Tag: Medical Marijuana

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=”912378″]Much of the United States has legalized marijuana. Medical marijuana is currently legal and available in many states. The marijuana plant has been shown to be effective for the treatment of a wide variety of medical conditions and diseases. The only difference between the medical and recreational varieties are the purposes for which marijuana is used. There are over 100 different chemicals in the marijuana plant. These are called cannabinoids. Each one affects the body in a different way. The main chemicals used for medicinal purposes are CBD and THC. THC is responsible for the high individual’s experience when they smoke or consume foods containing marijuana. Medical marijuana is used for the treatment of the following conditions.

• Pain
• Cancer
• Epilepsy
• Alzheimer’s disease
• Muscle spasms
• Glaucoma
• Eating disorders including anorexia
• Multiple sclerosis
• Loss of appetite
• Nausea
• Crohn’s disease
• Wasting syndrome
• Mental health conditions including (PTSD) post-traumatic stress disorder and schizophrenia

The active chemical in marijuana is cannabinoids. This is similar to chemicals produced by the body for pain, memory, movement and appetite. According to the latest research, cannabinoids may:

• Decrease pain and inflammation
• Help with the vomiting and nausea resulting from chemotherapy treatments for cancer
• Loosen tight muscles for individuals with (MS) multiple sclerosis
• Lessen anxiety
• Stimulate appetite resulting in weight gain for AIDS and cancer patients
• Slow tumor growth and kill cancerous cells

Numerous experts believe one of the reasons marijuana was legalized for medical purposes was due to the statements of parents that marijuana helped control their children’s seizures. A written recommendation from a licensed physician is required to purchase medical marijuana. The individual must have a qualifying condition. Every state has its own list as to which conditions apply. Some states require a special ID card. Once the card has been attained, the individual can purchase marijuana at a dispensary.

The Conditions Medical Marijuana is Used to Treat

Medical marijuana is currently being used for the treatment of a wide variety of diseases and medical conditions. This includes:

• Preventing Alzheimer’s Disease: The active ingredient in marijuana is THC. A study conducted in 2006 showed the THC slows down the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. The enzyme responsible for forming amyloid plaques is blocked in the brain by the THC.

• Decreasing Anxiety: A study conducted in 2010 suggested marijuana can help decrease anxiety because it acts in a similar manner as a sedative and improves a person’s mood. The dosage must be low to have the desired effect.

• Controlling Epileptic Seizures: Numerous studies have shown epileptic seizures can be controlled by using marijuana. Seizures are mitigated by the THC because the brain cells that regulate relaxation and excitement are controlled. The FDA has since approved two drugs for the treatment of specific types of epileptic seizures.

• Slowing Down and Preventing the Spread of Cancer Cells: Cannabidiol turns off a gene called Id-1. This can stop cancer from spreading. Researchers have conducted tests and come to the same conclusions. Breast tissue with high levels of Id-1 was treated in a laboratory using marijuana. The results of the test were positive. The cells became less aggressive in spreading cancer. Cancer research has confirmed marijuana can considerably slow down the growth of tumors in the lungs, breasts and brain.

• Help for Crohn’s disease: Marijuana may be able to cure Crohn’s disease. This is an inflammatory bowel disorder. The condition results in numerous symptoms including pain, diarrhea, vomiting, and weight loss. A recent study showed marijuana decreased the symptoms of Crohn’s disease in ten out of eleven individuals. In five of these individuals, the disease was completely canceled out. Similar results have been shown in several other studies. The cannabinoids help control both the intestinal function and the gut bacteria.

• Treating Glaucoma: Glaucoma places pressure on the eyeball resulting in damage to the optic nerve and vision loss. Marijuana can be used for treatment because it decreases the pressure on the eye. Studies have confirmed individuals using marijuana decreases intraocular pressure in the eye. This can prevent blindness for people with glaucoma.

• Decreasing Nausea and Severe Pain from Chemotherapy While Stimulating Appetite: Using marijuana has become common for individuals having chemotherapy. Chemo is known to cause severe pain, vomiting, painful nausea, and loss of appetite. This often leads to additional health complications. Marijuana helps decrease these side effects by increasing the appetite and reducing nausea and pain. There are cannabinoid drugs with FDA approval containing THC used for the same reason.

• Relief for Arthritis: Studies have shown marijuana decreases inflammation and pain and promotes better sleep. This may relieve the discomfort and pain of rheumatoid arthritis.

