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The effects of medicinal Cannabis for the well-being and quality of life of the patient are fully aligned with the principles of Integrative Medicine.

Scientific research shows that the Endocannabinoid System is involved in several physiological functions, such as appetite control, energy balance, neuroprotection, pain modulation, inflammatory and immune responses. 

In this content, we will bring the main evidence on medicinal Cannabis in these scenarios, evaluating the interaction of cannabinoid derivatives with physical activity, the cardiovascular system, the endocrine system, and immunological and nutritional health. Continue reading and find out what we already know scientifically about these connections.

 

Medical cannabis and wellness

The feeling of  well-being includes balancing the combination of emotional and physical components, such as levels of anxiety, pain, mood, happiness, and life satisfaction. These components can be evaluated with self-report measures, such as the Positive and Negative Affect criteria, in survey scales such as the Life Satisfaction Scale.

It is no coincidence that most of the research linking medicinal cannabis and well-being focuses on studies on depression, anxiety and other psychopathologies. CBD and THC phytocannabinoids combine anxiolytic and antidepressant properties by stimulating various receptors, including serotonergic receptors, capable of bringing a sense of well-being and better quality of life to patients who are in these clinical conditions.

It shows, for example, this study from the Department of Psychology at the University of British Columbia, which brings together research showing the potential of Cannabis in the self-management of anxiety and depression. 

The findings also cover the minimization of psychopathologies associated with chronic pain, suggesting an increase in positive perceptions and a decrease in negative experiences related to this clinical context.

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Medical cannabis in Integrative Medicine

Check out more specific examples of what we already know scientifically about the connections between cannabinoid derivatives and therapeutic practices of Integrative Medicine in different contexts.

 

Wellness and physical activity

Scientific findings suggest that physical activity can stimulate the Endocannabinoid System (ECS) in the preventive and therapeutic approach of neurological disorders. ECS imbalance plays a crucial role in the development and progression of neurodegenerative diseases and the chemical elements of Cannabis have the potential to restore homeostasis in different organs and tissues, including the central and peripheral nervous system.

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Cardiovascular system

The cardiovascular effects of medicinal Cannabis have not yet been extensively scientifically explored. However, there is consensus in the literature that recreational/adult use of Cannabis smoke can cause arrhythmias, including ventricular tachycardia and potentially sudden death, increasing the risk of myocardial infarction. 

On the other hand, in a context of medicinal use through assertive prescriptions, the antihypertensive, hypoglycemic and appetite suppressant effects are promising and welcome in plurimetabolic syndromes.

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There is a close correlation between the signaling of endocannabinoid substances and different brain physiological aspects, such as memory and neurogenesis.  This study, for example, correlated the practice of physical activity with the increase in serum concentrations of endocannabinoid substances, and the potential for application as a therapeutic approach in the management of neurological diseases.

The results indicate increased expression of CB1 receptors in the brain, resulting in positive neurological effects, including antidepressant effects, improvements in memory, neuroplasticity and reduced neuroinflammation. ECS activation through physical activity suppressed inflammation and oxidative stress in neuronal tissue, also signaling and modulating lymphocyte function.

 

>> Read the full study at: Can Physical Activity Support the Endocannabinoid System in the Preventive and Therapeutic Approach to Neurological Disorders?

 

Some preclinical and clinical studies suggest the possible cardiovascular effects of the plant. An example is this survey which investigates the effects of Cannabis oil administration on atherosclerosis (AS), in particular, the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential, as well as the impact on the serum lipid profile and the integrity of endothelial cells.

In the experiment, mice were fed a high-fat diet and given Cannabis oil for 8 weeks. Results show that oral Cannabis administration reduced serum triglyceride and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels at week 6 of testing. 

A decrease in tumor necrosis factor α and nitric oxide was also observed. The results indicate that the administration of cannabis oil exerts anti-atherosclerotic effects, improving the integrity of endothelial cells and reducing the deposition of arterial lipids. The results provide a promising preventive strategy for atherosclerosis.

 

>> See the full experiment at: Cannabis Seed Oil Alleviates Experimental Atherosclerosis by Ameliorating Vascular Inflammation in Apolipoprotein-E-Deficient Mice.

 

immune health

Several studies attest to the immunomodulatory potential of cannabinoid receptors and substances. An example is this survey which suggests that endogenous cannabinoids such as anandamide (AEA) play a key role in maintaining immune health in the gut.

The gut immune system actively tolerates foreign antigens to the local microbiota through mechanisms that are only partially understood by science. The research in question shows that AEA contributes to the homeostasis of this process, stimulating immunosuppressive macrophages.

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>> Read the full survey at: Endocannabinoid system acts as a regulator of immune homeostasis in the gut.

 

Another example of SEC action in the regulation of the immune system is this literature review which correlates the use of medicinal Cannabis to the relief of symptoms associated with HIV infection. Chronic HIV infection leads to alterations in the intestinal microbiome, in the signaling of the brain-gut axis, accentuating chronic inflammatory processes. 

Several studies show that dysregulation of the brain-gut axis can result in neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration. The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of phytocannabinoids may support the restoration of the brain-gut axis, reducing the negative effects of HIV-associated comorbidities.

 

>> Read the full review at: Cannabis and the Gut-Brain Axis Communication in HIV Infection.

 

Endocrine System

We know that the growing number of diseases related to insulin resistance and obesity is an important public health issue. These states can lead to the development of type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease. Several scientific studies already suggest the potential of phytocannabinoids in this context, especiallymainly cannabidiol (CBD).

This bibliographic review, for example, includes studies that show the anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antitumor and neuroprotective properties of CBD, as well as its potential in controlling obesity. 

 

>> Read the full review at: Phytocannabinoids: Useful Drugs for the Treatment of Obesity? Special Focus on Cannabidiol.

 

In addition to CBD, other phytocannabinoids such as Tetracannabivarin (THCV) have been highlighted for their role in glycemic control, glucose metabolism and metabolic expenditure.

 

>> Check more at:Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV): a commentary on potential therapeutic benefit for the management of obesity and diabetes

 

Nutritional Health 

Scientific research further suggests that Cannabis oil is an abundant and balanced source of polyunsaturated fatty acids. This literature review covers studies that support the therapeutic properties of Cannabis when consumed as a food or dietary supplement.

Studies suggest distinct but complementary actions of CBD and THC. Through cannabinoid receptors (CB1 and CB2), adenosine receptors (A2A) and vanilloid receptors (TRPV1), these phytocannabinoids are also able to modulate the metabolism of essential fatty acids, through a wide variety of lipid mediators capable of reducing the inflammation and oxidative stress.

 

>> Read the full review at: A Review of Hemp as Food and Nutritional Supplement.

 

ANDAlthough there is numerous scientific evidence regarding the attributes of Cannabis in Integrative Medicine, safe and assertive prescriptive practice requires qualified education in the area, to individualize treatment, enhance therapeutic results and modulate possible adverse effects.