As more states begin to legalize marijuana for personal and medicinal use, the number of scientific studies proving its efficacy on treating certain conditions is also growing. Here are just some of the symptoms of conditions that are relieved by cannabis.

Gallbladder Cancer

Patients often add marijuana to their cancer treatment regimen to help relieve symptoms such as nausea, pain, and vomiting. Gallbladder cancer is one of the conditions with symptoms that can be treated by marijuana. One of the strains recommended for dealing with this condition is Super Lemon Haze. This strain is a sativa dominant hybrid that taste like lemon candy.

It’s extremely strong and potent (20%-25% THC) making it ideal for cancer patients who are faced with this trying time in their life. Not only is the Super Lemon Haze strain great tasting, but it also relieves stress, nausea, and pain. Sometimes, the symptoms can be an effect of the chemotherapy and this strain definitely does its job at making you feel better after a session.

It’s high in sativa (80% sativa, 20% indica) which means you’ll feel energized uplifted, and in some cases, giggly. Something you could get used to when dealing with a life-threatening condition.
Super Lemon Haze can be taken in any form you prefer. But if you already have a suppressed immune system because of the chemo treatment, don’t smoke it. Instead, use a vaporizer, edible, or medical cannabis oil.

Diabetes

There are approximately 415 million adults who have diabetes and these numbers are expected to rise in the next few years. Blame it on the sugar! Thankfully, cannabis is here to save the day. There is already a growing body of study proving marijuana efficacy on diabetes.

For those diagnosed with type 1 or type 2 diabetes, marijuana can help control blood sugar levels, lower inflammation in the arteries, improve production of insulin, lower blood pressure, relieve muscle cramps, and lessen gastrointestinal pain.

While any strain is great, it’s still better to opt for ones that are best known for their strong medicinal properties. For diabetes, Cannatonic is a good option since it’s low in THC but high in CBD (up to 14%), meaning, it doesn’t get you as high, but gives you fully body buzz that promotes calmness, muscle relaxation,and sleep.

It also has a strong pain control so any pain you might feel from your condition is somehow relieved by smoking the Cannatonic. Cannatonic may also stimulate your appetite but not to the point of having strong munchies which can have a counterintuitive effect. You will feel its full benefits after weeks of taking this high CBD cannabis.

Stress, Anxiety, and Depression

Anxiety and depression may be different disorders but more often than not, people who are depressed also experienced symptoms of anxiety. Then there’s stress which can cause anxiety levels to rise. To remedy this is the marijuana strain OG Kush which is high in THC (up to 20%) and is a result of a three-way cross between Lemon Thai, Chemdawg, and Old World Paki Kush.

It has an earthy, piney aroma to it and is known to induce a strong, deep body relaxation as well as long lasting relief from headaches, anxiety, and depression. Those who have stress-induced disorders can also benefit from this popular Californian strain. The OG Kush uplifts your mood but can also promote couchlock so it’s best to use this during the evenings. It’s highly recommended for experienced users since it’s highly potent.

Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is a condition that can cause widespread debilitating pain affecting your energy levels and your ability to sleep. It affects the muscles  and connective tissue with sufferers complaining about general weakness, joint stiffness, digestive issues, and brain fog.

One prominent neurologist, Dr. Ethan Russo, suspects that endocannabinoid deficiency could be related to fibromyalgia. This deficiency can throw your health out of whack resulting in a number of symptoms seen in fibromyalgia sufferers.

Marijuana addresses these issues by bringing balance to the endocannabinoid system and providing relief from symptoms. In one study conducted on 1,300 participants that experienced pain, they found that 30% used medicinal cannabis. Of the 390 patients who used cannabis, 62% said they experienced relief from their symptoms.

Compare this to those who took FDA approved medications with 68% saying the drugs did nothing to relieve their pain at all. If you plan to use marijuana to treat fibromyalgia, opt for a high CBD strain such as Blue Dream.

This is an extremely popular hybrid which not only provides body relaxation but also induces cerebral euphoria and enhances your mood. It’s also high in THC (21%) bringing you long-lasting relief without the heavy sedation. Blue Dream can be taken by both experienced and beginners and is good to smoke during daytime and night time.

Parkinson’s Disease

Parkinson’s disease is a condition that affects the nervous system with symptoms such as movement and speech difficulties. In some cases, it can also cause tremors and postural changes. People who have Parkinson’s are said to have less CB1 receptors than those who don’t have the disease.

Looking into marijuana’s pharmacology, it has the potential to help with the condition as it contains more than 100 neuroactive chemicals which interact with the cannabinoid receptors (CB1 and CB2).
Marijuana acts as an agonist, meaning it produces an action, towards the CB1 which in turn improves tremors and dyskinesia.

More studies still need to be done on marijuana’s effect on Parkinson’s but there seems to be a growing interest in the plant among neurologists at Parkinson’s Foundation centers with patients asking them to prescribe it. If you are one of those patients and you want to take marijuana to supplement your other therapies, consider trying the Chemdawg strain.

This indica dominant hybrid is known for its relaxing effects making it ideal for reducing muscle spasms. It also induces a cerebral high, uplifts the mood, and causes some space out moments. The Chemdawg comes with a potent diesel smell and has a sedative effect so it’s best to use it at night time before bed.

We’re interested in hearing your experience with cannabis and how it has helped you with your condition. What symptoms do you have that cannabis has helped reduce? Share your thoughts in the comments.

1 COMMENT

  1. Great! But people should remember that cannabis can only relieve the symptoms, thus, these should not be treated as medicine that is meant to cure or reverse a disease. It\’s just sad how the efforts of scientists are disregarded due to this misunderstanding on the good effects of cannabis.