{"id":10544,"date":"2024-11-20T00:03:00","date_gmt":"2024-11-20T00:03:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/cannabis.net\/blog\/medical\/autoimmune-conditions-are-rising-fast-in-american-medicine-can-cannabis-help"},"modified":"2024-11-20T00:03:00","modified_gmt":"2024-11-20T00:03:00","slug":"autoimmune-conditions-are-rising-fast-in-american-medicine-can-cannabis-help","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/autoimmune-conditions-are-rising-fast-in-american-medicine-can-cannabis-help\/","title":{"rendered":"Autoimmune Conditions Are Rising Fast in American Medicine, Can Cannabis Help?"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"wp_fb_like_button\" style=\"margin:5px 0 5px 5px;float:right;height:100px;\"><script src=\"http:\/\/connect.facebook.net\/en_US\/all.js#xfbml=1\"><\/script><fb:like href=\"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/autoimmune-conditions-are-rising-fast-in-american-medicine-can-cannabis-help\/\" send=\"true\" layout=\"standard\" width=\"450\" show_faces=\"false\" font=\"arial\" action=\"like\" colorscheme=\"light\"><\/fb:like><\/div><p><img src=\"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/autoimmune-conditions-are-rising-fast-in-american-medicine-can-cannabis-help.jpg\"><\/p>\n<p><img alt=\"cannabis autoimmune problems\" src=\"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/autoimmune-conditions-are-rising-fast-in-american-medicine-can-cannabis-help-1.jpg\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Why Are Autoimmune Conditions On The Rise? And How Cannabis Can Help<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/cannabis.net\/blog\/medical\/9-autoimmune-disorders-that-can-improve-with-cannabis-treatment\">Autoimmune diseases<\/a> refer to a group of medical conditions that occur as a result of the immune system attacking your own tissues.<\/p>\n<p>In a normal human body, the immune system is responsible for protecting the body by producing antibodies that prevent toxins, cancer cells, and viruses from harming the body. However, when one is struck by an autoimmune disorder, the immune system is no longer able to distinguish the difference between dangerous cells and healthy cells. As a result, the healthy cells are attacked, too.<\/p>\n<p>Today, we know of around 100 different kinds of <a href=\"https:\/\/cannabis.net\/blog\/medical\/can-cannabis-help-treat-the-autoimmune-disorder-alopecia-areata\">autoimmune conditions<\/a>. Some of the most common examples of autoimmune conditions include rheumatoid arthritis (RA), <a href=\"https:\/\/cannabis.net\/blog\/medical\/cannabis-for-lupus-symptoms-scores-big\">lupus,<\/a> inflammatory bowel disease, celiac disease, Type 1 diabetes, multiple sclerosis (MS), and the Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) to name a few. Others include Graves\u2019 disease, Hashimoto\u2019s thyroiditis, psoriasis, and vasculitis.<\/p>\n<p>According to the <a href=\"https:\/\/nationalhealthcouncil.org\/blog\/a-major-health-crisis-the-alarming-rise-of-autoimmune-disease\/#:~:text=Data%20indicates%20that%20autoimmune%20diseases,of%203%2D12%25%20annually.\">National Health Council<\/a>, around 50 million Americans are affected by autoimmune diseases today. This is a conservative estimate, considering that several autoimmune conditions are tricky to treat and so many people go undiagnosed for long periods of time. It\u2019s worrisome to note that there are more people developing autoimmune diseases these days, many of which have reached levels comparable to epidemics.<\/p>\n<p>But cannabis can help!<\/p>\n<p><strong>How Cannabis Can Help Curb And Manage Autoimmune Diseases<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Not one single cause is responsible for the alarming growth of autoimmune diseases, though there are several factors at play. While there isn\u2019t just one cause we can point at, it\u2019s certain the reasons lie in our environment. After all, human genetics haven\u2019t changed significantly yet the chemicals, toxins, and pollutants in our food and everyday items have risen dramatically.<\/p>\n<p>In addition, people are getting less sleep than ever; stress rates are through the roof, and people are constantly worried. There is a clear link between psychological stress and physical health as well as immunity, which is why it isn\u2019t unusual \u2013 it\u2019s even common \u2013 to see many autoimmune disease cases flare up after people experience <a href=\"https:\/\/cannabis.net\/blog\/medical\/stress-and-cannabis-small-doses-are-better\">severe stress<\/a> caused by grief, an accident, job loss, or the death of a loved one. These highly stressful and traumatic conditions wreak havoc on the body\u2019s immune response, causing inflammation all over the body.<\/p>\n<p>Conventional treatments prescribed to treat autoimmune conditions are focused on taming inflammation; these usually include steroids but also some non-steroidal drugs. These drugs often come with unwanted side effects, but research has shown that cannabis can work with the endocannabinoid system through THC and CBD, as well as other cannabinoids, to simulate similar results. In <a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/20353778\/\">one study<\/a> for example, we can see the clear association of the endocannabinoid system for neurodegenerative and inflammatory processes seen in Multiple Sclerosis and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.<\/p>\n<p>There has also been an increasing number of studies proving the efficacy of cannabis for treating several autoimmune conditions.