strokes and cannabis

[mattmao]

does anyone know of the benefits of cannabis in stroke victims? a fellow toker just suffered one due to tumor on brain. she has little movement on left side but slight feeling in fingers, i wondered if her muscles would relax enough for some movement?? just a thought.

[Jimbob1310]

does anyone know of the benefits of cannabis in stroke victims? a fellow toker just suffered one due to tumor on brain. she has little movement on left side but slight feeling in fingers, i wondered if her muscles would relax enough for some movement?? just a thought.

unfortunately no, she needs cell regeneration in her limb and that could only happen with a bone marrow transplant

[birdgirl73]

^^ I think Jimbo must mean "stem cell transplant," but even those don't cause cell regeneration in a limb. For treatment of strokes, stem cell transplantation is a not-yet-researched-but-very-much-needs-to-be dream. We suspect they could be very instrumental in helping stroke patients with nerve damage, just as they could be beneficial in neurological diseases like ALS and Parkinson's, but far too little research is being done, so that's just a dream right now.

What happens in regular stroke patients is that the part of the brain that helps govern the muscles is damaged, so it can't send out signals through the nerves that control the muscles. If someone has had a stroke as a result of a brain tumor, either the stroke-damaged area or the tumor-damaged area of the brain isn't able to send its normal signals to the muscles. That results in muscle atrophy and contraction. The muscles themselves aren't damaged, at least not from the stroke itself, but their control center, the brain, is. With time and inactivity, the muscles atrophy and contract.

Cannabis can help with muscle relaxation, but other meds are probably better for muscle constriction. What cannabis is very good at treating--at least some strains of it--is neurological inflammation. The active ingredients in cannabis have also been shown to be of benefit against some types of brain tumor cells, but that research is in its infancy, too.

Cannabis might be helpful in easing some of her neurological symptoms from either the tumor or the stroke, but I'd be very wary of that because, if she's had a stoke, her tumor may be in an area of the brain that's affecting her breathing, heart rate or blood pressure, and cannabis can have potential detrimental effects on those. Sounds like she has had a rough go of it, so I'd be very wary of further complicating her medical situation.

[Immolation]

I had a stroke 10 yrs ago from a blood clot in my heart.I'm 39 now.I had no noticeable side effects from it.It was an Isemic(spelling?) stroke.I would also be interested in the effects of MJ on stroke victims.I hadn't smoked for 2 yrs when I had my stroke so it wasn't the direct result of smoking.I'd like to hear the pros and cons if anyone knows off hand. :)

[Storm Crow]

Marijuana protects your brain (http://www.cannabisculture.com/articles/1418.html)

Science News Online (7/11/98): Marijuana chemical tapped to fight strokes (http://www.sciencenews.org/pages/sn_arc98/7_11_98/fob2.htm)

Smoke for Strokes (http://www.garynull.com/Documents/Continuum/SmokeForStrokes.htm)

Cannabidiol and (-)Delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol are neuroprotective antioxidants -- Hampson et al. 95 (14): 8268 -- Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (http://www.pnas.org/cgi/content/abstract/95/14/8268)

Cannabidiol Prevents Cerebral Infarction (http://hempworld.com/HempPharm/articles/braincelldeath.html)

Hope that helps! - Granny:hippy:

[Adrenaline Rush]

Marijuana protects your brain (http://www.cannabisculture.com/articles/1418.html)

Science News Online (7/11/98): Marijuana chemical tapped to fight strokes (http://www.sciencenews.org/pages/sn_arc98/7_11_98/fob2.htm)

Smoke for Strokes (http://www.garynull.com/Documents/Continuum/SmokeForStrokes.htm)

Cannabidiol and (-)Delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol are neuroprotective antioxidants -- Hampson et al. 95 (14): 8268 -- Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (http://www.pnas.org/cgi/content/abstract/95/14/8268)

Cannabidiol Prevents Cerebral Infarction (http://hempworld.com/HempPharm/articles/braincelldeath.html)

Hope that helps! - Granny:hippy:

Holy cow! If that's not enough answers I don't know what is...thanks.

[mattmao]

thanks for all the replys so far,but to reply to bird.the tumor is at the top of the spine and is pressng aganst the nerves stopping any signals passing as a result no feeling.cheers everyone for your input.

[mattmao]

nice one storm great information.:thumbsup: