The health benefits of cannabis, aka marijuana can never be undervalued. Cannabis has been proven to treat various ailments. This is why this substance has been legalized for medical use in many states and countries. Aside from personal use cannabis plants, you can also use cannabis for medicinal purposes. In this article, we look at some of the health benefits of cannabis. Let’s explore them.
- It helps with relieving chronic pain
Chronic pain is a leading cause of disability in the U.S. It affects more than 25 million adults. There are numerous chemical compounds found in marijuana, and one of them is cannabinoids [CBD]. CBD have been linked to relieving chronic pain due to their chemical composition. That is why cannabis’ by-product like medical cannabis is popularly used to treat chronic pain associated with arthritis, fibromyalgia, migraine, endometriosis, etc.
- It can slow down and stop cancer cells from spreading
Cannabidiol, a compound found in marijuana has the ability to stop cancer by disabling a gene called Id-1. A study done at California Pacific Medical Center reported that CBD can prevent cancer from spreading. The scientists did the experiment using breast cancer cells in the laboratory. CBD proved to be effective in treating them. Another research proved that marijuana can actually slow down the growth of tumor in the brain and lungs.
- It can help in controlling epileptic seizures
In June 2018, the Food and Drug Administration [FDA] approved the use of Epidiolex to treat two rare and severe types of epilepsy. These two severe types of epilepsy are Dravet syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome. They are difficult to manage with other medications. Epidiolex is a CBD-based drug.
CBD is one of the many compounds found in cannabis. It is non-psychoactive. The drug used to treat these conditions is purified from the CBD. The approval was as a result of clinical trials and research. A study carried out in 2017 found that using CBD could also result in fewer seizures, especially among children with Dravet syndrome. Dravet syndrome seizures are prolonged, recurring, and they are deadly. In fact, one out of five children with this disease is less likely to reach the age of 20 years.
- Decrease anxiety
A research done at the Harvard University in 2010 suggested that another incredible benefit of marijuana is that it can actually reduce anxiety. That’s because it can improve the user’s mood and act as a sedative when taken in low doses. However, it’s worth mentioning that if taken in a higher dose, it may increase anxiety and make the smoker paranoid.
- Cannabis helps with Crohn’s disease
Marijuana may also be effective when it comes to the treatment of Crohn’s disease. Crohn’s disease is an inflammatory bowel disorder that causes diarrhea, vomiting, pain, weight loss, etc. A recent study done in Israel showed that smoking marijuana could considerably reduce Crohn’s symptoms. The study used 11 Crohn’s patients. Out of those 11 patients, ten of them saw a reduction in symptoms of the disease, and five of them were successfully treated from the disease. This was a small study, but there are other researches that have shown similar results. The CBD from cannabis shows potential in helping the gut control bacteria and intestinal function.
