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As Cannabis Users Age, Health Risks Appear to Grow

The AHA! Team — Wed, 13 Aug 2025 05:57:54 +0000

KFF Health News via News-Medical – “If you view cannabis as a medicine, you should be open to the idea that there are groups who probably shouldn’t use it and that there are potential adverse effects from it,” – “Because that is true of all medicines.” A cautionary tale Benjamin Han, a geriatrician and addiction medicine specialist at the University of California-San Diego, tells his students a cautionary tale about a 76-year-old patient who, like many older people, struggled with insomnia. “She had problems falling asleep, and she’d wake up in the middle of the night,” he said. “So her daughter brought her some sleep gummies” — edible cannabis candies. “She tried a gummy after dinner and waited half an hour,” Han said. Feeling no effects, she took another gummy, then one more — a total of four over several hours. Han advises patients who are trying cannabis to “start low; go slow,” beginning with products that contain just 1 or 2.5 milligrams of tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, the psychoactive ingredient that many cannabis products contain. Each of the four gummies this patient took, however, contained 10 milligrams. The woman started experiencing intense anxiety and heart palpitations. A young person might have shrugged off such symptoms, but this patient had high blood pressure and atrial fibrillation, a heart arrhythmia. Frightened, she went to an emergency room. Lab tests and a cardiac work-up determined the woman wasn’t having a heart attack, and the staff sent her home. Her only lingering symptom was embarrassment, Han said. But what if she’d grown dizzy or lightheaded and was hurt in a fall? He said he has had patients injured in falls or while driving after using cannabis. What if the cannabis had interacted with the prescription drugs she took? “As a geriatrician, it gives me pause,” Han said. “Our brains are more sensitive to psychoactive substances as we age.” Thirty-nine states and the District of Columbia now allow cannabis use for medical reasons, and in 24 of those states, as well as the district, recreational use is also legal. As older adults’ use climbs, “the benefits are still unclear,” Han said. “But we’re seeing more evidence of potential harms.” A wave of recent research points to reasons for concern for older users, with cannabis-related emergency room visits and hospitalizations rising, and a Canadian study finding an association between such acute care and subsequent dementia. Older people are more apt than younger ones to try cannabis for therapeutic reasons: to relieve chronic pain, insomnia, or mental health issues, though evidence of its effectiveness in addressing those conditions remains thin, experts said. In an analysis of national survey data published June 2 in the medical journal JAMA, Han and his colleagues reported that “current” cannabis use (defined as use within the previous month) had jumped among adults age 65 or older to 7% of respondents in 2023, from 4.8% in 2021. In 2005, he pointed out, fewer than 1% of older adults reported using cannabis in the previous year. What’s driving the increase? Experts cite the steady march of state legalization — use by older people is highest in those states — while surveys show that the perceived risk of cannabis use has declined. One national survey found that a growing proportion of American adults — 44% in 2021 — erroneously thought it safer to smoke cannabis daily than cigarettes. The authors of the study, in JAMA Network Open, noted that “these views do not reflect the existing science on cannabis and tobacco smoke.” The cannabis industry also markets its products to older adults. The Trulieve chain gives a 10% discount, both in stores and online, to those it calls “wisdom” customers, 55 or older. Rise Dispensaries ran a yearlong cannabis education and empowerment program for two senior centers in Paterson, New Jersey, including field trips to its dispensary. The industry has many satisfied older customers. Liz Logan, 67, a freelance writer in Bronxville, New York, had grappled with sleep problems and anxiety for years, but the conditions grew particularly debilitating two years ago, as her husband was dying of Parkinson’s disease. “I’d frequently be awake until 5 or 6 in the morning,” she said. “It makes you crazy.” Looking online for edible cannabis products, Logan found that gummies containing cannabidiol, known as CBD, alone didn’t help, but those with 10 milligrams of THC did the trick without noticeable side effects. “I don’t worry about sleep anymore,” she said. “I’ve solved a lifelong problem.” But studies in the United States and Canada, which legalized nonmedical cannabis use for adults nationally in 2018, show climbing rates of cannabis-related health care use among older people, both in outpatient settings and in hospitals. California In California, for instance, cannabis-related emergency room visits by those 65 or older rose, to 395 per 100,000 visits in 2019 from about 21 in 2005. In Ontario, acute care (meaning emergency visits or hospital admissions) resulting from cannabis use increased fivefold in middle-aged adults from 2008 to 2021, and more than 26 times among those 65 and up. “It’s not reflective of everyone who’s using cannabis,” cautioned Daniel Myran, an investigator at the Bruyère Health Research Institute in Ottawa and lead author of the Ontario study. “It’s capturing people with more severe patterns.” But since other studies have shown increased cardiac risk among some cannabis users with heart disease or diabetes, “there’s a number of warning signals,” he said. Cannabis use disorder For example, a disturbing proportion of older veterans who currently use cannabis screen positive for cannabis use disorder, a recent JAMA Network Open study found. As with other substance use disorders, such patients “can tolerate high amounts,” said the lead author, Vira Pravosud, a cannabis researcher at the Northern California Institute for Research and Education. “They continue using even if it interferes with their social or work or family obligations” and may experience withdrawal if they stop. Among 4,500 older veterans (with an average age of 73) seeking care at Department of Veterans Affairs health facilities, researchers found that more than 10% had reported cannabis use within the previous 30 days. Of those, 36% fit the criteria for mild, moderate, or severe cannabis use disorder, as established in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. VA patients differ from the general population, Pravosud noted. They are much more likely to report substance misuse and have “higher rates of chronic diseases and disabilities, and mental health conditions like PTSD” that could lead to self-medication, she said. Current VA policies don’t require clinicians to ask patients about cannabis use. Pravosud thinks that they should. Moreover, “there’s increasing evidence of a potential effect on memory and cognition,” said Myran, citing his team’s study of Ontario patients with cannabis-related conditions going to emergency departments or being admitted to hospitals. Comparisons Compared with others of the same age and sex who were seeking care for other reasons, research shows these patients (ages 45 to 105) had 1.5 times the risk of a dementia diagnosis within five years, and 3.9 times the risk of that for the general population. Even after adjusting for chronic health conditions and sociodemographic factors, those seeking acute care resulting from cannabis use had a 23% higher dementia risk than patients with noncannabis-related ailments, and a 72% higher risk than the general population. None of these studies were randomized clinical trials, the researchers pointed out; they were observational and could not ascertain causality. Some cannabis research doesn’t specify whether users are smoking, vaping, ingesting or rubbing topical cannabis on aching joints; other studies lack relevant demographic information. Safer modes of consumption “It’s very frustrating that we’re not able to provide more individual guidance on safer modes of consumption, and on amounts of use that seem lower-risk,” Myran said. “It just highlights that the rapid expansion of regular cannabis use in North America is outpacing our knowledge.” Still, given the health vulnerabilities of older people, and the far greater potency of current cannabis products compared with the weed of their youth, he and other researchers urge caution. “If you view cannabis as a medicine, you should be open to the idea that there are groups who probably shouldn’t use it and that there are potential adverse effects from it,” he said. “Because that is true of all medicines.” Source: KFF Health News To read the original article click here.

