Tag: CBD

Posted on by

Are your Nerves, Getting on your Nerves?

What is Peripheral Neuropathy? 

As part of the central nervous system, the peripheral nervous system is made up of two components within the nervous system of humans. It is consisting of the nerves and ganglia outside of the brain and spinal cord.

To find out of you or someone else have PN, there must be a thorough examination of medical history and also be given a neurological exam.

Polyneuropathy– cause of peripheral nerve damage

There are many different causes of polyneuropathy, with some of the most common ones being:

  • Diabetes
  • Shingles
  • Alcohol abuse
  • Vitamin B12 deficiency
  • Hypothyroidism (an underactive thyroid gland)

Guillain Barre Syndrome:

One of the severe leading types of polyneuropathy. Characterizations of this would be progressive tingling and weakness, starting in the feet and rapidly growing up the legs. GBS can then affect the muscles that control breathing.

Mononeuropathy

It is a localized neuropathy, which is where only one nerve is damaged. Usually from trauma, compression, or entrapment. Which would be carpal tunnel syndrome, which refers to compression of the median nerve, causing numbness and tingling in the wrist.

Sensory

Receiving input from various locations of the body. Then to send messages to the brain about the body’s sensations, such as hot and cold, pain, and touch. If a sensory nerve is damaged, these would be the results.

  • Lack of sensation to pain changes in temperature
  • Unusual sensations like vibration, numbness, and tingling, burning, stabbing, electrical, or crawling
  • Pain from a light touch that is ordinarily painless (called allodynia)
  • Loss of position sense and balance problems
  • Change in temperature

Diabetic polyneuropathy is an example of predominantly sensory nerve damage (in this case, from high blood sugar levels). Symptoms usually begin in the toes and feet (on both sides of the body) and may include numbness, prickling, tingling, burning, and pain which become worse in the evening or while sleeping. If the disease progresses, it will then move up the legs, mid-calves, and even hand problems would begin to develop.

 

Motor nerves transmit messages from the brain and spinal cord, telling various muscles to move. When motor nerves are damaged, the most common symptom is muscle weakness.

Other symptoms and signs may include:

  • Muscle cramping and shrinking
  • Fasciculations (when a muscle twitches without your control)
  • Reflex abnormalities

Autonomic

By regulating how your internal organs, such as your blood vessels, stomach, heart, and sweat glands, function.

Common symptoms and signs of autonomic nerve damage include:

  • Excess sweating
  • Heat intolerance
  • Early satiety
  • Impotence
  • Orthostatic hypotension

Keep in mind, the symptoms of peripheral neuropathy can range in intensity from mildly bothersome to severe and disabling and develop gradually over the years, or in some cases, over days.

Diagnosis 

The diagnosis of peripheral neuropathy begins with a neurological examination.

Neurological Examination

Blood Tests

Nerve-Specific Tests

Autonomic Tests

and other test.

  1. Browne P, Chandraratna D, Angood C, Tremlett H, Baker C, Taylor BV, et al. Atlas of multiple sclerosis 2013: a growing global problem with widespread inequity. Neurology(2014) 83:1022–4.10.1212/WNL.0000000000000768

2. Rudroff, Thorsten, and Jacob Sosnoff. “Cannabidiol to Improve Mobility in People with Multiple Sclerosis.” Frontiers in Neurology, Frontiers Media S.A., 22 Mar. 2018, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5874292/.

Posted on by

PTSD & CBD

What is PTSD?

PTSD is Post-traumatic stress disorder, which affects a growing amount of people in all different times of life. Whether it stems from combat, a life-threatening natural disaster or assault. When this happens it can affect sleeping, work/school, etc., and give someone a major emotional change and perception of the world around them. Therefore this affects the quality of life.

There has been psychotherapy and medication for those falling with these symptoms, but Cannabis has emerged as a safer alternative than any prescription medication with serious side effects.

CBD & THC have been seen to help treat people suffering from PTSD by improving the endocannabinoid system. By activating the CB1 & CB2 receptors within the core system, thus promoting the neurotransmitters to happiness, pleasure & memory.

The Cannabinoids help with assisting PTSD cases by blocking the retrieval of underlying trauma, by preventing traumatic memories & nightmares. CBD has been a very popular treatment for PTSD patients and mainly are combat veterans.

