In this article we'll be covering how you can utilize the best CBD oil for spinal cord injury, including typical dosages, and what the research tells us about using cannabis for brain and concussion syndromes. The endocannabinoid system is critical in the body's ability to use compounds from cannabis, and to the healthy development and functioning of the human body as a whole, which we will also explain in more detail.
Does CBD oil help brain injury?
Cannabidiol has been shown to provide neuroprotection in a variety of experimental models of brain injury. In a 2003 trial that utilized a 1:1 ratio of CBD to THC to treat neurogenic symptoms from several causes, including spinal cord injuries, discovered there was improvement in a variety of related symptoms, including muscle spasms, pain, and bladder control. [1] In a 2012 study, improvement in locomotor function and reduced injury extent were promising results suggesting that CBD could be valuable in treating spinal cord lesions that can last a life time. [2]
Does CBD help with brain damage?
The next year, scientists wrote about how “the modulation of the endocannabinoid system has proven to be an effective neuroprotective strategy to prevent and reduce neonatal brain injury in different animal models and species.” [3] This conclusion has immense implications in the clinical environment for brain-injuried and post-stroke patients, as well as infants affected by perinatal brain injury.
The information and studies contained in this article is for informational purposes only and does not substitute the advice of a medical practitioner. Before making changes to your lifestyle or treatment plan, always consult with your doctor. It is recommended those wishing to utilize cannabis do so under the care of a health care practitioner experienced in recommending medical marijuana or CBD so the delivery method and dosage can be adjusted based upon the patients needs. At the same time, those who are educated and aware can become their own well informed health consultants for making important life decisions.
Best Strains for Spinal Cord Injury
High cannabidiol varieties with a ratio of 20:1 or higher are seen to be the most efficacious and consumed as capsules, drops or edibles. Where appropriate, products containing various ratios of THC from indica-leaning strains can work on intractable pain, and THCV is also preferred based on its anti-inflammatory effects. Always start with a micro dose to test for sensitivity, and work your way up as needed. The standard dose is typical in brain and spinal cord injuries.
Is CBD harmful to the brain?
CBD assists in neutralizing the psychoactive side effects of tetrahydrocannabinol. For those looking to relieve their anxiety around whether cannabidiol is safe or not, understand that the side effects of CBD are relatively low and seldom produce any notable unpleasant effects.
When high doses are needed, many utilize concentrated forms of cannabis oil and take it orally, either in capsule form or by adding to food (nut butters can be good). The most pure and potent concentrates are made using a CO2 extraction process. When it comes to relieving pain or other immediate symptoms such as muscle spasms, smoking or vaporizing work well. The effect is immediate and typically lasts one to three hours. Ingestible products take thirty to sixty minutes to take effect, but last six to eight hours.
In a 2016 study, randomized, placebo-controlled high quality experiment, the effects of two different doses of vaporized THC were studied on forty-two people who had neuropathic pain related to spinal cord injury or disease. “The reduction in pain intensity remained significant…The lower dose (of THC) appears to offer the best risk-benefit ratio in patients.” [4] See our article, How Hemp Works for Chronic Pain Relief for more information on this topic.
The Cannabis Health Index is a scoring system based on the best available literature over the years for the effectiveness of cannabis (in general, not just CBD) on specific conditions, which spinal cord injury rates as likely probable for efficacy.
The Endocannabinoid System
The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is a molecular system of physiology inside the body responsible for regulating every other major system. If the ECS falls into dysfunction, or is overwhelmed from environmental, emotional, or physical stresses, it can fail us. In this state, with an ECS that is drowning in stress, the human body can fall into states of dis-ease and illness. For more information, read our article The Endocannabinoid System Explained.
The endocannabinoid system was first seen to develop at eight week’s gestation and is integral to the healthy development of all infants. The ECS makes its own cannabinoids called “endocannabinoids” (endo meaning; from “within”), and to support infants ECS and development, mothers will supply endocannabinoids to her baby through breast milk. This is an incredibly vital part of the development cycle in humans, with these unique endocannabinoids being found in the right ratios and amounts, only in breast milk, not formula. Upon the cessation of breastfeeding, the ECS continues to support healthy, optimal functioning and development.
The endocannabinoid system helps us to fight against emotional, physical and environmental stress. If our ECS is not well supported during times of stress, it can easily become overwhelmed, and slip into dysfunction; leading to a cascade of problems downstream such as auto-immunity, chronic inflammation, and/or an underactive immune system that can’t tell the difference between healthy human cells and cancerous degenerated ones.
Full Spectrum Hemp
We can also supply the body with a “supplementary” source of cannabinoids to help nourish and restore our endocannabinoid system back to full health. These supplementary cannabinoids are called “phytocannabinoids” (phyto meaning; “plants”), and can be found in the cannabis plant. Cannabis contains a variety of over 130+ different cannabinoids that have only begun to be researched more aggressively in the past two decades due to the overwhelming amount of disease and degeneration plaguing society today. With conventional treatment options failing us in the treatment of many forms of degenerative disease, we are in desperate need of a savour to our seemingly common illnesses.
Hemp and marijuana are merely varieties of the cannabis plant, in much the same way that granny smith and macintosh are varieties of apple. Different varieties and strains of cannabis come with different ratios and levels of cannabinoids and terpenes. Terpenes are another type of compound found inside cannabis, that come with their own unique properties and benefits. When cannabis compounds are combined in a clinical setting, when administered, provide a synergistic effect that is more powerful and effective than either alone. [5] This is what is meant, when the term, “full spectrum” is used. Full spectrum refers to a wide variety of plant compounds used in a product, not just cannabidiol (CBD), or tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), but also many others such as CBG, CBN, and CBC, as well as terpenes such as linalool, pinene and myrcene. For more information, see our article How Full Spectrum Extracts Work.
For more information, see our other article How Hemp Works for Brain Injuries.
View our blog for more media on the latest news surrounding hemp, cannabis and the endocannabinoidi system. If you found this article of value, please share it with a friend.
1. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12617376/
2. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21915768/
3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4061885/
4. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27286745/
5. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/273352080_Overcoming_the_Bell-Shaped_Dose-Response_of_Cannabidiol_by_Using_Cannabis_Extract_Enriched_in_Cannabidiol
