You may already know some of the health benefits of medicinal marijuana use. But there are some you may never hear about. Here are five of the most surprising.

5 Surprising Benefits of Medicinal Marijuana

In All Health Watch, Big Pharma, Cancer, Diet and Nutrition, Featured Article, Pain Relief, Top 5's, Weight Loss

Earlier this week, Health Watch readers discovered an outlawed Chinese herb that may work better than surgery for weight loss. But that’s not the only controversial plant that may help save your health… You already know marijuana could be the key to fighting childhood epilepsy. You may even be aware of its ability to correct vision problems and fight nausea. But those are just the beginning…

Here are five surprising benefits of medicinal marijuana:

1. It Helps Erase Painful Memories

You might’ve heard about marijuana’s effects on mood and memory… And that it lessens anxiety while boosting your sense of well-being.1 But most people have no idea these effects could help people suffering from PTSD.

The active chemical in marijuana—THC—helps replace memories of traumatic events with new ones.2 THC works with the part of the brain that controls fear and anxiety. Scientists believe the plant may help PTSD patients forget painful memories.3 It may also lower anxiety levels in PTSD patients.4 Of course, doctors still prescribe antidepressants and antipsychotics. Even though these drugs have little success… And they come with major side effects.5

2. It Fights the Most Feared Disease of our Time

Studies show the THC in cannabis can reduce the size of cancerous tumors by 50%. That’s in both size and weight.6 Unlike chemotherapy, it only kills cancer cells.7 Marijuana also prevents the spread of cancer by stunting the growth of blood vessels that feed tumors oxygen and nutrients. Recent studies show THC eliminated cancerous brain tumor cells in less than a month. And it left healthy cells alone.8

It’s not just the THC… Cannabidiol (CBD) also has anti-tumor effects. Studies show CBD helps inhibit the growth of aggressive brain tumors.9

3. It Treats a Problem You Think it Causes

Research shows marijuana isn’t harmful to your lungs. Even with long-term heavy use. Not only is it safe… It may help cut lung cancer tumor growth in half.10 And there’s another major lung benefit…

Marijuana may also help relieve chronic asthma. It’s a condition affecting about 35 million people. Marijuana opens your airways. It works similar to asthma medications. Studies have found it reverses induced asthma just as well as a bronchodilator.11 It’s harder for doctors to regulate the dosage… But smoking is the best method for asthma relief.

4. It Has 20 Times the Potency of These OTCs

The THC in marijuana beats aspirin and hydrocortisone when it comes to pain relief. It’s up to 20 times more potent.12 Higher doses offer similar pain relief to dangerous drugs like codeine.13 And it works fast. Research reveals patients who inhaled vaporized marijuana had relief from chronic neuropathic pain within just a few minutes.14

And once again, it’s not just the THC that leads to this effect… The CBD in marijuana also helps reduce pain and inflammation.15 Research from Temple University shows it led to a near complete prevention of the onset of neuropathic pain.16

5. It Eases the Effects of This Devastating Condition

MS causes extreme muscle weakness and loss of coordination. Over time, patients can become permanently disabled. In some cases, the disease is fatal. But research reveals marijuana helps calm spasms associated with MS. It can also ease depression, fatigue, nerve pain, and even incontinence that can come with the disease.17

To date, 23 states and Washington D.C. have legalized marijuana for medical use.18 Seven states have pending legislation.19 And many doctors support the use of medical marijuana.20 Yet for most of the country, the government continues to outlaw it. This keeps sick people from a natural treatment that could ease—or end—their ailments.

Where do you stand on the issue?

In Good Health,

Angela Salerno
Publisher, INH Health Watch

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You may already know some of the health benefits of medicinal marijuana use. But there are some you may never hear about. Here are five of the most surprising.

References:
1http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/cam/cannabis/patient/page2
2http://veteransformedicalmarijuana.org/content/general-use-cannabis-ptsd-symptoms
3https://www.leafly.com/news/health/cannabis-and-post-traumatic-stress-disorder-ptsd
4http://www.medicaldaily.com/thc-and-fear-how-marijuana-may-help-ptsd-patients-reduce-anxiety-265853
5https://www.leafly.com/news/health/cannabis-and-post-traumatic-stress-disorder-ptsd
6http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/04/070417193338.htm
7http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/cam/cannabis/patient/page2
8http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Healthday/story?id=7235037
9http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9771884
10http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/04/070417193338.htm
11http://www.leafscience.com/2014/02/04/study-explains-marijuana-isnt-bad-asthma/
12http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2503660/#b42
13http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/cam/cannabis/patient/page2
14http://www.hightimes.com/read/study-vaping-marijuana-effective-pain-management
15http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/cam/cannabis/healthprofessional/page4
16http://www.tokeofthetown.com/2011/10/cbd_marijuana_compound_has_no_high_but_relieves_pa.php
17http://norml.org/library/item/multiple-sclerosis
18http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/view.resource.php?resourceID=000881
19http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/view.resource.php?resourceID=002481
20http://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/2008/feb/21/top_doctors_association_says_yes