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Medical benefits of marijuana You will be surprised to know why studies have been done on this herb, and for your favor, here is the list of 20 medical benefits of marijuana you probably never knew! 1. Slow and stop cancer cells from spreading It was found in the study, published in the journal Molecular Cancer Therapeutics, that Cannabidiol has the ability to stop cancer by turning off a gene called Id-1. [1] In 2007, researchers at California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco, reported that CBD may prevent cancer from spreading. The researchers experimented on breast cancer cells in the lab that had high level of Id-1, and treated them with cannabidiol. The outcome was rather positive, the cells had decreased Id-1 expression, and were less aggressive spreaders. In fact, the American Association for Cancer Research has found that marijuana actually works to slow down tumor growth in brain, breast, and lungs considerately. 2. Prevent Alzheimer’s THC, the active ingredient present in marijuana slows the progression of Alzheimer’s disease, a 2006 study led by Kim Janda of the Scripps Research Institute found out. THC slows the formation of amyloid plaques by blocking the enzyme in the brain that makes them. These plaques kill the brain cells, and potentially lead to Alzheimer’s disease. ADVERTISING 3. Treat Glaucoma Marijuana can be used to treat glaucoma, which increases the pressure in the eyeball, injuring the optic nerve and causing loss of vision. According to National Eye Institute, marijuana lowers the pressure inside the eye,[2] “Studies in the early 1970s showed that marijuana, when smoked, lowered intraocular pressure (IOP) in people with normal pressure and those with glaucoma.” These effects of the drug can prevent blindness. 4. Relieve Arthritis In 2011, researchers reported that cannabis reduces pain and inflammation, and promotes sleep, which may help relieve pain and discomfort for people with rheumatoid arthritis. Researchers of the rheumatology units at several hospitals gave their patients Sativex, a cannabinoid-based pain-relieving medicine. After two weeks, patients on Sativex had a significant reduction in pain, and improved better sleep quality compared to placebo users. 5. Control Epileptic seizure A 2003 study showed that marijuana use can control epileptic seizure.[3] Robert J. DeLorenzo, of Virginia Commonwealth University, gave marijuana extract and synthetic marijuana to epileptic rats. The drugs stopped the seizures in about 10 hours. It is found out that the THC controlled the seizures by binding the brain cells responsible for controlling excitability and regulating relaxation. The results were published in the Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics.[4] 6. Ease the pain of multiple sclerosis Marijuana works to stop the negative neurological effects and muscle spasms caused by multiple sclerosis. A study published in the Canadian Medical Association suggests that marijuana may ease painful symptoms of multiple sclerosis. Jody Cory Bloom studied 30 multiple sclerosis patients with painful contractions in their muscles. These patients didn’t respond to other medications, but after smoking marijuana for few days, they reported that they were in less pain. The THC in the pot bonds the receptors in the nerves and and muscles to relieve pain. 7. Soothe tremors for people with Parkinson’s disease Recent studies from Israel shows that smoking marijuana remarkably reduces pains and tremors and improves sleep for Parkinson’s disease patients. What was impressive about the research was the improvement of the fine motor skills among patients. Israel has made medical marijuana legal, and a lot of research into the medical uses of weed is done there, supported by the Israeli Government.[5] 8. Help with Crohn’s disease Cannabis may be helpful with curing Crohn’s disease. Crohn’s disease is an inflammatory bowel disorder that causes pain, vomiting, diarrhea, weight loss, and more. ADVERTISING But a recent study in Israel showed that smoking a joint considerably reduced Crohn’s disease symptoms in 10 out of 11 patients, and caused a complete cancellation of the disease in five of those patients. Of course, this is a small study, but other researches have shown similar results. The cannabinoids from cannabis seem to help the gut control bacteria and intestinal function. 9. Decrease the symptoms of Dravet’s Syndrome Dravet Syndrome causes seizures and severe developmental delays. Dr. Sanjay Gupta, renowned chief medical correspondent for CNN, is treating a five years old girl, Charlotte Figi, who has Dravet’s Syndrome, with medical marijuana strain high in cannabidiol and low in THC. During the research for his documentary “WEED”, Gupta interviewed the Figi family, and according to the film, the drug decreased her seizures from 300 a week to just one every seven days. Forty other children are using the same medication, and it has helped them too. The doctors who are recommending this medication say that the cannabidiol in the plant interacts with the brain cells to quiet the excessive activities in the brain that causes the seizures. 