Can Cannabis Treat Lyme Disease?

How Cannabis Can Help With Lyme Disease Symptoms from CannabisNet on Vimeo.

Ticks may seem small and insignificant, but these critters can cause lyme disease, which can have serious life-threatening effects. But using marijuana gives patients high hopes for treatment.

For most of us, the spring to late fall months are the best times to have outdoor fun And by outdoor fun, this means getting baked in the woods, relaxing in grassy areas, and taking in some sun at the beach. But unfortunately the summer months also mean that we’re vulnerable to getting infected by lyme disease.

Lyme season typically runs from April to September, but this doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t be wary about ticks other times of the year. However it is during the warmest months when these nasty insects are most active.

What Is Lyme Disease Anyway? And Why Is It Dangerous?

Ticks might seem harmless, but exposure to these tiny insects can change your life - for the worse. Today lyme disease is the most common disease in the country that is caused by critters. It’s estimated that around 30,000 new cases of lyme disease are reported each year around the country. The growth of these cases is alarming - this means that the disease is moving towards areas that are more populated. So while lyme disease was originally known to be prevalent in grassy and woodsy areas, this means that even city dwellers aren’t safe from ticks.

These ticks are less than an inch in size. How can they be so dangerous, you ask?

The impact is serious. Lyme disease is actually caused by a bacteria called Borrelia brugdoferi, which is carried by black-legged ticks or deer ticks which they get from feeding on other animals especially mice. Early symptoms of lyme disease usually manifest itself as long as a month after exposure, or a few days. Symptoms can vary from person to person, which makes diagnosing it pretty tricky.

One of the common tell-tale signs of lyme disease is the appearance of a rash, which most might say resembles a bullseye although again this will differ with each person. The rash can also be similar to other kinds of skin infections and insect bites however not everyone who is infected with lyme disease will develop a rash. Another common feature of lyme disease is flu-like symptoms such as fatigue, joint pains, and fever. Swollen lymph nodes and headaches may also appear.

Early diagnosis is crucial to reducing your risks for developing fatal complications later on. If lyme disease goes untreated, it can spread to other parts of the body especially during the early stages of infection. When this happens it’s referred to as disseminated lyme disease. Symptoms of disseminated lyme disease include joint pain, swelling of joints, pain and numbness in arms and legs, Bell’s palsy, stiff neck, fever; and in rare cases, abnormal heart beats. If left untreated, some people can develop chronic nervous system conditions up to years after the initial infection. These infections include tingling or numbness in the hands and feet, shooting pains, concentration problems, and short-term memory. In severe cases, people experience intense pain and seizures throughout the day.

Cannabis Can Help!

If you’ve been touched by lyme, worry not: cannabis has been used by people to reduce the painful and debilitating symptoms of lyme disease.

The plant has been the subject of numerous studies showing that it can kill infections. It can be used to treat and reduce the debilitating symptoms of lyme disease. In fact, a book has even been written about it. The author of the book, Shelley White, discusses her own experience battling with lyme disease as well as how she was able to successfully use cannabis to reduce the symptoms.

Dr. Sanjay Gupta also states that cannabis is effective in addressing peripheral neuropathy, a crippling condition which is common in patients who have lyme disease. Cannabis is a safe alternative to address symptoms of lyme disease; otherwise patients are left with opiates that can be addictive and even ineffective to deal with their pain. It should be noted though that lyme disease can affect people differently; some may be easier to treat than others. Regardless of how serious or which stage the disease is in, cannabis has already been proven to treat pain, eliminate seizures, and make it easier to sleep; valuable properties that make it a blessing for those who are diagnosed with this dreaded disease.

What Can You Do To Prevent Lyme Disease?

Prevention is better than cure, especially when it comes to lyme disease. Read up on our tips to lower your risks of getting lyme disease:

Use tick repellents.

Wear pastel or light-colored clothing when you’re outdoors so that you can easily spot ticks on your clothes.

Try to avoid going to grassy areas especially during the months when ticks are most active.

Create a barrier with your clothing by tucking pants into your socks.

Cover as much skin as possible by wearing pants and long-sleeved shirts.

When you spend time in the outdoors, do regular checks for ticks which might sometimes appear as a harmless speck of dirt and remove them. Pay close attention to the armpit, groin, and head area.

Get a thorough shower after you’ve spent time outdoors.

Can Cannabis Treat Lyme Disease?

Do you know anyone who has used cannabis to treat lyme disease? Share with us in the comments below.