A latest study reveals that consumption of cannabis in small amount can be useful sometimes and it helps in reducing depression, but its high doses can prove to be very harmful and it can lead to the polar opposite effect.
The study is handled together by McGill University & a research organization allied with the Universite de Montreal points out that cannabis in small quantities mounts the serotonin levels in the brains of lab mice.
The reduction of serotonin which is a neurotransmitter that regulates the mental states of a person, results in causing depression. Anti-depression medicines do their job by raising the level of serotonin in the brain.
When the amounts of cannabis were raised in the rats, the effect was explained as totally wrong way up, even upsetting. The levels of Serotonin lowered considerably.
Francis Bambico, who is the author of the study, mentioned in prepared statement that –
We know from anecdotal evidence that (human) smokers of marijuana experience good effects ... but they also experience unwanted effects.
A number of smokers feel nervousness & they also appears to be quite distressed. But its excessive amount in some conditions can result into depression raising effects, mainly if anyone of you consumes cannabis in large amounts. Depressant
People utilizing cannabis as an anti-depressant is quite difficult because it is very hard to manage the quantity when they smoke it as cannabis joints.
The research explains that too much consumption of cannabis by the people who have the problem of depression, have greater possibility of having psychosis.
Gobbi, who is a psychiatrist by profession, mentioned that she was encouraged to carry out this study after observing a number of her patients who have the problem of depression & they used to do cannabis smoking.
But its excessive consumption showed the reverse effects that completely work against the anti-depression effects.
Francis Bambico mentioned that - scientists are concentrating their exploration on a new category of medicines that could raise the effects of the endo-cannabinoids – which is a natural material present in the brain and it comes out during extreme pressure or pain, devoid of the anti-depressive side effects.
Cannabis shows chemical resemblance with the — endo-cannabinoids.
It is quite possible to make medicines that improve endo-cannabinoids for the treatment of pain, nervousness & sadness.
The study will appear on 24 Oct 2007 in the Journal of Neuroscience.