10. Lessen side effects from treating Hepatitis C, and increase treatment effectiveness Treating Hepatitis C infection has severe side effects, so severe that many people are unable to continue their treatment. Side effects range from fatigue, nausea, muscle pains, loss of appetite, and depression- and they last for months. But, pot to the rescue: A 2006 study in the European Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology discovered that 86% of patients using marijuana successfully finished their therapies, while only 29% of the non-smokers completed their treatments, maybe because marijuana helps to lessen the treatments’ side effects. Cannabis also helps to improve the treatment’s effectiveness. 54% of the Hep C patients smoking marijuana got their viral levels low, and kept them low, compared to the only 8% of the non-smokers. 11. Decrease anxiety In 2010, researchers at Harvard University suggested that another of the drug’s benefits may actually be reduced anxiety, which would improve the smoker’s mood and act as a sedative in low doses. [6] Beware, though, higher doses may increase anxiety and make you paranoid. 12. Help reverse the carcinogen effects of tobacco, and improve lung health In January 2012, a study published in Journal of the American Medical Association showed that marijuana improved lung functions, and even increased lung capacity. Researchers looking for risks factors of heart disease, tested on 5,115 young adults, over the period of 20 years, and found out that only pot users showed an increase in lung capacity, compared to the tobacco smokers who lost lung function over time. It is believed that the increased lung capacity is due to the deep breaths taken while inhaling the drug, and not from a therapeutic chemical in the drug. ADVERTISING 13. Reduce severe pain, and nausea from chemo, and stimulates appetite One of the most common uses of medical marijuana is for people going through chemotherapy. Cancer patients going through chemo suffer from severe pains, painful nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite. This can lead to further health complications. Marijuana can help reduce these side effects, reducing pain, decreasing nausea, and stirring up the appetite. Also, there are other FDA approved cannabinoid drugs that use THC, for the same purposes.[7] 14. Improve symptoms of Lupus, an autoimmune disorder. Medical marijuana is used to treat the autoimmune disorder called Systemic Lupus Ertyhematosus, which is when the body starts attacking itself for unknown reasons. It is believed that some chemicals present in cannabis is responsible to calm the immune system, which maybe the reason to help deal with symptoms of Lupus. The rest of the positive impact of the marijuana is probably from the effects of the pain and nausea. 15. Protect brain after a stroke. Research (done on rats, mice, and monkeys) from University of Nottingham shows that cannabis may help protect the brain from damage caused by a stroke by reducing the size of the area affected by the stroke. This isn’t the only research that has shown neuroprotective effects from cannabis. Some research shows that the plant may help protect the brain after other traumatic events like concussions. 16. Help veterans suffering from PTSD Marijuana is approved to treat PTSD in some states in America.[8] In New Mexico, PTSD is the number one reason for people to get a license for medical marijuana, but this is the first time U.S. Government’s The Department of Health and Human Services has approved a proposal that incorporates smoked or vaporized marijuana. Naturally occurring cannabinoids, similar to THC, help control the system that causes fear and anxiety in the body and brain. 17. Control other types of muscle spasms Other types of muscle spasms respond to marijuana too. Dr. Gupta’s patient, Chaz, has a condition called myoclonus diaphragmatic flutter (also known as Leeuwenhoek’s Disease).[9] This causes non stop spasming in the abdominal muscles which are not only painful, but interfere with breathing and speaking. Chaz has been using medical marijuana to treat this disease because other very strong medications were unable to treat him properly. Smoking marijuana is able to calm to calm the attacks almost immediately, relaxing the mucles of the diaphragm also. 18. Treat inflammatary bowel diseases Just like Crohn’s disease, patients with other inflammatory bowel diseases like ulcerative colitis could benefit from marijuana use, studies suggest. ADVERTISING In 2010, University of Nottingham researchers have found that chemicals in marijuana, including THC, and cannabidiol, interact with cells in the body that play an important role in gut function, and immune system.[10] THC like chemicals made by the body increase the permeability of the intestines, allowing bacteria in. The plant-derived cannabinoids in marijuana block these body-cannabinoids, stopping this permeability, and making the intestinal bond tighter together. 19. Help eliminate nightmares This is a bit complicated because it involves both positive and negative effects. Marijuana may disturb the sleep cycle by interrupting the later stages of REM sleep. However, people who suffer from serious nightmares, especially patients with PTSD, this can be helpful. Nightmares and other dreams occur during those same stages of sleep. By interrupting REM sleep, many of those dreams may not occur. Research using a synthetic cannabinoid, like THC, showed a decrease in the number of nightmares in patients with PTSD.