10 Health Benefits about Cannabis

What we all know as “cannabis” actually refers to a group of three plants with psychoactive properties, known as Cannabis sativa, Cannabis indica, and Cannabis ruderalis. The flowers of these plants are harvested and dried to obtain one of the most common drugs in the world. To some, it is known as weed. Others call it pot, and others—marijuana.

Cannabis is a drug that is increasingly becoming legal in more and more areas, with more names for it evolving as well. It is mostly consumed for the relaxing and calming effects that it has on the consumer. In some US states, medical cannabis is also prescribed to help with a range of conditions such as chronic pain, glaucoma, and poor appetite.

While cannabis does come from a plant and thus is considered natural, it still has strong effects on the consumer, both positive and negative. In this post, we will be examining the health benefits of cannabis.

To begin with, cannabis contains cannabidiol or CBD which is a chemical that impacts the brain, making it function better, as well as tetrahydrocannabinol or THC which has pain-relieving properties.

CBD is a psychoactive cannabinoid but it is non-intoxicating and non-euphoric, meaning it will not get you “high.” It is often used to help reduce inflammation and pain. It may also ease nausea, migraine, seizures, and anxiety. THC is the main psychoactive compound in cannabis. THC is responsible for the “high” that most people associate with cannabis.

Both substances can be extracted and enhanced for use through short path distillation. You can find cannabis products that contain just CBD, THC, or a combination of both. For instance, hemp has large quantities of CBD, but no THC. Nonetheless, the dried flower that most people associate with cannabis contains both cannabinoids, though certain strains may have much more of one than the other.

There are short-term benefits that come with using cannabis, including relaxation, giddiness, experiencing things around you, such as sights and sounds, more intensely, increased appetite, focus, and creativity. Likewise, there are larger benefits to the use of cannabis as well. So as a cannabis user, here are 10 larger health benefits that you stand to gain.

1. Cannabis provides relief for chronic pain

There are hundreds of chemical compounds in cannabis, many of which are cannabinoids. Cannabinoids have been linked to providing relief for chronic pain due to their chemical composition. This is why by-products of cannabis such as medical cannabis are commonly used to supply relief to patients with chronic pain.

2. Cannabis gives an alternative to alcoholism

There is no doubt cannabis is much safer than alcohol. While cannabis may not be 100% risk-free, it serves as a safer replacement and a means to curb alcoholism by substituting it with cannabis.

3. Cannabis aids weight loss

The truth is that you can hardly find any avid cannabis user that is overweight. This is because cannabis has been linked with aiding the body in regulating insulin while managing caloric intake efficiently.

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4. Cannabis regulates and prevents diabetes

With its impact on insulin, it only makes sense that cannabis can help regulate and prevent diabetes. Research conducted by the American Alliance for Medical Cannabis (AAMC) has discovered the effects of cannabis in stabilizing blood sugar, lowering blood pressure, and improving blood circulation.

5. Cannabis regulates seizures

Research conducted on CBD has shown that it can help control seizures. There are ongoing studies to determine the effect cannabis can have on individuals with epilepsy— a central nervous system (neurological) disorder in which brain activity becomes abnormal, causing seizures or periods of unusual behavior, sensations, and sometimes loss of awareness.

6. Cannabis provides physiotherapy benefits

Cannabidiol has been discovered to help heal broken bones, quickening the process. According to Bone Research Laboratory in Tel Aviv, it also helps strengthen the bone in the process of healing. This makes it tougher for the bone to break in the future.

Cannabis has also been linked to abating pain as a result of arthritis. Arthritis is the swelling and tenderness of one or more joints. The main symptoms of arthritis are joint pain and stiffness, which typically worsen with age. The most common types of arthritis are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Cannabis is now commonly found in creams and balms which are used by individuals that have arthritis to alleviate their pains. Both THC and CBD are major components in these balms and creams.

