November is stomach cancer, lung cancer, and COPD awareness month.
These three medical conditions cause many deaths every year, and what makes them particularly dangerous is that they are difficult to detect.
This is why November will be a month of raising awareness about these conditions to encourage people to get themselves checked out if the earliest signs of these illnesses manifest.
Being one of the alternative treatments for these conditions, medical marijuana may help some individuals with lung cancer, stomach cancer, and COPD find this much relief. While it’s not a cure, it can help with some of the symptoms.
Although medical marijuana was once considered to be an illicit drug and its use for either medical or recreational purposes was looked down on, today, thanks to extensive research on the benefits of medical marijuana, it is now recognized for its many benefits, and is legal in 37 states.
This form of marijuana is used purely for medical purposes and only under a doctor’s supervision. It also differs from recreational marijuana in that it has a higher level of Cannabinol (CBD) and less Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is the component of marijuana that makes people feel euphoric.
Here’s an in-depth look at how medical marijuana may help with these illnesses.
Lung and stomach cancer
Medical marijuana isn’t approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as a potential treatment for lung cancer, but through a doctor’s recommendation, lung cancer patients may use it to help with some of the symptoms of the disease.
This drug can affect the central nervous system and immune system to help find relief from the following symptoms
Pain
Research has shown that medical marijuana may help lung cancer patients deal with pain caused by the condition itself or pain from nerve damage from cancer treatments, like chemotherapy.
Weight loss
This isn’t a direct symptom of cancer, but a side effect of the loss of appetite it may cause in some people. Even chemotherapy and other cancer treatments can cause a loss in appetite.
Medical marijuana may help stimulate a person’s appetite and help them avoid under-eating and potentially losing too much weight.
Neuropathy
This is the feeling of weakness, numbing, and tingling in the feet and hands after undergoing cancer treatment.
The CBD in medical marijuana can help regulate the neurotransmitters in the brain and nervous system to improve pain signaling and reduce the effects of neuropathy.
Nausea and vomiting
These are two very common side effects of cancer treatments.
Oral forms of medical marijuana, such as dronabinol and nabilone, are both approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and can be used to provide relief for nausea.
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
There are over 15 million adults in the United States with COPD, and many more individuals might not even be aware that they have it.
COPD is a group of lung conditions that affect the lungs’ ability to inflate and deflate during breathing. Types of COPD include chronic bronchitis and emphysema.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it’s the fourth leading cause of death in the country.
While smoking marijuana is not recommended for people with COPD, some research has indicated that CBD and even THC, which may be included in some forms of medical marijuana, could help open up a patient’s airways and help them breathe better.
However, more research is needed in this area and it’s important for patients to not attempt to take medical marijuana without consulting a specialist first.
Get a medical marijuana card today
Medical marijuana has come a long way and it has proved to be beneficial for treating many kinds of illnesses. That said, medical marijuana may not work for everyone and should only be taken under a doctor’s supervision.
Also, it’s important to remember that while medical marijuana has been legalized in most states, those who want to try it will still need a medical marijuana card. Get in touch with a medical marijuana certification provider to get yours today.
