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What is Marijuana Marijuana is an herb commonly known for its psychoactive effects and is considered as an illicit drug Marijuana Health Benefits Marijuana is used for the treatment for addiction, arthritis, nausea, glaucoma, loss of appetite, inflammation and many others.

Marijuana Side effects and warnings. Marijuana derived drugs approved by FDA is considered safe at recommended dosages. Marijuana is an illegal drug and may cause side effects such as dizziness, headache and many others. May not be safe for pregnant women and children.

Plant name: cannabis sativa

Other names: Cannabis, Pot, ganga, weed, grass,

and is addictive and its use is illegal in most countries. The United Nations reported that marijuana is the most abused illicit drug in the world. Although contemporary use of marijuana is for recreational use - smoked like a cigar or in a pipe, marijuana has long been used as medicine that provides many health benefits.

The major psychoactive compounds in marijuana are delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC); cannabidiol (CBD), cannabinol (CBN), and tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV), and some 400 other compounds.

Marijuana abuse is associated with problems with memory, capacity to learn and social behavior. Abusive use of marijuana can interfere with family, work, school and other activities.

In recent years, scientific studies are being done to determine the health benefits and safe use of marijuana, nonetheless, sufficient studies are still lacking and the United States FDA has yet to accept it as a medicinal herb. However, even without FDA approval, a number of states have approved its medicinal use through legislation.

Marijuana Plant Description

Marijuana is an annual, flowering plant in the hemp family (Cannabaceae). There are two known species, the Cannabis ruderalis, and Cannabis indica or Indian hemp. The Cannabis indica can grow to 1.2 m in height with broad leaves while the cannabis ruderalis (marijuana) can grow to 5 meters in height and with narrow elongated leaves.

Marijuana has hairy leaves that are alternate and palmately-compound, coarsely serrated, having five to seven leaflets growing from an erect branch. Marijuana flowers are small and green, the male flowers grows from leaf axils in elongated clusters, while female marijuana flowers grows from separate plants in spike clusters. Male marijuana plants first shed their pollen then dies then followed by the female plant. Marijuana is wind pollinated and considered a hardy weed that can grow wild along road sides.

There are many claimed medicinal uses for marijuana, some has been used in traditional medicine while others are of more recent claims. Claims of health benefits from marijuana include treatment for addiction, arthritis, nausea, glaucoma, loss of appetite, inflammation, leprosy, depression, fever, dandruff, hemorrhoids, obesity, asthma, urinary tract infections, cough, pain control, multiple sclerosis and many others.  

While there are plenty of claimed health benefits from marijuana use, There are only a few that are supported by medical research and studies.

Anti Inflammatory Benefits of Marijuana

Cannabidiol, one of the main active ingredients in marijuana is a very effective anti-inflammatory agent. Traditionally, marijuana has been used as poultices applied topically to inflamed areas such as joints and muscles.

The journal of Arthritis Research & Therapy of 2008 reported the characterization of the cannabinoid receptor system in synovial tissue and fluid in patients with osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. The study reported that marijuana based medicines have a number of therapeutic indications, including anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects. The endocannabinoid receptor system, including the cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1) and receptor 2 (CB2) and the endocannabinoids, are implicated in a wide range of physiological and pathophysiological processes and demonstrated that cannabis-based drugs have therapeutic potential in inflammatory diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA)
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18416822

Anti Nausea and Anti-Vomiting Benefits of Marijuana

The British Journal of Pharmacology of August 2011 reported a study on the regulation of nausea and vomiting by cannabinoids found in marijuana. It is said that considerable evidence demonstrates that manipulation of the endocannabinoid system regulates nausea and vomiting in humans and other animals. The anti-emetic effect of cannabinoids has been shown across a wide variety of animals that are capable of vomiting in response to a toxic challenge. CB(1) agonism suppresses vomiting, which is reversed by CB(1) antagonism, and CB(1) inverse agonism promotes vomiting. Preclinical research indicates that cannabinioids, found in marijuana may offer health benefits for treating both nausea and vomiting produced by chemotherapy or other therapeutic treatments.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21175589

In many clinical studies, the THC-based drug Marinol provides effective anti-nausea benefits than other anti-nausea drugs such as Zofran. Studies suggest that Marinol succeeds in suppressing nausea where other pharmaceuticals failed.

Anti-Glaucoma Benefits of Marijuana

The Journal of Glaucoma. October 2006 published a report on the effects of sublingual application of cannabinoids on intraocular pressure. This pilot study assessed the benefits of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol on the intraocular pressure and its safety and tolerability of oromucosal administration. Results have shown that a single 5 mg sublingual dose of Delta-9-THC reduced the IOP temporarily and was well tolerated by most patients.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16988594

Health Benefits of Marijuana for Patients with Multiple Sclerosis:

The Canadian Medical Association Journal, May 2012  has reported a randomized, placebo controlled study on smoked cannabis for spasticity in multiple sclerosis. Spasticity is a common and poorly controlled symptom of multiple sclerosis. Results have shown that smoked cannabis was superior to placebo in symptom and pain reduction in participants with treatment-resistant spasticity. This suggests that smoking marijuana has potential health benefits in treating and controlling spasticity in multiple sclerosis.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22586334

In a separate study, patients with multiple sclerosis reported that smoking marijuana has soothing benefits to muscle spasms and pain. Other symptoms such as blurred vision, insomnia and depression likewise have been reduced.

