It is true that marijuana, although more widely known as an illicit drug for recreational use, has been used medicinally and therapeutically since thousands of years. In addition to its pain-relieving properties, marijuana is also credited with a number of health benefits. Selected physicians provide medical marijuana in hospitals or clinics for patients that need it. The symptoms associated with certain diseases such as asthma, Parkinson’s Disease, IBS (irritable bowel syndrome), Parkinson’s and liver disease can sometimes be managed by medical cannabis. Find out how to choose the best cannabis strains in this site.
In almost every state in the U.S., marijuana for recreational purposes is illegal. Though medical marijuana is already available, it has yet to be approved as a drug by the FDA.
The medical benefits of marijuana are mainly attributed to the presence of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol or THC in it. This substance alters consciousness by entering the brain to stimulate cannabinoid cells. It is also believed that cannabidiol in marijuana has medical benefits. This substance, which is not psychoactive in nature, has been associated with treating conditions such as epilepsy among others.
The current use of medical marijuana is mostly to relieve the symptoms. This isn’t used for curing or treating the cause. Medical marijuana has been shown to have a high level of effectiveness in treating chronic neuropathic discomfort. Medical cannabis helps patients feel better, and can even improve their quality of living.
It may be that medical marijuana is prescribed to you if the conventional and usual treatment options aren’t working. Patients may be affected by it in different ways. In cancer patients it may reduce nausea or vomiting that is associated with chemotherapy. In addition, research shows that marijuana is effective in treating Parkinson’s Disease patients by reducing their pain levels and tremors. The results of a study performed in Israel in 2013, showed that those suffering from Parkinson’s experienced symptoms reduction for 2-4 hours.
Marijuana therapy is now being recognized as “potentially” effective, because promising studies found that THC-rich cannabinoids could trigger the death cancer cells. The medical marijuana used by glaucoma sufferers has shown to prevent the damage to their optic nerve that can cause them to lose vision or go blind.