All posts tagged: Rheumatoid Arthritis

A Flavonol from Sweetscented Marigold Alleviates Pain

Tagetes Lucida as a potential analgesic

In Summary:

Researchers have recently provided evidence that a flavonol extract derived from a common flower has antinociceptive (pain-relieving) properties. Sweet-scented Marigold has been used is frequently used in cooking techniques in South America and has now been found to alleviate pain through serotonin and opioid mechanisms of action. The antinociceptive properties of this flavonol, like those of many other plant-derived compounds, are ripe for testing in a clinical setting to determine their effectiveness in human patients. In this small animal study, it clearly demonstrates promise as a safe alternative to commonly used pain medications. 

Dr. Caplan and the #MDTake:

Modern medicine seems to have largely forgotten its roots. Long before pharmaceutical companies were the source of all medication, the earth served as a resource for medications, and apothecaries, pharmacists, and druggists, as they were known, supported the medical industry with formulations and a deep understanding of natural resources. As the greater scientific arena and dominant culture have lost touch with the earth’s natural medicinal resources, our culture has lost a deeply valuable reservoir of opportunity. As the fast-paced life of modernity demands faster results on an ever-greater, mass-production scale, the construction of sprawling cities, which often demands deforestation and destruction of natural resources, may turn out to be a greater threat to human health than most of us have yet to even understand.

View this review (yellow link) or download:

 

This paper is also stored here:   http://bit.ly/2Sn1qY9      inside the CED Foundation Archive

Benjamin Caplan, MDA Flavonol from Sweetscented Marigold Alleviates Pain
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Arthritis Sufferers Lead the Way for Advancing Cannabis as Pain Medicine

A Weedmaps News piece, looking earnestly at cannabis and arthritis. As the title suggests, arthritis sufferers are, indeed, leading the way for advancing cannabis as pain medicine.

https://news.weedmaps.com/2019/10/arthritis-sufferers-lead-the-way-for-advancing-cannabis-as-pain-medicine/

“We know cannabis is a powerful anti-inflammatory agent that functions differently from other drugs like Tylenol, Ibuprofen, steroids, or the biological options that work on the immune system and can present severe side-effects,” Caplan told Weedmaps News. “We don’t see that w/ cannabis”

“There is still not enough of what modern medicine calls the gold standard- randomized trials or review trials that collect multiple studies – but anecdote is not meaningless,” Caplan said.

“Stories we hear from individuals are very meaningful and worthwhile,” Caplan said. “We live in a scientific culture that thinks we should discount anecdotes and only pay attention to the highest quality data, which I think is misleading and not fair.”

Benjamin Caplan, MDArthritis Sufferers Lead the Way for Advancing Cannabis as Pain Medicine
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Cannabinoids and autoimmune diseases: A systematic review (Diabetes)

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:

View this review (yellow link) or download:

This paper is also stored here:    http://bit.ly/2Y1paV5     inside the CED Foundation Archive

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Benjamin Caplan, MDCannabinoids and autoimmune diseases: A systematic review (Diabetes)
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Video: Cannabinoid Delivery Systems for Pain and Inflammation Treatment

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.

View this review (yellow link) or download:

This paper is also stored here:    http://bit.ly/2TSZ2Wr     inside the CED Foundation Archive

Benjamin Caplan, MDVideo: Cannabinoid Delivery Systems for Pain and Inflammation Treatment
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80%: Cannabis extremely helpful for pain; 82%: helped reduce or stop over-the-counter medications; 88% able to stop taking opioid painkillers

“The study, published in the Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, which looked at 1,000 people taking legalized marijuana in an American state found that among the 65% of people taking cannabis for pain, 80% found it was very or extremely helpful.”

“82% of these people being able to reduce, or stop taking over the counter pain medications, and 88% being able to stop taking opioid painkillers.”

“74% of the 1,000 interviewees bought it to help them sleep – 84% of whom said the marijuana had helped them, and over 83% said that they had since reduced or stopped taking over-the-counter or prescription sleep aids.”

“The study adds weight to the theory that widening access to medical cannabis could lower the use of prescription painkillers, allowing more people to manage and treat their pain without relying on opioid prescription drugs that have dangerous side effects.”

“This is backed up with other research that shows that states with medical cannabis laws have a 6.38% lower rate of opioid prescribing and that Colorado’s adult-use cannabis law is associated with a relative reduction in opioid overdose death rate from 1999 to 2010.”

“”Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen cause GI bleeding or kidney damage with chronic use. Paracetemol (Acetaminophen) toxicity is the second most common cause of liver transplantation worldwide, and is responsible for 56,000 ER visits, 2600 hospitalizations, and 500 deaths per year in the U.S.”

