Marijuana-type receptors and nitric oxide for spinal cord injuries?

Day 46 - West Midlands Police - Cannabis Drugs...
Day 46 - West Midlands Police - Cannabis Drugs Raid (Photo credit: West Midlands Police)

Some of the oldest medicinal herbs in the world are still being found effective for some treatments for human afflictions. A study in Switzerland, written up  in the April 11, 2012 edition of The Journal of Neuroscience, says a marijuana-like substance works well with nitric oxide to both suppress inhibitors and stimulate activity of motor neurons in the spinal cord.

I’m tempted to conclude that this means something like having these endocannabinoids (a marijuana-like substance) inserted into the body’s neural networks—the authors don’t discuss whether smoking marijuana might produce the same effect—creates a partnership with nitric oxide that promotes nerve activity and could potentially lead to some degree of movement in at least some patients with spinal cord injuries.

But since the abstract doesn’t at any point translate its medical-speak into a recognizable potential benefit to human beings, I’m only guessing. It’s an exciting prospect even if I’ve got it only partially right.

Enhanced by Zemanta