Can medical marijuana help with Sickle Cell Anemia?

 

Sickle cell anemia is a rare condition suffered by thousands of Americans and according to statistics, about 1% of African American babies come out as sickle cell patients. Sickle cell is very detrimental, and most patients usually die before reaching maturity. The patients who struggle to survive usually result in costly medications which greatly reduces income over the long run. The symptoms of sickle cell can lead to death and due to the expensive nature of prescription medications, most patients are now looking at alternative ways to gain relief from the symptoms of sickle cell. While there is no current cure for sickle cell, several studies are linking medical marijuana as a perfect way to relieve the severe symptoms of sickle cell. This article focuses on the link between medical cannabis and sickle cell to help patients that want to consider using medical cannabis as an alternative treatment. 

 

  

 

What Is Sickle Cell Anemia?

Sickle cell anemia is a condition that makes red blood cells eventually break down. It’s a genetic disorder that results when the body starts generating unusual hemoglobin known as hemoglobin S. Hemoglobin helps carry oxygen in red blood cells. Red blood cells usually have a circular shape, but defective hemoglobin can cause red blood cells to take a sickle shape. When red blood cells form this structure, it becomes difficult for blood flow and oxygen to move to different parts of the body, and this results in sickle cell anemia.

 

Sickle cell patients undergo symptoms such as vision loss, slow puberty, and slow growth rate. Also, sickle cell patients experience chronic pain called “sickle pain” due to inflammation of the circulatory system. This causes high pain and discomfort which is very hard on the patients.

 

A potential cure for sickle cell anemia involves a blood marrow transplant. But its costly nature makes it difficult for most people to receive a transplant. The common medications for sickle cell side effects include pain relievers and antibiotics. While these medications can treat the side effects of sickle cell, they can also cause their side effects. This has made most sufferers consider cannabis as a perfect way to gain relief from sickle cell symptoms.

 

Medical Marijuana and Sickle Cell Anemia

Medical marijuana can help sufferers of sickle cell anemia to gain relief. Medical marijuana may help relieve some symptoms of sickle cell anemia including chronic pain. The primary compound in medical marijuana, CBD has pain-relieving properties that have been tested and proven by researchers. Cannabis also has anti-inflammatory properties that benefit sickle cell patients.

 

Apart from pain, medical marijuana can help sickle cell patients with anxiety and depression that originates from severe pain. Medical marijuana also works as an appetite enhancer for patients finding difficulties in eating. It can also help reduce mood swings and relieve inflammation in sickle cell patients.

 

Bottom line

The benefits of medical marijuana on sickle cell patients are many, so if you consider using medical marijuana for sickle cell talk to your physician to gain more information about dosage and the best strains.  

 

Cannabis and Hair Color

The hair is a vital part of the body and plays a role in social functioning. Many factors can affect hair including cannabis. It's known for stimulating hair growth as well as nourishes the scalp. According to recent reports, cannabis may also have the potential to change hair color. But does cannabis actually change hair color, read on to find out.

 

Can cannabis affect my hair color?

Presently, there is a lack of significant studies showing how cannabis consumption can affect hair color. Hair is something that comes from our genes, which means hair color can vary from one individual to another.  

 

When we consume cannabis, its cannabinoids enter the body through the veins and interact with cannabinoid receptors found on different parts of the body, responsible for different effects. When we consume cannabis, THC usually enter the enters the papilla, which is where actual hair growth occurs, promoting hair growth and acting as an active hair booster.

 

 

 

The science behind hair color

The color of our hair is genetic. But due to the change in genes, as we grow, our hair color can likely change. The genes which generate hair color are ones that make pigment in our skin. Thus, the color of our skin and our hair color all result from one pigment.

 

This pigment in charge of body and hair color comes from a group of cells called melanocytes. If these cells produce heavy melanin, then it can result in darker hair color. Average amounts of melanin bring brown or black hair while low melanin brings blonde hair. Therefore, if you feel like your hair is becoming blonde due to cannabis consumption, it may be because cannabis reduces the amount of melanin in the hair, however, this is just a suggestion.

 

There are two types of melanin: eumelanin and pheomelanin. Both types of melanin are produced by the body. Eumelanin pigment is related to the dark nature of the hair while pheomelanin pigment is related to the red nature of the hair.  

 

The benefits of cannabis on the hair

Moisturizes and strengthens the hair: Those with dry hair tend to lose more hair. Moisturizing the hair will help achieve a healthy mane. One of the best ways to inject moisture into the hair is by using cannabis oil. Apart from moisturizing the hair, cannabis oil also helps strengthen the scalp.

