Medical marijuana was prescribed by doctors until 1942. That’s when it was taken off the U.S. pharmacopoeia, the list of commonly available drugs. Marijuana has been a medicine for 5,000 years. Marijuana, the plant’s Latin name is cannabis has a host of components called cannabinoids. These components may have medicinal properties. There are 60 or 70 different cannabinoids in marijuana.
Marinol contains only one cannabinoid delta-9 THC. When THC is isolated from the plant, other ingredients are lost, including those that might be buffering any adverse effects of taking “straight” THC. In Chinese medicine, they prescribe whole herbs and usually combinations of herbs.
Fibromyalgia is a difficult condition to live with, but as we’ve learned from Leafy reviewers, cannabis can offer respite. Medical marijuana is legal in some states for registered patients, and its health benefits and pain-easing properties have been used for centuries in traditional medicine.
Role of marijuana in treating fibromyalgia
There isn’t a lot of research on cannabis as a treatment for fibromyalgia, but clinical studies using synthesized THC for symptom management shows promising results. It’s estimated that between five and 12 million Americans are affected by fibromyalgia, and most of them will be trying to ease the pain using a mixture of over-the-counter medications and prescriptions drugs. However, many fibromyalgia patients are turning to cannabis (medical marijuana) to help ease some of the symptoms associated with the condition.
Those experiencing the chronic pain of fibromyalgia are increasingly turning away from potentially dangerous and addictive opioids, and towards cannabis as a safer, more effective treatment option. Patients used cannabis not only to alleviate pain but for almost all symptoms associated to fibromyalgia, and no one reported worsening of symptoms following cannabis use.
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Cannabis users in the study also reported higher overall mental health summary scores than did non-users. The present results together with previous evidence seem to confirm the beneficial effects of cannabinoids on fibromyalgia symptoms. Marijuana is known for relieving pain, which lines up perfectly with the primary symptom of fibromyalgia.
Traditional pain relievers and other medications prescribed to treat the condition often come up short. For this reason, many patients with the condition turn to the pain-relieving properties of marijuana for fibromyalgia. Research shows that using medical marijuana is an effective way to relieve the pain and anxiety associated with the disease. In 1999, the Institute of Medicine found in their report titled Marijuana and Medicine that the cannabinoids found in marijuana can relieve a variety of symptoms, including chronic pain.
Additionally, The Journal of Pain reports that patients with fibromyalgia who were treated with a synthetic form of marijuana showed significant reductions in pain and anxiety. Those interested in marijuana as a treatment for pain symptoms should check their state’s laws in relation to the use of cannabis. They should also consult their doctor for further advice and treatment. Marijuana should only be used under the care of a health professional.
Things to consider before using marijuana
If you have sleep issues, choose a strain heavy on indica. These strains have a sleepy effect, which may help you sleep better at night. The sleepiness combined with the pain relief is very beneficial for many patients with fibromyalgia. Some examples include African Kush and Northern Lights. Smoking or vaping these strains provide you with the fastest effect.
Marijuana is used for a wide number of conditions, although research has only found it to be beneficial for a few. Currently, there is good scientific evidence for its use in treating chronic pain and MS symptoms, including nerve pain and muscle spasms. Critical Mass is a heavy indica strain whose tingly full-body effects radiate throughout the body, swiftly bowling down pain and stress.
This strain sometimes expresses itself with enhanced levels of CBD for even better pain relief. Also preferred for treating depression, insomnia, and muscle spasms, Critical Mass is definitely a strain you’ll want in your medicine cabinet. Many fibromyalgia patients turn to edibles to get them through the pain during the night. Edibles come in a variety of options, from cookies and ice cream to crackers and nut mixes. Advancements in technology make marijuana edibles more appealing and with more precise dosing than in the past, Edibles take a lot longer to kick in anywhere from 30 minutes to a few hours.
Edibles typically last longer than smoked flower, and can aid in both pain relief and sedation. Edible doses vary from person to person, and each of us has a unique physiology. Doctors recommend starting very low with edible dosing, around 5 mg, giving it up to four hours to kick in. While four hours may seem like a long time, depending on your digestive system, your diet, and a number of other factors, it can take the cannabis time to travel through your system.
Keep a detailed diary on your experiences and increase dosing in small increments to find your comfortable mg dosing. If you also experience muscle spasms, strains that have both THC and CBD may help ease those spasms. White Berry and One to One are examples of strains that may help. Tinctures are cannabis extracts that are made using alcohol, so beware of their strong taste.
They typically come in small bottles with droppers that can be used to add the medicine to one’s food or beverages. This is the main advantage of tinctures if you feel the onset of fibromyalgia associated pain, you can simply add a few drops of tincture to your morning coffee. Tinctures can also last for years if stored in a dark and cool environment. Sublingual is just a fancy way of saying “under the tongue.”
Like tinctures, sublingual sprays are typically made with alcohol and look similar to the sprays some people use to ward-off bad breath, if you’re in a public space and feel the onset of fibromyalgia associated pain, sublingual sprays allow medical marijuana patients to quickly spray medicine under their tongues without drawing unwanted attention.
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Related Article:
First Licence Granted to treat Pain with Medical Marijuana
References:
- Can Marijuana Help Treat Fibromyalgia? By Jayne Leonard via Medical News Today
- Fibromyalgia and Medical Marijuana By Rebecca Buffum Taylor via Web Md
- Best Cannabis Strains for Fibromyalgia by Bailey Rehn via Leafly
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