Why Cannabis Should Be Part of your Preventive Medicine Kit
Even after this time where cannabis has become a more open and accepted topic, it still is a strong emotional topic under certain doctors, scientists, policymakers, researchers, and the public. Some still wonder if it is safe to use as a medicine. Some still wonder if it should be legalized, or if it is truly as effective as claimed to be? They ask if it really is the wonder drug people make it out to be or is it just a fine way to get it decriminalized.
These are legit and great questions. But what really should be asked why patients find it useful, and how can you convince your doctor about the benefits it renders? Now even more so, people are looking into preventive medicine. Ways to maintain a better health system, and ways to avoid the super expensive pharmaceutical and high doctor’s costs.
It is crucial for us to maintain an internal balance. The entire purpose of our biological system is to keep that balance, or at least work towards keeping homeostasis. The pancreas releases insulin to balance glucose levels between the bloodstream and cells. The thyroid gland releases the thyroid hormones to regulate vitally important body functions. Metabolism, body temperature and so much more constantly has to be balanced and monitored so that we can stay healthy in the environment where we are exposed to so many things.
How Marijuana Help our Endocannabinoid System
The endocannabinoid was not discovered until very recently. In a study to understand how THC creates the intoxicating effects, scientists were exposed to the endocannabinoid system. The role of the endocannabinoid system is to keep perfect balance, or homeostasis of the messages sent between our cells and the brain, to put it simply. In the research, they discovered that sickness, inflammation, or injury trigger the ECS to take action, and to work on restoring balance. The ECS is very important in maintaining health, so if we could target the ECS by helping it to maintain balance, it could only work in our favor.
As the ECS is the most widespread system in our bodies, and as it has endocannabinoids and receptors to use enzymes to breakdown the cannabinoids, a plant like cannabis with its phytocannabinoids, work very well in aiding the ECS to maintain health. Cannabinoid receptors are found all over the body and the brain. When there is a trigger that causes an imbalance, endocannabinoids are released to act as keys that bind to the cannabinoid receptors. Once the receptor is activated, a chemical reaction takes place and the cell is prompt to change its signal or message.
Why Cannabis is Good for Preventing Illnesses
Research shows that cannabis is a powerful prophylactic remedy to help in the prevention of many diseases and illnesses. Some of the most popular reasons to use cannabis as a preventative remedy are the following:
Prevention against Cancer – A study in 2012 on animals, researchers found that CBD reduced the risk of developing colon cancer when exposed to carcinogens. Another study in 2013, found that bladder cancer rates in male patients were 45% lower when they used cannabis. CBD is also the only outside agent to regulate Id-1 cells in breast cancer cells and stops their metastasis. Further studies also show that THC prevents the growth of tumors and can lead to tumor-shrinking and even cancer cell death.
CBD reduces the risk of Diabetes and Obesity – Cannabis consumers have a lower risk of obesity. Cannabis is an appetite stimulant, but it also increases the metabolism. The hormone, ghrelin, that lets you feel hungry, also speed up the metabolism after consuming cannabis. Cannabis consumers also have a lower body mass index and smaller waist circumference than non-consumers. CBD prevents obesity by promoting the conversion of white fat into a weight-reducing brown fat. CBD also regulates the production of insulin.
Cannabis as preventative medicine for Heart Disease – A very common disease many suffer from, is arteriosclerosis. It is a chronic inflammatory disorder due to the build-up of fat deposits in the major blood vessels. High blood pressure, infection, or amino acid accumulation cause injuries to the blood vessels and lead to this disorder. Cannabis stimulates the CB2 receptor where together with anandamide, inflammation decreases. Cannabis also helps to lower blood pressure and reduce stress.
Cannabis protects the Brain from Injury and Degeneration – Both THC and CBD acts as neuroprotectors because they reduce glutamate toxicity. Cannabis counteracts the overstimulation of glutamate that could lead to inflammation of the brain. Marijuana also prevents degenerative diseases by stimulating neurogenesis. Cannabis proves to be neuroprotective when a person suffers from a stroke. CBD is a potent anti-inflammatory.
Cannabis protects against bone diseases- as a person gets older, bone density decreases. CBD inhibits bine degeneration by stopping the enzyme that destroys bone-building compounds in the body.
Prevention is better than cure. It is quite obvious that the cannabinoids in cannabis work very well together with our endocannabinoid system. With this in mind, cannabis should find a place in the preventative medicine box.
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