The past few months we have been talking a lot about the recreational marijuana efforts that have passed in our home state of Arizona and we thought that, this time, it’s worth talking about medical marijuana. The big question for a lot of folks who don’t really understand the whole medicinal thing is “what is medical marijuana treating?’ So, with that question in mind we’re going to travel down the medicinal benefits of medical marijuana and why vaping it can be an effective treatment – this time, on DC Alchemy.
A Brief History of Medical Marijuana
Marijuana was used throughout ancient cultures for its medicinal properties. In China it was likely used as early as 10,000 years ago, the oldest Chinese pharmacopeia dated to the First Century CE lists cannabis as a useful plant. And so it is across much of the ancient world including Egypt, Greece, and more. The medieval Islamic cultures used cannabis for its diuretic, antiemetic, antiepileptic, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antipyretic properties extensively as medication from the 8th to 18th centuries.
Now, you can find out a whole lot more about all that on Wikipedia. Point is, it has a long history around the globe for its medical use. But what about the actual modern uses?
Modern Medical Marijuana Treatment
Specifically? Well, let’s just pop over to WebMD and get a list of web physician-approved conditions that medicinal marijuana can help treat.
Medical marijuana is used to treat a number of different conditions, including:
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Appetite loss
- Cancer
- Crohn’s disease
- Diseases that affect the immune system like HIV/AIDS or Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
- Eating disorders such as anorexia
- Epilepsy
- Glaucoma
- Mental health conditions like schizophrenia and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Multiple sclerosis
- Muscle spasms
- Nausea
- Pain
- Seizures
- Wasting syndrome
The research isn’t as well defined for all these treatments. With draconian laws in place for much of the 20th century, the potential benefits haven’t been as well researched as they are for other medicines. But many patients report its effectiveness in easing pain and symptoms related to these conditions.
Marijuana works with the endocannabinoid system in our bodies to produce a number of effects that are beneficial to those suffering from the ailments previously listed. Those cannabinoids work with the ECS to:
- Reduce anxiety
- Reduce inflammation and relieve pain
- Control nausea and vomiting
- Relax tight muscles
- Increase appetite
These five things can help with all sorts of ailments. Decreasing nausea and vomiting, as well as increasing appetite, helps patients keep their weight up. It reduces the anxiety people suffer from (and we all know how stress affects our health).
Now, as we said. We here at DC Alchemy aren’t medical professionals, so we don’t know the complete history of medical marijuana but we know that right now, hundreds of thousands of people around the world are using it to help them overcome numerous diseases, disorders, and ailments. It’s not a miracle cure, but it makes their lives better and helps them to shoulder those burdens.
If you are interested in how medical marijuana might help you, and you live somewhere with legal medicinal or recreational use, speak with your doctor! You can smoke, eat, or our favorite vape, the marijuana to enjoy the benefits that come with cannabinoids interacting with your ECS.
