Cannabis has been used for medicinal purposes for thousands of years in India, China, and Egypt, and is becoming more widely accepted in western society. Right now, there are more than 3.5 million registered medical marijuana patients in the U.S., and medical marijuana is legal in 36 states.
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But while most people know medical marijuana can be used to treat severe forms of epilepsy and decrease chronic pain, a lot of the medical issues treated with cannabis would surprise you.
We rounded up a few of the most surprising health issues medical marijuana can help treat.
Health Issues Medical Marijuana Can Help Treat
When prescribed and taken under a doctor’s care, medical marijuana has improved the quality of life for a large number of individuals suffering from various conditions. Let’s look at some surprising health issues that medical marijuana has been used to treat:
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1. Cancer
One of the most significant medical benefits of marijuana is its association with cancer prevention and treatment. There is a substantial amount of evidence that cannabinoids, or at least some forms of cannabinoids, can aid in certain aspects of the fight against cancer. Research shows that cannabis might be able to reduce tumor growth, and it’s being used to curb nausea for chemo patients.
2. Autism
Cannabis is well-known for its ability to soothe people and help them maintain control over their emotions. This effect that cannabis has is great when it comes to assisting children with autism who experience violent mood swings. It’s already helping many children with this disease.
3. Broken Bones
Cannabidiol, otherwise known as CBD, has been shown to possibly help with accelerating the healing process of bone fractures. Tel Aviv’s Bone Research Laboratory says it can also help build the bone during the healing process, which would make it more difficult for the bone to fracture in the future.
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While it’s not common in the U.S. for a doctor to prescribe CBD for bone fractures, this may be a possibility in coming years.
4. PTSD
Cannabis’ impact on treating PTSD is being investigated more thoroughly as it becomes legal in an increasing number of states, and it seems it may be a viable treatment for those affected by trauma. It can inhibit an overactive fight or flight reaction, so many victims of PTSD find it to be soothing. PTSD is a qualifying condition for medical marijuana treatment in many states.
5. Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis can be excruciatingly painful. However, medical cannabis has been shown to bring relief for the pain. In addition, multiple sclerosis is associated with painful muscle contractions, which cannabis can help alleviate.
These are just some of the many health issues that qualify for medical marijuana treatment in the U.S. today. Though every state has different laws on what health issues do and do not qualify for medical marijuana, state laws concerning medical marijuana can change, and more qualifying conditions are added every year.
As discussed above, medical cannabis can be used to help treat the symptoms of some medical conditions, as well as the adverse effects of some treatments. Consult your doctor to find out if medical marijuana is right for you.