Link to news brief: https://eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2019-07/tfg-cmb062819.php

View this review (yellow link) or download:

This paper is also stored here:    http://bit.ly/2JmB7Lv     inside the CED Foundation Archive

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Benjamin Caplan, MD80%: Cannabis extremely helpful for pain; 82%: helped reduce or stop over-the-counter medications; 88% able to stop taking opioid painkillers
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The Cannabinoid System is a Promising Source of Targets for Treating Pain

A Budding Source of Targets for Treating Inflammatory and Neuropathic Pain ECS

The cannabinoid system provides momentum to develop cannabinoid-based medications to treat inflammatory and neuropathic pain as researchers continue to find promising therapeutic targets. These new targets may lead to the formation of novel pain-relief medications that may serve well to alleviate pain for those suffering from cancer, multiple sclerosis, and fibromyalgia. Cannabis-based pain medicine is also being researched for opioid-sparing effects and effectiveness in reducing the necessary dose of opioids.

View this review (yellow link) or download:

This paper is also stored here:  http://bit.ly/2FfLorA        inside the CED Foundation Archive

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Benjamin Caplan, MDThe Cannabinoid System is a Promising Source of Targets for Treating Pain
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Cannabinoids + opioid pain relief: subjective effects in healthy humans

Human study finds that, when taken with opioids, dronabinol (THC) may increase impairment and decrease, or not affect, pain relief. Researchers conclude that THC might NOT protect the body from the adverse effects of opioids. However, the study examined only 10 participants, and such a small sample size should give pause to the validity and applicability of the findings. 

View this review (yellow link) or download:

This paper is also stored here:    http://bit.ly/2IHJuSO     inside the CED Foundation Archive

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Benjamin Caplan, MDCannabinoids + opioid pain relief: subjective effects in healthy humans
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Analyses of Cannabinoid Signaling in the Immune System Highlights Key Questions, Challenges, and Future Directions

Targeting Cannabinoid Signaling in the Immune System: “High”-ly Exciting Questions, Possibilities, and Challenges

A meta-analysis concerning the role of cannabinoid signaling in immune system regulations revealed current therapeutic benefits, challenges for future research, and exciting new directions. Among the current research, cannabinoids have already been found to suppress inflammation associated with autoimmune diseases, especially in multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, Type-1 Diabetes, and Crohn’s Disease. Future cannabis-based therapies aim to improve immune responses to organ donation, bone marrow transplants, and skin grafts. The analysis includes challenges facing future cannabis research such as potential side effects and legal status.  

View this review (yellow link) or download:

This paper is also stored here:    http://bit.ly/31ArGR9      inside the CED Foundation Archive

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Benjamin Caplan, MDAnalyses of Cannabinoid Signaling in the Immune System Highlights Key Questions, Challenges, and Future Directions
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Synthetic Cannabinoids Provide Evidence for Targeting Cannabinoid Receptors in the Treatment of Autoimmune Diseases

Pharmaceutical Cannabis Derivatives Help Discover their Receptors and Functions for Autoimmune Illnesses

A recent study conducted by Michigan State University exposed the potential for cannabinoid receptor 2 (CB2) to target the treatment of inflammatory conditions. Elevated levels of plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pCD, a type of cell in the immune system) contribute to chronic inflammation in autoimmune diseases, such as Rheumatoid Arthritis. Researchers found that synthetic CB2 agonists reported comparable benefits to THC, but minimized the cerebral effects as the psychotropic activity is mediated by cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1). This evidence demonstrates the potential benefits of CB2-targeted treatment for inflammatory conditions. Unfortunately, there are serious concerns about the misuse of some synthetic cannabinoids, so there is still a missing bridge, in products and public education, between these research products and potential therapeutic pharmaceuticals, down the road.

View this review (yellow link) or download:

This paper is also stored here:  http://bit.ly/2HZ6cWb  inside the CED Foundation Archive

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Benjamin Caplan, MDSynthetic Cannabinoids Provide Evidence for Targeting Cannabinoid Receptors in the Treatment of Autoimmune Diseases
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Cannabinoid receptors as therapeutic targets for autoimmune diseases: where do we stand?

Because of the associated anti-inflammatory action, modulation of CB1R & CB2R is helpful to treat autoimmune diseases, including Multiple Sclerosis, Type-1 Diabetes Mellitus, and Rheumatoid Arthritis The full list is truly very much longer, as every illness necessarily involves the immune system and cellular communication.

The following review, written by Elaine D. Gonc ̧alves

The following review, written by Daphna Katz-Talmor: (yes, same name, unfortunately!)

Benjamin Caplan, MDCannabinoid receptors as therapeutic targets for autoimmune diseases: where do we stand?
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