Are you dealing with chronic pain or depression? While Dr. Scot DePue at Keystone Advanced Ketamine Therapy offers ketamine treatment to alleviate depression symptoms, he also offers other cutting-edge therapies, including medical marijuana.
Below, Dr. DePue shares five reasons medical marijuana may be right for you.
1. CHRONIC PAIN IS AFFECTING YOUR QUALITY OF LIFE
Chronic pain is debilitating and can compromise your physical and mental well-being. Medical marijuana may be right for you if you’re one of the 50 million Americans struggling with chronic pain.
How does it work? You have endocannabinoid receptors throughout your body, and medical marijuana attaches to these receptor sites. When marijuana attaches (or binds) to the receptor sites in your nerve cells, it helps relax your nerves and prevents them from sending too many “pain messages” to your brain.
You may also consider medical marijuana if your stomach can’t tolerate over-the-counter painkillers (some may cause nausea) or if you want to reduce your dependence on opioids.
2. YOU HAVE AN UNDERLYING MEDICAL CONDITION
Many cancer patients have relied on medical marijuana to:
- Alleviate pain from tumors as well as pain from cancer treatments
- Relieve nausea and vomiting from chemotherapy
Medical marijuana doesn’t just support those with cancer. Just like cannabinoids soothe your nerves linked to chronic pain, they can also relax the nerves in your digestive system. This means medical marijuana can help reduce inflammation in your gut as well as stimulate your appetite. You may benefit from medical marijuana if you have digestive disorders such as Crohn’s disease, diarrhea, constipation, gas, bloating, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), heartburn, or gastrointestinal reflux disease (GERD).
Medical marijuana is also beneficial for those diagnosed with two rare types of epilepsy: Dravet syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome. Symptoms associated with multiple sclerosis, hepatitis C, lupus, glaucoma, and Parkinson’s disease may also be reduced with medical marijuana.
3. SLEEPING WELL IS DIFFICULT FOR YOU
Sleep isn’t a luxury; it’s a necessity. Getting enough sleep is vital for your mind and body to function properly. Sleep allows your body time to renew, refresh, and heal. A chronic lack of sleep can increase brain fog, sabotage your immune system, and contribute to poor mood. Unfortunately, there are many reasons why you might struggle to log enough hours of sleep. Aging, hormonal shifts, an overpacked schedule, poor sleep hygiene, chronic pain, and stress all contribute to insomnia.
Not only does medical marijuana help alleviate pain, but research shows that medical marijuana also allows you to get the sleep you need, which is a big pinch point for those with chronic pain.
Researchers are in the early stages of studying the possibility of using medical marijuana as a possible option for obstructive sleep apnea.
4. YOU’RE DIAGNOSED WITH ANXIETY, DEPRESSION, OR PTSD
Did you know your endocannabinoid system helps regulate emotions? According to a 2015 review, medical marijuana helps those with anxiety disorders, especially social anxiety disorder. Medical marijuana reduces PTSD symptoms because it interacts with your amygdala, a part of your brain associated with fear responses.
5. YOU’RE LOOKING FOR WAYS TO SUPPORT BRAIN HEALTH
Cannabinoids have neuroprotective qualities, which means medical marijuana can protect your brain e.g., after a traumatic brain injury or a stroke. Additional studies demonstrate medical marijuana can help prevent and treat Alzheimer’s disease.
At Keystone Advanced Ketamine Therapy, it’s our mission to support those with chronic pain, PTSD, migraines, and other conditions that affect their quality of life. To learn more about medical marijuana and find out if it’s right for you, call our Wyomissing, Pennsylvania office at 610-334-8131. You request an appointment via our website.
