Weed has been used for thousands of years. How does THC work?
Evidence suggests that it was cultivated into food or drink as early as 6000 BC. But it wasn’t until 1964 that cannabis’ reputation would finally be tarnished. CBD (Cannabidiol) is the non-psychoactive chemical compound found in hemp and cannabis. It was classified as a schedule one drug under the United States Controlled Substance Act. Marijuana has since become synonymous with its psychoactive ingredients
Cannabis Class: How Does THC Work in the Body
THC, tetrahydrocannabinol, produces what’s referred to as a “high.”
But how does THC work in the body?
Cannabis Class: How Does THC Work in the Body
The answer is simple. It mimics the effects of your body’s naturally occurring endocannabinoid anandamide, otherwise referred to as “the bliss molecule.”
So what is THC?
It’s one of more than 480 natural compounds found in the cannabis plant. It bonds with cannabinoid receptors in your brain and places you in a state of mild euphoria. Causing you to feel relaxed or “high,” THC also temporarily alters how your brain perceives sight, smell, sound, and touch.
THC can be of use to treat the following:
- Severe pain
- Nausea associated with chemotherapy treatment for cancer patients
- Epileptic seizures in children with drug-resistant forms of the disease known as intractable or status epilepticus
- Inflammation and many other conditions including anorexia associated with AIDS.
According to the National Cancer Institute
CBD found in marijuana may be useful in treating the side effects of cancer and cancer treatment.
This includes:
- nausea and vomiting
- appetite stimulation
- pain relief
- anti-inflammatory activity
- inhibits cell growth in certain types of cancers
Research published by the National Academies Press cautions
that there is “conclusive or substantial evidence” which links cannabis smoke to lung cancer and tumors.
A 2013 review published by the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology reports
that studies have found weed to be a “remarkable” analgesic. This provides pain relief for patients with chronic pain, neuropathic pain, and even rheumatoid arthritis.
“…the available literature on the effect of cannabinoids in models of chronic inflammatory and neuropathic pain indicates that they can suppress hyperalgesia (heightened sensitivity to pain) and allodynia (pain resulting from normally non-painful stimuli),” the research team, led by a team of academics from the University of Perugia in Italy
“…Collectively, these studies support a consideration of cannabinoids as novel therapeutic agents for the treatment of chronic neuropathic pain and other forms of chronic pain where present treatments are inadequate.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control
prescription drugs were responsible for killing approximately 19,000 people in 2014.
Meanwhile, data compiled by research firm IMS Health suggests that more than 16 million Americans abuse opioid medications like:
- Vicodin
- OxyContin
- Opana
- Percocet
The National Institutes of Health published a study in 2014. It found that an estimated 4 million people in the United States had used prescription drugs for non-medical purposes at least once during their lifetime.
Meanwhile
clinical studies have shown that THC can reduce tumor size in cancer patients.
Cannabis Class: How Does THC Work in the Body
According to the National Institutes of Health’s National Cancer Institute, numerous cell-culture and animal studies have demonstrated that cannabinoids may inhibit tumor growth by causing cell death, blocking cell growth, and blocking the development of blood vessels needed by tumors to grow.
“Cannabinoids appear to kill tumor cells but do not affect their non-transformed counterparts and may even protect them from cell death.”
“In the practice of integrative oncology, the therapeutic potential of cannabinoid-based compounds is being explored for a variety of malignancies.”
The Takeaway:
How THC works on the body has led it to its consistent use in many ways.
This includes cancer treatment to alleviate pain and nausea, reduce inflammation, and promote weight gain in people with AIDS.
It’s also an effective painkiller that can kill cancer cells without harming healthy ones.
Keep reading for more information on the research about Cannabis Class: how THC works in the Body
