Highlights;
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Overview: Over the past four decades, medical marijuana has gained credibility as a potential treatment for chronic diseases and conditions, though it is not a cure-all. It can alleviate symptoms, slow disease progression, and serve as an alternative to opioids for pain management.
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Diseases treated with medical marijuana:
- Depression:
- Reduces chronic stress by restoring endocannabinoids in the brain, which can help ease depressive symptoms.
- Anxiety:
- Can either reduce or increase anxiety depending on individual brain chemistry. May prevent anxiety attacks and promote a calmer response to stress.
- Epilepsy:
- CBD formulas with minimal psychoactive effects can suppress seizures in epilepsy patients.
- Alzheimer’s:
- Reduces hallucinations, improves sleep, and prevents aggressive outbursts. Slows the buildup of beta-amyloid proteins that damage the brain.
- HIV/AIDS:
- Alleviates symptoms like nausea, pain, and loss of appetite. May prevent the production of HIV compounds.
- Cancer:
- Does not cure cancer but eases chemotherapy side effects like nausea, vomiting, and neuropathic pain. Improves appetite.
- Drug Addiction:
- Helps reduce opioid cravings and withdrawal symptoms. Cannabidiol (CBD) provides a safer “high” and counters addiction-related brain damage, potentially replacing addictive painkillers.
- Depression:
Over the past four decades, the use of medical marijuana to treat diseases has gained significant traction. Its credibility in the medical community has grown as a potential solution for managing chronic conditions and illnesses. While cannabis is not a cure-all or a definitive solution for eliminating diseases, it has shown promise in alleviating the symptoms of chronic illnesses, slowing disease progression, and potentially serving as an alternative to opioids for managing emotional and physical pain.
Here’s how marijuana positively contributes to treating the following seven diseases:
1. Depression
A study from the University of Buffalo’s Research Institute on Addictions investigated the effects of marijuana on chronic stress in rats, drawing parallels to human responses. The study found that prolonged stress reduces the brain’s production of endocannabinoids, which play a crucial role in processing emotions, thoughts, and pain. In individuals with low endocannabinoid levels, this can lead to depression. Marijuana helps restore cannabinoids like tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) in the endocannabinoid system, potentially easing depressive symptoms.
2. Anxiety
Similar to depression, anxiety reduces endocannabinoid production, impairing the ability to cope with stress and pain. Marijuana’s effects on anxiety can vary: it can either relieve or exacerbate it, depending on individual brain chemistry. For some, it promotes relaxation, reduces anxiety attacks, and calms the body’s “fight-or-flight” response, while others may experience increased anxiety.
3. Epilepsy
Epilepsy, characterized by seizures or “electrical storms,” has seen promising results from medical marijuana. Scientists have developed a specific CBD formula with minimal psychoactive effects, making it safe for epilepsy patients. A 2015 study at the NYU Langone Medical Center showed that marijuana can suppress seizures. Researchers are now tailoring marijuana compounds to address individual epileptic conditions, as the disease affects people differently.
4. Alzheimer’s
Marijuana has been found to reduce hallucinations, improve sleep, and curb aggressive behavior in Alzheimer’s patients. The disease is primarily caused by the rapid production of beta-amyloid proteins, which form brain plaques and reduce essential amino acid peptides. Marijuana can slow this protein buildup, potentially preventing further brain deterioration in Alzheimer’s patients.
5. HIV/AIDS
HIV weakens the immune system, but marijuana can alleviate symptoms such as nausea, muscle and joint pain, appetite loss, and fevers. A 2008 Spanish study also found that marijuana may prevent certain chemical reactions that facilitate the replication of HIV compounds.
6. Cancer
While marijuana does not cure cancer or reduce tumors, it can ease the discomfort associated with cancer treatments. It helps reduce chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, stimulates appetite, and alleviates neuropathic pain caused by nerve damage.
7. Drug Addiction
Surprisingly, medical marijuana may aid in reversing opioid addiction by reducing cravings and diminishing emotional and physical withdrawal symptoms. Cannabinoids bind to brain receptors, offering a safer “high” and countering the cognitive damage caused by long-term drug abuse. Additionally, marijuana can replace addictive painkillers by targeting the same nerve receptors as opioids without the risk of chronic addiction.
TELL US, which diseases or symptoms do you treat with cannabis?
Source: https://cannabisnow.com/7-diseases-can-treated-medical-marijuana/
