Stroke Victims Turn to Medical Cannabis

What is a stoke?

A stroke occurs when a blood vessel bursts in the brain or if a blood vessel to the brain is obstructed, restricting oxygen to the brain. This oxygen deprivation means cells in your brain will die within minutes. This leads to balance and movement problems, cognitive deficits, depression, language problems, learning disabilities, memory loss, paralysis, seizures, slurred speech, trouble swallowing and weakness.

The reason strokes are so dangerous–you need to seek treatment within 1-3 hours of experiencing one for the treatment to be effective.

Stroke is one of the leading causes of death and disability in the world. The World Health Organization reports that stroke is the 5^th leading cause of mortality in low income peoples, 2^nd in high income countries, 1^st in middle income countries and takes 2^nd place, after coronary heart disease, for the cause of death worldwide.

Many of the same things that lead to heart disease can lead to strokes:

• High Blood Pressure
• Obesity
• Imbalance of cholesterol levels
• Stress

Scientific Studies

A study from 1998 that was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences revealed that cannabinoids block a neurochemical called glutamate, which leads to the accumulation of toxic oxidizing molecules that kill brain cells. Glutamate is produced when the brain is deprived of oxygen, such as from a blood clot or arterial hemorrhage. The study concluded that CBD is a more effective antioxidant than vitamin A or E, which are known to block the damage of glutamate.

Published in 2012, a study revealed that the number of cannabinoid receptors (CB1 and CB2) in the brain increased after stroke. The study administered a synthetic cannabinoid that acted on CB2 receptors, finding that it reduced overall brain damage and neurological impairments. The synthetic cannabinoid was given 10 minutes after the stroke. The study found cannabinoids to still be effective when administered up to three hours later.

In 2014, a study analysis published in the Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow & Metabolism examined 144 studies conducted on animals (primates, rats, and mice). The analysis proof that cannabis and cannabinoids serve as a neuroprotectant and may even stimulate the growth of brain cells in areas of damage or disease – The reason for this is, endocannabinoid system is known to regulate inflammation, promote brain cell survival, and improve blood flow, it is believed that the application of cannabinoids from external sources like medical cannabis, cannabis ois, can greatly improve problems involving inflammation and any part of the brain or nervous system.

Conclusion

Treating strokes with cannabis oil will have a positive impact on the brain and body. Administering CBD shortly after a stroke protects neurons and astrocytes from damage, and therefore leads to improved functional, histological, biochemical, and neurobehavior recovery. The body’s endocannabinoid system has two kinds of receptors, and THC only interacts with one of them called CB1. THC has been shown to possess a very high binding affinity with CB1 receptors located throughout the brain, central nervous system, connective tissues, gonads, glands, and related organs. Since strokes occurs in the brain, using both CBD and THC are recommended to assist the body to recover and rebalance itself.