Cannabis for MS

I was asked recently to post the following article on the beneficial effects of cannabis in multiple sclerosis. I do personally know some folks who use it for symptoms and feel that it is significantly helpful. I'd try it myself if it weren't strictly illegal here in Indonesia. Hell, I'd try shooting up heroin for the worst pains. Well, maybe not ... but you know what I mean. In any case, the article is reproduced below. 

How Cannabis Can Help with Multiple Sclerosis

Cannabis can help you get your life back if you are suffering from MS

Multiple Sclerosis is a scary disease, and researchers still don’t know its exact causes or how to prevent it. Once again, it’s cannabis to the rescue! Cannabis has been successful in mitigating the symptoms of MS, from alleviating pain to controlling muscle spasms. So how exactly does this work? Find out here!

Overview

● What is multiple sclerosis?

● What current treatments are available for MS?

● How is cannabis effective is treating symptoms of multiple sclerosis?

What is multiple sclerosis?

Multiple sclerosis is a nervous system disease that damages your brain and spinal cord. It attacks the myelin sheath, which is the material that protects your nerve cells. This blocks and impedes messages between your brain and body. Researchers believe this to be an autoimmune disease, meaning the immune system attacks healthy, normal cells by mistake. Unfortunately, the exact cause of the disease is still unknown.

There is no definitive test that doctors administer to identify MS in patients. Instead, doctors examine medical histories, MRIs, and neurological exams to diagnose it. MS tends to appear in women more than men, with the average age of diagnosis ranging from the ages of 20 to 40.  Symptoms of MS include:

● Muscle weakness

● Poor coordination or balance

● Numbness, the sensation of pins and needles, or prickling feeling

● Visual disturbances

● Problems with memory or thinking

 

Symptoms of MS can make you feel completely alone

There is no known cure for MS, but there are several treatments available, with varying degrees of effectiveness.

What current treatments are available for MS?

For some people, MS only manifests in mild symptoms; for others, the symptoms are much more severe. Since there is no known cure for MS, treatments focus on slowing down the progression of the disease and managing symptoms. These include:

● Beta interferons: These are the most common medications prescribed for MS. They are injected under the skin or into the muscle in order to reduce the frequencies of relapses. Blood tests are needed to monitor liver enzymes, as liver damage could result from interferon use.

● Physical Therapy: It is common for MS patients to undergo physical therapy, as it helps manage leg weakness. Physical therapists also teach MS patients how to use different devices to make daily tasks easier.

● Muscle Relaxants: Often times, MS patients experience muscle spasms or stiffness, particularly in the legs. Doctors prescribe muscle relaxants, such as Lioresal and Zanaflex, to ease these symptoms.

● Medications: Because the symptoms of MS vary, different medications might be prescribed to deal with the various effects.  Doctors might prescribe medication for depression, fatigue, pain, bladder or bowel control problems, and sexual dysfunction.

 

Many medications are prescribed to MS patients, but they may not cover all the symptoms

Because there is no “one-size-fits-all” treatment for MS, many medications and treatments that doctors prescribe don’t protect patients from every symptom. That’s where cannabis comes in.

How is cannabis effective is treating symptoms of multiple sclerosis?

Cannabis works in many different ways to combat multiple sclerosis. Take a look at the many healing properties of this miraculous plant!

1. Cannabis reduces inflammation

When immune cells in MS patients activate, they release proteins called cytokines that cause inflammation of the brain. The most active components in cannabis, cannabinoids, reduce inflammation and deactivate the immune system, which stops the assault on the central nervous system.

2. Cannabis reduces pain

Inflammation and pain are like two peas in a hellish pod. When inflammation is reduced, pain is lessened. Cannabinoids also engage the pain receptors and work as an analgesic.

3. Cannabis helps digestion

MS patients often experience gastrointestinal difficulties. Once again, it’s cannabis’ anti-inflammatory properties to the rescue! Cannabinoids engage with immune cells and reduce inflammation in the bowels. Cannabis also reduces nausea and acts as an appetite stimulant, which gets MS patients on the right digestive tract!

 

Gastrointestinal distress can make living with MS a daily nightmare

4.  Cannabis helps your eyes

One common symptom of MS is blurriness of vision. MS causes inflammation of the optic nerve, resulting in impaired vision until the swelling subsides. Cannabis reduces the inflammation of the optic nerve (this is why it is recommended for degenerative eye diseases such as glaucoma). 

5. Cannabis helps you sleep

For people living with chronic pain, simply falling asleep can be a formidable task. Cannabis can not only help you to fall asleep faster, but it puts you in a deeper sleep. During deep sleep, your body repairs itself by rebuilding bones and muscles and improving the immune system.

6. Cannabis helps with depression

Living with MS can take its toll on a patient’s mental health. Cannabis helps flood the brain with endocannabinoids, which alleviates depression. Still, if you are struggling with depression you should talk to a professional. There are also many websites that are helpful for coping with mental illness.

Researchers continue to study cannabis’s effects on multiple sclerosis and the results so far have been fascinating. Thankfully, medical cannabis research is moving forward. Cannabis-based MS drugs are already available on pharmacy shelves. It’s fair to say that the future looks bright for MS patients.