The 4 Surprising Conditions That Marijuana Can Help Treat

The Many Medical Miracles of Marijuana

Did You Know Cannabis Can Treat These Four Conditions? from CannabisNet on Vimeo.

Over the years cannabis, or marijuana as it later came to be called, has helped the medical profession treat many and various symptoms and diseases that have been difficult to get under control.

The more I research, the more I’m amazed at how many health benefits have been shown possible through the medical prescribing of cannabis in its various forms. Most people have heard of the benefits of taking cannabis for pain, anxiety, nausea and vomiting, and loss of appetite. However there are many other medical uses for cannabis, and I thought I’d mention a few of them here. (As with many other medical treatments, the use of medical cannabis to treat any symptom or disease is not known to be 100% effective. But tests certainly do prove it worth trying.)

Marijuana as a Treatment for Psoriasis

Psoriasis is a genetic autoimmune condition that causes skin irritation, redness and flaky patches called ‘scale’. Although psoriasis is a common occurrence, there is no cure. Steroids and other pharmaceuticals, each with its long list of side effects, are prescribed to help control the symptoms of dry skin, itching, and other discomforts.

The cannabinoids in medical marijuana have anti-inflammatory properties. It may be these that offer the potential role of cannabis in the effective treatment of psoriasis.

Cannabis May Help Arthritis Sufferers

Arthritis is another autoimmune disease affecting millions of Americans. An autoimmune disease is one in which the immune system starts fighting against the body itself, in this case the joints. Arthritis can cause severe joint and muscle pain in the hands and less commonly in other areas of the body.Medical marijuana contains natural analgesics and anti-inflammatory compounds, providing pain relief from joint, muscle, and bone pain as well as lessening inflammation. Marijuana can be eaten or smoked to relieve the general pain and discomfort from arthritis.

Marijuana Treats Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple Sclerosis is an incredibly painful autoimmune disease that attacks the central nervous system. Patients who have used marijuana to treat MS have frequently reported a decrease in debilitating issues such as muscle spasms and tremors. Cannabis has also been known to help manage the chronic pain and sleep problems that can occur with MS.

Due to the effects of MS on their nervous systems, many patients have trouble moving and walking. Some patients say prescribed cannabis has helped them gain some of the balance and mobility lost due to the disease.

One of the most exciting potential effects of marijuana on multiple sclerosis is its ability to slow the progression of the disease. Some studies have shown indications that by offering some protection against neurological damage, cannabis could slow down the effects of MS on patients.

Cannabis Has a Positive Affect on Movement Disorders

Movement disorders and neurodegenerative diseases are among the many conditions that cannabis may be particularly well suited to treat.The therapeutic use of cannabis for treating movement disorders and muscle problems has been known to western medicine for nearly two hundred years. Muscular spasticity is a common condition, affecting millions of individuals in the United States. It afflicts individuals who have suffered strokes, as well as those with cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, paraplegia, quadriplegia, and spinal cord injuries. Conventional medical therapy offers little to address these problems.

Phenobarbital and Valium are commonly prescribed, but rarely provide total relief, and many patients develop a tolerance, become addicted, or complain of heavy sedation. These drugs also cause drowsiness, weakness, and other side effects frequently found to be intolerable. Extensive modern studies in both animals and humans have shown that cannabis can treat many of these movement disorders without the side effects that occur with conventional medications.

Cannabis also has the potential to protect the brain and central nervous system from the damage that leads to various movement disorders in the first place. Cannabis has been tested and demonstrated to be effective against so many different symptoms and diseases that it’s imperative that it be allowed to be part of any doctor’s treatment options.