5 Ailments That Cannabis Can Help Manage
While many Californians have been enjoying cannabis’ recreational status as of January 1st, medical cannabis use has been legal in the state since 1996. In all, the use of medical marijuana can be traced all the way back to to Ancient China, where Emperor Shen Neng was prescribed cannabis tea to treat ailments such as gout, malari, poor memory, and more. Cannabis is not a ‘miracle drug’; here at Elemental we always recommend a healthy lifestyle, and considering your personal physician’s advice, in conjunction with cannabis to achieve optimal results. Let’s take a look at the most common disorders we deal with here at Elemental, and current products on the menu that can help to manage symptoms: Insomnia 50 to 70 million U.S. adults experience symptoms of a sleep disorder. About 30 percent of the population will experience insomnia at some point in their lives. So if getting shut-eye is becoming harder and harder, you’re not alone. “Marijuana is an effective sleep aid because it restores a person’s natural sleep cycle, which so often falls out of sync with our schedules in today’s modern lifestyle,” says Dr. Matt Roman, a medical marijuana physician. THC, a psychoactive cannabinoid, is primarily responsible for that high feeling. Something else THC is responsible for? Inducing sleep. So you’ll want a strain that contains more THC than CBD. EWC products to help manage pain: Kind’s Indica Caps ($68/20-pack), Diablo OG ($50/eighth), Hashy Larry’s Banana OG Cured Sauce ($50/gram) Via Green State If you’re suffering from an inflammatory condition, they have good reason to look towards the leaf: pot is linked to both reducing inflammation and the associated pain. Many feel certain strains target their pains better than others. Whichever strain you choose, the reason for pot’s effectiveness has to do with its most prevalent cannabinoids: THC and CBD. THC and CBD each work to minimize inflammation but in different ways. High-THC strains are helpful in reducing the risk of atherosclerosis, a precursor for many heart attacks and strokes. It’s beneficial in reducing airway inflammation too, namely when you come down with the flu. CBD is helpful in reducing the inflammation in joints and inhibiting the progression of disease related to that inflammation EWC products to help manage inflammation: Wonder Oil’s 2:1 Tincture ($60/each), Habit’s Pineapple CBD Drink ($14/each), Floracal’s Rose Especial ($50/eighth) Multiple Sclerosis Some research has suggested that cannabis strains containing cannabidiol (CBD) levels equal to or higher than tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) can help MS patients with muscle spasicity and pain. Other studies indicate that cannabis can help MS-related gastrointestinal problems, including constipation and difficulty with digestion. Medical cannabis can also improve sleep quality and even vision, studies have indicated. They suggest that cannabis’ anti-inflammatory properties can help reduce inflammation of the optic nerve. As of March 2018, MS waslisted as a qualifying condition in 18 U.S. states. An additional 18 states don’t list MS as a qualifying condition but do list MS symptoms like nausea, muscle spasms and pain. Via Multiple Sclerosis News Today EWC products to help manage Multiple Sclerosis: Bhang’s CBD Chocolate Caramel ($15/each), Korova’s Vanilla Bean 1:1 Mini Cookies ($24/each), Jetty’s CBD Dablicator ($20/half g) If you have an ailment you need help with, be sure to mention it to your consultant on your next visit -- they'll be happy to recommend a product! Hope to see you in soon.
Via Medical Daily
EWC products to help manage insomnia: Lowell Farms’ Indica Pre-Roll Pack ($40/7-pack), Sublime’s GDP Cartridge ($39/each), Habit’s Peach Drink ($14/each)
Pain
Medical marijuana is an increasingly popular alternative to traditional pain-relieving medications, including opioids. Marijuana may ease certain types of chronic pain, including pain resulting from nerve damage and inflammation.
A research paper from 2016 found that marijuana use for cancer pain led to a 64-percent reduction in opioid use, improved quality of life, and caused fewer medication side effects. It also led to participants using fewer medications.
Smaller studies have reported benefits for other types of chronic pain. For example: 1) of about 17,000 people with cancer, 70 percent reportedly experienced an improvement in pain and general well-being after marijuana use, and 2) people with chronic migraines experienced a decrease in migraine episodes after using the drug.
Anxiety
CBD appears to combat the anxiety-inducing impact of THC. Depending on what kinds of signaling activity is going on, what your own endocannabinoids are up to (factors controlled by your mood and physical settings), the arrival of THC and CBD on the scene has a widely varying impact.
We live in a culture of more is more. But apply this maxim to the use of cannabis for anxiety and you risk overshooting the mark with a dose that makes your skin crawl or gets in the way of your own endocannabinoids. You know your brain better than anyone. If you try cannabis, do so armed with knowledge and intent.
EWC products to help manage anxiety: Willy’s Reserve’s Rising Pines ($35/eighth), Level Blend’s 3:1 Remedy ($45/each), Care By Design’s 18:1 Capsules ($30/10-pack)
Inflammation