[11] Marijuana maybe a better sleep aid than some other medications or even alcohol because the latter two may potentially have worse effects on sleep, though more research is needed on the topic. 20. Protect the brain from concussion and trauma A recent study in the journal Cerebral Cortex showed possibilities that marijuana can help heal the brain after a concussion, or other traumatic injury. In the journal it was said that the experiments were done on mice, and that marijuana lessened the bruising of the brain, and helped with healing mechanisms after a traumatic injury.[12] Harvard professor emeritus of psychiatry and marijuana advocate Lester Grinspoon recently wrote an open letter to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodall, saying that NFL should stop testing players for marijuana, and instead should fund for research on marijuana plant’s ability to protect the brain. In the open letter, he writes,[13] “Already many doctors and researchers believe that marijuana has incredibly powerful neuroprotective properties, an understanding based on both laboratory, and clinical data.” In response, Goodall recently mentioned that he’d consider permitting athletes to use marijuana if medical research shows that it’s an effective neuroprotective agent. These 20 medical benefits of marijuana are among the countless benefits this plant has. It is still puzzling how medical marijuana is still not legal in most of the country, and still retains such a negative reputation. Hopefully in the near future, medical science continues to prove its benefits in more fields, and make this plant a famous cure for all major kinds of ailments. Reference [1] ^ NCBI: Cannabidiol [2] ^ National Eye Institute: Glaucoma and Marijuana Use [3] ^ VCU: Marijuana and Its Receptor Protein [4] ^ Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics: The Endogenous Cannabinoid System Regulates Seizure Frequency and Duration in a Model of Temporal Lobe Epilepsy [5] ^ USA Today: Israel pushing ahead in medical marijuana industry [6] ^ Harvard: Medical Marijuana and the Mind [7] ^ Cancer.gov: Marijuana and Cancer [8] ^ HelpGuide: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) [9] ^ The New England Journal of Medicine: Respiratory Myoclonus (Leeuwenhoek’s Disease) [10] ^ Aspet: Pharmacalogical Effects of Cannabinoids [11] ^ NCBI: The use of a synthetic cannabinoid in the management of treatment-resistant nightmares in posttraumatic stress disorder [12] ^ Oxford Academic: CB1 and CB2 Cannabinoid Receptor Antagonists Prevent Minocycline-Induced Neuroprotection Following Traumatic Brain Injury in Mice [13] ^ Motherboard: The NFL Should Combat Concussions with Cannabis Share Pin it Tweet Share Email MORE BY THIS AUTHOR Sumaiya Kabir Writer 15 Best Autobiographies Everyone Should Read At Least Once In Their Lives 20 Medical Benefits of Marijuana You Probably Never Knew Science Says People Who Talk To Themselves Are Geniuses Quotes From Socrates That Are Full Of Wisdom 10 Little Things Happy Couples Do Every Day TRENDING IN HEALTH 15 Simple Ways to Relieve Stress Effectively 210 Easy Ways To Practice Mindfulness 33 Reasons Why Mental Health Is So Important 420 Best Guided Meditations for Sleep and Insomnia 5How to Live Longer? 21 Ways to Live a Long Life READ NEXT 11 Ways to Get More Energy in the Morning Instantly 15 Healthy Recipes for Dinner (For Fast Weight Loss) 7 Natural Ways to Boost Your Immune System 7 Self-Soothing Techniques for Stress and Anxiety Relief ADVERTISING LIFESTYLE HEALTH ADVERTISING Last Updated on May 13, 2020 5 Simple Ways to Relieve Stress Effectively Cece Suwal Coauthor of "A Guide to Your Supreme Power" and Cofounder of The One World Initiative Read full profile Share Pin it Tweet Share Email Everyone experiences mental stress at one time or another. Maybe you’re starting a new career, just had your first child, or are having money trouble. You may feel overwhelmed between work, parenting, and your love life (or a lack of it). It could even be that you simply feel that you have way too much to do and not enough time to do it. We all experience mental stress from time-to-time, and that’s okay as long as you have the tools, techniques, and knowledge that will allow you to learn how to relieve stress once it comes. Here are 5 tips for relieving mental stress so you can function at your best while feeling good (and doing well) in work, love, or life. 1. Get Rationally Optimistic Mental stress starts with your perception of your experiences. For instance, most people get stressed out when they perceive their reality as “being wrong” in some way. Essentially, they have a set idea of how things “should be” at any given moment, and when reality ends up being different (not even necessarily bad), they get stressed. This process is simply a result of perception and can be easily fixed by recognizing that although life might not always be going as you think it should, you can still benefit from the moment and find things to be grateful for. ADVERTISING In fact, once you fully recognize that everything in your life ultimately happens for your own growth, progress, and development—so you can achieve your goals and dreams—your perception works in your favor. You soon process and respond to your experience of life differently, for your advantage. That’s the essence of becoming “rationally optimistic.” Some people may find the process of going from pessimistic to optimistic difficult. To get started, try writing down three good things that happen each day. This will begin to help you realign the way you think and find moments of gratitude. 