Cannabis, also known as marijuana, is a plant that has been used for centuries for its medicinal properties. Cannabis contains over 60 chemicals called cannabinoids, which are thought to provide various health benefits.
Medical cannabis has been shown to be effective in treating a variety of conditions, including pain, inflammation, seizures, and muscle spasms. It can also be used to improve appetite and help with weight gain in patients who are undergoing cancer treatment.
Cannabis is a safe and effective alternative to more traditional medications, with fewer side effects. Talking to your doctor about whether medical cannabis is right for you is important.
If you are interested in trying medical cannabis, there are a few things you should know. First, it is important to get a recommendation from a doctor. You will also need to obtain a medical cannabis card, which will allow you to purchase cannabis from a dispensary.
Cannabis comes in many forms, including oils, tinctures, and edibles. It is important to start with a low dose and increase gradually as needed. Medical cannabis can provide relief from a variety of conditions. If you think it may be right for you, talk to your doctor today.
Marijuana, scientifically known as Cannabis, is a leafy plant that may be found in numerous parts of the world. Cannabis indica and sativa are two subtypes of the plant (Gerich, 2015). Marijuana has anti-emetic, sedative, anti-inflammatory, anti-convulsive, and laxative properties (Audu, 2014).
Marijuana has been used for medicinal purposes for thousands of years. The first recorded use of marijuana as a medicine was in 2737 BC by the Chinese Emperor Shen Neng (Gerich, 2015). In ancient China, marijuana was used to treat gout, malaria and rheumatism (Audu, 2014).
In 1839, Irish physician William O’Shaughnessy introduced marijuana to Western medicine after observing its medical effects in India (Gerich, 2015). O’Shaughnessy found that cannabis could be used to treat muscle spasms, convulsions and nausea (Audu, 2014).
Marijuana began to be tightened in the early 1900s due to racial tension and fear of its mind-altering effects (Gerich, 2015). In 1937, the Marijuana Tax Act was passed, making it illegal to grow or sell marijuana in the United States (Audu, 2014).
Despite its legal status, marijuana continued to be used for medicinal purposes. In 1996, California became the first state to legalize medical marijuana (Gerich, 2015). As of 2016, 28 states and Washington D.C. have legalized medical marijuana (“State Marijuana Laws in 2016 Map”, 2016).
The medical benefits of marijuana are vast. Medical cannabis has been shown to be an effective treatment for a variety of conditions and symptoms.
One of the most well-known effects of cannabis is its pain-relieving properties. Cannabis has been shown to be an effective treatment for chronic pain, cancer pain and nerve pain (Audu, 2014).
Marijuana is also an effective anti-emetic. Anti-emetics are drugs that are used to prevent or treat nausea and vomiting. Cannabis has been shown to be an effective treatment for the nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy (Audu, 2014).
Marijuana can also be used as a sedative. The active compound in marijuana that causes sedation is THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) (Gerich, 2015). THC can be used to treat insomnia and anxiety (Audu, 2014).
In addition to its sedative effects, marijuana also has anti-inflammatory properties. Cannabis has been shown to be an effective treatment for inflammatory conditions such as Crohn’s disease, arthritis and multiple sclerosis (Audu, 2014).
Marijuana also has anti-convulsive effects. The active compound in marijuana that causes this effect is CBD (cannabidiol) (Gerich, 2015). CBD can be used to treat seizure disorders such as epilepsy (Audu, 2014).
The chemical makeup of Cannabis, which includes over 500 compounds, is primarily comprised of cannabinoids. They may be acquired from three sources: phytocannabinoids generated by the Cannabis plant, endocannabinoids produced naturally in the body, and synthetically manufactured cannabinoids. THC is the key active ingredient in cannabis.
This is the molecule that produces the psychoactive effects of cannabis. However, many other compounds present in cannabis can also have medical benefits. For instance, Cannabidiol or CBD is a non-psychoactive compound that has shown to be effective in treating a variety of medical conditions like anxiety, pain, inflammation, and seizures.
In fact, CBD has even been shown to counteract some of the negative effects of THC such as paranoia and memory impairment.There are many other cannabinoids present in cannabis that also have medical benefits. Some of these include: cannabigerol (CBG), cannabichromene (CBC), cannabinol (CBN), and tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV). Each cannabinoid has unique medical properties that can be used to treat a variety of different medical conditions.
The vast majority of research on the medical benefits of cannabis has been conducted on THC and CBD. However, there is a growing body of evidence that suggests that other cannabinoids may also be effective in treating various medical conditions. More research is needed to fully understand the therapeutic potential of all the cannabinoids present in cannabis.
However, the existing evidence suggests that cannabis is a potentially effective treatment for a variety of medical conditions. Some of the most promising areas of research include: pain relief, anxiety relief, seizure control, and cancer treatment.
THC mimics the effects of anandamide. There are two types of cannabinoid receptors in the body: CB1 and CB2, which are G protein-coupled receptors. (Gerich, 2015). The brain includes a receptor called Receptor Type 1, which is primarily found in the hypothalamus and controls hunger. Cannabinoids provide palliative benefits to cancer patients by relieving vomiting, nausea, and pain by acting on the brain’s appetite stimulation function
CB2 receptors are located mostly in the peripheral nervous system, and immune cells (Madras, 2015). These receptors play a role in reducing inflammation. Cannabinoids found in marijuana can help to reduce the inflammation associated with various autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis.
CBD is a non-psychoactive cannabinoid that has shown to be effective in reducing seizure activity by interacting with both CB1 and CB2 receptors (Devinsky, 2014). A study done on Epidiolex, a CBD based medication showed that it was effective in reducing seizure frequency by 39% in patients with Dravet syndrome, a rare form of epilepsy (Devinsky, 2016).
There are many other medical benefits of marijuana that are being researched. Cannabis has also been shown to be effective in treating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). A study done on rats showed that CBD can help to reduce fear memory.
Marijuana is a safe and effective medication that can be used to treat a variety of medical conditions. More research needs to be done in order to fully understand all of the potential medical uses of marijuana.