Marijuana is becoming increasingly popular to treat those who need it as a medical aid or medicine. There are at least two active chemicals in Marijuana that researchers think have medicinal application. Those are cannabidiol (CBD) which seems to impact the brain without a high and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) which has pain relieving properties.
7 Health Benefits Of Marijuana
Aids digestion
Cannabinoid receptors are found throughout the digestive tract. In fact, anandamide, the human body’s natural THC, is the trigger that stimulates the process of digestion. It makes sense then why THC triggers appetite and kicks your metabolism into overdrive.
Decrease Anxiety
Medical marijuana users claim that the drug helps relieve pain and suppress nausea — the two main reasons it’s often used to relieve the side effects of chemotherapy. Study suggested that that some of the drug’s benefits may actually be from reduced anxiety.
Cure Eye Disease
Marijuana use can be used to treat and prevent the eye disease glaucoma, which increases pressure in the eyeball, damaging the optic nerve and causing loss of vision. These effects of the drug may slow the progression of the disease, preventing blindness.
Reduces inflammation
Cannabinoids like THC and CBD are potent anti-inflammatories. They engage with the endocannabinoid system throughout the body, helping to reduce inflammation systemically.
Reduces Risk of Stroke
The study took place over the course of 16 years and found that 28.8% of stroke victims had used marijuana compared with 32.7% that hadn’t suffered from a stroke. University of Nottingham research published in 2013 which suggested that cannabis can help people recover after they’ve had a stroke.
Stops Cancer From Spreading
CBD may help prevent cancer from spreading, researchers at California Pacific Medical Center. Cannabidiol stops cancer by turning off a gene called Id-1, the study, published in the journal Molecular Cancer Therapeutics, found.
Prevents Alzheimer’s
THC, the active ingredient present in marijuana slows the progression of Alzheimer’s disease, a 2006 study led by Kim Janda of the Scripps Research Institute found out. THC slows the formation of amyloid plaques by blocking the enzyme in the brain that makes them. These plaques kill the brain cells, and potentially lead to Alzheimer’s disease.
Additional sources:
[1] http://www.businessinsider.in/23-Medical-Uses-Of-Marijuana/articleshow/34015633.cms
[3] http://greenflowermedia.com/article/50-life-enhancing-benefits-of-cannabis/
[4] http://www.msn.com/en-us/health/medical/21-health-benefits-of-marijuana/ar-AAboNFC
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