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Can CBD Actually Help with Anxiety?

AHA Publisher — Wed, 06 Apr 2022 07:00:05 +0000

Dr. Caroline Leaf – In this podcast (episode #367) and blog, I talk to NED founders Ret and Adriaan about CBD, treating mental health issues holistically, natural remedies for anxiety and stress, and more. CBD is just one part of the hemp plant that has multiple health benefits. This is why the team at NED focuses on using only oil extracted from USDA Certified Organic hemp plants, grown by an independent farmer named Jonathan in Paonia, CO. (If you have a minute, do an image search for Paonia, Colorado—it is gorgeous!) This is one of the main reasons they are able to produce full-spectrum hemp oil from high quality hemp flowers that contain both cannabidiol (CBD) and its accompanying phytocannabinoids. Why is this so important? Focusing on the whole plant helps us better digest and use all the health benefits that the hemp plant offers by allowing the cannabinoids to bind to our extra-cellular receptors—it’s not just about CBD! These receptors are found throughout the body and help absorb naturally-occurring endocannabinoids in the body, which are important when it comes to regulating pain, moods, brain function and more. As often happens in life, sometimes these endocannabinoids don’t get produced, and we need to supplement with natural products to put our systems back into balance. If the endocannabinoid system is functioning well, it helps create homeostasis (or balance) throughout the brain and body at a base level. Cumulatively, this helps to prevent inflammation in the brain, foggy thinking, emotional burnout, lack of cognitive fluency and other brain issues. This is also the case with mental distress and anxiety. Many people have found that CBD products help them calm down and think more clearly in stressful situations by harmonizing the mind and helping balance the many systems of the brain and body. It is important to note here that CBD is not the same as weed/marijuana. Weed contains the active ingredient THC, which is what makes people feel high when they ingest or smoke it. CBD, on the other hand, is one of the two major cannabinoids in the hemp plant, and only contains trace amounts of THC from the extraction process—it is the plant that gets you “well”, rather than high. I personally use Ned’s CBD products to de-stress and improve my sleeping habits because they are chock full of premium CBD and a full spectrum of active cannabinoids, terpenes, flavonoids, and trichomes. Ned’s full spectrum hemp oil helps nourish and enhance the body’s endocannabinoid system to offer functional support for stress, sleep, inflammation and balance. I especially love Ned’s De-Stress Blend, which has so much more than just CBD. Like all their products, they designed this blend to help people feel better using what is available in the natural world. The 1:1 formula of their sleep blend uses CBD and CBG made from the world’s purest full spectrum hemp and features a botanical infusion of ashwagandha, cardamom and cinnamon, which have the following properties: CBG is known as “the mother of all cannabinoids” because of how effective it is at combatting anxiety and stress by inhibiting the re-uptake of GABA, the neurotransmitter responsible for stress regulation. Ashwagandha is an amazing Ayurvedic adaptogen that enhances your body’s resilience to stress. Cardamom and cinnamon make the blend taste delicious! Cinnamon is also a powerful prebiotic that supports your gut health, a key player in your mental health, while cardamom combats stress by helping reduce your blood pressure and cortisol levels. Another NED product I love is their Mellö Magnesium supplement blend with 3 forms of chelated magnesium, GABA, L-theanine, and over 70 trace minerals. This blend is specifically designed to support memory, mood, brain function, the stress response, nerve and muscle health and sleep. I love that it is a full spectrum magnesium supplement that blends three of the most bioavailable and absorbable forms of chelated magnesium to ensure the widest range of whole body benefits, because there is no point in taking a supplement that passes straight through you before your cells can use it. This blend includes magtein® magnesium l-threonate as well. This was developed and patented by MIT scientists for its unique ability to cross the blood-brain barrier and increase intracellular magnesium levels in nerve cells, or neurons, which helps support brain health. Of course, healing and restoring balance in the brain and body is not a quick-fix, one-supplement thing. It takes some time for homeostasis to be achieved, which is why I constantly emphasize that true mental self-care is a lifestyle. This will also look different for everyone, so be careful of thinking that if you take CBD for a week you will feel great because you had a friend who said it helped them immediately. You should always start with the smallest recommended dose of CBD and increase it only if you feel you need more, preferably with the guidance of a professional. You should also make sure you are not allergic to any of the ingredients in the CBD product you want to take. Regular blood tests and consultations with a medical professional can also help you figure out how much CBD is best for your body type and lifestyle, making it most effective. We need to recognize that CBD is not a panacea. It is just one tool in our holistic mental self-care toolkit, alongside detoxing the brain, eating well, spending time in nature, exercising regularly, building the brain, self-regulating our thinking, and the many other mind-management lifestyle techniques I talk about in my books, podcast and blog. To read the original article click here.

