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Chagas Disease
Low to Moderate
Cannabis for Chagas Disease
Chagas disease is a tropical disease caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. The parasite is spread by the insect Triatominae (aka “kissing bugs”). Chagas disease is also known as American trypanosomiasis. About 6 million to 7 million people worldwide are thought to have Chagas disease.
As far as cannabis’s usefulness in treating Chagas disease, the evidence so far is limited and double-edged. Cannabinoids may “block cardiac cell puncture repair mechanisms, thereby inhibiting trypanosome invasion as predicted by the mode of drug action.” This means that cannabinoids can block T. cruzi from attaching themselves to the body’s cells and reproduce.
However, cannabinoids are also a potent immunosuppressive agent, meaning that they can dampen immune response. Whilst this can be useful for treating autoimmune conditions, for infectious diseases this can cause further infection.
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Animal Study
3
Laboratory Study
2
Meta-analysis
1
Total studies
Chagas Disease
6
Positive
6 studies
100%
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Relevant studies
The information in our comprehensive A to Z encyclopedia comes from real scientific studies.
Uncover the detailed results of these studies and find out how effective medical marijuana is for dozens of conditions.
- Chemical Characterization and Trypanocidal, Leishmanicidal and Cytotoxicity Potential of Lantana camara L. (Verbenaceae) Essential Oil.
- Effects of cannabinoid treatment on Chagas disease pathogenesis: balancing inhibition of parasite invasion and immunosuppression
- Induction of programmed cell death in Trypanosoma cruzi by Lippia alba essential oils and their major and synergistic terpenes (citral, limonene and caryophyllene oxide).
- Synergistic Effect of Lupenone and Caryophyllene Oxide against Trypanosoma cruzi.
- Targeting Cannabinoid Signaling in the Immune System: “High”-ly Exciting Questions, Possibilities, and Challenges.