Is Cannabis A Help or Hindrance to Healthy Bones?
Researchers in Israel studied the effect of CBD, a compound of cannabis, on the strengthening of bones and healing of fractures. Their findings might lead to more research on the role cannabis can play in the treatment of osteoporosis. In this post from Civilized learn how marijuana affects your bones.
We know the many different conditions marijuana can treat. Anything from seizures to chronic pain to PTSD. But what is marijuana’s effect on arguably the most important part of the human body: the bones?
Well, it turns out (like with most things) marijuana has positive effects on your bones. Cannabidiol (CBD) is a compound in cannabis that allows for most of its beneficial properties. Positive effects have also been realized between CBD and it’s effect on human bones. It can help strengthen bones as well as accelerate the healing of fractures.
Many of the conditions that marijuana treats are done so because the human brain has cannabinoid receptors that can be activated by the presence of CBD. But it’s not just the brain with those receptors. CBD receptors exist nearly everywhere in the human body.
A study conducted by researchers in Israel help explain how CBD actually helps bone health. In an experiment, they took rats with mild fractures in their femurs and separated them into groups. One group healed naturally, one group was given CBD, and another group was given CBD and THC. They found that the two groups that received CBD both showed accelerated healing of the fractures.
“We found that CBD alone makes bones stronger during healing, enhancing the maturation of the collagenous matrix, which provides the basis for new mineralization of bone tissue,” said researcher Yankel Gabet. “After being treated with CBD, the healed bone will be harder to break in the future.”
The researchers also found that the addition of THC had no effect on the healing process.
So if you take a tumble down the steps or trip on the sidewalk and are stuck in a cast, it’s time to pull out that bowl and start getting those bones back together.