A study conducted by NYU Langone Medical Center researchers showed that people suffering from PTSD have much lower levels of a neurotransmitter called anandamide than others.

What is an Anandamide: a naturally occurring arachidonic acid derivative, present in some foods and in mammalian brains, where it acts as a messenger molecule and plays a role in pain, depression, appetite, memory, and fertility.

Anandamides operate as a natural antidepressant, CB! receptors in the body turn off traumatic memories so that the person can stop giving attention to them. Thus reducing the symptoms of PTSD such as fear and anxiety.

When helping with After Effects :

Cannabis and CBD alone can help minimize and prevent nightmares, frequently occur in those suffering from PTSD. PTSD triggers intense stress that places a person in a constant state of awareness and tension, making it very difficult to get any sleep. Many people have seen help with their sleep by increasing REM sleep cycle. This also affects their daytime flashbacks and sweating at night reducing as well. Studies on cannabinoids have served that CBD and CBD with THC have been proven an effective role than many prescription medicines and antidepressants.

PTSD is very serious in the disease world and many people suffer from it. Highly reducing their quality of life and giving difficulty to those who suffer from functioning socially, and emotional imbalance can highly effect those who are war veterans and others who have experienced major trauma.

Cannabinoids like CBD can help empower the body’s endocannabinoid system and promote quality sleep, prevent traumatic memories from arising, as well as establish physical and emotional wellbeing to mitigate these devastating symptoms of PTSD and allowing patients to regain hold of their lives.

 

Posted on by

CBD & COPD

The American Lung Association Links COPD to be the third leading cause of death in the US.

What is COPD… Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease is the progressing inflammation of lung disease that obstructs the air flow into the lungs — therefore making it hard to breathe.  COPD is also in association with the development of asthma, chronic bronchitis, pneumonia, and Emphysema.

When you have less of air flow in the airways, there is a lack of elasticity, and therefore more mucus is created thus causing clogging. Chronic bronchitis is what happens when the walls of the bronchial tubes because they think and inflamed, CBD helps with the reduction of inflammation. As to where in Emphysema, the walls which lay between the air sacs can be destroyed, therefore reducing airflow as well.

Causes of COPD are; cigarette smoke, second-hand smoke, air pollution, and exposure to dust and smoke. You can see the effects doing the following activities; walking, cooking, etc. simple task becomes more laborious.

Symptoms with COPD are; coughing large amounts of mucus, shortness of breath, wheezing and chest tightness. COPD usually found among middle-aged to older adults.

When having COPD, your risk for respiratory infections, heart problems, lung problems, lung cancer, high blood pressure, and depression are increased.

Findings: Effects of Cannabinoids and CBD on COPD

There can be a therapeutic beneficiary when using CBD, through many studies, CBD has been proven to help reduce inflammation and assisting in the inflamed airways to those with Chronic Bronchitis.

When CBD interacts with the CB1 & CB2 receptors, it is shown to reduce inflammation, among helping to create/maintain the homeostasis within the body. This activation of the receptors will help to reduce the airway inflammation. CBD also gives a potent anti-inflammatory agent in improving the lung function, even to a therapeutic level as a tool to treat many lung diseases.

Other research found is that cannabinoids found from cannabis can have amazing bronchodilators effects. Thus reducing the resistance in the respiratory airway and increasing airflow into the lungs. It can also be noted, that when CBD works with the CB1 receptor inhibits the contraction of the smooth muscle surrounding the lungs to dilate the bronchial tubes to open up more in the airways.

PLEASE NOTE: Smoking Cannabis can increase the acute and chronic bronchitis and irritate the lungs. It is especially heaving smoking, which can leave more obstruction. Instead, stick to other methods such as oils and edibles.

