BS: Cannabis isn't just for people

Subject: BS: Cannabis isn't just for people
From: Jack Campin
Date: 29 Aug 18 - 11:01 AM

Today's bit of bizarre biology.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/08/180822164157.htm

- parasitic worms use cannabis-like chemicals to anaesthetize the creatures (like us) that they're chewing their way through

- truffles give off cannabis-like chemicals to persuade pigs to eat them

Subject: RE: BS: Cannabis isn't just for people
From: Senoufou
Date: 29 Aug 18 - 01:07 PM

That's fascinating Jack. I did read somewhere that Third World populations with a high rate of intestinal worms (especially in children) had far fewer allergies such as asthma, eczema etc. than our wormless folk in the West. This must be linked somehow to the release of cannabinoids into the host.

W Africans have many types of parasitic worms, and while they may release cannbis-like chemicals, they also damage the intestinal wall when they hook in to secure their position and feed. My husband had to be admitted to hospital when he first arrived in UK as these old wounds had become inflamed and he had an 'acute abdomen'.
Luckily, he hasn't developed allergies in spite of being worm-free for years now.
If he does, perhaps I'll roll him a joint!

Subject: RE: BS: Cannabis isn't just for people
From: Thompson
Date: 29 Aug 18 - 04:16 PM

It's probably not cool for cats.

Subject: RE: BS: Cannabis isn't just for people
From: Senoufou
Date: 29 Aug 18 - 05:05 PM

Hahaha! I wonder what our two moggies would be like stoned out of their heads? They're daft enough as it is.

Subject: RE: BS: Cannabis isn't just for people
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 30 Aug 18 - 07:24 AM

My brother had a friend who left the rat race to live on a smallholding in Wales. He have up shortly after the rabbits ate his first crop of cannabis! I would have loved to see the goings on in the warren that night :-)

Subject: RE: BS: Cannabis isn't just for people
From: Mr Red
Date: 30 Aug 18 - 07:42 AM

'a cute abdomen' - is that why you married him?

far fewer allergies such as asthma - it is an observation, by many, that rural, particularly farm, children have fewer allergies. In the first world. A baby's immune system is formed in the early years, certainly before 6 years old, probably an exponentially decaying acquisition thingy. I doubt intestinal worms have the monopoly on benefits acruing, and correlation is not proof!

It is true that we (western civilisations) are so clean that asthma (eg) is way above what it has been, say, 100 years ago. We keep the bacteria and viruses at bay, and there is a cost to pay - allergies.

And bacteria have the upper hand right now - because we mis-use anti-bacterials.

Subject: RE: BS: Cannabis isn't just for people
From: Senoufou
Date: 30 Aug 18 - 07:43 AM

I bet they became like Dylan, the rabbit in The Magic Roundabout.
He always seemed to be stoned out of his head!

I have a dim memory of a chap singing the Banana Boat Song (Day-oh! Day-ay-ay-oh!) and a cartoon rabbit objecting to the din ("My ears man! My ears!"). Was that Dylan the Rabbit too?

Subject: RE: BS: Cannabis isn't just for people
From: Senoufou
Date: 30 Aug 18 - 08:03 AM

You're right Mr Red. I don't remember any of my classmates in the early fifties having asthma. (I'd never even heard of it!)
But towards the end of my teaching career, I had a drawer absolutely full of my pupils' inhalers, each one neatly labelled with the name of the sufferer.
We weren't 'dirty' in the fifties, but didn't use anti-bacterial products or sterilise every surface/item in our homes.

Also, children played in the muck and mud outside all the time after school. No-one thought anything of it.

But as you say, there have been reputable scientific studies quite recently of Sub-Saharan African children and the level of worm infestation in more modern cities there, compared to the heavily-infested ones in the countryside.

It seems they have proved that the presence of parasites in the body stimulates defences against allergic reactions. Those who have been 'de-wormed' have more allergies.

My husband told me how as a child he often had a ghastly eruption of worms (quite large ones) pouring out of his mouth and bottom. Apparently the parasites do this from time to time.

He has a very cute abdomen, but then, I think he's cute all over!

Subject: RE: BS: Cannabis isn't just for people
From: Thompson
Date: 30 Aug 18 - 05:12 PM

We tend to blame cleanliness but we may not be right; my gut feeling is that we are not.

The fault may quite easily be with carbon pollution, which exists more in cities and in the first world than in rural areas, and which has now been fingered as causing huge loss of intelligence.

It may also quite easily be the extremely indoor lifestyle of first world and city children, which causes a gene for nearsightedness to express in those with the genetic tendency, if they don't play outside a lot as children.