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Cannabis For Multiple Sclerosis<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/cannabis.net\/blog\/medical\/cannabis-for-multiple-sclerosis\">Multiple sclerosis<\/a> is one of the autoimmune conditions where a growing number of studies have come out supporting the therapeutic benefits of cannabis for. In a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.msard-journal.com\/article\/S2211-0348(24)00242-6\/fulltext\">2024 study<\/a>, patients with multiple sclerosis reported several improvements in quality of life after using cannabis-based medical products (CBMPs). For the study, British investigators analyzed the impact of cannabis based medicinal products made from either oil or extracts in 141 patients who were enrolled in the <a href=\"https:\/\/ukmedicalcannabisregistry.com\/\">UK Medical Cannabis Registry.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>The researchers then analyzed the changes in patient outcomes after a month, then three and 6 months after. According to the patients themselves, they were able to sustain improvements in their mental and physical health after marijuana therapy.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis case series demonstrates a potential association between the initiation of CBMPs and improved patient reported outcomes in sleep, anxiety, and general HRQoL [health-related quality of life] measures, over six months,\u201d said the study authors. \u201cAdditional measures for HRQoL, including various physical and mental health subdomains, also exhibit improvements up to six months when compared to baseline,\u201d the authors concluded.<\/p>\n<p>In <a href=\"https:\/\/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/articles\/PMC10211357\/\">another study from 2023<\/a>, patients with multiple sclerosis reported significant improvements in symptoms after cannabis use. For the study, researchers from the Dent Neurologic Institute in Buffalo, New York, analyzed the medical records of 141 patients with multiple sclerosis, who were also legally authorized to consume medical marijuana products. They then analyzed data from the patients after one up to 4 follow-up sessions after the initial session of cannabis therapy. Sixty-five percent of patients consumed 1:1 THC:CBD tinctures.<\/p>\n<p>According to the authors: \u201cThe results of this study indicate that use of MC [medical cannabis] to alleviate symptoms of MS is largely efficacious, with improvement in pain (72 percent of patients), muscle spasticity (48 percent of patients), and sleep disturbance (40 percent of patients) frequently reported.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMore than half of opioid users at baseline were able to either discontinue or decrease their opioid use after starting MC. The mean daily MME [morphine milligram equivalents] was significantly reduced from the initial visit (51 mg) to the last follow-up visit (40 mg). This is consistent with previous literature showing that MC legalization is associated with decreased opioid use and that MC use is associated with decreased opioid use in patients with chronic pain. These findings indicate that MC may represent an alternative analgesic to opioids for some patients,\u201d they wrote.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><strong>Anecdotal Evidence<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>While more studies are needed to determine cannabis\u2019 effect on other autoimmune conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, we can rely on anecdotal evidence. In 2020, data from the medical journal, Rheumatology, revealed that patients who have this condition, along with those who have lupus and fibromyalgia, consume cannabis.<\/p>\n<p>In fact, it was reported that marijuana was extremely common especially for patients with fibromyalgia. \u201cIn this meta-analysis, we found that one in six patients suffering from rheumatologic disease actively consumes cannabis, reducing pain reduction\u2026 A favorable effect of cannabis on pain in our meta-analysis reinforces the idea that cannabis could be used for analgesic purposes,\u201d <a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/33159797\/\">the authors concluded.<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Conclusion<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Cannabis is a safe and natural way to help prevent and treat the symptoms of autoimmune disease. It targets inflammation at its root, and is a proven natural way to help cope with stress, pain, insomnia, and inflammation all while protecting the brain. However, it\u2019s important to ensure you medicate with clean, organic sources of marijuana.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>AUTOIMMUNE AND CANNABIS, READ ON&#8230;<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/cannabis.net\/blog\/medical\/9-autoimmune-disorders-that-can-improve-with-cannabis-treatment\"><img alt=\"AUTOIMMUNE DISEASES THAT CANNABIS CAN HELP\" src=\"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/autoimmune-conditions-are-rising-fast-in-american-medicine-can-cannabis-help-2.jpg\" \/><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/cannabis.net\/blog\/medical\/9-autoimmune-disorders-that-can-improve-with-cannabis-treatment\"><strong>CANNABIS FOR 9 DIFFERENT AUTOIMMUNE DISEASES!<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Why Are Autoimmune Conditions On The Rise? And How Cannabis Can Help Autoimmune diseases refer to a group of medical conditions that occur as a result of the immune system attacking your own tissues. In a normal human body, the immune system is responsible for protecting the body by producing antibodies that prevent toxins, cancer [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[9,1,3,61,1736],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10544"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10544"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10544\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10544"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10544"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10544"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}