Recent Studies on Cannabinoids and CBD’s Effect on COPD

CBD has a potent anti-inflammatory effect and also improves lung function, suggesting it could be a useful therapeutic tool for the treatment of inflammatory lung diseases.
Cannabidiol improves lung function and inflammation in mice submitted to LPS-induced acute lung injury.
(https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25356537)

Cannabis has shown to be useful for treating inflammation.
Cannabinoids, endocannabinoids, and related analogs in inflammation.
(http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2664885/)

References:

  1. Aldington, S., Williams, M., Nowitz, M., Weatherall, M., Pritchard, A., McNaughton, A., Robinson, G., and Beasley, R. (2007). Effects of cannabis on pulmonary structure, function and symptoms. Thorax, 62(12), 1058–1063. http://doi.org/10.1136/thx.2006.077081.
  2. Bento, A. F., Marcon, R., Dutra, R. C., Claudino, R. F., Cola, M., Pereira Leite, D. F., and Calixto, J. B. (2011). β-Caryophyllene Inhibits Dextran Sulfate Sodium-Induced Colitis in Mice through CB2 Receptor Activation and PPARγ Pathway. The American Journal of Pathology, 178(3), 1153–1166.
  3. Braun, A., Engel, T., Aguilar-Pimentel, J.A., Zimmer, A., Jakob, T., Behrendt, H, and Mempel, M. (2011, April). Beneficial effects of cannabinoids (CB) in a murine model of allergen-induced airway inflammation: role of CB1/CB2 receptors. Immunobiology, 216(4), 466-76.
  4. Burstein, S. H., and Zurier, R. B. (2009). Cannabinoids, Endocannabinoids, and Related Analogs in Inflammation. The AAPS Journal, 11(1), 109.
  5. COPD. (2016, July 12). Mayo Clinic. Retrieved from http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/copd/home/ovc-20204882.
  6. Ferrini, M.E., Hong, S., Stierle, A., Stierle, D., Stella, N., Roberts, K., and Jaffar, Z. (2016, December 19). CB2 receptors regulate natural killer cells that limit allergic airway inflammation in a murine model of asthma. Allergy, doi: 10.1111/all.13107. [Epuc ahead of print]
  7. Grassin-Delyle, S., Naline, E., Buenestado, A., Faisy, C., Alvarez, J.C., Salvator, H., Abrial, C., Advenier, C., Zemoura, L., Devillier, P. (2014). Cannabinoids inhibit cholinergic contraction in human airways through prejunctional CB1 receptors. British Journal of Pharmacology, 171(11), 2767–2777.
  8. Kozela, E., Pietr, M., Juknat, A., Rimmerman, N., Levy, R., and Vogel, Z. (2010). Cannabinoids Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol and Cannabidiol Differentially Inhibit the Lipopolysaccharide-activated NF-κB and Interferon-β/STAT Proinflammatory Pathways in BV-2 Microglial Cells. The Journal of Biological Chemistry, 285(3), 1616–1626.
  9. Ribeiro, A., Ferraz-de-Paula, V., Pinheiro, M.L., Vitoretti, L.B., Mariano-Souza, D.P, Quinteiro-Filho, W.M., Akamine, A.T., Almeida, V.I., Quevedo, J., Dal-Pizzol, F., Hallak, J.E., Zuardi, A.W., Crippa, J.A., and Palermo-Neto, J. (2012, March). Cannabidiol, a non-psychotropic plant-derived cannabinoid, decreases inflammation in a murine model of acute lung injury: role for the adenosine A(2A) receptor. European Journal of Pharmacology, 678(1-3), 78-85.
  10. Ribeiro, A., Almeida, V.I., Costola-de-Souza, C., Ferraz-de-Paula, V., Pinheiro, M.L., Vitoretti, L.B., Gimenes-Junior, J.A., Akamine, A.T., Crippa, J.A., Tavare-de-Lima, W., and Palermo-Neto, J. (2015, February). Cannabidiol improves lung function and inflammation in mice submitted to LPS-induced acute lung injury. Immunopharmacology and Immunotoxicology, 37(1), 35-41.
  11. Staiano, R.I., Loffredo, S., Borriello, F., Iannotti, F.A., Piscitelli, F., Orlando, P., Secondo, A., Granata, F., Lepore, M.T., Fiorelli, A., Varricchi, G., Santini, M., Triggiani, M., Di Marzo, V., and Marone, G. (2016, April). Human lung-resident macrophages express CB1 and CB2 receptors whose activation inhibits the release of angiogenic and lymphangiogenic factors. Journal of Leukocyte Biology, 99(4), 531-40.
  12. Tashkin, D.P., Shapiro, B.J., and Frank, I.M. (1974, April). Acute effects of smoked Cannabis and oral delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol on specific airway conductance in asthmatic subjects. The American Review of Respiratory Disease, 109(4), 420-8.
  13. Tashkin, D.P., Baldwin, G.C., Sarafian, T., Dubinett, S., and Roth, M.D. (2002, November). Respiratory and immunologic consequences of Cannabis smoking. Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, 42 (11 Suppl), 71S-81S.
  14. Turcotte, C., Blanchet, M.R., Laviolette, M., and Flamand, N. (2016, September 15). Impact of cannabis, cannabinoids, and endocannabinoids in the lungs. Frontiers in Pharmacology, 7, 317.
  15. What is COPD? (2014, May 22). National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Retrieved fromhttps://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/copd.
  16. Yayan, J., and Rasche, K. (2016). Damaging Effects of Cannabis Use on the Lungs. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, 952, 31-34.
  17. Yoshihara, S., Morimoto, H., Ohori, M., Yamada, Y., Abe, T., and Arisaka, O. (2005, May) The cannabinoid receptor agonist WIN 55212-2 inhibits neurogenic inflammations in airway tissues. Journal of Pharmacological Sciences, 98(1), 77-82.
Posted on by

