Medical Applications of Cannabis

Medical Applications of Cannabis

By John Jezzini

The use of cannabis to help treat certain medical conditions has grown more popular over the past several years.

Thanks to a combination of relaxed laws and increased studies, it has steadily become clear how helpful it can be.

There are many types, strains, and applications of cannabis, but the appropriate use can change a person’s comfort (and life) overnight. Here a few of the varying medical applications for cannabis.

Treating Chronic Pain Cannabis has quickly become the ideal replacement for opioids when treating chronic pain. Given the opioid epidemic, this sudden surge makes sense. Cannabis doesn’t come with the same level of risk or side effects as opioids.

There have been numerous studies looking into the benefits of cannabis on chronic pain sufferers.

Because of those studies, there are now organizations such as Project CBD pushing the use for specific conditions. Conditions such as endometriosis.

Despite all of the studies and their results, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has yet to declare cannabis an appropriate treatment for chronic pain. However, it has been approved on the state level in several areas.

Helping Cancer Patients There are two main threads of thought when it comes to using cannabis to help cancer patients.

The primary use at the moment is to help reduce nausea and vomiting for chemo patients.

Additionally, scientists have begun to look at how cannabis may be directly affecting cancerous cells.

Early clinical trials have provided promising results, as it appears that both THC and CBD slow the growth of specific cancer cells while killing others.

More studies will need to be conducted before anything is known for sure.

Treating Mental Health Concerns More doctors are prescribing cannabis as a form of treating or managing depression and anxiety disorders. Cannabis affects the release of endorphins, which in turn helps patients suffering from these mental health conditions.

Furthermore, a recent study suggests that cannabis may even help to sharpen cognitive abilities, despite the common belief surrounding it.

Controlling and Preventing Seizures Cannabis has become more commonly known for the positive effects it can have on those dealing with epilepsy. It had an anti-seizure effect, thanks to the way it interacts with electrical activity in the brain. Studies have shown that this was more than a placebo effect, and thus doctors are commonly prescribing it as part of treatment. This is one case where cannabis can quite literally save lives.

As with anything that may be applied for medical reasons, it is essential to talk to your doctor before doing so. Not all conditions can be approached the same way, and thus specialized treatment and care is essential.