A study published in Experimental Gerontology has found that low doses of THC may help improve wound healing in older individuals by regulating inflammation and boosting stem cell activity.
Researchers from University Hospital RWTH Aachen administered daily low-dose medical THC to aged female mice for three weeks before inducing full-thickness skin wounds. They found that the THC treatment significantly improved wound closure rates during the first week of healing.
The improvement was linked to a more balanced inflammatory response. Specifically, THC altered the timing and amount of immune cell infiltration, reduced inflammatory cytokine levels in the early stages of healing, and boosted the presence of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) at the wound site. However, the treatment had no measurable effect on the release of growth factors.
The study highlights the potential of targeting the endocannabinoid system (ECS) as a therapeutic strategy to promote tissue regeneration in aging populations.
According to the researchers, aging disrupts the ECS’s role in maintaining tissue homeostasis, and restoring its signaling through compounds like THC could help offset age-related impairments in wound repair.
You can find the full study by clicking here.
More articles from The Marijuana Herald can be found below.