2. Unplug Through Meditation Just like you might need to unplug your computer when it starts acting all crazy, you should also “unplug” your mind when your thoughts go into a mental tailspin. How on earth do you unplug your mind? Simple: just meditate. It isn’t nearly as difficult or complicated as some people think, so, if you don’t already meditate, give it a try. Whether you meditate for 5 minutes, 30 minutes, or 2 hours, this is a surefire way to reduce mental stress. ADVERTISING Meditation has been scientifically proven to relax your body (resulting in less mental stress), while also reducing anxiety and high blood pressure.[1] If you’re not quite ready to try meditation, start by trying to focus on your breath from time to time. Feeling overwhelmed? Sit down and take five long, deep breaths. See how that changes how you’re feeling. 3. Go Easy on the Caffeine Yes, we know, we know—everyone loves a nice java buzz, and that’s okay, but there’s a fine line between a small caffeine pick-me-up and a racing heart and mind that throws you into a frenzy of mental stress. According to recent research, low doses of caffeine over time can actually improve your resilience to stress and anxiety, but high levels of continuous caffeine intake has the opposite effect[2]. The point is that while one cup of coffee in the morning or a soda at lunch likely won’t hurt you, do your best to keep your caffeine intake low to ensure lower stress levels. If you’re ready for it, try giving up caffeine for a while and see how you feel. You can check out other natural ways to boost your energy instead. If that’s completely out of the question for you, at least try to minimize caffein intake. You might find that lots of your mental stress mysteriously “disappears” as your level of caffeine goes down. ADVERTISING 4. Relax the Body Through Supplements That’s right: your body and mind are part of the whole being, and they are constantly influencing and affecting each other. If you’re experiencing a lot of mental stress, try to reduce it by calming your body down—a calm body equals a calmer mind. How do you calm your body down and reduce physical stress? A  great way to reduce physical stress (thereby reducing mental stress) is to take natural supplements that are proven to reduce stress and anxiety while lifting your mood. Three good ones to look into are kava-kava, St. John’s wort, and rhodiola rosea. Kava-Kava Kava-kava is a natural plant known to have mild sedative properties, and you should be able to find it at your natural health food store or vitamin store. It’s available in capsules or liquid extract form. St. John’s Wort St. John’s wort is a naturally-growing flower used to treat depression. Again, it’s found at your local health store in capsules or liquid. Because it uplifts mood (enabling you to see the brighter side of all experiences) it helps relieve mental stress as well. Rhodiola Rosea Rhodiola rosea is a natural plant shown to reduce stress and uplift mood, and Russian athletes have been using it forever. Like the other two supplements mentioned, rhodiola rosea can be found at your natural health store in capsule or liquid form. ADVERTISING While these supplements are all natural and can be very helpful for most people, always check with your health care provider first as they can cause side-effects depending on your current health situation. 5. Do Some Good Old-Fashioned Exercise This tip has been around forever because it works. Nothing relieves mental stress like getting your heart rate up. Anything super-physical will wipe out most of your mental stresses once the exercise endorphins (happy chemicals) are released into your brain. The result: mental stress will diminish considerably. If you’re not currently an active person, that’s ok! Everyone has to start somewhere. If you’re not ready for a gym membership just yet, try going for a ten minute walk each day, or find an exercise buddy to join you at the local track. Pretty soon, you may find you’re motivated to try a new sport or check out that new Zumba class at the gym. Final Thoughts Stress happens to all of us, but we don’t have to let it control our lives. It will naturally come and go, but you can reduce the chunk of time it takes from your happiness by tapping into the tips above and finding what works for you. More Tips on How to Relieve Stress The Importance of Scheduling Downtime 3 Deep Breathing Exercises to Relax and Reduce Stress How to Stay Calm and Cool When You Are Extremely Stressed Featured photo credit: Radu Florin via unsplash.com Reference [1] ^ European Journal of Pharmaceutical and Medical Research: Reason for Health Benefits of Meditation: Self Organized Criticality Restores Regulation to Optimal [2] ^ Physiology & Behavior: Protective effect of low dose caffeine on psychological stress and cognitive function Share Pin it Tweet Share Email READ NEXT 11 Simple and Effective Ways to Manage Stress 11 Ways to Get More Energy in the Morning Instantly 15 Healthy Recipes for Dinner (For Fast Weight Loss) 7 Natural Ways to Boost Your Immune System