Health Benefits of Cannabis

Introduction

The different well established addictive preparations like marijuana, hashish, and dagga are prepared from Cannabis, which is scientifically known as Cannabis Sativa. But after the discovery of chemical constituents of Cannabis Sativa in mid of 19th century elicited gradual interest towards cannabis and subsequent research findings support its therapeutic value. Several alkaloid based chemical constituents obtained from Cannabis Sativa are collectively referred to as cannabinoids. Cannabidiol or CBD is one of the natural cannabinoids obtained from cannabis, which has multiple therapeutic benefits.

The durable soft stem of cannabis is termed as Cannabis, though nowadays industrial use of cannabis product, specifically for non-drug preparations or industrial preparations such as cloths, paper, a biodegradable plastic made from fibers of cannabis stem are termed as Cannabis. The well-established drugs obtain from (THC). The medicinal cannabis products contain very less amount of THC (less than 0.3%) and no psychoactive properties exhibit. Cannabis is extracted from Cannabis seeds. Different countries like Australia, Canada, Great Britain, Austria, China, France, and Spain legally cultivate Cannabis. Cannabis like marijuana, hashish contains higher concentration (in between 1% to 20%) of psychoactive compound Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol.

Phytochemicals present in Cannabis

Studies found that extracted from cannabis seeds has several health benefits. Researchers already identified more than 560 cannabis containing phytochemicals and have the potential to treat multiple disorders. Cannabidiol (CBD), cannabichromene (CBC), and cannabigerol (CBG), along with other non-cannabinoid constituents are responsible to provide a wide range of medicinal properties.

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Cannabidiol (CBD), a non-psychoactive plant cannabinoid. Preclinical data primarily provides the information that CBD has anti-inflammatory, antiemetic, anticonvulsant and antipsychotic properties. Research evidence shows that cannabidiol can limit the psychomimetic effect of ∆9-THC. Initial clinical research has already provided the information, though a high dose of CBD is a therapeutic option for anxiety, epilepsy and insomnia treatment along with sedative effect. If you would like to know more, be sure to check out these Dispensary Canada Online reviews.

• Studies found that the high content of arginine in Cannabis seed is taking part in the synthesis of nitric oxide (NO). Moreover, recent studies also found that arginine can improve cardiovascular functioning as it contributes in the regulation of hemostasis, breakdown of clotting in the blood vessels, which improves blood circulation, controlling vascular tone, vascular smooth muscle cells proliferation and all these mechanisms supports blood pressure hemostasis and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.
• Dietary intake of Cannabis seed is considered as a healthy diet for cardiac patients, as Cannabis seed is a rich source of omega-6 fatty acid linoleic acid (LA), omega-3 fatty acid α-linolenic acid (ALA). Intake of Cannabis seed provides the right proportion of both LA and ALA (LA: ALA ration is in between 2:1 and 3:1 levels).
• The high level of omega-6 fatty acid linoleic acid of Cannabis seed can decrease the total cholesterol level.
• Resultant of metabolic impairments include the onset of metabolic syndromes and increase the risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Analytical studies, preclinical trials, and clinical trials provide evidence that sufficient dietary intake of n 3 polyunsaturated fatty acids like alpha-linolenic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid, and/or docosahexaenoic acid may recover some of the mechanism associated with metabolic syndromes. The further interventional study report also found n 3 polyunsaturated fatty acids have a preventive and decreasing effect against inflammation. Cannabis seed has sufficient n 3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and may potential to provide improvement against metabolic syndromes.
• The high content of vitamin E in Cannabis mainly provides antioxidant properties.
• CBD, the active phytochemicals of cannabis potentially reduces the level of IFN-γ and diminishes TNF-α and acts as an effective anti-inflammatory agent. Besides this, Cannabis is also activated NF-κB, monocytes migration, endothelial adhesion and reduce inflammatory autoimmune disease condition.
• Cannabis able to modulate neurotransmitter activity and exerts several neurological benefits including anxiolytic, anti-epileptic, etc.
• CBD can induce apoptosis and acts as anticancer.