HB 1325 – Hemp Is Legal! Texas Update

On June 10, Gov. Greg Abbott (R) signed HB 1325 into law. After a long year in order to help create a program for cultivation and legalize the sale of hemp-derived products, including CBD; edibles, sublingual, topicals and so much more.

Straight Forward, CBD is legal, Full Spectrum Hemp Oil (with THC, up to .3%) is legal.

People ask daily what is legal and what isn’t. There has been this grey area for a bit now and now the fog has lifted. HB 1325, now clearly legalizes CBD products in agreeance to the Texas Legislature.

What is to come?

Texas now will join the 42 other states, to establish a program which will create and regulate hemp farming in accordance to the, 2018 Farm Bill.

HB 1325 is full of legalities protecting businesses that sell or manufacture CBD products, with matched protections for those taking and using CBD products.

Protection for Businesses –

HB 1325 will protect business and consumers in the manner the product must come from hemp & hemp derived goods. HB 1325, will be part of the legality of the whole process involving cannabinoids, extracts and any finish production.

Questions :

Is CBD legal?

As long as a CBD product is sourced from hemp that is grown according to the rules and regulations set out by HB 1325, that product is legal to manufacture, sell and possess in the state of Texas.

HB 1325 removes hemp from the Texas Health and Safety Code list of controlled substances, making it legal to use cannabinoids in consumable products, e.g., ingestible products, topicals, etc., even those new Carl’s Junior Burgers. The bill supports :

“Hemp-derived cannabinoids, including cannabidiol [CBD], are not considered controlled substances or adulterants.”  [Id. § 443.204(1)] –  “Hemp derived cannabinoids would not be considered controlled substances, and such products intended for consumption would be considered foods.” [2]

Is Full Spectrum CBD legal?

THC concentration cannot exceed 0.3%, as per the 2018 Farm Bill and HB 1325.

HB 1325 clears the grey area argument by not only removing hemp from the list of controlled substances, but the THC in hemp, as well. “[Controlled substance] does not include hemp…or the tetrahydrocannabinols in hemp.” [Id. Sec. 8 amending Texas Health and Safety Code § 481.002(5)]

As well as;

“‘Marihuana’…does not include…hemp, as that term is defined by Section 121.001, Agriculture Code.” [Id. § 481.002(26)]

Is CBD Oil Legal to Purchase?

“A person may possess, transport, sell, or purchase a consumable hemp product processed or manufactured in compliance with this chapter.” [Id. § 443.201(a)]

  • Produced in compliance with the 2018 Farm Bill
  • Tested by accredited laboratory
  • Found to have a THC concentration of no more than 0.3%
  • A URL or QR code that leads to a certificate of analysis (to show the THC concentration is less than 0.3%)
  • Name of product’s manufacturer
  • Batch identification number and batch date

Can you be arrested for a manufactures mistake? No, you won’t. Law enforcement will be searching for CBD products that clearly violate state law, such as products produced or manufactured by a medical marijuana program in another state.

Sources :

  1. Tex. H.B. 1325, 86th Leg., R.S. (2019)
  2. House Research Organization, Bill Analysis