New Study Shows Medical Marijuana May Be A Cure For Migraines
In the wake of the breaking tragedy where doctors tried to mimic cannabis in a drug (which harmed chimps and left people dead and dying) we have actual good news regarding cannabis.
The natural plant wins over harmful drugs. Again.
A study has finally been done, which proves that medical marijuana treats migraines. Something like this has never been done before because of the federal regulations in the U.S. that prevent scientists from obtaining cannabis for their research. However, migraine and headache sufferers have been smoking pot to alleviate pain for years and now there is scientific evidence to confirm what they already knew.
The study was conducted at the University of Colorado’s Anschutz Medical Campus. One hundred and twenty one people who had diagnosed cases of migraines, were treated with medical marijuana between January 2010 and September 2014. Researchers found that, “migraines were reduced from over 10 a month to less than five per month. The majority of participants — 103 of them — reported a decrease in migraines overall. And only three saw an increase in migraines over the course of the trial”, reports Medical Daily.
The trial participants were able to use the cannabis in multiple ways; either smoking or eating it. Most people preferred to inhale the marijuana if they were treating headaches though, since it seemed to work faster than consuming it. Researchers hope this may jump start more research into the use of cannabis; currently, 23 states have legalized the use of medical marijuana.
From the article:
“There was a substantial improvement for patients in their ability to function and feel better. Like any drug, marijuana has potential benefits and potential risks. It’s important for people to be aware that using medical marijuana can also have adverse effects.”, said Laura Borgelt, a professor at the Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences and an author of the study, in a press release.”
Hence, researchers remain cautious with their results and note that weed isn’t the answer to every headache. It affects all people differently and they suggest, can have negative effects on health as well. Regardless, more research needs to be done to understand exactly how cannabis reduces migraines.
And it doesn’t stop there. There is a growing body of evidence that suggests cannabis has many other health benefits and deserves much more study. People suffering from mental health issues like stress, anxiety, PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) may be helped, those dealing with epilepsy, patients suffering painful effects of cancer treatment find respite, those with glaucoma, neurodegenerative diseases (think Parkinson’s), and it even has the potential to lower your chances of developing metabolic syndrome (which include high blood sugar, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol). The bottom line? We need more studies. We the people should demand more studies.
This is exciting news, people! Exciting!!
Source: Medical Daily
Rhyne D, Anderson S, Gedde M, Borgelt L. Effects of Medical Marijuana on Migraine Headache Frequency in an Adult Population. Pharmacotherapy, 2016.
