Nowadays, marijuana is under reevaluation regarding its legal and recreational use after considering an illegal component. However, for thousands of years, it has treated people with different chronic conditions and illnesses. It was documented that the Emperor of China was the first to use it for medicinal purposes long ago. Until such time that this plant has become more adapted and accepted as a medicinal substance because of different research studies that prove its medical benefits. If you are curious about what medical marijuana is used for, here is detailed information.
What is Medical Marijuana?
Medical marijuana uses the plant and chemicals of marijuana itself to treat or cure diseases. This plant is also known as cannabis, weed, pot, and many more. It is the same product as recreational marijuana, but this one is intended for medical use. The plant includes about 100 different chemical properties, which are known as cannabinoids. Each of them has unique effects on the body. The primary chemicals used in medicine are cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). The chemical that makes people high is the THC, which is usually found on different marijuana forms used for recreational purposes.
How Can Medical Marijuana Help in Needs?
Two significant cannabinoids are chemical properties that help the neurotransmitter release in your brain and stimulate the medical benefits of cannabis. The two compounds are known as cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Cannabidiol is responsible for the feeling of pain relief and calmness. While, THC makes you euphoric and high after you smoke, vape, or take marijuana. The two works in their ways, and it is essential to know that when you take medical marijuana, it should contain more CBD to relieve pain, treat diseases, and relax your brain.
What is Medical Marijuana Used For
As of today, two medical marijuana versions are made from synthetic. Many doctors prescribed these medicines to help people with chemotherapy side effects and severe epilepsy. Here are some of the areas where medical marijuana is commonly used to treat.
Pain Relief
Marijuana has cannabinoids that can reduce and relieve pain by changing the perception pathways of pain in the brain. Cannabis can help treat severe pain like migraine, arthritis, endometriosis, and fibromyalgia. Also, it helps in reducing the side effects of cancer treatments such as loss of appetite. CBD in weed can help decrease inflammation like rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn’s disease, and irritable bowel syndrome. Always remember that reduced inflammation can improve the overall health of your body.
Some situations reported that medical marijuana is used to replace the ongoing use of NSAIDs or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen that has adverse side effects on the overall body. Both CBD and THC have effectively shown signs that they can reduce pain but note that they cannot take and treat your pain wholly. The endocannabinoids created by the body can affect your body’s different processes, like pain and inflammation. Besides, few studies indicate that cannabinoids can immediately help subdue peripheral nerve pain and make the consumer feel less pain or discomfort.
Stomach Problems
Many take marijuana flowers to make their appetite great. Some even called these munchies because it increases their appetite while under its influence. Even if many may think this is an advantage, it helps people who have a loss of appetite because of chemotherapy treatment side effects.
Weed is perfect if you have nausea. The brain’s endocannabinoid system can affect different brain areas, which controls the vomiting and nausea, which helps ease this feeling. It also helps in the nausea of people having HIV, AIDS, and Crohn’s Disease, approved by many research.
Mental Health Including Anxiety, PTSD, and Mood Disorders
Mental health, including emotional pain, is the same as physical pain. It is essential to take care of them both and treat them as soon as possible. Although this is hard to determine because you cannot see the pain, it can still show physical effects such as tiredness, inability to move, stress out, and mood swings.
The traditional medicine used to treat emotional pain are beta-blockers, anti-depressants, benzodiazepines, and monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs). However, many users show different side effects like possible addiction, suicidal thoughts, worsening depression, and self-harm. Medical marijuana has efficiently been found to help alleviate depression and do not worsen any side effects.
Sleep Management
Marijuana has calming and relaxing effects that improve sleep management and sleep disorders like insomnia. It also helps reduce the pain you can encounter while you lack sleep. Many used this as an alternative to sleeping pills, which cause adverse side effects. It will help you relax and make your sleep better, reducing your stress.
Medical Marijuana Side Effects
There are few side effects that medical marijuana has, such as dizziness, low blood pressure, fast heartbeat, hallucinations, depression, and bloodshot eyes. Marijuana can also affect your coordination and judgment that can worsen and lead to some injuries and accidents. It is the reason why researchers do not recommend using this in the teenage years because it can hinder the development of the brain, affects the mental function and IQ of an individual.
Marijuana has few chemical properties, which can also be found on tobacco, putting the lungs in danger. Since there are no apparent health risks about marijuana’s effects, some reported that it increases the risk of having lung problems like bronchitis. You need to know that the FDA does not see medical marijuana as a prescription medicine for some reason.
Final Thoughts
Marijuana has become one of the most controversial topics nowadays, both for recreational and medical use. Until now, there are more research studies conducted to see the health benefits of marijuana, and if it is meant to be used in the medical field or for recreational purposes only.
Meanwhile, if you like to experience the possible health benefits of marijuana, it is essential to consult your doctor first. Doctors will guide you on the potential risks and benefits of medical marijuana, as well as the legalities depending on where you live. Remember not to take any chemical substance all on your own, including marijuana, because it might have different effects on you.
