Switch to हिंदी

Health, Fitness, Beauty & Diet | Pregnancy & Parenting | Diseases & Home Remedies | TheHealthSite.com

Health, Fitness, Beauty & Diet | Pregnancy & Parenting | Diseases & Home Remedies | TheHealthSite.com

हिंदी
  • Health A-Z
  • Diabetes
  • Diseases
    • Type 1 Diabetes
    • Type 2 Diabetes
    • Cancer
    • Heart Attack
    • Pneumonia
    • Diseases A-Z
  • Diet & Fitness
    • Weight Management
    • Exercise & Body Building
    • Diet & Recipes
    • Yoga
  • Coronavirus
  • News
  • Pregnancy
    • Conceiving
    • Infertility
    • Labour & Delivery
    • Pregnancy week-by-week
    • Breastfeeding
    • Baby Names
  • Beauty
    • Skin
    • Hair
    • Grooming
  • Photos
  • Videos
Home / Health News / Revealed — why marijuana reduces anxiety!

Revealed — why marijuana reduces anxiety!

The anxiety-relief effects of marijuana are well known but scientists have found for the first time, how the controlled use of the drug may help people in distress. Sachin Patel, a professor of psychi

By: Editorial Team   | | Published: March 7, 2014 5:11 pm
Tags: Anxiety  In the news  Marijuana  

AnxietyThe anxiety-relief effects of marijuana are well known but scientists have found for the first time, how the controlled use of the drug may help people in distress. Sachin Patel, a professor of psychiatry and molecular physiology at Tennessee-based Vanderbilt University identified cannabinoid receptors in the brain through which marijuana exerts its effects. Also Read - Depression, stress may reduce efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines, scientists say

Also Read - Workaholics more prone to depression, anxiety and sleep disorder



The cannabinoid receptors are located in a key emotional hub in the brain involved in regulating anxiety and the flight-or-fight response. ‘The discovery may help explain why marijuana users say they take the drug mainly to reduce anxiety,’ Patel said. Led by first author Teniel Ramikie, a graduate student in Patel’s lab, the researchers also showed for the first time how nerve cells in this part of the brain make and release their own natural ‘endocannabinoids’. (Read: How to deal with exam result anxiety) Also Read - Covid-19 healthcare workers at risk of developing depression, anxiety

The endocannabinoid system consists of an array of endogenously produced bioactive lipids that activate cannabinoid receptors. The study ‘could be highly important for understanding how cannabis exerts its behavioural effects,’ Patel said. While cannabinoids can reduce anxiety, chronic use of the drug down, regulates the receptors, paradoxically increasing anxiety. This can trigger ‘a vicious cycle’ of increasing marijuana use that in some cases leads to addiction.

In the study, the researchers used high-affinity antibodies to ‘label’ the cannabinoid receptors so they could be seen using various microscopy techniques which allowed very detailed visualisation at individual synapses or gaps between nerve cells. ‘We know where the receptors are, we know their function and we know how these neurons make their own cannabinoids,’ Patel said in the paper published in the journal Neuron. (Read: Beat stress and anxiety through exercise)

What is anxiety?

The dictionary definition says that anxiety is a state of distress or uneasiness of mind caused by fear of danger or misfortune. In psychiatry, anxiety disorder is an umbrella term to describe various forms of mental disorders characterised by excessive worrying, uneasiness, apprehension and fear. (Read: What are anxiety symptoms and how you can deal with them)

With inputs from IANS

For more articles on anxiety, visit our anxiety section. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for all the latest updates! For daily free health tips, sign up for our newsletter. And to join discussions on health topics of your choice, visit our forum.

Published : March 7, 2014 5:11 pm
Read Disclaimer

Coming soon -- a treatment for binge eating

Coming soon -- a treatment for binge eating

Beware -- the  pee in pools is bad for your heart and lungs!

Beware -- the pee in pools is bad for your heart and lungs!

Please Wait. Article Loading ....

