Medical Marijuana as an Effective Treatment for Chronic Renal Failure

marijuana kidney failure

We often take our bodies for granted. Apart from learning a little bit at school about the body, we mostly do not even give it a second thought. If it works, it works. Until it does not. Most people at least know that the kidney removes extra fluids and waste products from our bodies. They might not understand the complexity of the process, but they know it works, especially when they go frequently to the bathroom to relieve themselves.

It all changes when it does not work so well anymore. Infections can be painful and irritating. But when the damage progresses, it becomes a chronic problem. Then you need more than just pain-relieving medications, you might end up on a dialysis machine. Often, meds are needed to deal with the side-effects of kidney failure. This is where medical marijuana comes to play.

There are still some debating issues around cannabis for kidney health. Some believe that it is rather harmful than helpful. The claims made by those opposing it is more towards the damaging effect of smoking cannabis rather than the other consumption methods on the table. The damaging effect of smoking weed is by-passed when you use a tincture, oil, or edibles. Vaping also has a different effect than smoking the traditional way. Both THC and CBD were found to have a meaningful effect when it is used it clinically.

What is Chronic Renal Failure or Chronic Kidney Disease?

When a doctor tells you that you have chronic renal failure, it means that there is a gradual loss of kidney function. The function of the kidneys is to remove and filter excess waste and fluids from your body. When it cannot function properly anymore, it slowly advances to a stage where dangerous levels of fluids, electrolytes, and waste build up in the body. Early on, the symptoms are not so apparent, but as it progresses and the symptoms start manifesting more, the kidney function could be significantly impaired. Eventually, it could come to a point where artificial filtering is necessary for a person to survive.

Quite often, people suffering from chronic diseases do not only suffer from the disease but also experience side-effects due to the treatment of the disease. This is here where they also can benefit from cannabis. Cannabis for the treatment of renal failure could particularly help when high drug loads add more pressure to the kidneys.

The Symptoms of Chronic Renal Failure

The signs and the symptoms of chronic kidney failure develop over time as the damage to the kidney slowly progresses. Some of the symptoms include:

Nausea

Vomiting

Loss of appetite

Fatigue and weakness

Sleeping problems

Changes in frequency of urinating

Decreased mental sharpness

Swelling of feet and hands

Persistent itching

Chest pain if the fluids build up around the lining of the heart

Shortness of breath if the fluid buildup in the lungs

High blood pressure difficult to control

Three types of Chronic Renal Failure

The type of chronic renal failure could be acute or chronic. When it is acute it is normally due to a trauma, like an accident or injury. Chronic renal failure occurs over time and involves long-term damage. The three types are:

Pre-renal CRF

Renal CRF

Post-renal CRF, or obstructive uropathy

Chronic renal failure symptoms are often nonspecific. This means that other illnesses could also cause the symptoms. The kidneys can compensate for lost function and adapt easily. When the symptoms are finally diagnosed, there could be irreversible damage.

Why Cannabis is an excellent treatment

The kidneys play an important role in both cardiovascular function and the excretion of waste in the body. Therefore, when the kidneys do not function properly, other physiological processes in the body are indirectly affected. This includes blood pressure control, heart rate, sodium excretion, and water/salt balance. The good thing is that the kidneys have one of the highest expressions of CB1 and CB2 receptors. Both endogenous and cannabis cannabinoids can alter the function of the kidneys.

Chronic kidney disease attacks the nephrons, causing damage. This makes it impossible for the kidneys to get rid of waste material. Medications, genetic problems, and injuries can also lead to chronic kidney failure. When it comes to the phase where dialysis is needed, people are seeking ways to relieve stress, chronic pain, loss of appetite, nausea, insomnia, anxiety, and more.

CBD is found to be protective of the structure of the kidney. CBD may change kidney function because it combats inflammation. The activation of CB2 receptors has an anti-inflammatory effect. It reduces inflammatory cell infiltration and the production of cytokines.

The benefit of reducing renal inflammation lies in the effects of the cardiovascular system. It seems that when it comes to the kidneys, CBD has a greater pharmacological potential than THC but much more needs to be investigated. As studies advance, it might soon be clear which strains are best to deal with chronic renal failure the best.