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Nature’s Tranquilizer for Better Sleep

AHA Publisher — Thu, 10 Feb 2022 08:00:24 +0000

Al Sears, MD, CNS – Not being able to get a good night’s sleep is one of the biggest complaints I hear from my patients… and it seems to increase as they age. It’s difficult enough for many of them to fall asleep, but once they do get to sleep it’s even more frustrating to suddenly wake up from a deep sleep. These brief periods of unconscious wakefulness are known as “cortical arousal,” and they’re perfectly normal. It’s how your body evolved to protect itself from potential danger. But when they happen too often, they can put your physical health at risk by disrupting the natural circadian rhythm of your body’s cardiovascular system. And that can lead to higher blood pressure, insulin resistance, heart disease – and in some cases, even higher risk of death. Fortunately, there are ways you can naturally overcome this increasingly common disorder – nicknamed “sleep arousal burden” (SAB). You don’t have to rely on Big Pharma’s addictive sleeping pills, either. More on how you can protect your sleep and your heart in a moment. In a new study published in European Heart Journal, researchers from Australia, the Netherlands, Denmark, and the United States examined the sleep patterns of 8,001 older men and women.1 The research came from three separate long-term studies. After analyzing over a decade’s worth of data, the scientists determined that waking up frequently increased the risk of heart disease and death.2 In other words, they found that when it comes to your heart health, it isn’t the quantity of sleep that counts… it’s the quality. Men who experienced SAB more than 8.5% of the time had a 13.4% higher risk of dying from heart disease and 34% increased risk of dying from any cause. The risk to the general population of men at a similar age was 9.6% and 28%, respectively.3 And if you’re a woman, you are particularly at risk… Women who suffered from SAB most often had nearly double the risk of dying from cardiovascular disease compared to women in general.4 The study authors recommend treating SAB by practicing “good sleep hygiene.” That includes losing weight if needed, not eating before bed, and minimizing noise and light pollution. These are all good suggestions. But they don’t get to the root of the problem… Get More of this Mineral for Better Sleep and Robust Heart Health Many people diagnosed with various sleeping disorders — including unconscious wakefulness — are deficient in the mineral magnesium. I call magnesium nature’s all-natural, non-addictive stress reliever and tranquilizer. You see, magnesium enhances the effect of the amino acid tryptophan, which your body needs to make melatonin. Without melatonin you can’t sleep. And without tryptophan, your body also can’t make the neurotransmitter serotonin, which stabilizes your mood balance and calms your brain. Studies have shown that magnesium is a powerful weapon against insomnia and waking up from restless leg syndrome.5,6 But this mineral is also vital for a healthy heart rhythm. Magnesium helps transport the electrolytes like calcium and potassium into cells. Electrolytes are important for the muscle contractions of a normal heartbeat. A magnesium deficiency increases irregular heartbeats known as arrhythmias. In a review published in 2019, researchers found that a low blood level of magnesium increases your risk of developing cardiovascular disease as well as atrial fibrillation, the most common heart rate disorder.7 Magnesium levels in our modern diet have plummeted. A hundred years ago, most Americans consumed more than 400 mg of magnesium per day, thanks to vegetables grown in nutrient-rich soil. Today, the average intake of magnesium is less than 200 mg a day.8 You can get magnesium by eating nuts, seeds, dairy, and dark green, leafy vegetables. But I also recommend supplementing with 1,000 mg a day. The most absorbable forms are magnesium citrate, glycinate taurate, or aspartate. Take it with vitamin B6 to increase the amount of magnesium that accumulates in your cells. 3 More Sleep-Inducing Supplements In addition to taking magnesium, I also recommend you: Take a tiny amount of melatonin. An MIT study shows you only need 0.3 mg for restful sleep. And taking too much causes receptors in the brain to become unresponsive.9 I suggest using a liquid or spray because they hit your bloodstream more quickly. Boost serotonin levels. This “feel good” brain chemical has a naturally calming effect on your body. I’ve had great success treating sleepless patients by recommending the serotonin precursor 5-HTP. I usually start patients on 20 mcg a day, and then gradually increase it to between 50-100 mcg. Don’t forget your CBD. The Center for Applied Health Sciences reported that adults who took CBD experienced a 22% improvement in sleep quality and a 21% improvement in sleep quantity.10In another study, researchers found that patients who took CBD for one month had 67% improved sleep.11 To Your Good Health, Al Sears, MD, CNS References: 1. Shahrbabaki SS, et al. “Sleep arousal burden is associated with long-term all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in 8001 community-dwelling older men and women.” Eur Heart J. Published online April 19, 2021. doi:10.1093/eurheartj/ehab151 2. Shahrbabaki SS, et al. “Sleep arousal burden is associated with long-term all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in 8001 community-dwelling older men and women.” Eur Heart J. Published online April 19, 2021. doi:10.1093/eurheartj/ehab151 3. Shahrbabaki SS, et al. “Sleep arousal burden is associated with long-term all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in 8001 community-dwelling older men and women.” Eur Heart J. Published online April 19, 2021. doi:10.1093/eurheartj/ehab151 4. Shahrbabaki SS, et al. “Sleep arousal burden is associated with long-term all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in 8001 community-dwelling older men and women.” Eur Heart J. Published online April 19, 2021. doi:10.1093/eurheartj/ehab151 5. Abbasi B, et al. “The effect of magnesium supplementation on primary insomnia in elderly: A double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial.” J Res Med Sci. 2012 Dec;17(12):1161-9. 6. Hornyak M , et al. “Magnesium therapy for periodic leg movements-related insomnia and restless legs syndrome: an open pilot study. Sleep. 1998;21(5):501-505 7. Liu M, Dudley S. “Magnesium, oxidative stress, inflammation, and cardiovascular disease.” Antioxidants (Basel). 2020 Oct; 9(10): 907. 8. Rosanoff A, et al. “Suboptimal magnesium status in the United States: are the health consequences underestimated?” Nutr Rev. 2012 Mar;70(3):153-64. 9. Brzeszinski A, et al. “Effects of exogenous melatonin on sleep: A meta-analysis.” Sleep Med Rev. 2005;9(1):41-50. 10. CV Sciences, Inc. (2019, June 17). “Effects of a CBD-containing supercritical fluid extract of hemp on markers of optimal wellness, stress resilience, and recovery in healthy subjects [Press release]. 11. Shannon S, et al. “Cannabidiol in anxiety and sleep: A large case series.” Perm J. 2019;23:18-041. To read the original article click here.

