TODAY’S COMMON AND SERIOUS CONDITIONS
shown to have neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory properties when tested on cell cultures and animal models, with positive outcomes on conditions such as Alzheimer’s, stroke, Parkinson’s diseases and multiple sclerosis (a medicine called Savitex, which contains both THC and CBD, is already being used in the NHS to treat the symptoms of MS). There have also been several pre-clinical reports indicating that CBD could have an anti-tumour effect in cell culture and animal models, though these results have not been confirmed in human subjects. There is evidence to suggest that CBD may alleviate the symptoms of certain mental illnesses. Marijuana has been linked in several studies to an increased risk of psychosis in some individuals, effects that, research suggests, CBD may limit. Thus far there have only been smallscale clinical trials on this. The anxiety and stress-lessening effects of CBD have also been documented in animal models and small human laboratory and clinical trials— particularly when it comes to social anxiety and post-traumatic stress. •
Cannabinoids and cancer
30 DEAR DOCTOR WITH DR CHRIS STEELE
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One of the areas that garners the most attention when it comes to the medical uses of cannabinoids is cancer treatment. However, it’s important to recognise that virtually all research on whether cannabinoids can treat cancer has been done on either animals or lab-grown cancer cells, not live patients. In addition, while there has been promising research on the beneficial effects that cannabinoids could have on fighting tumours, there isn’t enough reliable evidence to definitively prove that cannabinoids could effectively treat cancer. See Cancer Research UK’s science blog for more information on this subject.
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31/01/2017 16:11