Are there any benefits of taking cannabis during chemotherapy?

Cancer is a dreadful disease that continues to attack many unsuspecting individuals. According to statistics, over 1.7 million people in the United States alone suffer from this terminal disease in new cancer case reports.

As a result, not only do individuals suffer from cancer treatment physically, but also mentally and socially.

Once an individual receives a cancer diagnosis, it may take a toll on him and others around him. The effects are extreme cases of anxiety, stress, and even depression.

On the other hand, chemotherapy and other medical treatments may induce several side effects that are difficult to manage or escape.

With the increase in the benefits of cannabinoids in different medical activities, research studies are ongoing on the treatment of cancer and how cannabis can help. The revelations from the studies indicate that cannabis can help in reducing symptoms and side effects of the disease, especially during chemotherapy.

What is Chemotherapy?

It is a medical treatment procedure for individuals who have cancer.  Chemotherapy involves the use of different prescription medications to fight cancer cells by inhibiting their growth. It inhibits their ability to divide, preventing them from reproducing continuously. As a result, an individual may suffer from different side effects.

Cannabis-derived products, including CBD and THC, reduce some of the effects that result from chemotherapy. It interacts with the cannabinoid systems ensuring that the body can return to normal operations by giving it the balance it requires.

Here are 4 benefits of taking cannabis during chemotherapy:

1. Prevents Vomiting and Relieves from Nausea

Even though chemotherapy is useful in ensuring the death of different cancer cells, it also induces heavy vomiting and nausea.

Studies indicate that the severe side effect of the chemotherapy treatment on individuals results in people quitting the process altogether. Others delay the process, which in turn results in much more aggressiveness and spread of the cancer cells in the body.

Prescription drugs such as antiemetic can reduce the effects of chemotherapy. However, they are not natural and can also have negative impacts on patients.

However, using cannabis for treatment and lifting nausea and vomiting is another option.

One study put into use an oral spray containing CBD and THC with a placebo who didn’t receive the treatment. As a result, a decrease in nausea and vomiting for half of the participating patients in the study was the conclusion.

Other studies also show how effective CBD is in helping to control nausea.

2. Fights Chronic Pain

During chemotherapy, patients suffer from chronic pain. Although they learn to live with it, it can result in other medical conditions as the body cannot take continuous pain. In most cases, opioids prescriptions administration is what the patients receive.

However, these also have a range of side effects, including:
●Improper sleep.
●Addiction and over dependence.
●Nausea.
●Vomiting.

Cannabidiol is a compound present in different cannabis plants. It aids in providing relief from chronic pain. CBD eliminates chances of over dependence as it is not addictive, improves your ability to tolerate pain, and above all, fights nausea and vomiting.

Besides, THC also has an essential factor to play in relieving chronic pain. Strains such as pink kush have high levels of THC. Yet, their medical benefits include being a reliable and highly effective pain reliever and anti-inflammatory agent.

The strain is also useful in providing relief, especially from back pain, muscle spasms, and even chronic migraines. As a result, it is essential to have both cannabinoid contents for the successful treatment of chemotherapy symptoms.

3. Anxiety and Sleep disorders

The pain and impact of cancer treatment on your loved ones, among others, lead to stress, depression, anxiety, and lack of sleep. Individuals are afraid of sleeping due to nightmares regarding their medical conditions. For others, it is the pain and difficulty in going through all sleep stages without waking up.

Sleep deprivation affects your overall immune system. Studies indicate that quality medical marijuana from reputable sources such as online dispensary Canada will aid in inducing sleep for cancer patients through all the sleep cycles. As a result, the patients rest well, and the immune system improves.

Better sleep prevents anxious thoughts, ensures body and mind relaxation, and patients become calm. It eliminates the need for anxiety and depression treatment. Also, cannabis induces relaxation and has therapeutic effects that help in treating depression and anxiety.

4. Prevents growth of tumors

According to different studies, cannabis has links that indicate its ability to slow down and in some cases, kill cancer-related cells in the body. These research studies are not yet conclusive on using cannabis as a significant treatment component for individuals who have cancer.

However, they do indicate their ability to slow the development of metastatic breast cancer cells, glioblastoma, and liver cancer.

Also, evidence indicates that cannabis necessarily does not treat cancer but provides an environment in which cancer treatment can suppress the growth of cancer tumors.

Also, CBD present in marijuana has a degree of preventative properties, which is essential in preventing brain, thyroid, and even prostate cancer.

Conclusion

Many studies indicate cannabis is essential in the treatment of cancer. However, it is always important to seek professional advice when it comes to cancer treatment options.

Knowing how to dose your cannabis intake and the possible interactions it has with current medications is crucial. Besides, you need to understand how best to take cannabis to get the most benefits out of it as a whole.