• Relief for Veterans with PTSD: Some states have approved marijuana for the treatment of (PTSD) post-traumatic stress disorder. A proposal has received approval from the Health and Human Services Department of the United States government for vaporized or smoked marijuana for PTSD. Marijuana is effective for veterans because it helps control the system responsible for both anxiety and fear in the brain and body.

• Decreasing the Side Effects of Hepatitis C Treatments: There are severe side effects for the treatment of a Hepatitis C infection. Numerous individuals have been unable to continue their treatment due to the severity of the side effects. The side effects continue for months and include nausea, loss of appetite, depression and fatigue. A study revealed 86% of the participants using marijuana were able to complete their treatment. Only 29% of individuals not using marijuana were able to finish their treatment. The researchers believe this was because the side effects of the treatment were decreased through marijuana use. Marijuana also improves the efficacy of the treatment. The study also showed 54% of the participants using marijuana were able to decrease their viral levels and maintain their results. Only 8% of the participants not using marijuana achieved the same results.

• Treating Inflammatory Bowel Diseases: Similar to Crohn’s disease, individuals with inflammatory bowel diseases such as colitis may benefit from using medical marijuana. Researchers have shown the chemicals found in marijuana such as cannabidiol and THC interact with important cells in the body. These cells help the immune system and gut function. THC is similar to chemicals produced naturally by the body for enabling bacteria to permeate the intestines. The cannabinoids in the marijuana plant tighten the intestinal bond by blocking the permeability.

• Soothing Tremors Associated with Parkinson’s Disease: Studies show individuals with Parkinson’s disease who use marijuana are able to decrease their tremors and pain and improve sleep. Their fine motor skills also showed a marked improvement. Due to the positive results of numerous studies, marijuana was legalized in Israel. The Israeli government is supporting research into marijuana for medical uses.

• Protecting the Brain from Trauma and Concussion: A recent study determined there is a potential for the brain being healed by marijuana after a concussion. A study conducted on mice showed bruising of the brain was lessened after using marijuana. After a traumatic injury, marijuana improved the healing mechanisms. A statement was made saying instead of the NFL testing their players for marijuana, they should be researching the different ways the plant can protect the brains of the players.

• Decreasing the Pain Caused by Multiple Sclerosis: Marijuana helps stop the muscle spasms and the negative neurological impact of multiple sclerosis. Thirty individuals with MS and painful muscle contractions were studied. None of these individuals responded to any other medications. After using marijuana for a few days, they stated they were feeling less pain. This is because the THC in marijuana bonds the muscle and nerve receptors for pain relief.

• Improving the Symptoms of Lupus: Systematic lupus is characterized as an autoimmune immune disorder. This is when there is no known reason for the body starting to attack itself. Marijuana has been used successfully to treat this condition. Some of the medical experts believe cannabis contains certain chemicals capable of calming down the immune system. This may be the reason many individuals with lupus rely on marijuana to be able to handle their symptoms. Marijuana also has a positive impact on the disease because it helps both with nausea and pain.

• Decreasing Symptoms from Dravet Syndrome: Dravet syndrome causes severe delays in development and seizures. CNN’s Chief Medical correspondent used marijuana for the treatment of a five-year-old child with Dravet syndrome. The chosen strain was low in THC and high in cannabidiol. The marijuana resulted in a reduction of seizures from 300 per week to just above one every week. The same medication is being used by forty additional children. All of the have experienced positive results from marijuana. The physicians recommending marijuana believe the cannabidiol from marijuana has an interaction with the brain cells capable of quieting down the overactivity in the brain responsible for the seizures.

• Controlling Different Kinds of Muscle Spasms: Marijuana is used to control several different kinds of muscle spasms. There is a condition referred to as myoclonus diaphragmatic flutter. The medical term for this condition is Leeuwenhoek’s disease. The condition causes constant and painful spasms in the abdominal muscles. This interferes with both speaking and breathing. Marijuana calms down the spasms almost immediately and relaxes the diaphragm muscles.

• Improving Lung Health by Reversing Tobacco’s Carcinogenic Effects: An important study was published in January of 2012. The study revealed lung functions could be improved through the use of marijuana. The study also stated marijuana could increase the capacity of the lungs. The researchers spent twenty years testing more than 5,000 young adults for the risks associated with heart disease. They discovered individuals using marijuana had an increased lung capacity as opposed to those who smoked tobacco. Tobacco users lost lung function as time passed. The researchers believe the increase in the capacity of the lungs was caused by the deep breaths required for smoking marijuana as opposed to one of the chemicals from the plant.