 

Quick hair growth: Cannabis is rich in Omega-3, Omega-6, and Omega-9 fatty acids, which all invoke hair growth. Cannabis also fills hair follicles with moisture and eases the flow of blood across the scalp.

 

To conclude

Cannabis can affect the hair in different ways. However, there is a need for more studies on its effects on hair color. Cannabis may affect the production of melanin and change the color of our hair and body.  Some people acknowledge having blond hair, while others acknowledge having darker hair. Nonetheless, since cannabis affects each individual differently, what works for you might not work for others.

Health Benefits of Major Cannabinoids

 

Cannabinoids are the medicinal chemicals produced by the cannabis plant. There exist more than 110 cannabinoids in the cannabis plant. Each cannabis compound has unique properties and effects useful for medicinal or commercial purposes.

Major cannabinoids include CBGA, THCa, THC, CBG, THCV, CBD, CBN, and CBC. Let’s look at the health benefits of these major cannabinoids.

 

THC-Tetrahydrocannabinol

THC is the psychoactive cannabinoid found in the cannabis plant. It's produced when the cannabis plant is dried and placed under high temperatures. Research has shown that THC helps in various ways including. 

·         Reduces vomiting and nausea

·         Increases appetite

·         It is very anti-inflammatory

·         It acts as a neuroprotective antioxidant.

·         It can treat PTSD and Tourette syndrome.

·         Its effects can help those with anorexia and spasticity.

·         It can help with migraines

 

THCa- Tetrahydrocannabinolic Acid

THCa (tetrahydrocannibinolic acid) is not the same as THC. It is the uncured and undried form of THC. THCa has anti-proliferative and anti-inflammatory properties which means it can prevent the spread of cancer cells in the body. Another benefit of THCa is its anti-spasmodic properties, which can help with muscle spasms and seizures.

 

CBD- Cannabidiol

CBD is a very popular cannabinoid known for its medicinal properties. CBD is non-psychoactive, which means it won’t get you high. Most people use CBD as an alternative to pharmaceutical pills due to its lack of side effects. Let’s look at the ways CBD is beneficial to your health.

It can help with anxiety, nausea, and rheumatoid arthritis.

It can also reduce seizures

It can stop inflammation

CBD also prevents the growth of cancer cells in the body

It can restore damaged neurons in the body

 

CBN- Cannabinol

Cannabinol is another form of THCA. This compound is produced when THCA is left to decompose fully. The easiest way to produce CBN is by allowing the cannabis plant under heat. Here is how CBN can be helpful to health

 

·         It has analgesic properties that can help with pain

·         It acts as an anticonvulsant for patients with seizures

·         It also acts as an anti-inflammatory agent.

 

CBC- Cannabichromene

Cannabichromene is a lesser-known cannabinoid. CBC is a product of cannabigerolic acid (CBGa). Despite its low popularity, it’s the third healthy cannabis compound after THC.

 

Research on CBD shows that It interacts with anandamide receptors to help fight against intestinal cancer cells.

·         It can also inhibit mucosal inflammation.

·         It can reduce intestinal dysmotility

·         It also acts as an antidepressant in patients finding difficulties with prescription meds.

 

CBG- Cannabigerol

Cannabigerolic-acid (CBGA) is the initial cannabinoid produced by the cannabis plant. It’s the only compound that is seen during the first growth stage of the cannabis plant. When the growth phase begins to change, CBGA starts reducing and apparently changes to more prominent THC compounds. CBG functions as an antagonist to CB1 and CB2 receptors which makes it good for recreational purposes. 

 

While CBG stands as the seed which other cannabinoids are produced, its medical benefits are not known. Several studies have been conducted for its antibacterial properties, but none of these studies have been published. Nonetheless, it’s still a prominent cannabis compound tipped to have health benefits.   

How long does marijuana stay in your system?

 

Cannabis is a very popular plant that comes in different forms including edibles, tinctures, joints, oils and more. To gain the benefits of cannabis, it must be ingested into the body. Depending on what quantity ingested into the system, cannabis may linger in your system for 60 days. However, since one system is different from another, the time frame in which cannabis will stay in your system can vary. Many parameters can influence the timeframe of cannabis in your system. Factors like body metabolism, rate of consumption, body mass index, and ingestion method all influence the longevity of cannabis in your system.

If you just started consuming cannabis for the first time, then there’s a high chance that it can disappear after 2 days without consumption. On the other hand, people who consume cannabis every day will still have cannabis in their system unless they stop consuming cannabis for 60 days.

