What does marijuana cure? Medical marijuana is a plant-based
medicine used to treat a number of diseases like anorexia, glaucoma,
schizophrenia, posttraumatic stress disease, appetite loss, Alzheimer's
disease, Crohn’s disease, nausea, joint problem, back pain, muscle pain, cachexia,
multiple sclerosis and of course cancer. Some experts still claim that medical marijuana for cancer is not as
effective as for other complications.
What is cancer?
Cancer
can be defined as the collection of diseased cells; some of the cells in our body
begin multiplying and dividing at a rapid speed. This gives rise to the tumor
in different parts of the body and negatively impacts tissues and organs. Marijuana and cancer cells have a
strong relationship since medical marijuana is now being used to cure or treat
different types of cancer. When this disease begins developing, the orderly
process of cells’ division stops, and they begin dividing haphazardly. As they
continue dividing and increasing in number, more and more normal cells get
damaged, and many of them die or are replaced by the cancer cells. All these
extra cells eventually become tumors, and a tumor can develop in any part of
the body. It should be noticed that cancer of the blood, like leukemia, does
not form solid tumors but soft tumors. Some of the tumors reside in the immune
system for their growth and eventually prevent runaway immune responses.
What are the Symptoms of Cancer?
For
effective marijuana curing, we must
familiarize ourselves with the signs and symptoms of cancer. It should be
noticed that cancer gives no prominent symptoms or signs in many people,
meaning the disease acts as a silent killer and its signs become visible once
the patient reaches the last stage of cancer. However, the doctor can diagnose
the patient through different blood and urine tests. Some of the most common
signs and symptoms of cancer are sudden weight loss, blurred vision, memory
loss, irregular sleep, unexplained and consistent fever, fatigue, pain,
feelings of restlessness, skin color changes, itching, dark spots around the
eyes, and excessive hair loss. In some patients, excessive hair growth is
commonly observed, and this is because the cancer cells begin developing in either
the brain or the spinal cord.
Ways cannabis kills cancer cells
Does medical marijuana and cancer have any
relationship? It is absolutely true that marijuana
cure cancer and other different diseases, but before opting for it, we
should always consult a healthcare professional because he may not recommend
medical marijuana to treat cancer. Cannabinoids, the active compounds of
cannabis are primarily responsible for preventing cancer from growing,
spreading or causing tumors in different parts of the body.
1. Antiproliferative
One of
the major problems with cancer cells is that they do not easily stop growing,
meaning they continue developed and dividing at a rapid rate and eventually
reach other parts of the body. This process is called proliferation. A study
published in the Oncotarget journal reveals that cannabinoids inhibit cell
division in breast, lungs and kidneys.
2. Anti-metastatic
When
cancer cells are migrated from one part of the body to the other, they become
metastatic, break down and form tumors. They mainly impact the lymph or blood
circulatory system and can make a home in any part of the body. Studies
indicate that cannabinoids can block metastasis to an extent.
3. Anti-angiogenic
For
cancer cells to survive for long, they need blood and this blood is obtained
through lungs. Thus, we can say that lungs cancer and marijuana have a strong
relationship with each other. Angiogenesis enables cancer cells to grow in
blood vessels and lungs. Experts have revealed that the active compounds of
cannabis help fight lung cancer and blood cancer. Not only this but also marijuana fights breast cancer too.
4. Pro-apoptotic
It has
already been mentioned that cannabinoids prevents cancer cells from spreading
and creating a mess for the entire body. A study published in the Current
Oncology journal reveals that marijuana
for brain cancer is as effective as the painkiller to relief the pain in
any part of the body. The scientific name of cell suicide is apoptosis, which
is a natural mechanism that is used in the body to remove damaged or
ineffective cells as soon as possible.
Cannabis for different types of cancer
Is cannabis asthma treatment possible? Is multiple sclerosis cannabis treatment
possible? Studies indicate that cannabis can be used regularly for different
types of cancer. It goes by multiple names such as pot, weed, hemp, grass,
marihuana, and ganja.
1. Brain cancer
Cannabinoids,
the compounds present in medical marijuana or cannabis are effective for brain
cancer. The currently available and other effective substances are dronabinol,
synthetic cannabidiol, and cannabis extracts.
2. Breast cancer
Breast
cancer may cause depression and anxiety in women, and the disease is more
common in women than in men. Can depression
treatment marijuana be possible? Health experts have now proved that breast
cancer can be cured using purified and isolated substances of cannabis, its refined
extracts, nabilone, and nabiximols.
3. Colon cancer
Cannabinoids
are useful to cure colon cancer too. Nabilone and THC are primarily used to
treat the illness, but these substances should not be tried without the
recommendation of a doctor.
4. Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
It is
true that cannabis or medical marijuana cannot be used to fight Hodgkin’s
Lymphoma. However, different other herbs are present to improve a patient’s
quality of life.
5. Leukemia
For
leukemia, marijuana as a medical
treatment is quite effective and useful. It has a long history of helping
patients recover from the disease at a fast speed. Cannabidiol and
tetrahydrocannabinol are two main cannabis compounds to cure leukemia.
6. Liver cancer
Studies
indicate that liver cancer can be cured or treated with the regular use of
cannabinoids. This compound stimulated the programmed death of cancer cells in
our bodies.
7. Lung cancer
In the
case of lung cancer, the possible treatment
for marijuana dependence is CB2 or THC. By using these two substances, we
can quickly get rid of lung cancer and blood cancer. Thus, it can be said that lung cancer and marijuana are
associated with one another.
8. Prostate cancer
Patients
with prostate cancer can use medical weed as it can help them recover from the illness
at a fast speed. Radiation and chemotherapy may not be needed in that case.
9. Stomach cancer
Different
types of stomach cancer can be cured by using cannabis. It has proved to be
effective and useful for both animals and humans.
10. Skin cancer
Various
patients use medical marijuana when it comes to treating skin cancer. Some
types of oils are also recommended by doctors to cure the disease, but nothing
can replace marijuana or weed.
Advantages and disadvantage of medical
marijuana
Advantages
o Medical marijuana is effective to
relieve vomiting and nausea.
o It can be a good alternative to
radiation and chemotherapy, in the case of cancer.
o Curing paralysis, multiple sclerosis,
and other similar diseases are good.
o Medical marijuana is also used to treat
HIV/AIDS.
o It can relieve chronic pain especially
neuropathic pain.
Disadvantages
o Regular use of marijuana can affect
our memory to an extent.
o It can create feelings of restlessness
or may become the reason of unconsciousness.
o It can negatively impact the cognitive
health.
o It may damage the lungs, teeth and
respiratory system and carries risks of addiction and abuse.
o Marijuana is illegal under the state
and federal laws and is prohibited in different parts of the world.
Cancer Statistics
It’s
safe to say that cancer affects or kills a large number of people worldwide.
Alone in January 2017, over 1,435,350 cases of cancer were reported in the
United States and Canada, and nearly 609,000 people died of cancer across the
world.
