African Traditional Herbal Research Clinic ... - Blackherbals.com

Continued from page 18 – Marijuana increases Brain Growthmarijuana. The synthetic version is about 100 times aspowerful as THC, the high-inducing compound loved byrecreational users.The researchers found that rats treated with HU-210 on aregular basis showed neurogenesis — the growth of newbrain cells in the hippocampus. A current hypothesissuggests depression may be triggered when thehippocampus grows insufficient numbers of new braincells. If true, HU-210 could offer a treatment for such mooddisorders by stimulating this growth.Whether this is true for all cannabinoids remains unclear, asHU-210 is only one of many and the HU-210 in the study ishighly purified.“That does not mean that general use in healthy people isbeneficial,” said Memorial psychology professor WilliamMcKim. “We need to learn if this happens in humans,whether this is useful in healthy people, and whether THCcauses it as well.”McKim warns that marijuana disrupts memory andcognition. “These effects can be long-lasting after heavyuse,” he said. “This makes it difficult to succeedacademically if you use it excessively.”“Occasional light use probably does not have very seriousconsequences. [But] there is some evidence that marijuanasmoke might cause cancer.”Still, the positive aspects of marijuana are becoming moreplentiful as further research is done. McKim says it’s notsurprising that THC and compounds like it could havemedicinal effects.“Many have been identified,” he said. “It stimulatesappetite in people with AIDS, it is an analgesic, and blocksnausea in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. And ittreats the symptoms of glaucoma.”The research group’s next studies will examine the moreunpleasant side of the drug.Issue 9, volume 121 — October 31, 2005 —http://www.peak.sfu.ca/the-peak/2005-3/issue9/ne-mj.html☻☻☻☻☻☻Active Component inMarijuana Targets AggressiveBrain Cancer Cells, StudySaysWebMD Health NewsBy Kelli Miller StacyApril 1, 2009 -- The active chemical in marijuanapromotes the death of brain cancer cells by essentiallyhelping them feed upon themselves, researchers in Spainreport.Guillermo Velasco and colleagues at ComplutenseUniversity in Spain have found that the active ingredientin marijuana, THC, causes brain cancer cells to undergo aprocess called autophagy. Autophagy is the breakdown ofa cell that occurs when the cell essentially self-digests.The team discovered that cannabinoids such as THC hadanticancer effects in mice with human brain cancer cellsand people with brain tumors. When mice with thehuman brain cancer cells received the THC, the tumorgrowth shrank.Two patients enrolled in a clinical trial received THCdirectly to the brain as an experimental treatment forrecurrent glioblastoma multiforme, a highly aggressivebrain tumor. Biopsies taken before and after treatmenthelped track their progress. After receiving the THC,there was evidence of increased autophagy activity.The findings appear in the April 1 issue of the Journal ofClinical Investigation.The patients did not have any toxic effects from thetreatment. Previous studies of THC for the treatment ofcancer have also found the therapy to be well tolerated,according to background information in journal article.Study authors say their findings could lead to newstrategies for preventing tumor growth.http://www.webmd.com/cancer/braincancer/news/20090401/marijuana-chemical-may-fight-braincancer☻☻☻☻☻☻Skin Churns out MarijuanalikeBrain ChemicalsBody's own cannabinoids help keep skin clear andhealthyBy Robin NixonLiveScienceJuly 11, 2008Marijuana-like substances made by the skin are necessaryfor a healthy complexion, a new study concludes.The skin has joined the growing club of organs that isknown to produce "endocannabinoids" — the body's ownreefer. The biggest producer of endogenous pot is thebrain.Significantly, the new study pins down long-suspectedContinued on page 29-21- Traditional African Clinic December 2009