Cannabis has been used for centuries for recreational and medicinal purposes. The plant is now being legalized in more and more places, as people are beginning to appreciate its many potential health benefits. Even though researchers already have a pretty good idea of what cannabis does and how it works, they are still learning more daily.
If you are thinking of consuming cannabis but want to find out the various benefits first, here are six cannabis health benefits that you need to know.
Aid in Reducing Drug Addiction
One health benefit of cannabis that most people aren’t aware of is that cannabis can reduce drug addiction or cigarette addiction. It is mainly for those undergoing opioid withdrawal. One of the main reasons cannabis is so effective is because it works as a painkiller; when medical cannabis was permitted in the US in 2009, overdoses due to opioids were reduced by 25% the following year.
Help Treat Chronic Pain
The most significant health benefit of cannabis is that it is great for treating chronic pain, which is a driving factor in why cannabis was made legal for medicinal use. Cannabis treats pain in various ways; firstly, cannabis, when consumed in the right way and with the right products, which you can find here, is great for reducing inflammation and treating neuropathic pain. In addition, cannabis releases dopamine, which helps to reduce perceived pain levels. Cannabis is now becoming a popular treatment for those who have arthritis and fibromyalgia.
Reduced Symptoms of Stress and Anxiety
Another reason so many people are consuming cannabis is that it can help reduce the symptoms of anxiety and stress, as well as depression. One theory suggests that cannabis affects the amygdala (the area of the brain responsible for activating fear-related behaviors and threat detection) and helps change how the brain perceives threats. Take note that in higher doses, cannabis can make anxiety worse.
Reduce Tension
Another common reason people use cannabis for medical purposes is to reduce tension. Cannabis can do this since THC works as a muscle relaxant. Our physiological responses are a significant factor in our mental condition. For example, if you feel stiff, tense, and tight, you can get a headache, affecting your quality of life and making you feel more anxious, upset, or depressed.
Manage Body Weight
A benefit many people aren’t aware of when it comes to cannabis is that it can help you manage your body weight. It might sound a bit strange, primarily since cannabis is used by those undergoing chemotherapy to promote more eating. However, as it turns out, even though cannabis will make you eat more, you will weigh less. It’s because cannabis increases cellular metabolism, resulting in weight loss.
Manage Mental Health
Finally, many studies have been conducted over the last few years to understand the effects that cannabis has on our mental health. As mentioned above, cannabis seems promising for reducing the symptoms of depression and anxiety, but it might be the case that it can help with other conditions too. There have been promising results in studies related to cannabis and Alzheimer’s disease, as well as cannabis and schizophrenia.
Different Ways to Consume
Finally, when it comes to cannabis, there are quite a few ways to consume it, which can play a large role in its effectiveness. It is mainly because different consumption methods have longer onset times and durations and allow you to consume varying amounts. For example, if you were to use a joint to help you fall asleep, that would work; however, if you were to smoke a joint before bed to stay asleep throughout the night, it wouldn’t. It is because joints have an onset time of around 10 minutes, which will help you to fall asleep, but a duration of effects of just 2 hours, which wouldn’t allow you to stay asleep. Edibles, on the other hand, have a duration of effect of between 6-8 hours.
Krishan Jangir