An autoimmune disease, Lupus has a wide range of symptoms that affect its sufferers with diverse and dynamic symptoms. The condition is based in chronic pain, affects the entire body and currently is incurable. While there are a number of prescriptions that can mask or lessen Lupus’ symptoms, patients are quickly seeking alternative or more effective sources of healing.
Which medical marijuana is now serving as, for many. As widespread legalization has expanded experts’ knowledge on how cannabis works internally, they’re finding that CBD and THC might be able to help Lupus, scientifically.
A fact that many patients have self-explored to already discover themselves. So, here we’re exploring the topic of medical marijuana, lupus, and how the natural plant compounds are fighting chronic pain associated with the chronic condition.
What is Lupus?
By definition, Lupus is a chronic long-term condition that’s caused by inflammation in more than one area of the body. That affects more than 1 in every 1000 Canadian, according to the Lupus Canada Foundation.
The autoimmune disease is most commonly classified with other inflammation related disorders, like rheumatoid arthritis, and multiple sclerosis. While there is a variety of lupus types, they all share one thing in common – inflammation, pain, and irregularities that affect the skin, muscles, joints, blood vessels, lungs, heart, kidneys, and the brain.
Like other autoimmune disorders, Lupus can’t determine the differences between protective and destructive types of cells. Which makes the condition so widespread, as the condition instead harms all cells. When this occurs, your body’s natural levels of antibodies decrease allowing your systems to be vulnerable to other types of damages.
Even worse, Lupus helps to stimulate the levels of autoantibodies that the body contains. Autoantibodies naturally damage healthy tissue, causing pain, inflammation and negatively affecting how the body performs or functions.
As a result, a number of diverse and destructive symptoms can arise for Lupus sufferers. These symptoms can range from mild to severe, allowing many Lupus patients to live life as normal. With the help of medication or sources of relief, of course. Some of the common side effects that Lupus’ causes include:
- Chronic pain
- Fatigue
- Malar Rash or rashes
- Swelling and stiffness
- Fevers
- Nausea
- Headaches
The cause of Lupus is so far unknown, making finding a cure even harder. But luckily, medical marijuana is proving to interact with similar cells internally, to provide relief for the condition.
Not to mention, the positive effects of marijuana that can help Lupus side-effects, too. Next, we’ll cover what research for cannabis and Lupus has been conducted so far and how medical marijuana is being used as a source of relief.
How Medical Marijuana is Helping to Fight Lupus
By the list of the side-effects and symptoms of Lupus, you can probably already see how medical marijuana is able to help. The cannabinoids found in cannabis, like CBD and THC are anti-inflammatory agents that internally, and externally can address the inflammation associated with the Lupus condition.
More scientifically, researchers are looking at the inner-workings of cannabis with the endocannabinoid system and how it affects the immune system for relief of Lupus. Here’s what the findings on medical marijuana and Lupus is showing so far –
- One study concluded cannabis users contained higher levels of the cell interleukin-10, which naturally suppresses the immune system. Conversely, cannabis lowered levels of killer cells and lymphocytes. This action enhances immunity which is a positive for autoimmune diseases, like Lupus.
- Studies are showing that cannabinoids like THC and CBD can downregulate cytokine and chemokine production. The Cytokine and chemokine cells are cited by experts to play a pivotal role in a specific type of Lupus, Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).
On the side-effect side, Lupus patients are using the healing effects of medical marijuana for nausea, headaches, chronic pain, fatigue, and stiffness. So, lastly we’ll cover cannabis goods and strains that are most recommended for the condition.
Best Strains & Products for Lupus
With the knowledge we’ve gained about what causes lupus, and the most common lupus symptoms that marijuana can help, there’s just one thing left to cover. Which strains or products can specifically beneficial for the condition. We’ve compiled our favourite cannabis goods that have the ideal combination or blends of cannabinoids to help Lupus symptoms.
Girl Scout Cookies
Girl Scout Cookies or GSC is a highly relaxing hybrid that provides potent pain relief. Ideal for healing the symptoms of Lupus without being too sedating to function as normal.
Jack Herer
Jack Herer is a sativa dominant hybrid that is ideal at relieving the anxiety symptoms that Lupus can cause. The strain is mood elevating in nature, and helps reduce chronic pain, too.
White Widow
White Widow is a well-balanced hybrid that delivers the best of both indica and sativa worlds for relieving Lupus symptoms. The strain mellows out aches and pains, while uplifting your mood.
CBD Dana
Since high levels of CBD helps real-time users of medical marijuana for Lupus, a CBD rich hemp strain can be quite helpful for the condition. CBD Dana is a rare strain that boasts nearly 14% of CBD.
CBD Tinctures & Edibles
Again, due to the efficacy of CBD for the Lupus condition, many real-time medical marijuana users are increasingly turning to CBD tinctures and edibles for relief. The potent strengths of CBD are ideal for combating the condition’s most common symptoms.
Fighting Lupus Symptoms with Cannabis
As an autoimmune disease that causes an array of debilitating symptoms for its patients, Lupus is a condition that many are seeking to cure. Without an actual cure, any additional andnatural sources of relief are being welcomed by the same group with open arms.
That may just be the reason, more and more Lupus sufferers have turned to medical marijuana for relieving the condition’s painful and frustrating side-effects. While experts continue to unlock the exact science and inner-workings for proof that cannabis may be an effective source of relief.
In the meantime, if you’re seeking top-quality CBD and THC products to effectively relieve Lupus symptoms, MMJDirect is here for you. Check out our extensive collection of high CBD goods, and top-shelf medical marijuana strains that provide quality relief.