The method of ingestion highly influences the time frame in which cannabis stays in your system. When you consume cannabis in the form of joints, it instantly shows in your bloodstream. However, joints take shorter periods to disappear from your bloodstream.

Consuming cannabis through edibles takes a few hours before it shows in your bloodstream. This is because your system needs to digest the edibles before it becomes effective. Unlike joints, edibles stay in the bloodstream body for longer periods.

After consuming cannabis, it remains in your blood, urine and hair. The fatty acids found in your urine and hair attract cannabis and make it stay there for longer periods.

According to several studies, constantly exercise after long periods of abstaining from cannabis can re-ignite THC, the psychoactive cannabinoid.

 

Factors that influence the longevity of cannabis in your system

Several individual and external variables play a role in the longevity of cannabis, including:

• Body fat percentage
• Frequency of consumption
• Daily consumption rate
• Daily Exercises
• Ingestion method

THC is a fat-soluble cannabinoid that interacts with the fatty acids in your body. High body fats attract high THC. So, if you are a daily cannabis consumer with excess fat in your body then you will be storing enough THC in your body.

The factors that influence the longevity of cannabis in your system are quite logical and it all boils down to one thing; increasing your rate of consumption will result in cannabis staying longer in your system. Daily cannabis consumption also builds the concentration of cannabinoids in your system.

Bottom line

There is no precise response to how long cannabis lingers in your bloodstream. What may work for you may not work for others, so ensure to consider your rate of consumption if you want to reduce the amount of cannabis in your system.

Long-term cannabis consumers will have more cannabis in their bloodstream than novice cannabis consumers.

Also, if you plan on passing a drug test on cannabis, ensure to respect the 60 days of withdrawal, shave your hair and abstain from exercises.

Medical Marijuana for Pets

 

The popularity of medical cannabis is due to its impacts not only on humans but also on pets. Most pet owners now want to use medical cannabis for the wellness of their pets after realizing that this organic supplement can work in combination with traditional pet medication.

 

Is medical marijuana good for pets?

From time to time, our pets are usually affected by conditions such as anxiety, pain, and depression. These conditions can sometimes be detrimental and most pet owners usually choose traditional medications to help reduce these symptoms. Conventional treatments may not work for your pets and sometimes it can lead to side effects. Cannabis is a natural treatment which can better replace pharmaceutical pills.  Cannabis has proven to be effective on humans and on pets. Also, it can reduce the side effects that come from using conventional medications.

Benefits

CBD is the primary cannabinoid responsible for bringing the health benefits of cannabis to pets. CBD is non-psychoactive which means it won’t make you or your pet to become impaired. Also, CBD offers numerous health benefits such as relief from pain relief and stress. Here are some common symptoms in pets that can be treated with CBD.

Seizures

Seizures is a debilitating that can affect the health of pets. It’s often followed by symptoms like anxiety and chronic pain. Seizures can be a detrimental condition to treat with regular medications, that’s why most pet owners are now turning their attention on medical marijuana as a way to combat these symptoms. CBD can reduce seizures and its aftereffects.

Depression and Anxiety

Pets also suffer anxiety and depression the same way as humans. Anxiety results from when there’s an imbalance of serotonin in the brain. CBD can help balance these serotonin levels and help to reduce anxiety. When CBD enters the body, it will interact with Serotonin and Adenosine receptors to increase brain function.

Pain and Inflammation

The ability to feel pain is regulated by the vanilloid receptor responsible. This receptor is also found in pets and helps to regulate pain and inflammation. When we consume CBD, it interacts with the vanilloid receptors to reduce swelling and pain. CBD also blocks the vanilloid receptors from sending pain signals to the brain. The ability of CBD to reduce pain in pets is due to its anti-inflammatory properties.

Bottom line

Most people will want to get the best treatment alternatives just to see their pet happy. Buying medical marijuana for pets will depend on the type of symptoms your pet is experiencing. Therefore, it might work for your pet and not work for others.

Medical marijuana for pets can be in the form of edibles, CBD oil, tinctures, gummies and more. Also ensure to read to dosage and ingredients of the product before administering to your pet.

Due to little research on CBD for pets, its safety and efficacy is still under debate. However, its recommended to consult your local physician to give you guidelines on how to administer medical marijuana to your pet.

Does Weed Kill Brain Cells? Marijuana's Impact on Your Brain

 Despite the fact that medical marijuana and even recreational marijuana is legal in many states, there are still concerns from some over the effects on the brain and in particular the long term effects of heavy marijuana use.

