The Therapeutic Potential of Cannabis

Cannabis is widely believed to have therapeutic potential, and it is now being studied more effectively in order to learn how cannabinoids ( the active components that make up marijuana ) may help control and even treat conditions such as chronic pain, anxiety, side effects of cancer treatment and many other ailments.

In this comprehensive guide we examine the scientific and anecdotal evidence supporting the use of cannabis as a treatment for:

• Chronic pain

• Nausea and vomiting (especially from chemotherapy)

• Seizures and epilepsy

• Speech impediments (e.g., stuttering)

• Cancer treatment relief

• Anxiety, depression, and stress

We'll also look at the legality, risk and what the future holds for medical marijuana

1. Understanding Cannabinoids

As far as we know cannabis has more than 100 cannabinoids. These two are the most commonly studied

• THC ( Tetrahydrocannabinol ) is psychoactive ( can make you high ) but it also goes a long way to relieve pain. It can also help with nausea.

• CBD (Cannabidiol) is non - psychoactive, so it doesn’t has the feeling of being high, and is known for it 's anti inflammatory and anxiety relieving properties.

These chemicals interact with the endocannabinoid system (ECS ). The ECS is a network of receptors in the brain & body that controls pain, mood, appetite & immune response.

2. Potential Therapeutic Uses of Cannabis

A. Chronic Pain Management

From a clinical perspective, historically - used treatments for chronic pain have been opioids which contain addictive properties and have other adverse consequences such as overdose of opioids and death.

How cannabis can help:

THC and CBD interact with CB1 - and CB2 receptors and quench pain signals.Cannabis use as a treatment for chronic pain is 'substantial evidence', a 2017 report by the National Academies of Sciences said.

Cannabis may help treat arthritis, neuropathy and migraines, research suggests.

Best strains/products for pain management: High CBD strains such as ACDC, Harlequin or a strain with a THC/CBD ratio of moderate.

B. Nausea and Vomiting:

Cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy often suffer severe nausea.

How cannabis can help:

THC actually activates the CB1 receptors in the brain area that controls vomiting, which decreases nausea in general.

Also approved by the FDA is a drug called Dronabinol -- a synthetic THC. It 's being prescribed now for nausea after chemotherapy.

But a study done in 2001 found that Cannabis proved to be much more effective for nausea than prescribed anti-nausea drugs.

Best strains and products for symptoms of nausea and vomiting: THC dominant strains-for example, OG Kush, Sour Diesel, or oral THC capsules.

C. Seizures and Epilepsy

One of the well - documented medical uses of cannabis is in treating epilepsy that is intolerant to conventional medicines.

How cannabis can help:

Cannabis oil is one of anti seizure drugs that includes Epidiolex (the first ever FDA approved CBD drug for rare epilepsy conditions like Dravet and Lennox - Gastaut syndromes ).

A 2018 study in the New England Journal found CBD reduced seizures by 39% in Dravet patients.

Best strains/products for seizures: High-CBD, low-THC strains, like the Charlotte’s Web strain.

D. Speech Impairments (Stuttering, Tourettes Syndrome and strained vocal chords and speech problems).

Emerging research suggests cannabis may help with these speech disorders.

How cannabis can help with speech issues:

THC 's muscle relaxant properties may help decrease some of the vocal tics associated with Tourette's. Marijuana may also help reduce the intensity and frequency of stuttering based on some small studies.

Some stutterers did improve on THC use, a study in the Journal of Clinical Medicine in 2021 suggests.

Sweet strains / products to help with speech problems: do your homework on low dose THC / CBD dominant products.

E. Cancer Treatment Relief (Beyond Nausea)

Cannabis may help with multiple cancer-related symptoms:

• Pain relief (from tumors or treatment)

• Spontaneous appetite (THC has been known to stimulate appetite / the "munchies")

• Anti cancer effect ( early lab study suggests cannabinoids could inhibit cancer cell growth but more evidence is needed in humans)

  
  

Best strains and products for pain / nausea relief from cancer: THC/CBD balance ( 1: 1 tinctures for example).

F. Anxiety, Depression, and Stress and other

Mental health issues are more common than ever before and some patients find marijuana provides some relief and some relief from their symptoms.

How cannabis can help with mental health issues:

Yes low dose THC helps reduce anxiety. Higher doses may cause anxiety.

CBD does have some anti - anxiety and antidepressant properties in that they can increase serotonin.

A 2015 study in Neurotherapeutics found CBD to be effective for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, social anxiety, and obsessive compulsive disorder.

In addition though this comes with a caveat: THC can induce anxiety in very large doses or people with sensitivity to it.

Best strains and products for mental health: CBD high strains like Cannatonic and also microdosed THC edibles.

3. There some some potential risks and considerations:

While cannabis has many benefits, it’s not without risks:

• Psychoactive effects (THC)

• Can cause paranoia or dizziness.

• Dependence

• Marijuana is much less addictive than opioids ( but consumers may become dependent on the use of marijuana).

• Drug interactions – CBD can interact with blood thinners / other medicines - so always talk with your physician or pharmacist if you’re concerned about a possible drug interaction.

• Legal status- Laws vary by country and also by stare, so be aware of local regulations.

Who should avoid cannabis?

• People with a history of psychosis

• Pregnant/nursing women

• Those with heart conditions

4. The Future of Medical Cannabis

More and more research is being done on many kinds of medical problems. There are a lot of current studies regarding a lot of medical problems.

• Neurodegenerative diseases (Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s)

• Autoimmune disorders (MS, Crohn’s disease)

• Mental health therapies (psychedelic-assisted therapy with cannabis)

Countries with big research institutions in Cannabis (Canadian, Israel, Germany, US)

Some Final Thoughts

It 's a huge therapeutic potential and especially in cases where normal pharmaceutical drugs have failed and do n't really do much to help.

What you should know:

• Consult a doctor before use

• Start with the lowest dosage

• Consult experts to pick the right strain/product for your medical ailments

As research progresses we may come across other positive aspects of marijuana 's use as a treatment of illness and disease, as well as its use as a health and wellness resource.

We hope this article will help you get some suggestions for treating your symptoms with medical marijuana.

In Closing, Some Key Takeaways

• Pain Relieving Activities: CBD and THC help relieve pain and inflammation in the body

• Treating nausea from chemo: THC has a proven antiemetic effect that 's pretty good at reducing nausea.

• Epilepsy and seizures treatment: FDA-approved CBD drugs like Epidiolex help.

• Stuttering/Tourette’s treatment: Early research suggests THC may reduce tics.

• Treatment of cancer: medical marijuana may reduce pain, appetite and nausea.

• Treatment for anxiety / depression: Low dose THC / CBD may help, high dose THC can make it worse.