Placebo-Controlled

A Flavonoid Improves Neurocognitive Function and Mood in Seniors

March 17, 2020 Flavonoids, Neurocognitive Functioning, Placebo-Controlled, Seniors

A highly bioavailable curcumin extract improves neurocognitive function and mood in healthy older people- A 12-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

In Summary

A recent study has revealed the neurocognitive benefits of curcumin, a flavonoid isolated from turmeric. Curcumin extract was given to a cohort of healthy, aged individuals over a 12-week period. At the end of that period improved working memory, as well as reduced fatigue and stress reactivity, were all recorded effects. A preceding study recorded similar effects from curcumin extract that were seen at 4 weeks, suggesting that the supplement works quickly and maintains effectiveness. The extract, also known as Longvida^TM, improves overall hippocampal function and may prevent cognitive decline in aging individuals.

The desire to prevent neurocognitive decline is evergrowing as individuals continue to be plagued by diagnoses of dementia, Alzheimer’s, and numerous other neurocognitive diseases associated with aging. Compounds found in cannabis plants, various cannabinoids, flavonoids similar to curcumin, and terpenes, have been found to have neuroprotective effects. If preventative measures can be found to delay or completely eradicate neurodegenerative diseases it would lessen the economic burden posed by such patients, ease the lives of caretakers, and allow patients for freedom and a better quality of life. Further research should continue to focus on this line of work.

The study is available for review or download here

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Many Chronic Pain-Related Cannabis Studies Lack “High-Quality” Evidence

October 16, 2019 Adult, Behavior change, Cannabinoids, Cannabis, Cannabis Science, Future Medicine, Impairment, Injury, Muscle Pain, Neuropathy, Pain, Placebo-Controlled, Science, Stigma, Survey

Cannabis-based medicines for chronic neuropathic pain in adults (Review)

In Summary:

In a recent Cochrane meta-analysis of studies investigating the use of medical cannabis for chronic neuropathic pain management, the authors determined that no results were what they could consider “high quality.” All data which related to degrees of pain relief, adverse events, and “Patient Global Impression of Change” were largely of very low or low quality, with some outcomes being of moderate quality. The meta-analysis concluded that no existing evidence backs up the use of cannabis for chronic neuropathic pain; however, the quality of evidence examined highlights the need for more controlled studies.

Dr. Caplan and the #MDTake:

Depending on the system of organization one prefers, pain can be divided up into different subtypes. For one system, it’s three subtypes: neuropathic, nociceptive, and “other.” For another system, pain can be organized by timing (sharp, acute, chronic, breakthrough), location (bone, soft tissue, nerve, referred, phantom), or by the relative system (emotional, cancer, body.) This review discusses the subtype category of “neuropathic pain” as a means of grouping pain to study. The measures used to assess the pain are as subjective as the categories themselves. Clearly, compounding the two subjective divisions is unlikely to produce “high quality” data, but it is a misleading interpretation to take away that there is no good quality information to glean from the observations this review organizes, and also a misinterpretation to jump to an idea that cannabis is not helpful. Rather, given the statistical tools we currently use, and the subjective systems of understanding pain are not well-matched to translating the effects of cannabis on pain into this type of data.

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Cannabis‐based medicines for chronic neuropathic pain in adults Download

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CB1 and CB2 receptors play differential roles in early zebrafish locomotor development

July 19, 2019 Adolescents, Adverse Effects, Aging, Animal Model, Behavior change, Blood-Levels, Cannabinoids, Cannabis Education, Cannabis Science, CB1, CB2, CBD, Crossover Study, Future Medicine, History, Impairment, Neuropathy, Placebo-Controlled

Scientists found that blocking CB1 receptors and CB2-receptors in young zebrafish resulted in morphological deficits, reductions in heart rate, and non-inflated swim bladders. These findings indicate that the endocannabinoid system is pivotal to the development of the locomotor system in zebrafish, and that disturbances to the endocannabinoid system in early life may have detrimental effects.

