Helping Schizophrenics

Cannabidiol enhances anandamide signaling and alleviates psychotic symptoms of schizophrenia.

Cannabidiol is a component of marijuana that does not activate cannabinoid receptors, but moderately inhibits the degradation of the endocannabinoid anandamide. We previously reported that an elevation of anandamide levels in cerebrospinal fluid inversely correlated to psychotic symptoms. Furthermore, enhanced anandamide signaling let to a lower transition rate from initial prodromal states into frank psychosis as well as postponed transition. In our translational approach, we performed a double-blind, randomized clinical trial of cannabidiol vs amisulpride, a potent antipsychotic, in acute schizophrenia to evaluate the clinical relevance of our initial findings. Either treatment was safe and led to significant clinical improvement, but cannabidiol displayed a markedly superior side-effect profile. Moreover, cannabidiol treatment was accompanied by a significant increase in serum anandamide levels, which was significantly associated with clinical improvement. The results suggest that inhibition of anandamide deactivation may contribute to the antipsychotic effects of cannabidiol potentially representing a completely new mechanism in the treatment of schizophrenia.

You can find out more about cannabidiol at Endocannabinoids - The Science.

Uruguay - Marijuana Biotech Hub

Uruguay is about to become a biotech hub for medical marijuana research.

Presidential Spokesman Diego Canepa said Monday that foreign labs have told the government they'd like to set up there. Canepa is quoted by the local daily El Observador as saying that "Uruguay will become a hub for biotechnology."

It is about time there was a place in the world that research on the medical potential of cannabis can be done.

If only the Federal government in the US could see the potential.

DNA, PTSD, Abused Children, And Cannabis

At Cannabis For PTSD I had some videos on the uses of cannabis for those who suffer from PTSD. I thought it might be a good idea to go into the subject a little deeper from the aspect of abused children.

from Genome Advance of the Month - Child abuse leaves epigenetic marks By Roseanne Zhao, Ph.D. - NIH Medical Scientist Training Program Track 3 Scholar

In addition to harming the immediate wellbeing of the child, maltreatment and extreme stress during childhood can impair early brain development and metabolic and immune system function, leading to chronic health problems. As a consequence, abused children are at increased risk for a wide range of physical health conditions including obesity, heart disease, and cancer, as well as psychiatric conditions such as depression, suicide, drug and alcohol abuse, high-risk behaviors and violence.

They are also more susceptible to developing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)-a severe and debilitating stress-related psychiatric disorder-after experiencing other types of trauma later in life.

Part of the explanation is that child abuse can leave marks, not only physically and emotionally, but also in the form of epigenetic marks on a child's genes. Although these epigenetic marks do not cause mutations in the DNA itself, the chemical modifications-including DNA methylation-change gene expression by silencing (or activating) genes. This can alter fundamental biological processes and adversely affect health outcomes throughout life.

New research, published in the May 14, 2013, issue of the Proceedings for the National Academy of Sciences, shows that PTSD patients who were abused as children have different patterns of DNA methylation and gene expression compared to those who were not.

Another good article on the subject: The Road to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Begins at the Intersection of DNA and Childhood Trauma

Our genetic predispositions are only part of the equation when it comes to determining our risk for developing psychiatric disorders. Exposure to stressful environments during critical periods of brain development plays a dramatic role in changing gene function and influencing response to traumatic events in adulthood.

The National Institute of Mental Health defines post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as an anxiety disorder arising in the aftermath of living through a dangerous or traumatic event. In PTSD the “fight-or-flight” response to fearful stimuli is activated in situations where it is not necessary for the body to defend itself from harm. It does not affect every individual who has been exposed to trauma. A major question in the field is how variations at the molecular level alter the likelihood that a person will develop PTSD.

In an insightful paper recently published in Nature Neuroscience, Klengel et al. shed light on the mystery of how genetic variability and life experiences alter our chances for developing neuropsychiatric disorders later in life. The authors identified single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (DNA sequence variations that differ across members of the population) in the FKBP5 gene. Variations in this gene alone were not enough to predict adult PTSD, but if the individual had been exposed to trauma as a child and had the genetic variation, the chances increased. Gene-environment interaction is a term used to explain situations where an individual’s likelihood of having a particular disorder or disease is dependent on a risk allele that arises from exposure to a specific environment early in life.

The researchers continued their quest by pinpointing the specific DNA change underlying the increased risk for developing PTSD later in life. During development, our DNA undergoes changes that result in the addition or removal of methyl groups. Methylation modifies DNA and can result in increased expression of a particular gene or gene silencing. Traumatic events can change DNA methylation beginning during development and continuing through adulthood. The researchers observed that FKBP5, which is a risk allele for a stress response regulator, had an altered methylation state in children exposed to trauma.

Some other links:

A video on the Limbic system - Hallucinations, PTSD

DNA of PTSD

PTSD and DNA Methylation in Select Immune Function Gene Promoter Regions: A Repeated Measures Case-Control Study of U.S. Military Service Members.

General use of cannabis for PTSD Symptoms

Endocannabinoids For Brain Injury

Neuroimmmune interactions of cannabinoids in neurogenesis - Abstract.

Thus the endocannabinoid system, which has neuroprotective and immunomodulatory actions mediated by IL-1 signalling cascades in the brain, could assist the process of proliferation and differentiation of embryonic or adult NSCs, and this may be of therapeutic interest in the emerging field of brain repair.

Cannabis For PTSD

More and More US Veterans are Smoking Weed to Treat Their PTSD

Veterans For Medical Cannabis

Combat Veteran Believes Medicinal Marijuana Can Help Treat PTSD

Marijuana may help PTSD. Why won’t the government find out for sure?

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.

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.

Michael J. Fox On Cannabis Oil For Parkinson's Disease

Michael shows up about 2 minutes into the video. Don't miss the beginning where a woman discusses how hemp oil helped with her husband's Parkinson's Disease. You can hear the "pine nut" reference at about 8:40 in.

Rick Simpson's Hemp Oil.

A Resource For Illinois

I had a long discussion this past Saturday with Steve Bloome of Illinois Medical Marijuana Network. Their main service is

CONNECTING PATIENTS WITH PROVIDERS
If you need help navigating the Illinois Medical Marijuana laws Steve's site is a good place to start.

Cancer Research Chemist Cured His Prostate Cancer

The interviewer is lousy but otherwise Biochemist Dennis Hill makes a very good case.

If you would like to read more about his treatment regimen may I suggest Biochemist Dennis Hill, who cured his stage 4 prostate cancer with Cannabis oil, explains how it works. Here is his latest report:

Most recent update from Dennis Hill (2.28.13):

My progress is good. Asked my doctor the meaning of my last three PSAs. He said: The PSA has not risen over 2.4 in nine months, we can presume the cancer is in remission. Music to my ears. Cannabinoid extract wins again. Huzzah!

Who is Dennis Hill?

Biochemist Dennis Hill graduated from the University of Houston and did his Graduate Work at Baylor Medical School. Dennis worked as a Cancer Researcher at the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. When Dennis was diagnosed with advanced stage prostate cancer, which had metastasized to other parts of his body, he started researching. Since Dennis has a family history of prostate cancer, and he often witnessed ineffective results while working in cancer research, he felt a new approach was in order.

After researching possible alternatives Dennis ran across information about Rick Simpson using cannabis concentrate, which is an extract of the essential oil which is extracted from marijuana and contains cannabinoids. Simpson was using the oil to treat a wide variety of illness, including cancer. The more Dennis researched, the more he understood how cannabis worked on cancer. He has included 2 papers for the review of anyone interested that go into the science of how cannabis kills cancer.