What is Medical Marijuana and it’s Health Benefits?
Marijuana is an amazing plant-derived drug that has many amazing benefits for the body if used properly. While it is mostly used for recreational purposes, using marijuana for medical purposes is not just possible, but also quite beneficial. But, this amazing drug is not a new discovery. It has been used for centuries and was even considered an illegal substance in the past due to its cerebral effects. However, it is recently being reevaluated as a recreational and medical drug because of its many benefits. Many US states and District of Columbia have legalized medical marijuana in some form or other. And many more states are considering to do so in the near future. So, why exactly is this weed so special? Let’s find out more about marijuana and its medical applications and benefits.
What is Medical Marijuana?
Medical marijuana is the use of marijuana plants or its different chemical compounds to treat diseases or conditions. It contains chemical compounds called cannabinoids that affect the health of the mind and the body. Cannabinoids like cannabidiol (CBD), THC, and CBN are responsible for the ‘high’ people feel when they consume weed. When these compounds enter the body, they attach themselves to the cannabinoid receptors in the brain and stimulate them. The stimulation of these receptors has many effects on the body.
Some of these effects include reduction in pain and inflammation, increased appetite, nausea, and insomnia. However, medical marijuana is usually used to relieve symptoms not to treat diseases. While its use may not cure any disease completely, it can definitely offer some relief in certain symptoms and make you feel better.
Benefits of Medical Marijuana
As we mentioned earlier, using marijuana for medical purposes can have any benefits. It can be taken in many different ways like smoking, vaping, eating edibles, using tinctures and teas, or applying them topically. While most of these methods are safe and healthy, there are some ways like smoking that can also have some adverse effects on the brain function. Medical marijuana products are available with a huge range of THC and CBD concentrations. In fact, with the recent legalization of marijuana, many shops even offer marijuana for sale and for direct consumption.
Pain Relief and Management
One of the most common and effective benefit of using cannabis. Cannabis contains hundreds of compounds including many cannabinoids. The chemical makeup of these compounds is similar to the ones produced by our brain. Hence, cannabis is quite effective in relieving pain and helps in controlling it. It is useful in reducing chronic pain in people suffering from arthritis, fibromyalgia, endometriosis, migraine, etc. It can treat the side-effects of cancer treatment like loss of appetite. You can ingest weed directly by smoking or vaping or other methods. Alternatively, you can also use topical CBD infused products like creams, balms, etc. to relieve pain.
Reduces Inflammation
Marijuana plants have a chemical called CBD. This chemical is considered to help reduce inflammation in the body. When it enters the blood stream, it interacts with cells that play a vital role in the functioning of the gut. It can also enhance the immune system. Hence, it is considered beneficial in inflammatory condition like Crohn’s disease, irritable bowel syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, etc.
Treating Neurological and Mental Disorders
Due to its effect on the cerebral system, marijuana is considered as a great alternative to treat many neurological and mental diseases. The CBD and TCH compounds in cannabis are responsible for the high you feel when consuming it. This is because upon entering the blood stream, these compounds affect the cerebral system. Hence, they are considered beneficial in treating mental and neurological conditions like anxiety, epilepsy, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, Tourette syndrome, etc.
Relieve Anxiety and Insomnia
One of the most common and popular uses of marijuana is to relieve anxiety and treat sleep disorders. When taken in monitored dosage, cannabis can calm you down and thus help in alleviating anxiety. This is particularly useful for people suffering from conditions like post-traumatic disorder (PTSD), severe anxiety, etc. It can help you control the fight or flight response and think about things carefully. The relaxing effects of marijuana can also help you sleep better. Also, the use of cannabis can reduce pain and thus aid in sleeping better.
Helpful In Managing Withdrawal Symptoms
Another big benefit of cannabis is its ability to help you deal with withdrawal symptoms. For people going through alcohol or drug withdrawal, it is often more difficult to stay away from drugs. And nicotine patches are not quite as effective as they should be. However, using marijuana in controlled doses can help alleviate withdrawal symptoms. It can also help you manage your intake and hence, you can get rid of your addiction with time.
While taking marijuana in high doses and without proper supervision can have bad consequences, its regular and controlled usage can also be very beneficial to the body. What is most important is consulting a proper doctor and taking the prescribed doses only. Medical marijuana is a healthy and risk-free alternative for treatment of many conditions and for improving your life.
