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

Continued from page 21 – Skin Churns out Marijuana-likeBrain Chemicalsconnections between brain and skin and between stressand zits.Your thinking skinIn the skin, explained lead researcher Tamás Bíró of theUniversity of Debrecen, Hungary, these compoundshelp the sebaceous glands protect us from harsh outerelements, such as the drying effects of wind and sun.Cannabinoids are thought to have a similar role in theleaves of the marijuana plant.Among its protective functions, "endo-pot" stimulatesoil production and tells hair follicles to stop producinghair. Whether this explains the plethora of pimples andreceding hairlines at Grateful Dead concerts (or thoseof former band members) has not yet been determined.The research, funded mostly by the Hungarian andGerman governments, will be detailed in the October2008 issue of The Federation of American Societies forExperimental Biology (FASEB) Journal.Why is a psycho-stimulant working outside the brain?Dermatologists have long suggested that mental statesaffect the skin, having observed flare-ups of acne,psoriasis, hair loss and other conditions that coincidewith stress. Now, they are finding that the skinresponds to, and produces, compounds calledneuropeptides previously thought to exist exclusively inthe brain. This is said to prove the brain-skinconnection by nailing down the mechanism."It is working in both directions," said AndrzejSlominski, a researcher at the University of Tennesseewho was not involved with the endocannabinoids studybut does research on the skin's neuroendocrine system.Brain-skin connectionNeuropeptides — such as serotonin, melatonin, cortisoland, possibly endocannabinoids — are made by theskin in response to environmental stressors or rewardssuch as thorns, humidity, sunshine or a refreshingbreeze. These compounds can then spur the brain toalter behavior, Slominski explained.Conversely, psychological stress sends signals from thebrain to the skin.The discoveries are giving credence to old wives' talesthat connect skin condition with mental state. Yes,perhaps exam period did give you that pimple.Because the skin is less complex than the brain, itknows only a few names for stress, said Slominski.Therefore, the skin may respond to emotional distressas if the body is under physical attack. Protectivelubricants are increased (resulting in oily skin) and lesscritical functions (like growing hair) may be halted.Even though the skin is the simpler organ, as primatesevolved our skin likely learned to deal with stress beforethe brain did, said Slominski. The skin, the body's largestorgan, is continuously exposed to a stressfulenvironment, he pointed out. Of all organs, it had themost pressing evolutionary need to develop protectiveresponses.Later, the skin's stress responses were adopted andperfected by the brain, he said, which explains why thesame compounds have similar effects in each organ.Natural high?While these discoveries may lead to breakthrough topicaltreatments, such as the use of endocannabinoids to treatchronically dry and itchy skin, the research may alsoinspire the pursuit of relaxation in the name of a glowingcomplexion and a full head of hair.What about the endo-pot already on our skin? Can it getus high?"Theoretically, yes," said Bíró. But, while our skin isconstantly pumping out its own type of hash, even if youchewed your arm to bits, he continued, there isn't enoughto have a psychological effect.http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25641237/☻☻☻☻☻☻What Your GovernmentKnows About Cannabis andCancer -- And Isn't TellingYouPaul ArmentanoJune 24, 2008Senator Ted Kennedy is putting forward a brave facefollowing his recent surgery but the sad reality remains.Even with successful surgery, radiation, andchemotherapy treatment, gliomas -- a highly aggressiveform of brain cancer that strikes approximately 10,000Americans annually -- tragically claim the lives of 75percent of its victims within two years and virtually allwithin five years.But what if there was an alternative treatment for gliomasthat could selectively target the cancer while leavinghealthy cells intact? And what if federal bureaucrats wereaware of this treatment, but deliberately withheld thisinformation from the public?Continued on page 30-29- Traditional African Clinic December 2009