Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a genetic disorder that affects millions of people globally. It is characterized by abnormal hemoglobin molecules, leading to red blood cells becoming stiff, sticky, and sickle-shaped. This can cause blood clots, inflammation, and damage to organs and tissues, leading to a range of symptoms, including severe pain, organ damage, and a reduced lifespan.
Cannabis has been used for centuries to treat pain, inflammation, and a range of other medical conditions. Recent research has suggested that cannabis could be an effective treatment for sickle cell disease. This discussion will review the current state of research into the use of cannabis to treat sickle cell disease.
Cannabis and Sickle Cell Disease:
The use of cannabis to treat sickle cell disease is a relatively new area of research. However, several studies have suggested that cannabis could be an effective treatment for pain, inflammation, and other symptoms associated with the disease.
A study published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation in 2010 investigated the effects of THC, the psychoactive compound in cannabis, on mice with sickle cell disease. The researchers found that THC reduced pain and inflammation in the mice, leading them to conclude that THC could be an effective treatment for pain and inflammation in sickle cell disease patients.
Another study published in the British Journal of Hematology in 2012 investigated the effects of cannabis on sickle cell disease patients. The researchers found that cannabis reduced pain, improved sleep quality, and increased appetite in the patients. However, the study was small, with only 23 patients, and further research is needed to confirm these findings.
A more recent study published in the Journal of Pain in 2015 investigated the use of vaporized cannabis to treat pain in sickle cell disease patients. The researchers found that vaporized cannabis reduced pain by an average of 3.3 points on a 10-point pain scale. They also found that cannabis reduced anxiety and depression in the patients. However, the study was small, with only 23 patients, and further research is needed to confirm these findings.
The Endocannabinoid System and Sickle Cell Disease:
The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is a complex network of receptors, enzymes, and other molecules that play a role in regulating a range of physiological processes, including pain, inflammation, and immune function. Cannabis works by interacting with the ECS, specifically the CB1 and CB2 receptors.
Recent research has suggested that the ECS may play a role in the pathophysiology of sickle cell disease. A study published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation in 2018 investigated the role of the ECS in sickle cell disease. The researchers found that the ECS was dysregulated in sickle cell disease patients, leading to increased inflammation and pain. They also found that targeting the ECS with cannabinoids could be a promising approach to treating the disease.
Another study published in the journal Blood in 2014 investigated the role of the ECS in sickle cell disease pain. The researchers found that the ECS was upregulated in the dorsal root ganglia, a cluster of neurons in the spinal cord that are involved in pain processing. They also found that blocking the CB1 receptor reduced pain in sickle cell disease mice, suggesting that targeting the ECS could be a promising approach to treating pain in sickle cell disease patients.
Safety and Side Effects of Cannabis:
Like all medications, cannabis can have side effects. The most common side effects of cannabis use include dry mouth, red eyes, increased appetite, and impaired memory and concentration. In rare cases, cannabis can cause more serious side effects, such as paranoia, hallucinations, and psychosis.
Conclusion:
Cannabis is considered by many, as a viable option and often a preferred alternative to the opioids and manmade pharmaceutical offerings suggested or prescribed over the better part of the last hundred years. Certainly, if I knew what I do now, as my brother suffered and ultimately succumbed to Sickle Cell Disease… I would have explored options that included cannabis… fervently.
While there is no magic elixir or cure-all, for anything, the research that is being conducted and that has been conducted, in my opinion, shows much, much, more than promise. Today, cannabis, as a viable medicine, for those who suffer in silence and pain, is a reality, for many but not all; there are many that cannot benefit from the medicine, cannabis, as a result of archaic laws. We must continue to educate ourselves and others and legislate this plant medicine, known as cannabis, appropriately and completely de-schedule, decriminalize and legalize cannabis…WORLDWIDE.
The Real Z-Canna