Marijuana Health Benefits for Brain and Liver Functions

The British Journal of Pharmacology, April 2011 has reported that cannabidiol improves brain and liver function in a fulminant hepatic failure-induced model of hepatic encephalopathy in mice. Hepatic encephalopathy is a neuropsychiatric disorder of complex pathogenesis caused by acute or chronic liver failure. Results of the study indicated that neurological and cognitive functions were severely impaired in thioacetamide-treated mice and were restored by cannabidiol. Similarly, decreased motor activity in thioacetamide-treated mice was partially restored by cannabidiol. Increased plasma levels of ammonia, bilirubin and liver enzymes, as well as enhanced 5-HT levels in thioacetamide-treated mice were normalized following cannabidiol administration. Likewise, astrogliosis in the brains of thioacetamide-treated mice was moderated after cannabidiol treatment. These suggest that cannabidiol in marijuana restores liver function, normalizes 5-HT levels and improves brain pathology in accordance with normalization of brain function. Therefore, the health benefits of cannabidiol may result from a combination of its actions in the liver and brain. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21182490

Marijuana Health Benefits for Chronic Pain:

Marijuana preparations have been used as a pain killer remedy for thousands of years in traditional medicine. The painkilling properties of marijuana (THC) are comparable to those of codeine and other commonly used painkillers without the side effects or risk of addiction. Eating is often more effective than smoking and the effects last longer.

In the Journal of Pain Medicine, November 2009, a systematic review and meta-analysis of cannabis treatment for chronic pain was published. The objective of this review it to assess the efficacy and harms of cannabis preparations in the treatment of chronic pain. Evidence gathered have shown that cannabis treatment is moderately efficacious for treatment of chronic pain, but the benefits may be partially (or completely) offset by potentially serious harms. Further study is required to clarify the balance of its benefits over side effects.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19732371

Marijuana Health Benefits for Diabetes Induced Neuropathy

The Journal of Phytotherapy Research. December 2009, has reported about the beneficial effects of a marijuana extract treatment on diabetes-induced neuropathy and oxidative stress. The study explored the antinociceptive effect of a controlled cannabis extract (eCBD) in attenuating diabetic neuropathic pain. The evidence suggests that repeated treatment with cannabis extract significantly relieved mechanical allodynia and restored the physiological thermal pain perception in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats without affecting hyperglycemia. In addition, the results showed that eCBD increased the reduced glutathione (GSH) content in the liver leading to a restoration of the defence mechanism and significantly decreased the liver lipid peroxidation suggesting that eCBD provides protection against oxidative damage in STZ-induced diabetes that also strongly contributes to the development of neuropathy. Finally, the nerve growth factor content in the sciatic nerve of diabetic rats was restored to normal following the repeated treatment with eCBD, suggesting that the extract was able to prevent the nerve damage caused by the reduced support of this neurotrophin. These findings highlighted the beneficial effects of cannabis extract treatment in attenuating diabetic neuropathic pain, possibly through a strong antioxidant activity and a specific action upon nerve growth factor.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19441010

Marijuana Health Benefits for Alzheimer’s Disease

The British Journal of Pharmacology, November 2007 issue reported a research done suggesting that the active ingredient in marijuana, THC, targeting cannabinoid receptors on microglia may reduce the neuroinflammation that is a feature of Alzheimer's disease, without causing psychoactive effects. The cannabinoids support the brain's intrinsic repair mechanisms by augmenting neurotrophin expression and enhancing neurogenesis.
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1038/sj.bjp.0707446/full

The U.S. federal government classified marijuana as a Schedule I controlled substance and possession of marijuana is considered illegal. However, about 19 states have legalized the medicinal use of marijuana including Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Washington; and Washington D.C. Some countries such as Canada, Israel and Czech Republic also permit the use of medical marijuana to some extent.

Preparation:

Marijuana leaves, flowers and seeds are usually taken as smoke rolled in paper skins. Marijuana can also be mixed with tobacco, in a bong or vaporizers.  Marijuana can also be eaten, or mixed with food or rubbed onto inflamed area. Be reminded that possession of marijuana is illegal in some regions.

There are pharmaceutical drugs that contain marijuana extracts such as Marinol (Dronabinol)

Pharmaceutical drugs containing marijuana approved by FDA such as Marinol is considered safe to use when taken at recommended dosage.

Marijuana herb is considered illegal and unsafe to be taken by mouth or smoked and generally considered unsafe.

Marijuana is not to be taken by pregnant or breast feeding mothers. Marijuana use during pregnancy may cause adverse side effects to the fetus including impaired growth and the development of leukemia.

Side effects of marijuana use include dry mouth, nausea, vomiting, headache, red eyes, heart and blood pressure problems, numbness and sexual problems.

Other side effects include weakened immune system, hallucinations,  impaired mental ability, panic reaction, depression and dizziness.

Long term smoking of marijuana will likely cause unfavorable side effects to the lungs such as the development of emphysema.

Okra Medicinal Vegetable Health benefits include relief from upper respiratory problems, urinary problems, fever, arthritis and many toehrs Dandelion Medicinal Herb flowering edible plant that is native from Europe and North America. It has many folkloric health benefits for kidney and liver problem

Green tea Health Benefits Green tea has been traditionally used to improve blood flow and to heighten alertness and as a general health tonic. Grape seed Health Benefits Grape seed is a strong antioxidant that possess anti-cancer activity and is considered to benefit the heart and diabetic patients.

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