Study: Cannabis Can Treat Pain Caused by Pancreatitis
Cannabis can treat pain related behavior caused by alcohol and high fat induced pancreatitis, according to a study being published in the journal Molecular Pain, and e-published ahead of print by the National Institute of Health.
According to the study; “Chronic Pancreatitis (CP) is a complex and multifactorial syndrome. Many contributing factors result in development of dysfunctional pain in a significant number of patients.
Drugs developed to treat a variety of pain states fall short of providing effective analgesia for patients with chronic pancreatitis, often providing minimal to partial pain relief over time with significant side effects.”
For the study, a cannabinoid receptor agonist (meant to mimic the effects of cannabis) was administered twice daily for seven days on rats induced with pancreatitis.
According to researchers; “The treated animals demonstrated significantly alleviated pain related behaviors after 3 days of dosing”, and “pancreatic tissue was significantly protected from severe damage and fibrosis.”
Researchers conclude that cannabinoid receptor agonists possess “tissue protective and analgesic properties without effects on higher brain function. Thus, activation of CB2 receptors is suggested as a potential therapeutic target for visceral inflammation and pain management.”
The study can be found by clicking here.
– TheJointBlog