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| Marijuana In Asthma Study |
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Posted by FoM on November 23, 2000 at 21:49:06 PT By Duncan Welch Source: Budapest Sun 
A team from Hungary has conducted research into marijuana and established a link between the drug and asthma which could help develop new treatments for respiratory-related illnesses. Back in the mid-1970s US professor Donald P Taskin found that "recent studies demonstrated significant, acute bronchodilation in healthy young men after they smoked marijuana". Now research in Hungary, Italy and the US indicates that while some asthma sufferers are prone to coughing when exposed to elements of the drug, others seem to be less affected by such irritation when lung muscles are tensed. According to Dr Tamás Freund of the Institute of Experimental Medicine of Budapest, the knowledge gleaned from this research could alter the way respiratory illnesses are treated. "Colleagues at the University of California, Irvine, found that induced bronchular constriction was antagonized by anandamide, a substance with the same properties as cannabinoids, a material found in marijuana. "The contribution of my laboratory was to localize the molecules released by anandamide and its effect on nerve fibers in order to ease the muscles, helping reduce the substance that constricts the muscles," he explained. Marijuana is currently being examined for medical properties in the fields of asthma, stroke and cancer research, as well as being utilized for pain relief and the control of nausea and vomiting associated with chemotherapy treatment. Freund and his staff of researchers have completed their part of the project, but say the day drugs utilizing their work are widely available to help asthma sufferers is still some way off in the future. "This is the basic research, more study is required before drugs can be made available," said Freund. At present the research has involved animals, but in the US research is soon to be conducted on humans. Danielle Piomelli, of the University of California, said, "We think that by targeting cannabinoid receptors in the upper airways we can control coughs in a number of conditions." For the moment, the Institute of Experimental Medicine is now continuing its work with marijuana based substances, examining the link between learning and memory. NewsHawk: Anon Related Articles: Marijuana-Like Chemical May Control Coughing Marijuana-Like Chemical Helps Relieve Coughs-Study CannabisNews Medical Marijuana Archives Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help |
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Comment #10 posted by freelance on June 07, 2002 at 16:24:46 PT:
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| I am a 27 year old male who has lived with severe asthma all my life. I am on several medications. For the past year I have smoked about 2 to 3 marijuana joints per week. I can honestly say that my asthma has not been any worse prior to smoking. I cannot say that my asthma has been any better but I can say that when smoking it does not induce my asthma. Can someone email me information that is in laymen's terms. [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #9 posted by Danny on August 27, 2001 at 20:18:40 PT |
| My son was born with severe asthma, and has almost died numerous times in his life, from it. He's 24 years old now, but still suffers from the severe asthma. About the time he got his driver's license at 16 his asthma mysteriously got better..... My wife and I assumed that he was finally growing out if it. Unbeknownst to us, he was smoking marijuana. 2 years ago he got busted with a joint. He was put on probation with random urine tests, and was unable to smoke any pot for a long time. His asthma came back just as severe as it was before he started smoking pot. I'm convinced that pot helps asthmatics. My son is living proof. [ Post Comment ] |
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Comment #8 posted by Ethan Russo, MD on April 10, 2001 at 08:06:17 PT:
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| Krissy, you might start by searching the PubMed site and plugging in keywords such as cannabis asthma Tashkin (a noted expert): http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/PubMed/ Cannabis actually is a bronchodilator (opens up breathing passages) and was employed in therapeutic cigarettes at the turn of the last century for this purpose. Interestingly, THC alone may promote coughing, but the mixture of cannabinoids and essential oils in herbal cannabis have net anti-inflammatory and muscle relaxant effects that are helpful. The book, Marijuana Myths, Marijuana Facts by Zimmer and Morgan is an excellent resource for information on this and similar issues that is accurate, understandable and scientifically meritorious. [ Post Comment ] |
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Comment #7 posted by Krissy on April 10, 2001 at 07:51:18 PT:
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| Hi, I am researching a project on how marijuana can aid in asthma treatments. I was wondering if there are any medical experst out there who can expmin to me in plain english the pros and cons based on the research that has been done. Thanks a lot for your help. [ Post Comment ] |
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Comment #6 posted by Concerned Smoker on February 28, 2001 at 14:08:05 PT:
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| Hey - I was wondering if smoking weed will cause more asthma attacks, the day and days after i have smoked it already because of the smoke i have inhaled. I have smoked before and havent gotten attacks afterward, but when i was high i felt like i could take huge breathes of air into my lungs and i could breathe really good. I was also wondering since you are inhaling smoke - wouldnt that make your asthma worse? If not - than why not??? Please send answers to Jud2003@aol.com - thanks so much! [ Post Comment ] |
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Comment #5 posted by matthew11 on February 26, 2001 at 14:04:03 PT:
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| hi i have asthma and i smoke pot the doctors dont know . they think i smoke smokes.they are telling me to stop. what shod i do [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #4 posted by lizzie on January 21, 2001 at 20:31:00 PT |
Hello, I'm a born againg Christian and an asthma sufferer. About 4 years ago my asthma had gotten so bad that in addition to my three inhalers and Pulmoaide (home breathing machine that administers medication like they do in hospital, my doctors wanted to put me on steroids. I was horribly reluctant but I had view choices as my trips to the emergency room were becoming more and more frequent. I had smoked pot in high school but had quit before my senior year. [ Post Comment ] |
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Comment #3 posted by Rev. Jonathan Adler on November 25, 2000 at 09:49:12 PT:
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Comment #2 posted by schmeff on November 24, 2000 at 13:32:07 PT:
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Notice how scientists in other parts of the world are building on science conducted here in the US, in this case, thirty years ago, but Barry McCaffrey, with all the billions of our tax dollars at his discretion and whim, can't find any credible research to bolster the idea of marijuana as medicine.
He must have glaucoma.
He certainly deserves it.
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Comment #1 posted by maleksalem on November 24, 2000 at 13:11:45 PT:
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