I’m a nerve guy. I can talk about action potentials and sheaths and nodes and sodium/potassium pumps and axons and dendrites and synapses (both axoaxonic and axosomatic) and… stuff. My malady is nerve related. Sorta.
The “sorta” didn’t dawn on me ’til an associate sent me a link about the roles played by the CB1 and 2 system in the remodeling of bone. You know… my pissed off nerves wouldn’t be, if it weren’t for the fucked up bone; stenosis, osteophytes, osteoarthritis? It aint the nerves. They’re just the messengers. It’s the bone.
Bone.
The nerves would be fine if it weren’t for the bone.
I need to expand my studies.
Osteoblasts and osteoclasts. Remember those. Blasts make bone. Clasts absorb bone. This is going on within you. Right now. As you read this. Cool, huh?
Bone is important to people. The fact that it’s in constant rejuvenation is very important to the bone. Especially for bones of older folks; men whose testosterone levels drop off, women after menopause – when those hormones, too, drop to lower levels. Those hormones have a big influence on bone. Things can get out of kilter.
I’m reminded of a joke about how to make a hormone…
Never mind.
Osteoporosis. That’s what we’re talking about here: Osteoporosis and the endocannabinoid system.
Here, check this out:
I think what that reads is there’s strong evidence manipulating the CB1 and CB2 systems can interfere with an osteoblast kicking off the precursors to form osteoclasts and, also, induce apoptosis (cell death) in osteoblasts.
Finding the CB1 system associated with bone confused me at first. I typically associate the CB1 with the brain, major organs, and the peripheral nerves. Then I considered bones as organs. Then I remembered the thigh bone is connected to the knee bone connected to the shin bone…
Where the hell did that come from? Heh!
Hormones. CB1 & 2. Neuroactive receptors… bone physiology.
Homeostasis.
The article is rather heavy. In reviewing it I’ve spent several hours with a search engine running in the background. Like, everyone knows what RANKL is, right? Yeah, right. If you find yourself with some free time and wouldn’t mind taking a quick biology course, check it out in-depth. Have your reference materials handy.
…weird it starts out talking about treating addiction with THC.
Capn Drift's Blog 
Gator said,
December 15, 2012 at 6:59 pm
How long has this been going on? Studies with a schedule 1 drug?! Sheesh! ya gotta be in da club sumwhere … So with this knowledge (er propaganda) do you think there is a chance that you might find solace in healing bone tissue around where your nerves are fuked?
capndrift said,
December 15, 2012 at 9:42 pm
The publication is dated July of ’05. No, not a schedule I drug. Note the word “synthetic” in the content.
My softer tissue could use some rejuvenating. The harder stuff a grinder. The solstice is the 21st so I don’t know that… Oh! You wrote, “solace.” Heh. But to directly answer your question, I don’t think the research does squat for me at this point.
Hell, I don’t know it does a damn thing for folks looking at osteoporosis. But it might. Research is like watching turtles fuck, man. It goes and goes and then, bang! Next thing you know there’s a bunch of noise and then… something comes out of it.
Gator said,
December 15, 2012 at 7:30 pm
I’m guessing there’s a study going on right now to see out of how many pot heads they can find with ostio whatever… huh..
capndrift said,
December 16, 2012 at 11:37 am
Dammit.
When I first read the article one of the things that came to mind was the bone health of cannabis users with normal hormone levels. So I went researching… I’ll be damned if I can retrace my steps now. I suppose I ought’a start taking notes. The thing is, something I came across indicated that wasn’t an issue because, because… dammit! I can’t fucking remember!
Not to worry though, ol’ friend. When a man’s nut sacks hang halfway to his knees the testosterone can’t make it up to the main biology. For men our age, being short an osteoclast or two is probably for the better.
;^)