Consumers can get benefits from cannabis to treat a number of ailments
Admittedly, for decades marijuana has enjoyed a rather bad reputation (undeservedly), being equated with all kinds of drugs. Fortunately, that is changing, and today, many experts attribute to it an enormous amount of benefits for the health of the human being.
Its great peculiarity is the contribution of molecules called cannabinoids, which act on the endocannabinoid system present in all mammals. This system is involved in a multitude of physiological processes and is regulated by different receptors. These compounds modulate aspects as varied as appetite, memory, pain, or nausea, hence the diversity of effects of this plant.
After reviewing a multitude of studies, it has been concluded that the treatment of chronic pain was the main use of cannabis and the reason why many people consumed it for medical indications. These effects depend on both THC and CBD. It is also effective against muscle spasms, for example, of the diaphragm, which does not respond to other drugs.
CBD, the non-psychotropic component of marijuana, can help control epileptic seizures in children and adolescents. This is also consistent with observations of patients who used cannabis on its own to improve symptoms, and with fewer side effects.
Cannabis, and more specifically smoking marijuana, has beneficial effects on neurodegenerative diseases. THC slows down the development of amyloid plaques that form in the brains of patients suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, thus slowing down the disease. The mixture of CBD and THC can also help to preserve memory, and dronabinol, another cannabinoid, can ameliorate behavioral disorders in Alzheimer’s patients.