Autism and Cannabis

 

Autism is a severe disorder that impairs social, communicative, and behavioral abilities, making life difficult for both the sufferers and their loved ones. 

Cannabis for autism has gotten a lot of popularity over the last couple of years as the rate of people willing to use cannabis as a potential treatment for autism has increased. However, due to little or no research, it becomes difficult to clarify to patients that this drug works and has made many doctors skeptical and slow to prescribe cannabis.

Cannabis is a suitable alternative treatment for autism and nowadays people now prefer it as an alternate treatment for autism. Let’s discover more about cannabis and autism.

 

What is autism?

Autism refers to compulsive difficulties in interaction.

This disease is widely common in children and it is most manifested during early childhood of about around 2 years of age.

When most doctors realize this unusual behavior, they find it difficult to figure it out, but they usually blame it on both environmental and genetic factors.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition suffered by a small amount of the world’s populace. Cannabis can be an enhanced way to gain relief from autism. It can reduce the symptoms relating to autism, making the life of the patient better. 

Cannabis and autism

The endocannabinoid system interacts with cannabis to regulate several bodily processes like pain, hunger, anxiety, and neuronal excitability. The ability for epileptic patients to gain relief from seizures is due to CBD interacting with the endocannabinoid receptors in the body. Cannabis may also balance the ECS of ASD sufferers making life better for them. 

Research on using cannabis and autism

A cannabis study conducted in Israel showed that cannabis can effectively reduce epileptic seizures and behavioral issues in children with autism. This study also showed that cannabis can reduce seizures in children.

Another 2013 study on cannabis showed that endocannabinoid receptors like the CB1 and CB2 receptors can play a role in reducing autism. Tetrahydrocannabinol or THC, one of the primary cannabinoids interacts with CB2 receptors to reduce autism.

According to a study on the effects of mice on cannabis, there was a relationship between changes in the endocannabinoid system and alterations on the X chromosome, which is linked with autism development.

Another study conducted in 2017 showed that the endocannabinoid system could easily manage neuroinflammation, which is common in autistic children.

The few studies on cannabis and autism show its ability to work on numerous neurological conditions such as epilepsy and Tourette syndrome. However, there is a need for more studies on cannabis to show its long-lasting impacts on autism.

Bottom line

Since some doctors are still skeptical about prescribing cannabis to autistic patients, it becomes difficult for patients to use it. Also, most people don’t know how it will affect kids. Nonetheless, there are several ongoing studies on the ability of medical marijuana to treat autism. 

Autism is a spectrum, which means the drugs that work for you may not work for other people with a similar condition. So, ensure to talk to your local physician about using cannabis for its symptoms.  

 

 

Can medical marijuana help with Sickle Cell Anemia?

 

Sickle cell anemia is a rare condition suffered by thousands of Americans and according to statistics, about 1% of African American babies come out as sickle cell patients. Sickle cell is very detrimental, and most patients usually die before reaching maturity. The patients who struggle to survive usually result in costly medications which greatly reduces income over the long run. The symptoms of sickle cell can lead to death and due to the expensive nature of prescription medications, most patients are now looking at alternative ways to gain relief from the symptoms of sickle cell. While there is no current cure for sickle cell, several studies are linking medical marijuana as a perfect way to relieve the severe symptoms of sickle cell. This article focuses on the link between medical cannabis and sickle cell to help patients that want to consider using medical cannabis as an alternative treatment. 

 

  

 

What Is Sickle Cell Anemia?

Sickle cell anemia is a condition that makes red blood cells eventually break down. It’s a genetic disorder that results when the body starts generating unusual hemoglobin known as hemoglobin S. Hemoglobin helps carry oxygen in red blood cells. Red blood cells usually have a circular shape, but defective hemoglobin can cause red blood cells to take a sickle shape. When red blood cells form this structure, it becomes difficult for blood flow and oxygen to move to different parts of the body, and this results in sickle cell anemia.

 

Sickle cell patients undergo symptoms such as vision loss, slow puberty, and slow growth rate. Also, sickle cell patients experience chronic pain called “sickle pain” due to inflammation of the circulatory system. This causes high pain and discomfort which is very hard on the patients.

 

A potential cure for sickle cell anemia involves a blood marrow transplant. But its costly nature makes it difficult for most people to receive a transplant. The common medications for sickle cell side effects include pain relievers and antibiotics. While these medications can treat the side effects of sickle cell, they can also cause their side effects. This has made most sufferers consider cannabis as a perfect way to gain relief from sickle cell symptoms.

 

Medical Marijuana and Sickle Cell Anemia

Medical marijuana can help sufferers of sickle cell anemia to gain relief. Medical marijuana may help relieve some symptoms of sickle cell anemia including chronic pain. The primary compound in medical marijuana, CBD has pain-relieving properties that have been tested and proven by researchers. Cannabis also has anti-inflammatory properties that benefit sickle cell patients.

 

Apart from pain, medical marijuana can help sickle cell patients with anxiety and depression that originates from severe pain. Medical marijuana also works as an appetite enhancer for patients finding difficulties in eating. It can also help reduce mood swings and relieve inflammation in sickle cell patients.

 

Bottom line

The benefits of medical marijuana on sickle cell patients are many, so if you consider using medical marijuana for sickle cell talk to your physician to gain more information about dosage and the best strains.  

 

Cannabis and Hair Color

The hair is a vital part of the body and plays a role in social functioning. Many factors can affect hair including cannabis. It's known for stimulating hair growth as well as nourishes the scalp. According to recent reports, cannabis may also have the potential to change hair color. But does cannabis actually change hair color, read on to find out.

