eTopical Precious Finds
The Cannabis Sativa plant, which grows wild in many tropical areas of the world, has been a staple in the human natural pharmacy for thousands of years. Ancient people knew quite well the medicinal value of cannabis, from its pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory properties down to its psychotropic properties, for which it is most famous. The plant contains many active components that interact with the human nervous and circulatory systems, the most commonly studied being THC and CBD. Due to American federal law, there are many limitations on the use, prescription, and cultivation of cannabis, though its use in treating a variety of medical conditions such as epilepsy and cancer is well-known and widely studied. Cannabis also has some use in treating nausea and acts as an antioxidant. Recent studies conducted in countries where cannabis is legal have shown a particularly interesting use of cannabis in treating cancer patients.
Benefits
Cannabis is helpful in offsetting the nauseating effects of chemotherapy, which is used to treat many cancers. At the Spokane Cancer Center, patients have found relief through various supportive therapies. Some studies indicate that when inhaled through vaping, cannabis helps alleviate pain from nerve damage, making it especially useful for cancer patients experiencing pain from tumors pressing on nerve cells. Cannabis is also an effective appetite stimulant, beneficial to cancer patients dealing with appetite suppression caused by treatment drugs and nausea. The FDA has approved the cannabis-derived drug Dronabinol for individuals with appetite loss due to AIDS, though cancer patients also use it off-recommendation. While research is still emerging, some anecdotal reports from cancer patients suggest that cannabis helps with sleep difficulties as well.
Quality of Life
Cannabis has the potential to greatly improve cancer patients’ quality of life during treatment. Many cancer patients report that the cancer treatment is just as difficult, if not demoralizing, as living with the disease itself. It has also been known to help with stress or even anxiety as well. Cannabis significantly improves a patient’s quality of life by alleviating some of the symptoms of both the disease and the treatment. Some of the ways Cannabis contributes to this improvement are:
- Stimulate appetite and fend off disease-related weight loss.
- Alleviate nausea
- Relieves pain
- Treats insomnia
- Anti-inflammatory properties might inhibit some tumor growth.
Did you know?
The effects of cannabis on the human body matter greatly depending on how it enters the body. Cannabis is typically eaten or inhaled. When taken by mouth, the drug’s effects take longer to work, but they last longer. Inhaling the substance results in a speedier entry into the body but is more short-lived. Cannabis has many benefits for the patient, but there are some negative side effects and they include dizziness, disorientation, lightheadedness, and fainting. In some people, it can cause paranoia, mania, and hallucinations. Many oncologists are pushing for wider access to medical cannabis and further testing and research on its potential to treat cancer patients. Until further testing is done on a wider scale, the full extent of the usefulness of cannabis, as well as its safety, in the treatment of many diseases, will be slow.