Uses of Cannabis

Cardiovascular disease risk reduction

The risk of coronary heart disease, hypertension, and atherosclerosis may reduce by increase intake of omega-6 fatty acid linoleic acid and as Cannabis seed contains a large amount of LA, therefore researchers expect supplementation can help to reduce all these cardiac complications.

Benefits of Skin Health

Common skin problems such as dryness of skin, severe itching, which are also symptoms of atopic dermatitis can be improved by dietary intake of Cannabis seed. Research evidence supports that dietary Cannabis seed provides significant relief from clinical symptoms of atopic dermatitis by altering plasma fatty acid level, specifically, sufficient supply of PUFAs has a great role.

Antioxidant effects

Cannabis seed possesses great antioxidant property comparable with flaxseed, grape seed, and soybean extracts. Therefore the addition of Cannabis seed in diet can prevent to increase oxidative stress. Sufficient vitamin E supply can also reduce the risk of neurologic abnormalities, especially ataxia, and related mortality.

Analgesic effect

Cannabis containing CBD is a potent analgesic and effective to reduce migraine pain, as it can reduce serotonin level.

Bone health improvement

Anti-inflammatory effect of CBD, the active phytochemicals of cannabis potentially reduces the rheumatoid arthritis disease, as CBD can reduce the level of IFN-γ and diminishes TNF-α. Both these factors considerable factors for joint injury.

Antidiabetic 

The antioxidant property of Cannabis containing CBD can reverse the detrimental effects of elevated glucose level and helps to control type 2 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is considered an autoimmune disease. Cannabis as an immunomodulator able to control type 1 diabetes.

Antiasthma 

The anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory effect of Cannabis is effective to reduce the exaggeration of asthma.

Anti-Epileptic Effect

Anticonvulsant profile of CBD due to GABA inhibitory effect is effective against epilepsy. CBD can be a therapeutic option for pharmaco-resistant epileptic children.

Antipsychotic Effect

Schizophrenia symptoms can be minimized by using CBD. It is also considered that CBD can improve cognitive impairment by reducing Schizophrenic symptoms.

Anxiolytic Effect

CBD reduces social anxiety by decreasing left mesial temporal lobe perfusion and also improve insomnia.

Anticancer Effect

CBD can induce apoptosis and reduces cell viability against leukemia cells.

Therefore, CBD rich Cannabis is not produced any psychotic effect but can provide overall therapeutic benefits obtain from whole cannabinoid system.

Safety and Precautionary Measures

There is a very limited study conducted for long term application of cannabis for clinical purposes. Therefore, clinicians are concerned about the safety issue of this herb, as this herb has drug-addictive property. cannabis containing medication should not be prescribed for elderly patients and small children. The dose is a very important factor, as an overdose of the medication can cause death.

References

• Cannabinoids as novel anti-inflammatory drugs. 
• Cannabinoids in health and disease. 
• Cannabis.
• The cardiac and haemostatic effects of dietary Cannabisseed.
• Phytochemistry of Cannabis sativa L. 
• Cannabidiol in Humans—The Quest for Therapeutic Targets
• N-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids: relationship to inflammation in healthy adults and adults exhibiting features of metabolic syndrome; Lipids. 
• A history of vitamin E. 
• Efficacy of dietary Cannabisseed  in patients with atopic dermatitis; 
• The isolation and identification of two compounds with predominant radical scavenging activity in Cannabisseed (seed of Cannabis sativa L.). 
• Cannabidiol: Pharmacology and potential therapeutic role in epilepsy and other neuropsychiatric disorders.
• Cannabidiol in humans-the quest for therapeutic targets; Pharmaceuticals (Basel).
• Marijuana. National Institute on Drug Abuse.