What Exactly Does Medical Marijuana Treat?

Conditions Treated by Medical Marijuana – What Does it Do?

Interest in medical marijuana treatment has steadily grown, largely fanned by political movements regarding legality as well as availability. However, many people wonder about the conditions treated by medical marijuana. Information regarding its efficacy in treating everything from cancer to epilepsy spread on social media like wildfire, but what does it treat?

Marijuana contains biologically active compounds called cannabinoids. These interact with reception zones on the cells in our brain and spinal cord, as well as in our immune cells. Cannabinoids may assist in treating a variety of ailments including glaucoma, pain, nausea, muscle spasms, and loss of appetite.

The team from Marijuana Medical Exams at Fox Medical Centers wants to share information on the conditions treated by medical marijuana. We hope the following information remains informative to help individuals decide if medical marijuana treatment remains ideal for their needs.

Appetite Stimulation

Cannabinoids demonstrate positive results for stimulating food consumption. In individuals that have cancer, those that take THC wield a better appetite, in addition to the sense of taste. This may not come as a surprise to individuals that recreationally utilize marijuana, but the drug has long been thought of as producing the “munchies.”

Nevertheless, CB1 receptors on numerous areas of the body stimulate this behavior. THC exerts its effects by mimicking endocannabinoids that naturally exist within our system.

Nausea

Many individuals that suffer from nausea and vomiting prefer medical marijuana over traditional medications and can experience limited side effects. How does it work? Our endocannabinoid system remains crucial to modulating many systems in our body. Amongst these, pain perception, vomiting, and reward pathways.

We can find CB1 receptors in high quantities in these areas. Unfortunately, commonly prescribed medications and treatments agonize these receptors. Medicinal marijuana influences stimulation or suppression of nausea, in addition to vomiting by reacting to these receptors.

Pain Relief

Amongst the many conditions treated by medical marijuana, the treatments work excellently in regard to pain management. Cannabis smokers in moderate concentration reduce pain and improve sleep with limited side effects.

Ideally, patients can utilize this alternative for traumatic, as well as postsurgical neuropathic pain. While the treatment requires more studies, it has demonstrated preeminent results in many patients that utilize medicinal marijuana for their needs.

Glaucoma

Glaucoma is a condition that results from increased pressure within the eyes. This may result in blindness without medical intervention.

Cannabinoids effectively lower intraocular pressure by lowering ocular blood flow. Although the effects only last for three to four hours when smoked, Glaucoma is a chronic disease that specialists can treat using other modalities such as eye drops for the best possible results.

Learn More about the Conditions Treated by Medical Marijuana with Marijuana Medical Exams

Many resources will outline medicinal marijuana as a miracle cure for conditions as serious as cancer. Unfortunately, cancer is not a singular disease, and the term “cure” remains inaccurate. Nevertheless, it remains a fascinating plant with a wide variety of applications and uses.

Medicinal marijuana remains an ideal treatment to help individuals cope with the potential side effects and derivative byproducts of debilitating conditions. Our team at Marijuana Medical Exams from the Fox Medical Centers is proud to offer these treatment alternatives to these patients.

For more information on the conditions treated by medical marijuana, as well as how we can help you, contact Marijuana Medical Exams today!