to be a potential treatment for nicotine addiction that warrants further exploration.