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Is Hemp Oil Safe, Effective, and Healthy? Read This First

AHA Publisher — Thu, 09 Sep 2021 07:00:14 +0000

Dr. Don Colbert – Do you have questions about hemp oil? You’ve likely heard stories of people using it for discomfort and joint stiffness, depressed or anxious moods, and more. But, what is it really? Is it safe? Healthy? Is it legal? Here are the basics of hemp oil, and the potential benefits many users experience. In addition, find out more about our new and exciting product below: Dr. Colbert’s Nano-Science Hemp Oil! Hemp Oil 101 Like most plants found on Earth, the hemp plant has many active compounds. Biologically, hemp is classified as a cannabis plant. It contains a myriad of beneficial compounds that have been shown to support many different aspects of health. Additionally, hemp is a strong fibrous plant. It is used to make paper, rope, clothes, fuel, and textiles. There are actually many formulations of hemp oil on the market, each with its own pros and cons. Benefits of Hemp Oil Why use hemp oil when there are other plant-based compounds available? Hemp oil, especially nano-particle oils, is different from many other plant-based compounds. In fact, it: Supports healthy, stable moods (1) Promotes stress relief and normalized cortisol levels Supports comfortable, healthy joints (2) Encourages healthy sleep habits (3) Promotes healthy skin with fewer irregularities and blemishes (4) Supports healthy brain and nervous system functions (5) Encourages healthy cardiovascular functions and normalized inflammatory actions (6) Hemp Oil and Formulations There are many formulations of hemp oil available. These include: 1. OILS AND TINCTURES Oils and tinctures are mixtures of CBD oil and another liquid, usually another oil or an alcohol. They are typically placed under the tongue and absorbed via the capillaries in the mouth. 2. CAPSULES AND CONVENTIONAL PILLS Hemp capsules and pills are gaining a lot of popularity. In fact, the FDA recently approved one pill for seizure conditions and digestive issues (1). Capsules and pills have the advantage of being formulated to withstand digestive acids and enzymes when delivering hemp oil to the body. 3. NANO-PARTICLE OILS What’s more, there are now nano-particle hemp oils. Nano-particle hemp molecules are coated with very small organic compounds, like liposomes or lipid nanoparticles. These nanoparticles increase the stability and rate of delivery of hemp oil to the bloodstream compared to conventional hemp oil. In addition, nano-particles are thought to allow the hemp oil compounds to remain in the body and interact with tissues for a longer period of time after delivery. One 2017 animal study found that oral nano-particle compounds were 600% more bioavailable than non-nano particles (7). This is a significant increase. While new to hemp oil, nano-particles have been used for decades in supplements and medications. It is the optimal formulation. 4. EDIBLES Edibles are another hemp oil option. They are usually in the form of cookies, gummies, or other foods. They are generally tasty, but do have to go through digestion before they are absorbed, without being protected from acids and enzymes. 5. CREAMS AND LOTIONS Hemp oil can also be absorbed through the skin, but likely at a lower concentration than oral formulations. 6. VAPING Vaping is the process of inhaling vaporized hemp oil. While this does produce quick absorption, there is significant concern that vaping may damage delicate lung tissue and is NOT advised. Hemp Oil Side Effects Unlike many pharmaceuticals, hemp oil has very few known side effects. In fact, hemp oil is generally well tolerated and considered safe. However, like other plant-based compounds, there are some individuals who won’t tolerate it as well as others. Some possible side effects include diarrhea, changes in weight or appetite, and fatigue (8). In addition, hemp oil may interact with medications. Specifically, it can be an issue for any mediation with a “grapefruit warning.” Like grapefruit, hemp oil may interfere with cytochromes P450 (CYPs). This is a group of enzymes that are important to drug metabolism (9). If you take any medications, be sure to talk to your doctor first before adding hemp oil. Is Hemp Oil Legal? At this time, hemp oil products (with less than 0.3% tetrahydrocannabinol) are legal federally, but not legal under some state laws. If you are unsure, inquire in your state regarding hemp oil laws. INTRODUCING DR. COLBERT’S NANO-SCIENCE HEMP OIL 1000MG BROAD SPECTRUM (CINNAMON FLAVOR) Introducing Dr. Colbert’s Nano-Science Hemp Oil! Through extensive research and innovation, Dr. Colbert has developed a broad-spectrum hemp oil using nano-particle technology. This easy-to-use hemp oil is organically grown, vegan, and GMO-free. It contains organic hemp oil, healthy MCT oil, and natural flavors. You can now enjoy the benefits described above in one easy-to-take, cinnamon-flavored dropperful per day. Bottom Line Hemp oil has the potential to support healthy functions throughout the body. Use Dr. Colbert’s new, safe, and effective formulation each day to reduce discomfort and support health each day. If you are interested in hemp oil, this guide is a quick and easy reference for your questions regarding its sources, formulations, potential benefits, safety, and legality. To read the original article click here.

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CBD May Help Reduce Cytokine Storm and Excessive Lung Inflammation in COVID-19

