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The Health Effects of Cannabis: The Digestive System

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Cannabis has broad effects in the digestive system, including increasing appetite, reducing nausea and vomiting, inhibiting acid secretion, relaxing smooth muscle, decreasing pain, decreasing inflammation, and decreasing motility, thereby relieving cramps and diarrhea.  Cannabinoids are active in the liver and can modulate inflammation and scarring. Cannabis decreases saliva production, resulting in dry mouth, and enhances the perception of flavors.

Abstract: Medical Study 

‘The endocannabinoid system in chronic liver disease.’

Zamora-Valdés, Daniel, et al.

Ann Hepatol4.4(2005):248-254.

Abstract

Despite the public concern about the controversial use and abuse of marijuana, the scientific community has focused on the therapeutic potentials of cannabinoid compounds and had highlighted the importance of endocannabinoids and their receptors in physiology and disease. Endocannabinoids have been shown to be important mediators in neuroendocrine and psychiatric processes such as food intake, drug reward and energy metabolism. Cannabinoid receptors are expressed by several cell lines in the liver, such as hepatocytes, myofibroblastic cells, endothelial cells and probably cholangiocytes. A perpetuating role in liver damage for the endocannabinoid system has been proposed in several steps of chronic liver disease progression. Being a major cause of death worldwide, chronic liver disease is an important problem. New therapies are needed in order to stop or slow damage progression. This review summarizes the results of experimental studies involving the endocannabinoid system in liver disease and their clinical and therapeutical implications in hepatology.


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