Arthritis
According to common statistics, there are more than 31 million Americans who suffer from arthritis, which comes in two varieties that both cause pain, swelling, and limited movements to the joints.
The Two Types of Arthritis
The two different types of arthritis are rheumatoid arthritis, which is caused by the malfunctioning of the patient's immune system, and osteoarthritis (arthritis of the bones) which is found mostly in elderly patients whose cartilage has been eroded through use. Both types may Arthritis may also manifest itself in the form of chronic joint inflammation, generally due to injuries.
Cannabis and Arthritis
There has been a lot of research which shows that cannabis and cannabinoid drugs may be effective for arthritis, as well as for other degenerative joint, hip, and connective tissue disorders. Since all of these conditions involve frequent bouts of extreme pain, the ability of cannabis to help fight chronic pain makes it especially useful, either on its own or used in conjuction with opiate painkillers. In fact, the use of marijuana as a treatment for musclo-skeletal pain has been a documented part of western medicine since the 1700s.
In addition to pain-relieving qualities, however, cannabis also has strong anti-inflammatory and immune-modulation properties which mean that it might be a valid form of direct treatment for any number of chronic inflammatory diseases (including arthritis). More than one source shows that a Chinese text dating from around the year 2000 BC mentions cannabis "undoing" rheumatism.
Contemporary research on one of the non-psychoactive components of cannabis, CBD (cannabidiol) has found that, in tests with mice and rats, it suppresses the immune response that triggers a disease which is similar to arthritis, protecting the rodents from severe joint damage, and improving their conditions.
Human studies have backed up the data from the rodent trials, showing that cannabis is an effective treatment for rheumatoid arthritis, which is one of the conditions for which medical marijuana is allowed in those parts of the United States where it's use is legal. In addition, patients using cannabis have been able to reduce their use of NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) , which have potentially harmful side effects.
The bottom line? Medical marijuana may be a benefit to arthritis patients because:
- It relieves the pain associated with swollen joints and eroded cartilage.
- It attacks the immune response that actually triggers arthritis.
- It relieves the inflammation - the actual swelling - of arthritic joints
- Unlike NSAIDs, it has no potentially harmful side effects
- It has a long track record of being safe; no one has ever died of a marijuana overdose.
I also use the massage lotion for my back pain and neck injury and sore muscles and was amazed on how well it works, especially the one we got from our local clinic $15, CWCC in Lake Elsinore So Cal. [url=http://]http://www.cannabissearch.com/dispensaries/california/lake-elsinore/compassion-and-wellness-center-cooperative/[/url]
and I was able to walk with out my cane for the first time in 5 yrs and I was able to cut down the pain pills by half that day I smoked I can't wait to see what other strains are out there to help with my pain but all I have to say is amazing results and I'm only 38yrs old with a severe case of RA and 2 knee replacements and 2 hip replacements so when the federal goverment say's it has no medical use thats a lie becuase it works I think they make more by policing it then to legalize it or at least reclassife as a S2 drug
Can you please publish any evidence that it works rather than personal testimony
I've been using Marijuana for my Rhumitiod Arthritis since I got it 45 years ago.
I don't know how anyone can say it is that much of a relief. I have had 2 body parts replaced by arthritis' grip.
People say Rick Simpson oil will work, but ya know, he died.
I get a bit of relief from it though, I can laugh at my pain.
To tell people that it 'might' help stop the damage caused by arthritis is totally false.
Like I said, I have smoked it prictically every day for 45 years, and it doesn't stop the damage at all. I've ingested it at high doses and have had the Rick Simpson oil too.
To the person from Dec. 30th. You need the Canabis Rudialis for your pain. it has no high. Don't know where you can get that, but it's great for rope and such. I say eat it in cookies and food, but only before bedtime.
I enjoy smoking it as much as all of you, but the medical bemnifits of pot, well, it aint that much, and it's not a miricle drug. Stop foolong yourselves.
Orencia does work wonders for it, though. Stops the damage right now, and I recomend that for anyone with Rhumitiod Arthritis.
Pot makes me laugh at the pain, but nothing else.
People that think pot is a cure-all for R/A or any other ailment is in for a dissapointing fact. It hasn't done me much good as far as my physical problems, and the woman up there who has heard that pot works and everyone should take their meds away for a month is totally deluding herself. Wait till you get it and then we'll hear what you have to say, lady..
atoid arthritis) when i was 3 and took pills a long time. I started smoking marijuana when i was young after awhile i figured i didnt need pills anymore and just kept smoking. My Rheumatism is and has been in remission since.
Fred25