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newKerala.com

Posted on 03 July, 2005


Marijuana-like compounds in body block pain


Washington: The human body produces a marijuana-like compound that helps in blocking pain after a serious injury.

Scientists are studying the body's naturally occurring cannabinoids, a compound known as 2-AG, reported the science portal www.sciencedaily.com.

Scientists have long known that injured athletes or even gunshot victims have a period of time in which the body's pain reaction is delayed. This effect is called "stress-induced analgesia".

Scientists at the University of Georgia and the University of California studying the phenomenon said: "We showed that cannabinoid receptors were involved in this remarkable phenomenon (of blocking pain)".

The new study may yield a target for new drug therapies that will completely bypass the current arguments over the use of medical marijuana, a scientist said.



IANS