There are many mysteries in the world, but few as rich and complex as the mystery of the brain. Weighing in at about 3 pounds, this mostly uncharted territory is in its infancy of exploration as researchers attempt unravel its hidden secrets. Within it lies profound healing software with the ability to create change on a biochemical level. Many studies have delved into topics like the placebo effect, LDN and even cannabis oil and the ways they influence the body. These catalysts don’t work through some psychological trick or willpower forcing the body to heal. Rather, they tap into unknown pathways that we are not yet familiar with but are there nonetheless for communication throughout the body — and ultimately, for healing.
LDN is the abbreviation used to refer to low-dose naltrexone. Naltrexone is a well-known medication used specifically to treat alcohol and opioid dependence at a dose ranging from 50 to 300 mg to block opioid receptors. When used in extremely low dosages such as 2.5 to 4 mg, LDN has been shown to actually help the body heal itself by switching on the immune system. Normally taken before bed, it begins blocking opioid receptors as well as rectors of endorphins. Endorphins are often referred to as feel-good chemicals the body makes after exercise. Not only do they block pain and cause that post-workout high, but they’re also very involved with immune function and cell proliferation. When these receptors are blocked for a short period at night, the body responds by increasing the immune system and endorphin release’s positive effect. Research has shown LDN inhibits cell proliferation of cancer cells and reduces tumor growth by targeting signaling pathways and changing the immune system, plus enhances the ability of chemotherapy drugs. Additionally, LDN has shown possible benefit for brain conditions such as autism; Alzheimer’s diease and Parkinson’s disease; intestinal conditions such as IBS, Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis; and immune dysregulation seen in lupus, HIV/AIDS, multiple sclerosis and and Hashimoto’s disease. It’s probable that even more benefits will be found as the mechanisms of action are more fully understood.
[See: 9 Food That Can Keep Your Brain Sharp.]
Within the body, the pathways for cannabis are already there, primed and waiting to accept its chemical compounds activating and improving cellular function. There is a unity between our cells and nature that an ecological perspective on health and disease is able to see clearly. This lock-and-key relationship illustrates that our cells, nature and the various compounds found there are all part of a whole. Mankind evolved with plants, with the animal kingdom and with the atmosphere on this earth, and together, we make up one system.
Cannabis has been shown to induce healing and drastically reduce the effects of cancer. It achieves this not only by slowing the rapid reproduction of localized cells, but by improving the systemic dysfunction of the entire body that allowed the cancer to take root in the first place. It is very important to understand that localized cancer growth does not occur in a vacuum. It is a result of systemic issues that are widespread affecting the entire body. Every cell in the body has a receptor for cannabis, including cancer cells. This is a profound revelation giving importance to our relationship with this plant. While I am not advocating recreational use or marijuana smoking, there is science showing us that in the right amount, in the right way, it has a positive effect on the mind and immune system and a benefit throughout the cells of the body.
[See: Emerging Treatments for Alzheimer’s Disease.]
The placebo effect likewise is often misunderstood and misinterpreted as just some trick of the mind causing the body to feel better. In reality, there is still much we don’t know about the mind/body connection. Research has shown at least 30 percent of people studied respond favorably to placebo, vs. 40 percent with antidepressants. The same holds true for other types of medications and conditions as well. It’s a gross oversimplification to believe this is simply due to the power of suggestion. The placebo effect represents pathways that exist, some of which we are not yet familiar with. There may be many different placebo pathways that, when switched on, send communications and spark tangible changes. The hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis, for instance, is affected by much more than cortisol. Many messenger molecules can activate and affect the path. It’s complex, profound and intricate.
Normal Cousins, known as the man who healed himself with laughter, devoted his life to health and healing through studying the biochemistry of human emotions. He lived many years beyond what doctors expected and found that by experiencing genuine belly laughter, he was able to maintain his health and have pain-free episodes. We’ve all heard the saying that laughter is the best medicine, but this illustrates there’s far more than the simple understanding of placebo effect. Through laughter, biochemical changes take place, releasing compounds and endorphins that affect the immune system. This is science.
[See: 10 Tips to Lighten Up and Laugh.]
The Art of Medicine
In conventional treatments, there are always a percentage of people not getting better that should be. We see this often in the functional medicine realm, too. To help patients fully heal, it is imperative to connect the dots that are being underestimated in brain healing. The brain is a pharmacy with a limitless number of biochemicals waiting to be tapped into and patient care should be as varied and individualized as there are people. Each person has a unique set of circumstances and distinct set of needs that must be properly served.
These often overlooked treatment modalities may be the thing that makes all the difference. One way of connecting the dots shows us cannabis oil in the right dose and right amount effects change because we are primed and wired for it. It improves mood and physiological function and pathways of healing that are just being explored now. Likewise, a low dose of naltrexone activates immunity and improves mood and function of other systems, while placebo, in many instances, works as well or even better than medications themselves. We cannot turn away from the answers right in front of us because we don’t fully understand them. Instead, we must embrace these new frontiers of healing and hope.
Raphael Kellman, M.D., Kellman Center for Functional and Integrative Medicine.
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How Cannabis, LDN and Placebo Tap Into the Unknown Pathways of Healing originally appeared on usnews.com
