Medical marijuana is gaining more acceptance as a viable and effective treatment to address any number of physical and mental health issues, from chronic pain to depression. At Coastal Wellness Centers, we understand the many applications of medical marijuana, and we’ve experienced firsthand how this treatment helps patients finally get the solutions they need. To give you a better idea of the breadth and scope of medical marijuana, here’s a look at some of the problems we routinely treat.
Chronic Pain
Some 20% of adults in the United States live with chronic pain. Rather than turning to risky surgery or dangerous medications like opioids, medical marijuana can help combat the pain by reducing inflammation and quieting the pain signaling between your nerves and your brain.
Crohn’s Disease
If you’re among the 500,000 men and women in the US who have Crohn’s disease, medical marijuana may offer you relief. The primary problem with Crohn’s disease is inflammation in your intestines, which medical marijuana can reduce.
Epilepsy
If you have epilepsy, take note that research is ongoing about the role cannabis can play in curbing the seizures. There's anecdotal evidence that high levels of cannabidiol can reduce seizures that involve your motor skills and muscle control.
Parkinson’s Disease, Multiple Sclerosis, And ALS
When it comes to serious neurological disorders like Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, and ALS, medical marijuana is gaining traction as a treatment approach that can slow the progression of these diseases and help patients find much-needed relief.
Cancer
Fighting cancer can be an ugly battle as doctors often use a slash-and-burn approach to ridding your body of this insidious disease. You may be left with side effects like nausea and weight loss. The goal of medical marijuana here is to calm your digestive tract and to increase your hunger, giving you enough power to fight your disease.
Glaucoma
Left unchecked, glaucoma can rob you of your vision thanks to the intraocular pressure (IOP) that builds up in your eyes. To prevent this, medical cannabis has been shown to lower IOP by about 25% for 3-4 hours in up to 65% of patients.
PTSD
If you’re held hostage by a past trauma and you’ve developed post-traumatic stress disorder, medical cannabis interacts with your endocannabinoid system to reduce its symptoms.