AHA Publisher — Sat, 18 Jul 2020 07:00:22 +0000

Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University via News-Medical Net – Cannabidiol, or CBD, may help reduce the cytokine storm and excessive lung inflammation that is killing many patients with COVID-19, researchers say. While more work, including clinical trials to determine optimal dosage and timing, is needed before CBD becomes part of the treatment for COVID-19, researchers at the Dental College of Georgia and Medical College of Georgia have early evidence it could help patients showing signs of respiratory distress avoid extreme interventions like mechanical ventilation as well as death from acute respiratory distress syndrome. ARDS is a major killer in severe cases of some respiratory viral infections “ARDS is a major killer in severe cases of some respiratory viral infections, including severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and we have an urgent need for better intervention and treatment strategies,” says Dr. Babak Baban, immunologist and interim associate dean for research at DCG and corresponding author of the study in the journal Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research. “Our laboratory studies indicate pure CBD can help the lungs recover from the overwhelming inflammation, or cytokine storm, caused by the COVID-19 virus, and restore healthier oxygen levels in the body.” (Dr. Jack Yu, co-author, physician-scientist and chief of pediatric plastic surgery at MCG) CBD findings Their CBD findings were enabled by their additional finding of a safe and relatively inexpensive model to duplicate the lung damage caused by ARDS. Work on the virus itself is limited to a handful of labs in the nation that can safely manage the highly contagious virus, and their newly reported approach opens more doors for studying SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19 and similar virus-induced conditions, they say. Their model, which takes advantage of the large, unique genetic structure of the novel coronavirus, produced classic symptoms of ARDS like the overwhelming, destructive immune response, then CBD significantly downregulated classic indicators of the excess, like inflammation-promoting cytokines as it improved oxygen levels in the blood and enabled the lungs to recover from the structural damage. Major problem with SARS-CoV-2 A major problem with SARS-CoV-2 is instead of just killing the virus, the over-the-top immune response can quickly disable the lungs, transforming them to a place where virus is replicated, rather than a place that makes oxygen available for our bodies and eliminates potentially harmful gases like carbon dioxide. Mechanical ventilators can take over these vital functions for a while, and enable critically ill people to use less energy to just breathe and have more energy to fight infection, while ideally the lungs recover from the assault. However evidence suggests 30-50% of patients who get to the point of mechanical ventilation, don’t survive. Interferon and Interleukin The cytokines in these now famous “storms” are a class of molecules like interferon and interleukin, secreted by immune cells and other cells like endothelial cells that line blood vessels, which impact cell communication and can both promote and deter inflammation. In the case of COVID-19, there is excessive production of inflammation-promoting molecules like the interleukins IL-6 and IL-1β, as well as immune cells like neutrophils and monocytes, the researchers say. They looked at objective measures of lung function in mice like levels of proinflammatory cytokines, oxygen levels in the blood before and after treatment, as well as temperature, an indicator of inflammation. Oxygen levels went up, while temperatures and cytokine levels went down with CBD therapy. Days later, a more detailed analysis of the lungs, reinforced reduction of key indicators of destructive inflammation, which their model, like the virus, drove way up including reduced levels of IL-6 and infiltrating neutrophils. In fact, both clinical symptoms and physical lung changes resulting from ARDS were reversed with CBD treatment, they say. Their model was created with the help of a synthetic analog of double-stranded RNA called POLY (I:C). In humans, our double-stranded DNA contains our genetic information and our single-stranded RNA carries out the instruction of our DNA to make certain proteins. In the family of coronaviruses, the double-stranded RNA carries the genetic material needed to reproduce the viruses and hijacks the cell machinery of our body to do that, Baban says. “The natural instinct of the virus is to make more of itself,” Baban says. “It weaves with our DNA to make the cell produce food and everything it needs.” Viruses also tend to have a tissue or tissues they prefer — some can and do go anywhere — and for SARS-CoV-2, the lungs are high on the list, he says. Double-stranded RNA Our bodies aren’t used to this double-stranded RNA so, like the virus, POLY (I:C) gets the immediate and extreme attention of toll-like receptor 3, a family of receptors that help our body recognize invaders like a virus and activate our frontline, innate immune response. “The toll-like receptors 3 see this and just go nuts,” Yu says. The fact that the coronaviruses are literally big and have the largest known viral RNA genome make such a vigorous cytokine and immune response both plausible and probable, adds Baban. Mice received three, once-a-day doses of POLY (I:C) in the nasal passageway. CBD was given by a shot in the abdomen, the first dose two hours after the second POLY (I:C) treatment, then every other day for a total of three days in a process that sought to mimic mice getting treatment about the time a human would begin to experience trouble breathing and likely seek medical care. Given too early, CBD might actually interfere with a proper immune response against the virus, Yu says. CBD quickly improved the clinical symptoms, then later detailed studies of the lungs showed damage to their structure, like tissue overgrowth, scarring and swelling, also had totally or partially resolved. Their next steps include doing similar studies on other organs impacted by COVID-19 including the gut, heart and brain, Baban says. At least one way CBD is thought to calm the immune response is because it looks similar to endocannabinoids, a natural cell signaling system in our bodies believed to be involved in a wide variety of functions from sleep to reproduction to inflammation and immune response. CB1 and CB2, the main receptors for this system, are found extensively throughout the body including the brain and respiratory system, where we breathe in manmade and natural irritants in the air — as well as viruses and bacteria — that might inflame. While understanding the workings of the natural endocannabinoid system is still very much a work in progress, it’s thought that one way CBD works to reduce seizures, for example, is indirectly through the large number of CB1 receptors in the brain, says Yu. CBD is available without a prescription, and is used to treat problems like seizures as well as Parkinson’s, Crohn’s and other conditions where pain and/or inflammation are a major factor. It’s derived from the hemp and cannabis plant, which are essentially the same although hemp has a much lower concentration of the “high” producing THC. Other investigators have shown the calming effect of CBD, for example, can block IL-6 in other models of inflammatory disease. ARDS is a rapid, severe infection of the lungs that results in widespread inflammation, shortness of breath, rapid breathing and the inability to sustain adequate oxygen levels to the body and brain. Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing are some of the early signs of COVID-19. ARDS is a major cause of death in patients who are critically ill for a variety of reasons, including common sepsis. To read the original article click here.

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Does CBD Oil Work for Arthritis Pain?

