Marijuana News
The (Health) Benefits of Cannabis
We all have heard of the medical benefits of cannabis, but are they justified? We look at ailments like chronic pain, epilepsy & more.
Although cannabis continues to be illegal in much of the world, the recent wave of legalization has enabled a renaissance of research into the medicinal benefits of cannabis and the results are promising. There are currently over 26,000 published scientific articles investigating cannabis and cannabinoids, showing that cannabis can be an effective treatment for diseases ranging from chronic pain to insomnia.
Cannabis Research: A selection of the most important medical studies
Despite the breathtaking amount of research that has already taken place, there is much more about cannabis that we still do not understand. We now take a look at some of the evidence of the medical benefits of cannabis and look at the current state of research.
HELPS IN CHECKING CHRONIC PAIN
One of the most established applications of medical cannabis is the treatment of chronic pain. Chronic pain is defined as pain lasting more than six months. The level of pain can range from dull to unbearable, burdening not only the physical but also the emotional well-being of those affected.
Now for the good news, there is ample evidence that medical cannabis is effective in managing chronic pain. Several studies have shown the efficacy of cannabis in the treatment of pain, both in acute pain (eg, pain from eating chilli peppers) and in chronic pain (eg, chronic neurological pain caused by HIV). Cannabis can also help to reduce tremors and muscle cramps, which could be an important part of pain management for many people.
One benefit of medicinal cannabis over traditional chronic pain treatments (like opioids) is that cannabis does not make you physically addicted. A 2016 study 1 from 2016 found that medical cannabis not only eased pain in chronic patients but also improved the overall quality of life for users and reduced their opiate use by more than 40%. At a time when opiate addiction is considered an epidemic, these results are really serious.
REDUCES ANXIETY
The relationship between cannabis and anxiety is complex. It is known that cannabis can cause anxiety in some cases. Therefore, users susceptible to anxiety should stay away from varieties that are sativa dominant or that have a high THC content.
However, it has been shown 2 that CBD has anxiolytic properties. Specific terpenes have also been associated with the ability to relieve anxiety. THC can be complicated and due to the biphasic effect of cannabis, it is likely to be anxiolytic at low doses, but may trigger anxiety at high doses. Medical users who want to treat their anxiety should search for varieties that are known to have anxiolytic properties. You should then start with low doses and work your way up slowly.
IMPROVES CREATIVITY
As many artists already know, cannabis can really make the creative juices flow. Cannabis causes the brain to function differently than if it is sober. Some areas that are normally active are suppressed, and other areas that are not often active are stimulated. Many artists, entrepreneurs and musicians swear by the ability of cannabis to increase creativity. Bob Marley was quoted as saying, “Music and grass go hand in hand. I have been smoking grass for a long time. Since the 1960s when I started singing “. There are even specific varieties that are celebrated for their creativity-enhancing properties.
That being said, the research results on this topic are mixed. A study 3 divided the subjects into three groups: one receiving a high dose of cannabis, one receiving a low dose and one serving as a control group. While the low dose group and the control group showed similar results and their performance did not improve or worsen, the high dose group experienced impairment in their creative abilities. Further research is needed to gain a deeper understanding of whether cannabis actually enhances creativity or if it just seems that way.
HELPS IN SLEEP DISORDERS
The effects of cannabis on sleep are not yet well understood, mainly because sleep itself is not well understood. Grass has been known to increase deep sleep, but to reduce the lesser REM sleep associated with dreams. We do not know enough about these processes to say if this is good or bad, but it seems to have a negative impact on regular long-term users. This may again be related to the two-phase effect pattern of grass, where a small amount is beneficial, but larger doses may have the opposite effect.
HELPS IN THE CHECKING OF EPILEPTIC REQUIREMENTS
Epilepsy is a neurological disorder that affects people of all ages and causes sudden, intense energy bursts in the brain. Epileptic seizures can cause disorders of consciousness, convulsions and sensory disturbances.
For a long time, there have been numerous reports of the efficacy of cannabis in the treatment of epileptic seizures. However, only recently has this phenomenon been formally investigated and the results support the anecdotal evidence so far.
A 2010 study 5 published in the US National Library of Medicine has shown that cannabis has anti-seizure properties, both in isolated tissue samples and in live animals. Research 6 has also shown that the cannabinoid CBDV is an effective treatment against convulsions in mice and rats.
Finally, a 2013 meta-analysis 7, which examined a variety of studies, concluded that cannabinoids and marijuana may be beneficial for people suffering from neurological disorders such as epilepsy. This could potentially be a life-saving treatment for millions of epilepsy patients worldwide.
REDUCES STRESS
Epilepsy is a neurological disorder that affects people of all ages and causes sudden, intense energy bursts in the brain. Epileptic seizures can cause disorders of consciousness, convulsions and sensory disturbances.
For a long time, there have been numerous reports of the efficacy of cannabis in the treatment of epileptic seizures. However, only recently has this phenomenon been formally investigated and the results support the anecdotal evidence so far.
A 2010 study 5 published in the US National Library of Medicine has shown that cannabis has anti-seizure properties, both in isolated tissue samples and in live animals. Research 6 has also shown that the cannabinoid CBDV is an effective treatment against convulsions in mice and rats.
Finally, a 2013 meta-analysis 7, which examined a variety of studies, concluded that cannabinoids and marijuana may be beneficial for people suffering from neurological disorders such as epilepsy. This could potentially be a life-saving treatment for millions of epilepsy patients worldwide.
CHANGE THE APPETITE
A common side effect of cannabis, which often occurs in recreational users, is the cravings, so a greatly increased appetite. While this may seem just a fun element of recreational use, it can have serious medical potential, especially for cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.
People who are receiving chemotherapy may experience nausea, vomiting, pain, loss of appetite and other digestive problems. These side effects can cause additional health complications at a time when health is already compromised. Cannabis can help treat these side effects, making chemotherapy more enjoyable and less risky.
THE GREAT WHOLE
Despite the fact that cannabis still remains illegal for medical purposes in most countries, research has shown with overwhelming clarity that cannabis actually has medical benefits. Although medical cannabis continues to be illegal at the federal level in the United States, even the US National Institutes of Health cite many of the medical benefits of cannabis.
As the legalization movement gains traction throughout the world, more and more research is being done on the tremendous benefits of cannabis. And, as a result, more and more evidence is being provided that medical cannabis is indeed a safe and effective treatment for many diseases, especially when the variety selection is considered.