The translation of these effects to humans is obviously not direct, but it is important for science to learn about safety and expected effects, to examine how chemistry interacts in petri dishes, how basic organic/animal functions are impacted in a living thing, and when the time is appropriate, to then assess any effects in humans

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CB1 and CB2 receptors play differential roles in early zebrafish locomotor development Download

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Video: The Endocannabinoid System

July 18, 2019 Behavior change, Blood-Levels, Cannabinoids, Cannabis Education, Cannabis Science, CB1, CB2, CBD, CED Clinic, Citizen Science, Crossover Study, Dr Caplan, Future Medicine, History, Placebo-Controlled, Science, Social Equity, THC, Women in Cannabis

A simplified overview of the human side of the human-cannabis interaction system!

Built from the growing mountain of literature inside the CED Foundation Medical Cannabis Archive

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Cannabinoids and autoimmune diseases: A systematic review (Diabetes)

July 14, 2019 Animal Model, Anti-inflammatory properties, Autoimmunity, Blood-Levels, CBD, CED Clinic, Diabetes, Dr Caplan, Future Medicine, Placebo-Controlled, Video

As it stands, there is no cure for Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus. But, some of us in the medical community are starting to wonder if cannabis could be a viable treatment option. Several studies already address this, with impressive findings, and now, A new mouse model study suggests that not only could CBD prevent Type 1 Diabetes, but it seems to also reduce symptoms after onset.

Now researchers must determine the long term effects of CBD treatment. Watch a video summary below:

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Cannabinoids and autoimmune diseases: A systematic review Download

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Supplementing Antipsychotics with CBD Enhances Psychotic Symptom Treatment

July 10, 2019 Adverse Effects, Anxiety, Cannabinoids, Cannabis, Cannabis Dependence, Cannabis Science, Cannabis Use Disorder (CUD), CBD, Cognition, Mental Health, Parkinson's Disease, Placebo-Controlled, Psychosis, Schizophrenia, Science, Stress, THC

Cannabidiol (CBD) as an Adjunctive Therapy in Schizophrenia: A Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial

Most schizophrenia medications function by blocking the action of the dopamine D2 receptor and effectively treat positive psychotic symptoms, such as delusions or hallucinations, but fail to treat negative psychotic symptoms, such as lack of motivation or the lack of an ability to feel pleasure. Anecdotal evidence has pointed toward the potential for CBD to attenuate psychotic symptoms in conjunction with normally prescribed antipsychotics; additionally, CBD is not hypothesized to act on the D2 receptor, suggesting that it may afford unique advantages over anti-psychotics.

Researchers interested in further exploring this conducted the first known placebo-controlled CBD trial among schizophrenia patients. Although results did not suggest a potential for CBD to treat negative psychotic symptoms, in conjunction with antipsychotics, the CBD group experienced marked lower levels of positive psychotic symptoms. Both the placebo and CBD groups experienced equal levels of treatment-induced adverse events, suggesting that CBD is well-tolerated.

These results suggest that CBD may be effective in treating not only schizophrenia but also psychotic symptoms associated with Parkinson’s disease and THC-induced psychosis.

Additional Point: CBD has shown to act in a neuroprotective manner and reduce the psychoactive effects of THC, making it a viable option for patients who have experienced negative side effects with THC.

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Cannabidiol (CBD) as an Adjunctive Therapy in Schizophrenia- A Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial Download

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Video: Cannabinoids, Internal States, and Anxiety

July 9, 2019 Adolescents, Adverse Effects, Anxiety, Behavior change, Cannabinoids, Cannabis, Cannabis Education, Cannabis Science, Cannabis Use Disorder (CUD), CBD, CED Clinic, CED In The News, Cognition, Depression, Dr Caplan, Future Medicine, History, Mental Health, Mood, Occasional Use, Placebo-Controlled, Science, Stigma, Stress, THC, Video

A new literature review summarizing the recent findings relating to cannabis and anxiety.