AHA Publisher — Thu, 13 Feb 2020 08:00:51 +0000

Dr. Sanchari Sinha Dutta, Ph.D. via News-Medical Net – CBD, or cannabidiol, is an active compound extracted from the cannabis plant. It is only one of many chemicals extracted from this plant, but is distinctive in that it doesn’t produce psychiatric symptoms or intoxication. What is CBD? Studies in animals suggest that CBD relieves pain and inflammation, but confirmation from animal studies is lacking. However, many people continue to report their experiences of pain and anxiety reduction, and better sleep, with CBD. CBD derived from hemp plants is legal, since these plants contain 0.3% or less of tetrahydrocannabinol, the mind-altering substance for which marijuana is famous. However, it is important to know that CBD from any plant in the cannabis species has the same structure and actions irrespective of its origin, and the sourcing is an issue mainly because of the legal issues surrounding marijuana use in some States in the US, and in many countries of the world. Most CBD is derived from the industrial hemp plant which has higher concentrations of this chemical. The oil is extracted by one of many methods and then added to a carrier oil to form CBD oil. What Does CBD Do to the Body? It is intriguing that each major pain system has first come to light because scientists were looking into natural pain relievers, namely, such as the endorphin system from studying the opium poppy, the endocannabinoid system from the study of cannabis, capsaicin from Chile peppers, and the inflammatory cascade through the study of salicylic acid (the basis of aspirin, the first NSAID) from willow bark. The human body produces chemicals very similar to cannabinoids, called endocannabinoids. These are produced only when required, and act at certain nerve junctions to help the body do the following things: “relax, eat, sleep, forget and protect.” The endocannabinoid system, consisting of the endocannabinoids, their receptors and enzymes which act on them, act in parallel with other major pain systems such as the endorphin and inflammatory system. The endocannabinoid system fires steadily to modulate pain signals. When inactivated in some animal experiments, the result was abnormal pain sensitivity. There are two types of receptor through which CBD operates, CB1 and CB2. Pain signals are inhibited via CB1 activation, and CB2 inhibits inflammation. How Does CBD Relieve Pain in Arthritis? CBD acts via the endocannabinoid system, which is active on receptors found in multiple areas of the brain, and at spinal cord level, to stop the transmission of pain signals. It is 10-times as active as morphine in its effect on certain types of pain nerve cells, and also produces pain relief in response to stress. It produces peripheral pain relief as well by stimulation of CB1 receptors. CBD is chemically very similar to endocannabinoids like anandamide, or arachidonoylethanolamine, and 2-arachidonoylglycerol, that bind to ECS receptors. It increases the levels of anandamide at high doses, producing pain relief. CBD also has powerful antioxidant activity, said to exceed that of vitamin C or vitamin E. It is thus claimed to be the first endocannabinoid modulator to be used in patients to relieve pain. It is also a TNF-α inhibitor, but does not cause gastric irritation or increase the risk of vascular disease like NSAIDs because it does not act on either of the cyclooxygenase enzymes (COX-1 and COX-2) that are inhibited by NSAID action. It also increases adenosine signaling and thus reduces inflammation and produces pain relief. Observed Actions of CBD When topically applied in gel form, CBD reduces inflammation and hypersensitivity in rats with arthritis, being well absorbed with little inactivation by the liver. The absorption is directly proportional to the amount applied, with a potentially lower risk of systemic symptoms and increased local levels of CBD. Joint swelling and other signs of joint inflammation were reduced with this treatment. With oral use, too, there is a significant reduction in pain sensation in rat experiments. There is less inflammation and a lower concentration of inflammatory molecules in and around the joint space, which leads to improvement of symptoms, as well as preventing joint cartilage breakdown over time. During joint inflammation, synovial membrane cells that are responsible for producing lubricating joint fluid and helping with local immunity are activated and begin to secrete inflammatory chemicals including TNF-α, IL1-α and others. These increase the sensitivity of the primary pain receptors in the joints but also recruit other cells to enhance the production of these cytokines, increasing the intensity of inflammation. CBD application appears to desensitize this pain system, called TRPV1, thus stopping further pain and progression. Smoking cannabis is a commonly reported method to ease arthritis pain, and forms the single largest reason cited by patients for medical use of the drug. In the absence of clinical trials, it remains a promising treatment which should be pursued seriously. Using CBD Wisely A 2017 study performed on behalf of the US National Academy of Sciences found that cannabinoids produced a higher chance of pain reduction in patients with chronic pain. They did not differentiate between THC, CBD, and other chemicals in cannabis. Without high-quality clinical studies on CBD in arthritis, however, it is difficult to predict clinical benefit, to recommend dosages for various arthritic conditions, or any formulation. Different formulations begin to act at different intervals, and may