Why Many Fibromyalgia Patients Swear By Medical Marijuana

Fibromyalgia is a painful condition that over three million Americans suffer from. It causes widespread muscle pain and tenderness and, as of today, has no known cure. Those with fibromyalgia can suffer for years or, in chronic conditions, for the rest of their lives.

The good news is that there are treatments. There are prescription drugs and therapy that may help, but they aren’t always effective. One of the most exciting treatments that many medical professionals are embracing is the use of medical marijuana. As more and more states legalize the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes, more and more of those suffering from fibromyalgia can see if it works for them. Here’s a quick rundown of the benefits that marijuana can provide for those suffering from fibromyalgia and other painful conditions.

What is Fibromyalgia?

Fibromyalgia is a condition that affects the skeletal muscles of the body. Along with constant pain, symptoms include sleepiness, fatigue, memory troubles and mood swings.

Although the exact causes of fibromyalgia are unknown, symptoms can sometimes begin after suffering physical trauma, psychological stress, infection or surgery. Sometimes, the symptoms have no direct trigger and just gradually develop over time.

Women are much more likely to show signs of fibromyalgia than men and the vast majority of cases appear in people from 20 years old and on.

Because there is no cure, medical professionals use a number of different treatments to help allow those who suffer from the condition to live a normal life. Along with drugs that ease pain and inflammation, exercise can help alleviate the symptoms, as can physical therapy and support groups for the condition.

How Can Marijuana Help?

Over the last few decades, the marijuana effects on the body have been studied closely with some interesting results. Most scientific data is from 1996 and later because marijuana was completely illegal until California legalized it then for medicinal uses.

The two active chemicals in marijuana are THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (cannabinol). THC has been found to relieve pain in most people and it also acts as an anti-inflammatory; some studies suggest it’s actually nearly 20 times more effective than aspirin. THC is also the chemical that makes you feel “high,” but high levels of CBD can counteract those effects. For this reason, most medical marijuana has about equal parts THC and CBD, so people with fibromyalgia can get the benefits of the THC without the effect of getting “high.”

The practical use of marijuana for pain and inflammation can be good news for anyone with conditions that are difficult to treat. And because of the non-habit forming nature of cannabis, patients in states where it’s legal can choose to use it rather than prescription drugs that may result in an addiction.

How Do You Use Medicinal Marijuana?

There are several ways you can take marijuana for pain and inflammation. The first, and most common, is to smoke it. This may be a problem for some, especially those with respiratory problems such as asthma.

You can also eat foods that have been imbibed with THC. In states where marijuana is legal, you can find cookies, candies and other forms of edible marijuana that make taking your medicine a more pleasant experience. Just be careful if you eat foods laced with THC: if you’ve never tried it before, start with a small amount, because you can easily consume too much and you may have a bad reaction.

You may also be able to find oils and extracts that you can take. If medical marijuana is legal in your state, visit some dispensaries and see what they offer.