MJ and Kidney Function
Original author: Stacey-Marie Kerr
In medical education, the functioning of such a complex and elegant organ as the kidneys is usually covered in several separate lectures and seminars. This is because the kidneys are a biological factory divided into many sectors, each with its own unique function. They take toxins from the bloodstream and remove them from the body. In addition, the kidneys regulate blood pressure and the body’s acid-base balance.
When an old acquaintance asked me whether MJ could have a therapeutic effect on diseased kidneys, I decided to look more closely at what is known about the connection between the endocannabinoid system (ECS) and this organ. I found that the ECS is closely linked to the self-regulation and functioning of the excretory system, including the kidneys, just as it is with the digestive system. Therefore, healthy ECS function ensures the health and normal operation of the kidneys, while its dysfunction can lead to various ailments, up to and including chronic and life-threatening diseases.
What Function Do the Kidneys Serve in the Human Body?
Simply put, the kidneys are the main filter for the blood circulating in the body. Every minute, a single kidney filters more than a liter of blood. In other words, every 4–5 minutes, both kidneys filter all the blood in the human body, extracting any possible waste products, dead cells, toxins, and pathogens. Blood reaches the organs through the large renal artery, which splits into hundreds of small capillaries on the kidney walls.
Each bundle of capillaries connects to tubules on the organ’s surface, where toxins and waste leave the blood plasma, allowing nutrients and healthy cells to continue circulating through the body. The accumulated waste is carried through separate channels to the bladder, from which these toxins, in the form of urine, are finally expelled from the body.
As you can see, the system is quite complex but elegant. For this reason, an excess of toxins and waste can damage the tubules in the kidney tissue, slowing its function. As such damage accumulates, the tissue—normally with an extraordinary ability to regenerate—begins to be replaced by connective tissue, similar to scar tissue, which cannot absorb toxins. Continued dysfunction leads to an increase in non-functioning tissue, eventually resulting in complete organ failure and a flood of toxins into the bloodstream. Damage or failure of one kidney significantly reduces a person’s ability to metabolize nutrients and safely remove toxins like alcohol. In the case of total failure of both kidneys, the outcome is always fatal.
How the Endocannabinoid System Relates to Kidney Function
So how exactly do plant-based and endogenous cannabinoids interact with the kidneys, and how do they have a beneficial effect?
Dr. Joseph Tam, a member of a research team at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, conducted experiments studying the influence of the ECS on the functioning of excretory organs, particularly the kidneys and liver. He reports that both types of CB receptors are present in kidney tissue. Accordingly, different endogenous cannabinoids have different effects on kidney function, and their plant-based analogs can be used to stimulate certain receptors and achieve specific therapeutic effects.
Researchers found that activating CB1 receptors in test rats significantly slowed kidney activity. Conversely, blocking these receptors had the opposite, therapeutic effect. Similarly, activating CB2 receptors had anti-inflammatory and restorative effects on kidney tissue, while blocking them led to dysfunction in the organ’s processes.
Which Types of MJ Should Be Used for Kidney Disease Therapy?
Based on Dr. Tam’s findings, therapy for kidney diseases or dysfunction should use types of MJ that block CB1 receptors and stimulate CB2 receptors.
It’s important to note that THC is the main direct activator of CB1 in MJ. CBD, on the other hand, is a weaker CB1 activator and a full blocker of CB2 receptors. In other words, neither cannabinoid alone is an effective treatment for kidney diseases.
However, a lesser-known cannabinoid called THCV (tetrahydrocannabivarin) is a substance that completely blocks CB1 activity and stimulates CB2 receptors. Unfortunately, unlike THC and CBD, THCV is quite rare and is found in only very small concentrations in most MJ strains. Other studies suggest that this cannabinoid has the strongest therapeutic effect on the heart and circulatory system, which may explain why THCV improves toxin removal and tissue repair in the kidneys.
Prevention and a Healthy Lifestyle
The most reliable way to protect against chronic diseases is preventive medicine and a healthy lifestyle. Avoiding fatty foods, which increase blood pressure, can significantly reduce the risk of kidney disease or injury. In addition, kidney function can be improved by giving up destructive habits such as smoking tobacco, drinking alcohol, eating foods high in sugar, and leading a sedentary lifestyle.
Speaking of preventive medicine, the discoveries described above suggest that regular stimulation of CB2 receptors—whether by endogenous or phytocannabinoids—may strengthen kidney health and improve its function.
Overall, it’s interesting to note that the involvement of CB2 receptors, which are not activated by the main cannabinoids, shows that we are still far from understanding the full complexity of the endocannabinoid system. It’s quite possible that, following THCV, scientists will discover equally interesting therapeutic functions in other, rarer substances found in MJ.