 

Can cannabis affect my hair color?

Presently, there is a lack of significant studies showing how cannabis consumption can affect hair color. Hair is something that comes from our genes, which means hair color can vary from one individual to another.  

 

When we consume cannabis, its cannabinoids enter the body through the veins and interact with cannabinoid receptors found on different parts of the body, responsible for different effects. When we consume cannabis, THC usually enter the enters the papilla, which is where actual hair growth occurs, promoting hair growth and acting as an active hair booster.

 

 

 

The science behind hair color

The color of our hair is genetic. But due to the change in genes, as we grow, our hair color can likely change. The genes which generate hair color are ones that make pigment in our skin. Thus, the color of our skin and our hair color all result from one pigment.

 

This pigment in charge of body and hair color comes from a group of cells called melanocytes. If these cells produce heavy melanin, then it can result in darker hair color. Average amounts of melanin bring brown or black hair while low melanin brings blonde hair. Therefore, if you feel like your hair is becoming blonde due to cannabis consumption, it may be because cannabis reduces the amount of melanin in the hair, however, this is just a suggestion.

 

There are two types of melanin: eumelanin and pheomelanin. Both types of melanin are produced by the body. Eumelanin pigment is related to the dark nature of the hair while pheomelanin pigment is related to the red nature of the hair.  

 

The benefits of cannabis on the hair

Moisturizes and strengthens the hair: Those with dry hair tend to lose more hair. Moisturizing the hair will help achieve a healthy mane. One of the best ways to inject moisture into the hair is by using cannabis oil. Apart from moisturizing the hair, cannabis oil also helps strengthen the scalp.

 

Quick hair growth: Cannabis is rich in Omega-3, Omega-6, and Omega-9 fatty acids, which all invoke hair growth. Cannabis also fills hair follicles with moisture and eases the flow of blood across the scalp.

 

To conclude

Cannabis can affect the hair in different ways. However, there is a need for more studies on its effects on hair color. Cannabis may affect the production of melanin and change the color of our hair and body.  Some people acknowledge having blond hair, while others acknowledge having darker hair. Nonetheless, since cannabis affects each individual differently, what works for you might not work for others.

Health Benefits of Major Cannabinoids

 

Cannabinoids are the medicinal chemicals produced by the cannabis plant. There exist more than 110 cannabinoids in the cannabis plant. Each cannabis compound has unique properties and effects useful for medicinal or commercial purposes.

Major cannabinoids include CBGA, THCa, THC, CBG, THCV, CBD, CBN, and CBC. Let’s look at the health benefits of these major cannabinoids.

 

THC-Tetrahydrocannabinol

THC is the psychoactive cannabinoid found in the cannabis plant. It's produced when the cannabis plant is dried and placed under high temperatures. Research has shown that THC helps in various ways including. 

·         Reduces vomiting and nausea

·         Increases appetite

·         It is very anti-inflammatory

·         It acts as a neuroprotective antioxidant.

·         It can treat PTSD and Tourette syndrome.

·         Its effects can help those with anorexia and spasticity.

·         It can help with migraines

 

THCa- Tetrahydrocannabinolic Acid

THCa (tetrahydrocannibinolic acid) is not the same as THC. It is the uncured and undried form of THC. THCa has anti-proliferative and anti-inflammatory properties which means it can prevent the spread of cancer cells in the body. Another benefit of THCa is its anti-spasmodic properties, which can help with muscle spasms and seizures.

 

CBD- Cannabidiol

CBD is a very popular cannabinoid known for its medicinal properties. CBD is non-psychoactive, which means it won’t get you high. Most people use CBD as an alternative to pharmaceutical pills due to its lack of side effects. Let’s look at the ways CBD is beneficial to your health.

It can help with anxiety, nausea, and rheumatoid arthritis.

It can also reduce seizures

It can stop inflammation

CBD also prevents the growth of cancer cells in the body

It can restore damaged neurons in the body

 

CBN- Cannabinol

Cannabinol is another form of THCA. This compound is produced when THCA is left to decompose fully. The easiest way to produce CBN is by allowing the cannabis plant under heat. Here is how CBN can be helpful to health

 

·         It has analgesic properties that can help with pain

·         It acts as an anticonvulsant for patients with seizures

·         It also acts as an anti-inflammatory agent.

 

CBC- Cannabichromene

Cannabichromene is a lesser-known cannabinoid. CBC is a product of cannabigerolic acid (CBGa). Despite its low popularity, it’s the third healthy cannabis compound after THC.

 

Research on CBD shows that It interacts with anandamide receptors to help fight against intestinal cancer cells.

·         It can also inhibit mucosal inflammation.

·         It can reduce intestinal dysmotility

·         It also acts as an antidepressant in patients finding difficulties with prescription meds.

 

CBG- Cannabigerol

Cannabigerolic-acid (CBGA) is the initial cannabinoid produced by the cannabis plant. It’s the only compound that is seen during the first growth stage of the cannabis plant. When the growth phase begins to change, CBGA starts reducing and apparently changes to more prominent THC compounds. CBG functions as an antagonist to CB1 and CB2 receptors which makes it good for recreational purposes. 

 

While CBG stands as the seed which other cannabinoids are produced, its medical benefits are not known. Several studies have been conducted for its antibacterial properties, but none of these studies have been published. Nonetheless, it’s still a prominent cannabis compound tipped to have health benefits.