Cannabis as a Treatment for Brain Injury
- THC and CBD show promising results in traumatic brain injury therapy
- Both substances can act both preventively and therapeutically
- They are capable of triggering biochemical processes necessary for restoring normal brain functions
Traumatic brain injury or TBI is a serious condition mostly caused by an external head blow or sudden impact, which can lead to chronic and irreversible consequences in many cases. Symptoms can be cognitive, behavioral, or motor-related. Speech, memory, mood disorders, headaches, and even gastrointestinal disorders may occur.
"In the Czech Republic, an average of 36,000 patients were hospitalized for intracranial injuries between 1994-1997. In 1997, almost 30,000 patients were hospitalized with brain concussion"
For example, in the USA, more people suffer from traumatic brain injury consequences than from car accidents or murder attempts. The number of people with these disorders is almost equal to those suffering from Alzheimer's disease.
Cannabis Acts Against TBI Consequences Preventively
Preventive or therapeutic measures for ongoing TBI are still scarce, and doctors continuously try to find better and more effective methods. Thanks to Professor Yosef Sarne from Tel Aviv University in Israel, it was discovered that THC administration shortly before or after a head injury can prevent long-term consequences.
For example, doctors from the Israeli Defense Forces already use medication containing high doses of CBD and lighter doses of THC as first aid for head injuries.
In 2013, Sarne and his colleagues published their observation results, demonstrating that even a small portion of THC dose compared to a regular joint, administered either 7 days before or up to 3 days after a head injury, can trigger brain biochemical processes that are essential for protecting nerve cells and maintaining normal cognitive functions.
Do you remember our article about the endocannabinoid system? Supporting neuroplasticity seems appropriate in this case as well.
Help for People Suffering from TBI Consequences
Looking at the promising results of experiments in Israel, the question arises: "Can cannabis help with ongoing TBI symptoms?"
Unofficial sources, patients, and their families also report success in this case. For example, a patient's daughter wrote on a Reddit forum:
"My father suffered from TBI consequences for years. His personality completely changed after the injury, and he would just sit and complain about the world all day. Since he started using cannabis, he changed significantly. He managed to get off most prescribed medications, started eating better, going out more often, listening to more music, laughing with us while watching movies, sleeping better at night, and overall appearing much less depressive."
The internet is full of such stories, but they are not yet supported by clinical studies. The main problem is the persistent rejection of cannabis as a medicine from the perspective of legislation in many countries today. Bureaucratic obstacles remain too high for many cannabis-focused researchers, and phrases about cannabis being a drug with a "high potential for addiction" or "no demonstrable therapeutic effects" are still repeated.
Fortunately, we are learning more and more about cannabis and its potential every day, and there are at least some very promising studies.
"Effects of Cannabis on Traumatic Brain Injury" (UCLA Medical Center, 2014)
In this retrospective study of approximately 446 similar cases, it shows that patients who used cannabis in their lives have a higher survival chance of entire 10% compared to those who had nothing to do with cannabis.
"Our data demonstrate an important connection between the positive THC profile and increased survival chances. Over time, we will certainly uncover more information and connections about cannabis's effect on the brain after TBI and subsequently develop a stable range of therapeutic interventions."
"Endocannabinoids and Traumatic Brain Injury" (Mechoulam, 2007):
Another study from Israel proves the following facts:
"The effect of cannabinoids on the endocannabinoid system can positively influence traumatic brain injury consequences through a wide range of different biochemical mechanisms"
"Therapeutic Potential of Cannabinoids and Their Neuroprotective Function" (Grundy RI, 2002):
The results of this study in experimental models are as follows:
"In experimental forms of acute neural injury such as cerebral ischemia, cannabinoids literally act as saviors of dying nerve cells."
However, we must remember that experiments on experimental models do not always match results on human subjects, so subsequent clinical studies on humans are needed. Current results from smaller studies point to the great potential of cannabinoids and their positive impact on the brain's neuroprotective abilities, providing a good basis for approving future studies.
CBD Can Be Remarkably Effective
While THC proves to be an effective prevention and therapy for TBI-related symptoms, other doctors also point to CBD (the non-psychoactive cannabis component) and its ability to be an effective and safe therapeutic solution.
CBD is a cannabinoid capable of acting neuroprotectively, anti-inflammatory, and antidepressively, a range of properties that no current medication can provide simultaneously. It's possible that CBD is even more effective than its famous brother THC. For example, Japanese doctors have proven its superior effectiveness compared to THC. Moreover, no tolerance to its neuroprotective effects is formed in the body, so there's no need to increase doses.
CBD as a Daily Dietary Supplement
Dr. Allan Frankel from GreenBridge Medical in Santa Monica, California, believes in daily, small CBD doses that could be a safe and suitable therapy complement:
"Recently, I had a 45-year-old patient who survived a serious car accident. She suffered severe memory disorder, and we observed no improvements during treatment. So I suggested trying CBD." Frankel recalls. "Within four to six weeks, we noticed a significant improvement, her cognitive functions and memory returned completely to normal."
Although there are many promising studies and unofficial sources confirming the potential of these natural substances, we must continue to strive to deeply understand the neurobiology of cannabinoids to fully map the entire therapeutic cannabis potential. In the future, it will be possible to fully apply the entire therapeutic spectrum of this incredibly effective herb, develop new therapeutic methods, and possibly help millions of people worldwide.
And what about you, our dear readers? Do you think cannabis can help in brain recovery? Share your opinions and experiences in the comments section!