contain other ingredients that act via other mechanisms to relieve pain or inflammation. For instance, pain-relieving CBD ointment could contain menthol or capsaicin as well, both of which are also good at reducing mild pain. This makes it hard to decide how much of the observed effect was actually due to CBD from anecdotal reports, as opposed to properly designed trials. Quality Check – Absent One of the biggest issues with the use of CBD is that you don’t know what you’re getting when you buy it. A largely unregulated market has resulted in misleading labels, inadequate or absent quality checks, and undisclosed contaminants or adulteration with THC, pesticides, solvents or metals, as well as wide variation in the strength of CBD. Thus it is safest to check the label to ensure that the company involved follows good manufacturing practices, and gets its products tested by methods compliant with the following: the American Herbal Pharmacopoeia (AHP), the U.S. Pharmacopeia (USP) or the Association of Official Agricultural Chemists (AOAC). Dosage – Unknown The dosage of CBD in arthritis is far from clear, for the above reasons. Because CBD has not been evaluated for specific conditions at specific doses, it is not possible to give an evidence-based recommendation regarding safe doses. Because CBD is unregulated, sellers can make many claims about efficacy or offer dosing advise with no scientific evidence to support their claims. Using CBD Properly Some practices are already widely agreed upon among medical professionals with respect to CBD: • First review your purpose with your medical doctor so you can be sure you have tried all other reasonable options. This will also help you to objectively evaluate what benefit you are receiving from the CBD oil, which can come quite dear. CBD oil is provided as a capsule which is swallowed, or as a liquid which is added to food or water. It can also be rubbed directly on the skin over the affected joint. Orally taken CBD is absorbed in a variety of patterns, depending on whether there is food in the stomach, and may begin to act only after a couple of hours. It can also be taken by putting it under the tongue for 1-2 minutes, which speeds up the effect, causing it to begin in 15-45 minutes. • Don’t use CBD instead of a disease-modifying drug used to treat inflammatory arthritis. Disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) are medications that are intended to not just relieve symptoms of arthritis but change the course of the disease by reducing the number of relapses, and the severity of individual relapses. They include methotrexate, sulfasalazine, hydroxychloroquine and leflunomide, which inhibit an overactive immune system. This category also includes stronger drugs like azathioprine. Biologics form a second category, comprising biologically derived selective inhibitors of certain steps in the inflammation cascade, such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors. A third category consists of kinase inhibitors. All these are crucial in suppressing inflammation which is responsible for the joint disease. • It is not recommended to inhale CBD oil. Though there are a number of vaping devices that offer CBD cartridges, this route has not been tested, and oil vapors are typically irritating and damaging to lung tissue. This may be expected to be even more so in people with inflammatory arthritis. Moreover, at present a spate of deaths has occurred in people who were vaping and developed acute fatal lung disease. Interactions of CBD with Other Drugs Patients with arthritis are often treated with a variety of drugs such as opioid painkillers, corticosteroids and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, monoclonal antibodies, antidepressant and mood-elevating drugs, and GABA inhibitors. These may have toxic effects if combined with CBD, on which very little research has been done yet. Use of CBD can also increase levels of the medication coumadin (a blood thinner) to dangerously high levels. Thus, it is very important to inform your doctor if you are considering using CBD so that you may review together any possible drug interactions that could put you in danger. Sources Arthritis.org. Arthritis foundation CBD guidance for adults with arthritis. Click here. www.arthritis.org/…/arthritis-foundation-cbd-guidance-for-adults.php Ethan B. Russo. Cannabinoids in the management of difficult to treat pain. Therapeutic and Clinical Risk Management, 2008 Feb; 4(1): 245–259. Click here and here. https://dx.doi.org/10.2147%2Ftcrm.s1928. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2503660/ D.C. Hammell, L.P. Zhang, et al. Transdermal cannabidiol reduces inflammation and pain-related behaviours in a rat model of arthritis. European Journal of Pain. 2016 Jul; 20(6): 936–948. Click Here and here. https://dx.doi.org/10.1002%2Fejp.818. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4851925/ R. J. Miller and R. E Miller. Is cannabis an effective treatment for joint pain? Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology. 2017 Sep-Oct;35 Suppl 107(5):59-67. Epub 2017 Sep 28. Click Here.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28967368 Grinspoon P. (2018). Cannabidiol (CBD) — what we know and what we don’t. Click Here. www.health.harvard.edu/…/cannabidiol-cbd-what-we-know-and-what-we-dont-2018082414476 Evan C. Rosenberg, Richard W. Tsien, Benjamin J. Whalley, and Orrin Devinsk. Cannabinoids and epilepsy. Neurotherapeutics. 2015 Oct; 12(4): 747–768. Click here. https://dx.doi.org/10.1007%2Fs13311-015-0375-5. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4604191/

