C TH THE H
PON M O C EALING
ENT
BY BRIAN HOUCK
THC is a peculiar chemical. Scientifically known as tetrahydocannabinol, it can have a variety of effects on the human body. In recent years, studies and clinical trials to better understand THC’s properties have succeeded in demystifying the chemical byproduct and the plant from which it is produced. What 50 years ago was seen as a drug of hippies and lazy people, cannabis is now a drug being recommended to even grandparents to help relieve aches and pains, including the side effects of chemotherapy. The perception of the general populace is shifting as people are receiving benefits in their health and quality of life.
(controls memory and stress), and the cerebral cortex (controls higher cognitive function). CB1 is a receptor triggered by the neurotransmitter anandamide, which controls such reactions as pleasure, motivation and appetite, among others. THC is very similar in structure to anandamide and fits snugly into the CB1 receptor. When joined, the CB1 receptor is activated and THC’s psychoactive effects can be felt.
Because of the parts of the brain and ECS that THC interacts with, it can be beneficial in addressing pain, insomnia, and nausea (just to name a few). In fact, it is so beneficial to a wide range of health problems that synthetic versions THC is well-known as the psychoactive ingredient have been approved for treatment of nausea and it is just one of the cannabinoids in cannabis that appetite issues associated with chemotherapy and AIDS treatments.1 Just when ingested are processed how much more by the body’s endocannabinoid “THE PERCEPTION imagine effective the natural remedy in system (ECS), which regulates mood, memory, appetite and OF THE GENERAL its original form can be! pain. The system is a network POPULACE IS Trials conducted by the Univerof various receptors across the body, the most relevant being SHIFTING AS PEOPLE sity of California’s Center for Medicinal Cannabis Research to the CB1 receptors found in the ARE RECEIVING test the short-term effectiveness brain. These CB1 receptors are located throughout the BENEFITS IN THEIR of cannabis to help neuropathic pain featured a group of qualifybrain. They can be found in HEALTH AND ing participants smoking cannathe hypothalamus (controls appetite), the hippocampus QUALITY OF LIFE.” bis cigarettes, one group smok10
