Cannabinoids

 

History of cannabis in society and healing

 

Cannabis came to Europe from the Middle East approximately 2000 to 1400 BC thanks to the nomadic tribe of the Scythians. It was them who brought the plant to the territory of what is nowadays Ukraine and Russia. With the help of Germanic tribes, cannabis then moved first to present-day Germany and later, during the Anglo-Saxon invasion in the 5th century, to Great Britain. Cannabis seeds were also found in the remains of Viking ships from the 9th century AD. Over the course of several centuries, cannabis continued to expand throughout Europe and Africa as far as South and North America.

The healing effects of cannabis have been known to mankind since ancient times. Ancient and medieval physicians used this plant during their healing procedures by leaching and creating beverages, which served as relief for pain and other health problems. The work of the ancient Chinese surgeon Hua Tuo, who used cannabis extract as an anaesthetic and could therefore perform painlessly very complex surgeries such as organ transplants, bowel resections and chest openings two thousand years ago is amongst the oldest reports of medical use of cannabis. 

Due to the advancement of modern technology at the beginning of the 20th century, cannabis research expanded significantly. Cannabis began to be studied at the molecular level. As a result, cannabinoids CBN, CBD and cannabidiol acids were discovered in the 1940s. In the 1960s, the popular cannabinoid THC, known for its psychotropic effects, was first isolated and described by Professors Mechoulam and Gaoni of the Hebrew University.

In the 1980s, scientists succeeded in describing cannabinoid receptors in brain cells and the rest of the body, and it was thus assumed that phytocannabinoid-like substances must exist in the body. Anandamide, the first endogenous cannabinoid, was discovered in 1992, once again by a team at the Hebrew University, this time led by the Czech scientist Doc. Lumír Hanuš, who still works there to this day. Anandamide is also called the "happiness hormone" because its effect on receptors in the brain evokes feelings of satisfaction and bliss.

Over the last fifty years, many healing effects of cannabinoids on the human body have been discovered. In the 1970s, researchers from the National Eye Institute found that certain cannabis derivatives reduce intraocular pressure, thus acting as a prevention against cataracts and blindness. A 2003 study published in the Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics examined the effects of cannabinoids on seizures in laboratory rats. Cannabinoid extracts were shown to delay epileptic seizures in rats by up to ten hours. Another important milestone is a 2007 study published in Molecular Cancer Therapeutics, which describes the effect of the cannabinoid CBD in arresting cancer. It is shown to inactivate the Id-1 gene, which is produced by cancerous cells on a disproportionate scale compared to non-cancerous cells. Following cannabinoid treatment, a significant decrease in Id-1 in the observed cells took place, and thus cell proliferation decreased.

Since 2015, the use of medical cannabis has been legal in the Czech Republic. However, its application is not commonplace, and it is only linked to certain medical specialisations and specific diagnoses. One of CannaCare's primary goals is to provide as much relevant medical data as possible to help demonstrate the effectiveness of cannabinoids in relation to specific diseases and thus provide cannabinoid treatment to society at large.

 




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Endocannabinoids are cannabinoids occurring naturally in the bodies of humans and animals. One of the the main agents produced by the body is anandamide. It affects the perception of pain, coordination of movement, emotions, and mood.

Another group are phytocannabinoids. These cannabinoids are produced by the cannabis plant. The most popular cannabinoids include THC or tetrahydrocannabinol, known mainly for its psychotropic effects.

In CannaCare products, we mainly use the cannabinoids CBD and CBG.

Both have no psychotropic effects

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CBD, or cannabidiol, is known primarily for its relaxing effects. It helps relieve pain and muscle cramps, supports the proper function of the immune system, increases sleep quality, and has antioxidant properties. Research has shown its effectiveness in treating epilepsy or various psychological disorders related to anxiety.

Another medicinal cannabinoid found in CannaCare products is CBG, or cannabigerol. CBG has not yet been sufficiently researched and sold on the Czech and world market, which makes our products exclusive. CBG positively affects the mental state, promotes proper digestion, nourishes the nervous system, and helps maintain good eyesight.

 

In the future, we aim to expand our research to include other medicinal cannabinoids, such as CBN.