How Can Medical Marijuana Help Treat Cancer Symptoms?
September 15, 2020 • • Medical Marijuana
Medical marijuana can be used to manage a variety of health conditions, including many of the significant side effects of cancer treatments. The medicinal properties of the cannabis plant have fascinated physicians for years, and modern science continues to discover new ways that the drug interacts with the human body. While there’s still a lot to be learned about cannabis, recent research has found that medical marijuana can be especially useful for cancer patients, as it provides an effective means of managing multiple symptoms simultaneously. Here are a few benefits that medical cannabis can provide. 1. Slowing the Progression of Cancer Cells One of the most significant benefits of medical marijuana is that CBD and THC — naturally occurring compounds known as cannabinoids that are found in cannabis flowers — have been shown to specifically target cancer cells. One study found that cannabis offers “a diverse range of therapeutic qualities,” one being that it can alter signalling proteins in cancerous cells. 2. Pain Management Medical marijuana is commonly used to manage pain, as it effectively provides relief for pain from a range of sources. In particular, research supports that marijuana is effective at alleviating the chronic pain and neuropathic pain associated with many advanced cancers. The popularity of opioid painkillers is due in part to how they are also able to manage different types of pain, but unlike marijuana, opioids are associated with severe side effects. For this reason, many patients who either cannot take or do not respond well to traditional analgesics or are looking to avoid opioids are able to find relief with medical cannabis. 3. Improving Appetite While Decreasing Nausea Chemotherapy is well-known for interfering with appetite and causing nausea, which can lead to weight loss. This can cause further complications for patients whose immune systems are already compromised. The good news is that research has found that THC, the natural compound that gives marijuana its psychoactive high, can improve appetite, sense of taste, and protein consumption for cancer patients. Cannabis can help to combat the nausea caused by chemotherapy, as well. 4. Treating Insomnia Insomnia is one of the most common reasons patients use medical marijuana — in part because the pain and physical discomfort associated with cancer and cancer treatments can interfere with their ability to fall (and stay) asleep. Insomnia is more than just an inconvenience, however — studies show that a chronic lack of sleep increases the risk of a number of serious cardiovascular issues. Other researchers have found cannabis to be an effective sleep aid that helps manage anxiety and depression — both common among cancer patients — that can also contribute to a lack of sleep. Find Relief for Your Symptoms Now The benefits that medical marijuana can provide cancer patients have been well known for years. In fact, cannabis has been used for decades to help cancer and AIDS patients better manage symptoms like those listed above, and to improve their quality of life in the process. If you or someone you know is undergoing cancer treatment and you’d like to find out if medical cannabis can provide relief, contact Lakewood Medical Clinic today. We’re an Ohio-based team of healthcare providers and medical marijuana specialists, and during your free consultation, we’ll be happy to address any questions or concerns you may have. We know there’s no “one size fits all” prescription when it comes to healthcare, and we take pride in working with each of our patients to find the perfect solution for their lifestyle and budget.