Marijuana affects the brain in a number of ways due to the variety of active ingredients. THC and CBD are both cannabinoids that mimic natural chemicals found in the brain and attach to cb1 receptors and cb2 receptors. As well as cannabinoids, terpenes are also thought to contribute to the effects of marijuana, with terpenes being thought to influence serotonin, dopamine and GABA activity.

Marijuana research is ongoing especially into the long term effects of marijuana, it’s many therapeutic health effects and the potential harmful effects. Does cannabis kill brain cells? It’s possible that marijuana kills brain cells, but more research is needed to fully understand how marijuana affects the brain.

If you are using cannabis for medicinal purposes you can apply online for a doctor's recommendation and medical marijuana card today giving you access to the safest possible marijuana as well as dosage advice from licensed medical dispensaries.

Short-term Effects of the Marijuana Plant

Most cannabis users are more concerned with the short-term effects of eaten or smoked marijuana for the recreational effects of euphoria, getting high, or the medical benefits including pain relief and the ability to reduce nausea, anxiety and depression.

As already mentioned cannabis affects the brain by binding with cannabinoid receptors in the brain altering normal brain communications. Cannabinoids affect the areas of the brain that are linked to pleasure, movement and coordination, memory, concentration and thinking as well as time and sensory perceptions.

For most people their reactions to cannabis are pleasant and even medically beneficial, however not everyone will have a positive reaction. Either way the short term effects of cannabis wear off within a few hours.

However it is the long term effects that many people are worried about, and the damage that could be caused by prolonged use..

Long-term Marijuana Impacts on the Brain

According to the national institute on drug abuse there is significant evidence, primarily from animal studies but also increasingly from human studies that exposing the adolescent brain to cannabis can have lasting and irreversible effects on brain development.

One of marijuana’s effects in rats exposed at a young age is to alter their reward system making them more likely to indulge in substance abuse later in life by self administering drugs such as heroin. This is one of the reasons that cannabis is considered to be a gateway drug and a key reason why drug education is needed.

There are studies that have linked early marijuana use to reduced IQ and it is these studies that have given rise to the claims that smoking cannabis can kill brain cells. A New Zealand study looked at persistent marijuana use disorder starting in adolescence showed that heavy use was associated with a loss of 6-8 IQ points by mid-adulthood, furthermore those that used heavily as teenagers and quit as adults did not recover those IQ points but those who didn’t start until adulthood didn’t suffer the same loss of IQ.

Studies have also shown a loss in memory function in long term cannabis users due to its effects on the hippocampus region of the brain.

More research is needed to really determine whether or not heavy use of cannabis causes brain damage in the same way as alcohol or cannabis use. However we do know that users develop a tolerance to cannabis over time which means people need to use more heavily to get the same effects.

Cannabis Use Disorders

Cannabis use disorders or addiction can happen with marijuana users leading to substance abuse however is less likely to cause addiction than many other drugs.

Like other common additions including gambling addiction, sugar addiction, sex addiction, social media addiction, porn addiction or even opioid addiction, addiction affects can be both physical and mental and caution should be exercised of you are planning marijuana detox.

If you are suffering from marijuana abuse disorder you should seek addiction treatment and talk to a treatment provider who can provide medical advice. Treatment centers are a good place to seek advice if you have questions about treatment.

Interestingly CBD can be used therapeutically to help avoid relapse when giving up other addictive substances due to its ability to reduce anxiety and stress levels. Research is also being conducted into CBD’s potential to reduce cravings associated with drug and alcohol withdrawal.

CBD does not make you high but does have many therapeutic benefits. Although it can be useful in alcoholism treatment marijuana smoke is unlikely to be used for inpatient rehab.

Synthetic Marijuana

Synthetic marijuana is an illegal man made substance that can have some very toxic and damaging effects. Synthetic cannabis also known as spice has become popular despite its negative effects. A synthetic cannabinoid binds with cannabinoid receptors in the brain in the same way as cannabinoids in marijuana but can have much more intense effects and in some cases be life threatening.

Synthetic cannabinoids do not have medicinal benefits and can be far more dangerous and addictive than marijuana. Synthetic marijuana use can cause many side effects such as memory loss, seizures, psychosis, paranoia, hallucinations, violence, kidney damage and even brain damage. Addiction can lead to all these problems as well as leading to risky behaviors.

To ensure you are getting real marijuana and not synthetic cannabinoids sprayed onto dried plant matter you should always use a licensed cannabis dispensary. Licensed dispensaries only sell cannabis that has been legally grown and tested to ensure it is genuine. To get access to medical dispensaries you can apply for a medical card online today.