• Protecting the Brain After a Stroke: Research has been performed on monkeys, mice, and rats concerning the damage to the brain from a stroke. The results showed marijuana may protect the brain from this damage by decreasing the amount of the brain impacted by a stroke. Other research has also shown marijuana has positive neuroprotective effects. Some research showed the brain can be protected by marijuana from numerous traumatic occurrences such as a concussion.

Contact Us Today for Further Information

If you are interested in using medical marijuana for a health condition, please feel free to learn more by reaching out and making an appointment with Angelic Lift. At our convenient location in Daytona Beach, our caring and dedicated team of professionals will be pleased to explain this option in greater detail and answer any questions you may have. Contact us today to set up your consultation – we look forward to speaking with you![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=”181210″]Many people suffer from different conditions that they want to be able to treat naturally. Taking prescription medications can sometimes be scary because there are so many potential side effects that come with them. Medical marijuana is quickly becoming the go-to form of treatment for many different conditions in the United States. The following guide provides you with a few of the different conditions that you may suffer from that might make you a great candidate for medical marijuana.

Anxiety

Anxiety can be debilitating. It can make it very difficult to get daily tasks accomplished, can limit where you can go and even make it difficult to create lasting relationships with people. Medical marijuana has been shown to reduce anxiety and social awkwardness to allow people to have a more fulfilling life.

Cancer

Battling cancer can be very difficult because it can cause so much physical pain and emotional anguish. Many people battling cancer go through chemotherapy that comes with its own set of side effects. Marijuana can help to ease some of the physical pain and nausea that can come with chemotherapy.

Anorexia

Battling anorexia is never easy. Marijuana can help to stimulate someone’s appetite to make it easier for them to overcome an eating disorder. It’s important for anyone who has an eating disorder to get psychological help along with treating it with marijuana to ensure that the can overcome the psychological tie they have to the disorder.

Chronic Pain

Suffering from chronic pain can make it impossible to do many things that others take for granted every day. Going up stairs, carrying groceries, or simply getting a good night’s sleep can seem impossible. Marijuana can ease some of the pain that people feel and help them to sleep because they can relax when it’s time for bed.

If you think you may have a condition that can be treated with medical marijuana, feel free to reach out to the compassionate staff at Angelic Lift in Daytona Beach. We can help you to know how medical marijuana may be able to benefit, if there are any potential side effects and how you should use it to have the most relief possible. It’s important to make sure that you only purchase the marijuana from a trusted dispensary so that you rest assured that the marijuana you buy is the best strain possible and doesn’t have anything in it that could be dangerous for you to take. Contact us today to schedule your consultation![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=”298264″]There is a sizable amount of controversy surrounding medical marijuana. Doctors, researchers, and scientists often discuss this topic with lawmakers. One of the biggest questions is if it should be legal. Should it be decriminalized? Is it safe for the public? Most importantly, has it been shown to be effective?

Something that often finds its way into the debate is whether or not it is addictive. You hear a lot of claims of what it can be used for. Some of the claims seem reasonable, and others seem more like fits of fancy. On the one hand, you have people who are proclaiming that it is a wonder drug that will cure everything from Alzheimer’s to cancer. On the other hand, you have those who appreciate the benefits of using it in the medical field, but they are a little bit reluctant to attribute all of the miraculous properties to it that others have.

The Current Legal Status of Marijuana for Medical Use

At the time of this writing, medical marijuana is legal on a state level in the majority of the states in the United States including Florida. The federal government’s stand has stayed the same as it has been for decades. However, both the Obama administration and the Trump administration have not made prosecuting those who use it for medical purposes a priority. In fact, it seems that most states are leaning toward making marijuana for recreational use legal as well.

This stand reflects the overall feel of the population. It’s estimated that around 85 percent of US citizens support making marijuana for medical purposes legal. And currently there are up to seven million Americans currently using it for this purpose.

Do You Need to Get High to Get Results?

Individuals who may have a moral objection often focus on the high that it produces. Some argue that individuals who claim to use it medically are actually looking for an excuse to get a legal high.

There are a number of counterarguments to this thought that can be made. For example, many prescription drugs that are sold alter a person’s conscious state or produce a high that is many times more potent than what one would get from marijuana. However, putting that part of it to one side, it is possible to enjoy the benefits of it for medical purposes without getting the high.

To understand why this is you first need to understand what it is about marijuana that produces the high. It comes from THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol. However, there are a number of strains of marijuana that are CBD dominant. In these strains you will find very little, if any, THC. So patients who use this form of marijuana experience little or no alteration in their consciousness.