Researchers conclude that CBD and low-dose THC can cause relaxation and decrease anxiety and self-spun thoughts. Some studies show that high-dose THC can cause psychotic symptoms; however, studies also show that CBD can protect against those THC-induced symptoms. Therefore, using cannabis extracts with THC and CBD could be a safe way to reduce anxiety.

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Cannabinoids, interoception, and anxiety Download

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Cannabis is a Safe and Effect for the Treatment of Fibromyalgia

July 9, 2019 Anti-inflammatory properties, Arthritis, Cannabinoids, Cannabis, Cannabis Science, CBD, Fibromyalgia, Future Medicine, Multiple Sclerosis, Muscle Pain, Occasional Use, Pain, Placebo-Controlled, Science, Synthetic Cannabinoids, THC

Safety and Efficacy of Medical Cannabis in Fibromyalgia

A recent study has concluded that cannabis is a safe and effective treatment for patients suffering from fibromyalgia symptoms.

Fibromyalgia is a disorder characterized by widespread pain, fatigue, and issues sleeping. Cannabis is well known for its ability to treat pain, especially in lieu of opioids as the side effects are minimal and the risk of addiction minimal. This study found that over 200 patients were greatly benefited by cannabis as it moderated their pain and improved their mood. Future studies should aim to directly compare cannabis-based treatment with the currently accepted methods of fibromyalgia treatment to validate efficacy.

This study highlights how beneficial cannabis can be for those patients who are treatment-resistant for the general treatment of most disorders, especially when pain is involved. Cannabis has been proven to be much safer than opioids, and yet our lack of complete information, concerning the exact mechanisms of the endocannabinoid system and how different cannabinoids act on those mechanisms severely limits our ability to offer practical, novel therapies. Cannabis has previously been shown to be beneficial for treatment-resistant forms of epilepsy and depression, which holds promise when continuing to look for novel treatments for other disorders that have proven difficult to treat.

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Safety and Efficacy of Medical Cannabis in Fibromyalgia Download

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Video: Cannabinoid Delivery Systems for Pain and Inflammation Treatment

July 3, 2019 Anti-inflammatory properties, Arthritis, Cannabinoids, Cannabis, Cannabis Education, Cannabis Science, CB1, CB2, CBD, Dermatology / Skin, Dronabinol, Future Medicine, Insomnia, Mental Health, Multiple Sclerosis, Muscle Pain, Nabilone, Neuropathy, Pain, Placebo-Controlled, Products, Science, Sleep, Stigma, Synthetic Cannabinoids, THC, Video

A 2018 literature review summarizes the various ways patients can consume cannabis (orally, topically, etc.) and the pain reductions associated with each method. The review focuses on the treatment of multiple sclerosis, cancer, anorexia, arthritis, and other painful disorders.

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Cannabinoid Delivery Systems for Pain and Inflammation Treatment Download

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Study Reveals that Flavanoids can act as Allergy Medications

June 29, 2019 Aging, Allergy, Anti-inflammatory properties, Autoimmunity, Blood-Levels, Extraction, Flavonoids, Future Medicine, Non-Cannabis Plant, Oral Health, Placebo-Controlled, Science, Terpenes

Anti-histaminic Effects of Resveratrol and Silymarin on Human Gingival Fibroblasts

It has recently been revealed that the flavonoids resveratrol and silymarin have an anti-histaminic effect on human gingival fibroblasts (HGF). HGF are cells that compose part of the gum tissue in the oral cavity. Silymarin and resveratrol were already known to have anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, but a recently published study has now revealed that silymarin alone and a combination of the two flavonoids both provide novel therapeutic approaches for inflammation due to allergies.

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Anti-histaminic Effects of Resveratrol and Silymarin on Human Gingival Fibroblasts Download

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