What Causes Bloodshot Eyes When Smoking Weed and How to Treat

 Lots of people get eye redness when they smoke cannabis and red eyes after smoking can be a giveaway sign that someone has consumed cannabis. For some people, red-eye is a given, while for others their eyes turning red only occurs sometimes, usually depending on the strength or the quantity of cannabis consumed.

So what causes red-eye when people smoke marijuana and is there anything you can do to limit, prevent or get rid of red bloodshot eyes?

What Causes Red Bloodshot Eyes?

The primary reason your eyes get red after smoking is that THC lowers blood pressure, in fact it initially causes increased heart rate and blood pressure but this quickly subsides and the blood pressure decreases.

When blood pressure lowers this causes blood vessels and capillaries to dilate leading to increased blood flow.THC is one of the main cannabinoids found in cannabis and the one that is responsible for getting you high, and also the compound that means medical marijuana is used to treat many medical conditions including chronic pain, nausea, anxiety and glaucoma.

To access medical marijuana in California you need a medical card. Talk to a medical marijuana doctor online today and get your recommendation in minutes.

When ocular capillaries dilate this results in increased blood flow to the eyes which will reduce intraocular pressure. Increased blood flow to the eyes causing blood vessels to dilate is what gives you red eyes after smoking but when you reduce intraocular pressure this can help treat glaucoma.

Glaucoma is a disorder where the optic nerve is damaged, usually by fluid building up causing increased pressure. A condition that can eventually lead to blindness. The effects of THC can reduce that pressure, making red eyes an inconvenient side effect for some and a reason to smoke weed for others.

The fact that this effect is caused by THC can explain why you might not always get red eyes after smoking. Smoking a high THC strain will get you high but is very likely to give you bloodshot eyes. However low THC strains can deliver many medicinal benefits without causing blood vessels to dilate and making our eyes red when we smoke.

This means that changing your strain to one with a lower THC content can reduce red eyes from cannabis, but it will not have the same effect on intraocular pressure and thus not be as effective at treating glaucoma.

Does Eating Weed Make Your Eyes Red?

You might be wondering if edibles make your eyes red in the same way as smoked cannabis. The answer is yes. It is the amount of THC in the bloodstream that will cause red eyes not how it got there so whether you eat it or smoke it doesn’t really make a difference.

How do You Get Rid of Red Eyes?

First of all it is worth noting that your eyes turning red after smoking is not harmful, and your eyes will naturally return to normal as the effects of THC wear off and increased blood flow reduces.

In fact for some people increased blood flow to the eyes and decreased intraocular pressure is actually the effect they are looking for to treat the symptoms of their medical condition.

And even if the potential benefits of lower blood pressure are not the effects you are seeking, red eyes can still be seen as a positive effect. The more red your eyes get the more THC you have in your bloodstream, and if you are looking to get high this is a good thing.

However if you would rather not broadcast the fact you have been smoking cannabis there are a few things you can do to reduce and even get rid of red eyes.

Firstly, the easiest method is to not get red eyes in the first place by choosing strains that are lower in THC or not smoking as much. Depending on your medical condition you may be able to get the relief you need without any unwanted side effects. Talk to your dispensary, your doctor or other people with the same condition to see if there are strains they would recommend to treat your condition that are lower in THC. And don’t be afraid to experiment with different strains.

If you find yourself with bloodshot eyes there are a number of things you can do. One option is to schedule your treatment or smoking times so that no-one is going to notice your eyes, choose times when you can stay at home, or even have a pair of dark glasses for if you do have to go out.

Using an eye drop that is formulated to reduce red eyes. Eye drops can get rid of red eyes if they contain an active ingredient that constricts blood vessels returning the white of the eye to its natural color. Cold water can also restrict blood vessels so splashing your eyes with cold water can help, and caffeine, chocolate and salt are also known to cause vasoconstriction although it’s unlikely this will be as effective as specifically designed eye drops.

Staying hydrated will help prevent any discomfort from dry eyes, as the better hydrated you are the less likely your eyes will get dry, but as red bloodshot eyes are caused by THC interacting with cannabinoid receptors and dilating blood vessels, drinking more water is unlikely to help you get rid of red eye.

And finally remember that if you sit back and relax red eyes will eventually subside and your eyes will go back to normal without causing you any harm.

If you are using cannabis medicinally you can get a marijuana card today and start accessing the best quality weed at lower prices.