The effects medical marijuana does for your body
The marijuana plant that consists of pure extracts and unprocessed is referred to as medical marijuana. The high content of flavonoids, cannabidiol (CBD), tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), and important contents of medical terpenes are the ingredients that make marijuana an incredible healing plant.
The various body processes such as pain, functions of the immune system, metabolic regulations, anxiety, cravings, and bone growth are helped by cannabinoid receptors. Other serious medical complications such as seizures, multiple sclerosis, degenerative brain disorders, Parkinson’s disease, mood disorders, and PTSD or post-traumatic stress disorder have been seen to be alleviated by medical marijuana.
Synthetic marijuana, on the other hand, does not contain any health benefits. In fact, it may even increase the risk of complicated side effects such as kidney problems, hypokalemia, brain damage, tachycardia, stroke, acute psychosis, and cardio problems.
What are the health issues that can be helped by medical marijuana?
The cannabidiol content of medical marijuana is credited with its healing properties. This has been found and discovered by numerous research studies.
The human body has built-in cannabinoid receptors in the membranes of every cell. The cannabinoid content in medical marijuana positively interacts with the embedded cannabinoid in the lungs, brain, immune system, kidneys, and liver of the body. Activating the cannabinoid receptors in the body happens with the use of marijuana’s psychoactive and therapeutic content.
The health impact marijuana brings to the body is still the subject of ongoing research and clinical studies. However, success health stories for the therapeutic benefits to common health issues include:
- Seizures
- Multiple sclerosis
- Mood disorders
- Dystonia and other degenerative brain disorders
- PTSD or Post-traumatic stress disorder
- Parkinson’s disease
Anxiety problems and pain are quickly and effectively alleviated by CBD. Sunburns have been shown to heal overnight with the help of topically applied cannabis oil.
Possible side effects to expect from the use of medical marijuana
One of the Stanford-trained researcher and pathologist states that only the THC psychoactivity is the thing to worry about in medical marijuana. The THC ingredient is the one responsible for the “high”. Yet, high levels of THC can help too especially for people experiencing severe pain.
As a rule, cannabis poses little risk to one’s health. The marijuana formulations to look for when buying are the ones with high levels of CBD with low levels of THC.
Some of the side effects people may experience with medical marijuana include:
- low blood pressure
- depression
- hallucinations
- red eyes
- rapid heartbeat
- dizziness
It’s another story with synthetic marijuana. This type of marijuana is shipped to the US from Asian countries that are incorporated in plant food, potpourri, and herbal incense. Retailers often sell them as a spice or herb that are smoked. However, the effect is a thousand times potent and strong than standard cannabis.
This poses serious health hazards to the body including:
- Deficiency of potassium in the bloodstream medically termed as hypokalemia
- Stroke
- Acute psychosis
- Seizure
- Too rapid heartbeat or medically termed as tachycardia
- Kidney problems
- Brain damage
- Serious heart complications
Is medical marijuana approved by the FDA?
Unfortunately, no, for the research done to medical marijuana is not up to par with FDA standards. Yet, there are two cannabinoid medicines that have received the nod from FDA. One is Cesamet or nabilone and the other Marinol or dronabinol. These two man-made cannabinoid medications are used as standard treatment for chemotherapy side effects such as vomiting and nausea.
Positive health benefits of medical marijuana
The cannabinoids in the body are similar to the cannabinoid content of marijuana. The body’s built-in cannabinoids are actively involved in pain, appetite, movement, and memory.
Based on research, enhancing the cannabinoid receptors in the body by the use of medical marijuana may help:
- Achieve weight gain in people suffering from AIDS and cancer by improving their appetite
- Lowers anxiety levels
- Slows tumor growth
- Kills cancer cells
- Get rid of pain
- Lowers inflammation
- Controls vomiting and nausea in patients undergoing cancer chemotherapy
- Brings relaxation to tight muscles in people suffering from Multiple Sclerosis
Can seizures be alleviated by medical marijuana?
A couple of years ago, parents with children suffering from epileptic seizures became the top news with the claim of cure from medical marijuana. Yet, research has to prove the claim that it does. However, Epidiolex is a drug brand being tested by some epilepsy centers. What makes Epidiolex special? It seems that its main ingredient is CBD. CBD is a component that has been successfully used in therapy for people suffering from hard-to-treat seizures. The drug has helped alleviate seizure problems in patients even when it’s still waiting for the stamp of approval from FDA.
The issue here is the CBD component. CBD is an active ingredient in medical marijuana. Obviously, it follows that medical marijuana could be one of the future, if not today, drugs to use in the treatment of epilepsy and seizures.
While more research needs to delve into this issue, success stories can make you believe that medical marijuana can alleviate seizures.
What other health benefits gained from the CBD content in medical marijuana?
There are already plenty of health benefits reaped by various users of medical marijuana. More and more discoveries are added almost daily to make medical marijuana the wonder drug in today’s world.
Some of the beneficial effects credited to the high CBD content of medical marijuana include:
- Insomnia reliever
- Pain reliever
- Anxiety reliever
- Convulsion and seizure reduction
- Lowers blood sugar levels
- Muscle spasms reliever
- Psoriasis treatment
- Reduced blockage of arteries
- Appetite stimulant
- Nausea and vomiting reliever
- Prevents cancel cell growth
In closing
The new and advanced understanding of the components of the cannabis plant has suddenly catapulted it to instant fame. This oft-misunderstood and the much-maligned plant has become the miracle cure-for-all in today’s setting.
People living 5,000 years ago were probably wiser in their health practices. Their use of the cannabis plant has long served them with their various health ailments. It’s not too late to lift the ban on marijuana.