Still, these patients receive many of the benefits that people are looking for when they use medical marijuana. For example, they see relief to their anxiety, they are able to sleep better, and their pain is reduced. There are actually types of epilepsy that are challenging to control but respond very well to CBD strains of marijuana.

Using This Drug for Pain

By far, the number one use for marijuana in the medical field is to control pain. There are some limitations to how it can be used in this regard. For example, if you break a bone or if you have pain after a severe injury or after a surgery, it is not going to be powerful enough to make your pain completely go away.

However, across the United States there is a large group of people who suffer from chronic pain. Their pain may not be on the level of a broken bone or a traumatic injury, but the pain is consistent. It is enough to interfere with their quality of life. It can make sleeping difficult, it can make enjoying time with friends and family a challenge, and it can affect a person’s overall mood.

There are a number of individuals in the United States who begin to experience chronic pain as they get older. An option that is often presented to chronic pain sufferers in addition to pain management techniques are pharmaceuticals, including opiates. There have been countless studies done showing the addictive nature of opiates. In addition to being addictive, it is easy to overdose on opiates.

With marijuana, things are a little bit different. While there is a chance of developing an addiction to it, the chances are exceptionally low. And it is almost impossible for a person to overdose on it. When a person takes medication for pain, be it over-the-counter medication or prescription medication, eventually it starts to affect the functioning of their kidneys. These individuals could use medical marijuana in this setting and avoid those negative consequences.

It’s interesting to look at the type of pain medical marijuana can address. Some of the hardest pains to treat are nerve pain and the pain connected to multiple sclerosis. Marijuana allows people suffering from these conditions to go back to their everyday activity and not feel drugged out and worried about the negative side effects.

There are many people who are battling with Parkinson’s disease, fibromyalgia, endometriosis, and other ailments who swear by medical marijuana. It is an amazing muscle relaxant. It has helped a number of people who are battling with weight loss, nausea, insomnia, and even PTSD. Those who are battling with Crohn’s disease, some of the negative symptoms associated with HIV, and cancer pain have seen benefits as well.

Contact Us Today

As with all treatments, medical marijuana may not be right for you. Or it could be exactly what you need to get back to feeling like yourself again. There are a lot of people out there who are suffering from chronic pain and other illnesses who have heard rumors or have done their own research on the Internet about the benefits of this drug. However, fear or shame prevents them from asking about it.

We feel that it is best for you to be open and honest with your medical providers. The only way that you are going to know if medical marijuana is the right choice for you is if you take the time and ask. If you are interested in learning more about this treatment, the professionals at Angelic Lift in Daytona Beach would love to talk to you. Contact us today to schedule your consultation![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=”520599″]Even though there are still quite a few people who disagree with using medical marijuana for health issues, there are actually several benefits of this drug that you might not know about until consulting with a doctor. One of the benefits that you’ll usually notice right away is pain relief. Pain from migraines, peripheral neuropathy, arthritis, fibromyalgia, and more can be addressed with this natural treatment. This is only one of the reasons as to why many people are beginning to look at medical marijuana for the ailments that they have instead of turning to prescriptions and other treatments.

If you have cancer or know someone who has cancer, then medical marijuana can help with pain that is associated with the cancer treatment as well as what is experienced by the disease. It can also help by increasing the appetite as some cancer treatments tend to cause vomiting and a feeling of being nauseous, which means that eating is usually the last thing on the mind. If you can continue eating while going through cancer treatments and dealing with the disease, then it can make the recovery process a bit easier and can result in more strength in your body so that you can fight against the disease.

Another benefit of medical marijuana is that it can calm your nerves and anxiety. If you are an anxious person or suffer from a condition associated with being nervous or that has to do with fears that you might have, then you will usually notice a difference in how you feel after using the drug. It can calm your mind and body so that you can focus on the tasks that you have to complete during the day instead of relying on medications that might make you feel very sleepy or as though you are unable to function during the day. Depression is another condition that medical marijuana can help with as the drug tends to make you not really care as much about the world around you but in a natural way instead of how you would feel if you were to take other medications each day. The drug can help people who have Parkinson’s Disease or other disorders that are known by shaking and seizure activity by calming the movements that you experience in your body.

There are many more conditions that can be treated with medical marijuana, and many unpleasant symptoms that can be alleviated. At Angelic Lift in Daytona Beach, we offer this treatment in many different forms to help you improve your quality of life. Contact us today to schedule your consultation![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]