Pay attention to word “medicinal” so that we can have a smooth ride on this post. It is normal for anyone to be stuck on the vicious effects that cannabis is believed to have when smoked and abused, but hey! there is something called “medicinal cannabis” so don’t be caught unaware when you hear that cannabis is prescribed to your friend by the doctor.
Medical cannabis, or medical marijuana, is cannabis and cannabinoids that are recommended by doctors for their patients. This involves using the whole, unprocessed marijuana plant or its basic extracts to treat symptoms of illness and other conditions. Production restriction and governmental regulations in most countries have made it hard to use medicinal cannabis effectively. Notwithstanding, limited evidence suggests that it can reduce nausea and vomiting during chemotherapy, improve appetite in people with HIV/AIDS, and reduce chronic pain and muscle spasms.
Common side effects of marijuana including dizziness and hallucinations seem to weigh higher than its medicinal values and that is why its prescription is rare. All the same, it is interesting to be in the know about medicinal cannabis, the knowledge may come in handy some time.
Here are some common conditions medicinal cannabis can be prescribed for:
Cancer
Responsible for about 30 percent of all deaths, cancer is fast becoming the leading cause of death in this new age. While cannabis can’t cure cancer, it can drastically reduce the severity of symptoms and improve quality of life for patients. Research has shown that both THC and CBD (two of the key active components found in cannabis) can stimulate appetite, which may help with the weight loss, anorexia and cachexia that many cancer patients experience. In addition, it is very effective at combating nausea caused by conventional cancer treatments such as chemotherapy.
HIV/AIDS
HIV/AIDS treatment has come a long way over the last decade or so. While modern therapy allows those with HIV/AIDS to live a long and mostly healthy life, the side effects of the treatment can be challenging to deal with. This is where medicinal cannabis comes in. A number of studies show that medical cannabis can improve many HIV/AIDS-related symptoms, including anorexia, weight loss, severe nausea and more.
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Insomnia
Research indicates that both THC- and CBD-dominant cannabis based medicines offer effective therapy for a range of sleep disorders, including insomnia. It is thought to reduce sleep latency, induce drowsiness and improve quality of sleep.
Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis is a disease that affects the brain and spinal cord. Symptoms vary both in type and severity but typically include pain, spasms, balance issues, tingling, vision problems and more. Research published in the Multiple Sclerosis Journal found that cannabis based medicinal extracts can significantly reduce the spasticity and pain associated with multiple sclerosis while having few adverse effects on patients.
Spinal Cord Injury
Caused by trauma to the spine, spinal cord injuries are known to affect motor skills and can potentially lead to total loss function in some parts of the body. Research suggests cannabis can help patients treat the pain and muscle spasms that are often symptomatic of a spinal cord injury. The medicinal extracts can improve neurogenic symptoms unresponsive to standard treatments.
Source: Wikipedia, Canabo Medical Clinic.
