Medicinal Cannabis for Cancer

In modern times, Marijuana has generally been viewed as a recreational drug. But the benefits of medical Marijuana/Cannabis are surfacing and increasing the interest of people.

Cancer treatments followed by chemotherapy causes vomiting, pain, and loss of appetite to the patients. After research, the National Cancer Institute has highlighted that the use of Cannabis/Medical Marijuana can help to reduce these symptoms. Moreover,  lab test studies on mice have shown that the use of CBD can shrink cancerous tumors.

Many people diagnosed with cancer report that cannabis products are effective for managing cancer symptoms and treatment of side effects.

The only CBD medicines approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are Marinol (chemical name: dronabinol) and other synthetic THC medicines that are approved to treat nausea caused by chemotherapy. CBD medicine Epidiolex is also approved to treat seizure disorders in children. Whereas, Dronabinol has been found to help improve food intake and prevent weight loss in HIV patients.

The three most common treatable side effects of chemotherapy are:

• Nausea
• Lack of appetite
• Fatigue

Medical Marijuana/Cannabis can also be used to reduce inflammation, anxiety, neuropathic pain, and paranoia.

Studies have shown that people who took marijuana extracts in clinical trials tended to need less pain medicine.

Different cultivation methods yield different strains of varying potency. Hence it can have different effects based on the strains used.

Medical Marijuana/Cannabis is becoming popular as a supporting or alternative medicine. But for now, its benefits are only limited to managing symptoms in the case of cancer patients.

Medical Marijuana/Cannabis inherits various benefits because of chemical compounds called Cannabinoids. These cannabinoids, their benefits, and their reaction with other medicines are widely being studied by curious researchers.

The commonly known side effects of chemotherapy like nausea, loss of appetite, and pain are said to be well managed by patients who were given Medical Marijuana/Cannabis in some quantity by medical practitioners just before the treatment.

Researchers say that the ability of cannabinoids to act on non-serotonergic receptors, such as the CB1 receptor, accounts for their ability to delay nausea and vomiting in patients.

However, there are limitations of THC-rich cannabinoids that are used to treat chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting that is their slow bioavailability and delayed onset of action.       

The chemical content in Marijuana called THC or Delta-9 CBD is also responsible for causing a euphoric effect. Hence a calculated amount is required to be taken depending on the condition and treatment.  

THIS ARTICLE PROVIDED FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY AND SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED MEDICAL ADVICE.