By: Mike Harder | Posted on : Sunday, 4.25.2010 | Posted in : Benefits of Medical Marijuana Use
Medical marijuana & chemotherapy
Marijana is becoming one of the leading treatments for chemotherapy - prescription or otherwise.
Chemotherapy, also called chemo and is pronounced ‘kee-mo’, sometimes causes cancer sufferers to experience vomiting and nausea. Medical marijuana & cancer has been a common treatment combination for quite awhile now, whether prescribed or not. There are a variety of chemotherapy side effects that can happen and marijuana can sometimes assist in helping with the pain and discomfort of the condition. There are a variety of side effects from chemotherapy such as vomiting and nausea. This form of treatment can make an individual suffering with cancer sick in many other ways while trying to heal. The medical marijuana and chemotherapy treatment can cause quick weight loss and also a condition called cachexia. This is known as a decrease in appetite, and loss of muscle and fat.
Most commonly, people that suffer with the disease of cancer take antiemetic medication to provide them with pain relief from the vomiting and nausea. Every individual fighting cancer has their own specific treatment plan and it usually depends on their medical history, age, and other medically related situations. Antiemetic medication can be helpful when going through chemotherapy, but the idea of marijuana treating nausea has been reported as another form of pain reliever. Many people object to the idea of mixing medical marijuana and chemotherapy, but this may be because they are not suffering from the disease, or they might have previously been addicted to it. There are two different types of medical marijuana that are taken when treated for cancer. One is known as cigarettes that contain marijuana, and another is an orally administered form of marijuana. The United States FDA (Food and Drug Association) has acknowledged and accepted the use of marijuana for chemotherapy symptoms.
Synthetic THC vs. Marijuana Cigarettes
The National Cancer Institute and scientists feel as though antiemetic medication is more effective and abides by society’s standards. Before the most recent medical marijuana and chemotherapy methods, there was another treatment called synthetic THC. This method is still used today.
THC is an acronym for Tetrahydrocannabinol which is a psychoactive compound in marijuana. Many medications have been used to prevent nausea and vomiting from chemotherapy related symptoms such as Kytril and Zofran. They are sometimes taken along with other medications such as dexamethsone and droperidol, as well as many others. Antiemetic medication is supposed to increase the appetite in those suffering with cancer, therefore, allowing them to gain weight and have a higher chance of fighting this horrible disease.
The marijuana cigarette has numerous benefits as well, and it has been reported by scientists that the THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol) is absorbed into the body and provides relief of vomiting and nausea much faster than orally approved chemotherapy medications. Cachexia occurs when there is a major loss of appetite and can also result in starving, formally known as Anorexia. This can damage the cells and organs further while undergoing chemotherapy. Cachexia is known as a state in which a patient undergoing chemotherapy eats an adequate daily diet, but does not get all of the vitamins they need. If an individual cannot take supplements, they can include more vegetables and fruits into their diets, as well as the necessary anti-oxidant fruits such as blackberries and blueberries.
Many researchers and scientists dictate that each person that experiences the treatment of chemotherapy has a unique medical case depending on age, weight, medical history, and their appetite level. Researchers continue to study the effects of medical marijuana and chemotherapy to decide whether medication or marijuana is a better choice for the symptoms of chemotherapy.
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