Coronavirus Updates

Coronavirus Updates

Stay Informed, Be Safe

  • Don’t expect to get rid of coronavirus by 2021: WHO warns of continued Covid-19 transmission
  • Planning for a trip? In-flight spread of coronavirus possible during long-haul travel, says study
  • Recovered from Covid-19? Your immune system may fight coronavirus variants
  • To vaccinate or not? Medical expert clears the air around Covid-19 vaccines
  • Coronavirus vaccine: This nasal spray can block the virus for upto 2 days

Health Calculators

BMI Calculator
bmi Calculator
Ideal Body Weight
ideal body weight
Daily Calorie Intake
Daily calorie intake
Calories Burned
calories burned

Related Stories

Mental disorder during pregnancy: Early diagnosis of this condition is now possible

Mental disorder during pregnancy: Early diagnosis of this condition is now possible

Covid-19 pandemic making people with anxiety and depression to drink more

Covid-19 pandemic making people with anxiety and depression to drink more

Depression, stress may reduce efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines, scientists say

Depression, stress may reduce efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines, scientists say

Workaholics more prone to depression, anxiety and sleep disorder

Workaholics more prone to depression, anxiety and sleep disorder

Medical marijuana may trigger withdrawal symptoms between uses

Medical marijuana may trigger withdrawal symptoms between uses

Health News in Hindi

Holding Urine: पेशाब को रोककर रखने की आदत इन 5 गंभीर समस्याओं को दे सकता है जन्म

Diabetes Diet: डायबिटीज रोगियों के लिए 4 सुपरफूड्स, कंट्रोल करेंगे तेजी से ब्लड शुगर लेवल

Inflammatory Bowel Disease: इंफ्लेमेटरी बाउल डिजीज का लक्षण है पतली दस्त होना, बड़ी आंत में बन जाता है घाव

कोवैक्सीन हो या फिर कोविशील्ड! वैक्सीन लगवाने से पहले ये टिप्स कम करेंगे साइड-इफेक्ट का खतरा

गुर्दे की पथरी को काटकर बाहर निकाल फेंकती हैं ये 5 आयुर्वेदिक जड़ी-बूटियां, जानें सेवन का आसान तरीका

Read All

Recent Posts

  • Don’t expect to get rid of coronavirus by 2021: WHO warns of continued Covid-19 transmission
  • Planning for a trip? In-flight spread of coronavirus possible during long-haul travel, says study
  • Beware! Air pollution can lead to irreversible blindness. Here’s how to stay safe
  • Lung cancer: Warning signs and symptoms you should never ignore
  • Beware! Obesity can lead to severe brain pressure disorder

About The health Site

TheHealthSite.com is India's largest health site with more than 40 lakh unique visitors per month. We focus on fitness, beauty, health, pregnancy and more.

Most popular health and wellness website in India in 2012 at the Website of the year awards.

health@corp.india.com
+91 – 22 – 6697 1234
Landline Phone number 91 – 22 – 2490 0302.

ZEE ENTERTAINMENT ENTERPRISES LTD, 18th floor, A-Wing, Marathon Futurex, N. M. Joshi Marg, Lower Parel, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400013.

Useful Links

  • Weight Loss
  • Keto Diet Tips
  • Skin Care Tips
  • Intermittent Fasting
  • Apple Cider Vinegar
  • Ashwagandha
  • Cancer
  • Pneumonia
  • Diarrhoea
  • Dengue
  • Typhoid
  • Tuberculosis
  • Chickenpox
  • Chikungunya
  • Depression
  • Hepatitis
  • Diabetes
  • Type 2 diabetes
  • Arthritis
  • Swine Flu
  • Baby Names
  • Cough and cold
  • Heart Attack
  • Breast Cancer
  • Ebola Virus
  • Dengue
  • Malaria
  • International Yoga Day
  • Hypotension
  • Heart Failure
  • Asthma
  • Brain Tumour
  • Celebrity Fitness
  • Goitre
  • HIV/AIDS

We respect your privacy

  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us
  • Author Profiles

Copyright © 2021 Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited. All rights reserved.