epilepticme
08-11-2008, 10:18 PM
Cannabis News: Cannabinoids may control seizures
submit a free press release - PR.Canna Zine - Cannabis News: Cannabinoids may control seizures (http://pr.cannazine.co.uk/content/view/506/27/)
A study by a team of European researchers has indicated that it may be possible to control epileptic seizures by stimulating the bodyâ??s own cannabinoids. Cannabinoids are natural cannabis-like substances which occur in the brain.
Research on animals has shown that when the brainâ??s nerve cells begin to fire too much, production of cannabinoids increases with the result that over-active nerves are calmed down.
There is anecdotal evidence that cannabis has been used historically to control seizures. A 15th-century Arab writer is said to have reported that cannabis was used to cure the son of a council member who had epilepsy. And in the 19th century came reports of a doctor in India using hashish as a cure for epilepsy.
However, as cannabinoids are part of the bodyâ??s natural defence mechanism and are only produced when needed, the European research team has recommended against using cannabis in an attempt to prevent seizures from occurring. Instead, they urge that a better strategy would be to undertake research to develop new drugs that target the production of indigenous cannabinoids as and when they are needed. The research findings were published in the October issue of the journal Science.
http://www.epilepsynse.org.uk (http://www.epilepsynse.org.uk/PAGES/WHATSNEW/events/archive_17.cfm)
submit a free press release - PR.Canna Zine - Cannabis News: Cannabinoids may control seizures (http://pr.cannazine.co.uk/content/view/506/27/)
A study by a team of European researchers has indicated that it may be possible to control epileptic seizures by stimulating the bodyâ??s own cannabinoids. Cannabinoids are natural cannabis-like substances which occur in the brain.
Research on animals has shown that when the brainâ??s nerve cells begin to fire too much, production of cannabinoids increases with the result that over-active nerves are calmed down.
There is anecdotal evidence that cannabis has been used historically to control seizures. A 15th-century Arab writer is said to have reported that cannabis was used to cure the son of a council member who had epilepsy. And in the 19th century came reports of a doctor in India using hashish as a cure for epilepsy.
However, as cannabinoids are part of the bodyâ??s natural defence mechanism and are only produced when needed, the European research team has recommended against using cannabis in an attempt to prevent seizures from occurring. Instead, they urge that a better strategy would be to undertake research to develop new drugs that target the production of indigenous cannabinoids as and when they are needed. The research findings were published in the October issue of the journal Science.
http://www.epilepsynse.org.uk (http://www.epilepsynse.org.uk/PAGES/WHATSNEW/events/archive_17.cfm)