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CBD Could Help Doctors Use Lower Doses of Chemotherapy

AHA Publisher — Mon, 16 Dec 2019 08:00:26 +0000

Israel21c Staff – New technique from Israel uses cannabidiol to open a channel for drugs to target cancer cells only, potentially enabling a gentler course of chemo. Researchers led by Professor Alexander Binshtok, head of the Pain Plasticity Research Group at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, has developed a method that delivers chemotherapy drugs directly to malignant cells and bypasses healthy ones. Physicians potentially could use this method to reduce chemo doses for patients, which would lead to fewer unpleasant side effects and improve treatment compliance and overall prognoses. “Most anti-cancer treatments are not sufficiently specific, meaning they attack healthy cells together with the malignant ones they’re trying to get rid of,” explained Binshtok. “This leads to the many serious side effects associated with chemotherapy. Eliminating cancerous cells while leaving healthy ones alone is an important step towards reduce patients’ suffering,” he said. Binshtok and his team describe in the journal Frontiers in Pharmacology how they used cannabis-derived cannabidiol (CBD) and another agent to activate a protein called TRPV2 to open a canal inside liver cancer cell membranes. They then inserted a low dose of chemo drug doxorubicin through the canal and directly into the cancer cells. They discovered that “doxorubicin-mediated cell death is significantly more potent, requiring an order of magnitude lower dose, when co-applied with CBD.” “It’s too early to make concrete predictions but we are hopeful this discovery will lead the way towards a new, more targeted delivery method for chemotherapy treatment, one that will drastically reduce patients’ pain,” Binshtok concluded. Participating researchers were Hagit Neumann-Raziel, Asaf Shilo, Shaya Lev, Maxim Mogilevsky, Ben Katz, David Shneor, Yoav D. Shaul, Alberto Gabizon, Rotem Karni and Alik Honigman of the Hebrew University, and Andreas Leffler from Hannover Medical School in Germany. To read the original article click here. For more articles from Israel21c click here.

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