Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune disease that affects the brain and spinal cord. People with MS often experience muscle spasms, which can cause pain, stiffness, and loss of balance. For some people with MS or muscle spasms looking for relief without prescription drugs, cannabis may be a practical solution.
Do you want to know if someone with Multiple Sclerosis or Muscle Spasms can benefit from using cannabis? If so, then read on!
Cannabis is a psychoactive drug that produces feelings of euphoria and relaxation. It can also cause dry mouth, bloodshot eyes, increased appetite, sleepiness or drowsiness, slowed thinking, and other side effects. However, cannabis has been used for thousands of years to treat pain and other medical conditions. Today multiple sclerosis (MS) patients and others suffering from chronic pain are increasingly turning to cannabis for relief.
Is Cannabis Safe?
A person with Multiple Sclerosis, Muscle Spasms, or other conditions considering taking medical cannabis should speak to their doctor about potential risks and benefits before deciding. Although cannabis can be used by people with all types of health problems, it can have side effects and interact with some prescriptions.
The use of cannabis is also restricted by many jurisdictions worldwide, making safe access difficult for those who cannot or choose not to use illicit means. Patients are advised to speak to their primary care physician for these reasons before choosing medical cannabis as a treatment option.
What Conditions Can Cannabis Treat?
While research remains incomplete, some clinical studies indicate that cannabis may effectively treat the following conditions: muscle spasms (spasticity) – Multiple Sclerosis (MS), epilepsy, Crohn’s disease, irritable bowel syndrome. Most experts agree that more human-based studies are needed before reaching definitive conclusions on how cannabis may help those with these conditions.
How is Medical Cannabis Administered?
Cannabis can be ingested or smoked. It can also be used as an oil, applied topically (on the skin), or delivered rectally through a suppository. Like smoking tobacco, smoking cannabis — particularly long-term use — is linked to lung problems and possibly lung cancer.
Because medical cannabis is often inhaled, this method of administration may be an option for people who have Multiple Sclerosis or Muscle Spasms but don’t want to use other types of medication. Since the dosage and effects vary depending on the strain used, patients are advised to discuss their preferences with a doctor or pharmacist before beginning treatment.
Adequate dosing of medical cannabis can be challenging to determine because different products have different concentrations of active compounds, and some strains are known to work better than others. Medical cannabis also has various effects depending on the patient’s underlying conditions, tolerance levels, previous experience with marijuana, body weight, and other factors.
Do People with Multiple Sclerosis or Muscle Spasms Benefit from Using Cannabis?
People with multiple sclerosis (MS) and muscle spasms may benefit from using cannabis. However, not all people with these conditions respond to medical cannabis. Currently, there is no standardized dosing information for medical cannabis, so patients are advised to speak to their doctor or pharmacist before beginning treatment.
People who use medical cannabis should also be aware that there are different types of products available, and they may experience other effects of each kind. For example, some of the available cannabis products include:
– Dried plant material (buds) – typically smoked or vaporized
– Concentrates – resinous extracts of the cannabis plant (shatter, budder, oil)
– Edibles – Food products infused with cannabinoids.
– Tinctures and sprays – liquid extracts of the cannabinoid CBD that can be mixed into food or drink.