In addition, cannabis helps provide relief to individuals with multiple sclerosis. Multiple sclerosis is a disease in which the immune system eats away at the protective covering of nerves. In multiple sclerosis, resulting nerve damage disrupts communication between the brain and the body. Multiple sclerosis causes many different symptoms, including vision loss, pain, fatigue, and impaired coordination. The symptoms, severity, and duration of them can vary from person to person. Some people may be symptom-free for most of their lives, while others can have severe, chronic symptoms that never go away.

The major treatments for the symptoms of multiple sclerosis are physiotherapy and medication that suppress the immune system and slow disease progression, one of which is cannabis. Cannabis provides relief from these symptoms. The most common symptom of multiple sclerosis is painful muscle contractions and cannabis also helps reduce this pain.

Finally, the treatment for hepatitis C has numerous side effects that include nausea, fatigue, depression, and muscle aches. These can last for months for some hepatitis C sufferers. Cannabis can help reduce the side effects caused by the treatment while making it more effective at the same time.

7. Cannabis provides mental health therapy benefits

ADHD is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders of childhood. It often begins in childhood and can persist into adulthood. ADD is the term commonly used to describe symptoms of inattention, distractibility, and poor working memory. ADHD is the term used to describe additional symptoms of hyperactivity and impulsivity. Both are included in the medical diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

Individuals with ADHD and ADD have trouble focusing on tasks at hand. They tend to have problems with cognitive performance and concentration. Cannabis has shown promise in promoting focus and helping individuals with ADHD/ADD. It is also considered a safer alternative to Adderall and Ritalin.

Cannabis taken in monitored dosages and in the proper way can also help alleviate anxiety and calm the user down. Cannabis further helps treat depression. Depression is fairly common today and most people do not even know that they are depressed. The endocannabinoid compounds in cannabis help in stabilizing moods which can ease depression.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that is triggered by a terrifying event—either for a person experiencing it or a person witnessing it. Symptoms may include flashbacks, nightmares, and severe anxiety, as well as uncontrollable thoughts about the event. PTSD does not only affect war veterans but also affects any individual that goes through a trauma. As cannabis is increasingly legalized, the impact it has on helping treat individuals with PTSD is being studied. Cannabis helps control the fight or flight response, preventing it from going into overdrive.

8. Cannabis serves as a treatment for glaucoma

Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that can cause vision loss and blindness by damaging a nerve in the back of your eye called the optic nerve. The symptoms can start so slowly that you may not notice them. The only way to find out if you have glaucoma is to get a comprehensive dilated eye exam.

Glaucoma leads to additional pressure on the eyeball which is painful for individuals with the disease. Cannabis can help reduce the pressure applied on the eyeball, providing some temporary relief to individuals with glaucoma.

9. Cannabis slows the development of Alzheimer’s disease and helps with tremors associated with Parkinson’s disease

Alzheimer’s disease is one of many diseases that is caused by cognitive degeneration. As we age, cognitive degeneration is almost unavoidable. Cannabis’s endocannabinoid contains anti-inflammatories that fight the brain inflammation that leads to Alzheimer’s disease.

For those that have Parkinson’s disease cannabis can help reduce tremors and pain while also helping promote sleep. It has also been shown to improve motor skills in patients.

10 Cannabis treats inflammatory bowel diseases

Individuals with Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis can find some relief with the use of cannabis. THC and cannabidiol are known to help enhance the immune response while also interacting with cells that play a vital role in the functioning of the gut. Cannabis helps block off bacteria and other compounds that cause inflammation in the intestines.

Conclusion.

The use of cannabis provides both short-term and long-term benefits. So if there is a specific health benefit that you wish to gain from cannabis, you can start by checking whether it is legal in your area. If it is, consider speaking to a doctor or pharmacist beforehand to make sure using cannabis will not interact negatively with any medications or supplements you take. A doctor can also help you weigh the potential benefits and equal risks to your health.