Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and CBD receptors

Addition, 7/30/2018 – ALS is a demyelination disorder. There is a 19% comordbidity rate with hyperthyroidism and ALS – so disclosure, not becoming paralyzed due to ALS is a personal goal of mine.  Legal sources of cannabinoids or some of the precursor building blocks – phospholipids or other phosphonutrients – include:

Hemp seed kernels and oil; Artemisia turanica/wormwood leaf; amaranth seed; asparagus; avocado fruit or the inner kernel, dried and powdered; beans/legumes; cardamom seeds and powder; carrots; celery stalks and leaves; cocoa beans and cocoa powder, baker’s chocolate, dark chocolate and to a lesser amount milk chocolate and chocolate syrup; coconut; cumin seed/powder; fennel seed, flax seed, pine nuts; sesame seeds, pumpkin seed kernels, squash seeds; butternut squash and pumpkin; gingko leaf; grapefruit and orange juice with the pulp; Jerusalem artichoke (this is a root vegetable rather than a green artichoke); lettuce, spinach and mustard leaves and other leafy green vegetables and herbs; nuts/peanuts, cashews, walnuts; oats; okra seeds; onion root, leek leaves, garlic;  parsnip root; pomegranate seeds and pomegranate peel extract;rice, white or brown but the bran is the best source; rosemary; sorghum;  sweet potato or yam; buckwheat (a seed botanically that is not wheat and is gluten free); wheat. (G.26)

Health – “the pursuit of life” is a right for United States citizens, and is included in the Preamble of the U.S. Constitution. (link)

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The cannabinoid receptor system is involved in the control of calcium movement across the cell membrane. Calcium has an electrically active ionic form which can initiate changes within the cell fluid. During normal health a similarly electrically active ionic form of magnesium is found in greater concentration within the cell fluid and greater concentrations of the calcium ion are found within the blood plasma. The energy available from the magnesium ions is used within the cell membrane protein channels. The protein transport channels act as gates that can be opened or closed to allow calcium or other types of chemicals to flow through the channel.

The US federal listing of the cannabis herb as a schedule one drug has limited research into the role of the cannabinoid receptor system to studies about the toxic or addictive properties of cannabinoids. A schedule one drug is considered as having no medicinal value so no research would be necessary. When the cannabis plant was classified as a schedule one substance less was known about the extensive role of cannabinoids in the health of humans and many other species. Suppressing research about the cannabinoid group of chemicals and the cannabinoid receptors may have left us in the dark about the cause and cure of many mystery diseases and conditions.

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease that affects a small percentage of the population yet it has no known cause or cure — except —  cannabinoids may help:

However, there is increasing evidence that cannabinoids and manipulation of the endocannabinoid system may have therapeutic value in ALS, in addition to other neurodegenerative conditions. Cannabinoids exert anti-glutamatergic and anti-inflammatory actions through activation of the CB(1) and CB(2) receptors, respectively. Activation of CB(1) receptors may therefore inhibit glutamate release from presynaptic nerve terminals and reduce the postsynaptic calcium influx in response to glutamate receptor stimulation. [1]

Other information:

Oxidative stress and Vitamin D deficiency or oxidation of the Vitamin D Binding Protein (DBP) may be involved in the development of ALS, (2), and Multiple sclerosis. Levels may continue to be low or oxidized during remission and worsen during relapse. (G12.33) There is a slightly modified form of the Vitamin D Binding Protein (GcMAF) that can promote  macrophages, immune system white blood cells, to remove cancer cells by apoptosis (killing and engulfing the cell debris to remove it from the body without causing toxic chemicals to be released into the extracellular fluid). (5)

The cannabinoid system may have some control over the system and it may have effects on other chronic conditions. I’m reading more on the topic.  – More health tips and conditions that may have an increased risk for ALS developing as a comorbid/additional condition are included in a follow up post: Actually we do know quite a bit about ALStranscendingsquare.com/2014/09/02/.

Disclaimer: Opinions are my own and the information is provided for educational purposes within the guidelines of fair use. While I am a Registered Dietitian this information is not intended to provide individual health guidance. Please see a health professional for individual health care purposes.

    1. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18781981
    2. Greilberger J, Greilberger M, Herwig R, (2017) Measurement of oxidative stress parameters, vitamin D and vitamin D binding protein during vitamin D treatment in a patient with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Integr Mol Med, 4: DOI: 10.15761/IMM.1000311
      http://www.oatext.com/measurement-of-oxidative-stress-parameters-vitamin-d-and-vitamin-d-binding-protein-during-vitamin-d-treatment-in-a-patient-with-amyotrophic-lateral-sclerosis.php
    3. Rajda C, Pukoli D, Bende Z, Majláth Z, Vécsei L. Excitotoxins, Mitochondrial and Redox Disturbances in Multiple Sclerosis. Kleinschnitz C, Meuth S, eds. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2017;18(2):353. doi:10.3390/ijms18020353. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5343888/ (G12.33)
    4. Bíró T, Tóth BI, Haskó G, Paus R, Pacher P. The endocannabinoid system of the skin in health and disease: novel perspectives and therapeutic opportunities. Trends in pharmacological sciences. 2009;30(8):411-420. doi:10.1016/j.tips.2009.05.004. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2757311/ (4)
    5. Thyer, L.; Ward, E.; Smith, R.; Fiore, M.G.; Magherini, S.; Branca, J.J.V.; Morucci, G.; Gulisano, M.; Ruggiero, M.; Pacini, S. A Novel Role for a Major Component of the Vitamin D Axis: Vitamin D Binding Protein-Derived Macrophage Activating Factor Induces Human Breast Cancer Cell Apoptosis through Stimulation of MacrophagesNutrients 20135, 2577-2589. http://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/5/7/2577/htm (5)
  1. Dario SiniscalcoJames J. BradstreetAlessandra Cirillo, Nicola Antonucci, 

    The in vitro GcMAF effects on endocannabinoid system transcriptionomics, receptor formation, and cell activity of autism-derived macrophages. Journal of Neuroinflammation 2014 11:78   https://jneuroinflammation.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1742-2094-11-78 (6)

  2. Bíró T, Tóth BI, Haskó G, Paus R, Pacher P. The endocannabinoid system of the skin in health and disease: novel perspectives and therapeutic opportunities. Trends in pharmacological sciences. 2009;30(8):411-420. doi:10.1016/j.tips.2009.05.004. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2757311/ (7)