Treating Psoriasis – The Benefits of Medical Marijuana

There’s some of evidences that medical marijuana can be an effective treatment of psoriasis. This assertion can be explained by the fact that the chemicals in medical marijuana known as cannabinoids have been proven to be powerful antioxidants and anti-inflammatory agents. The argument is that since medical marijuana is well known for its anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive effects, it could have some ameliorating effect on psoriasis.

Psoriasis is a chronic autoimmune condition that causes the rapid buildup of skin cells, thereby resulting in scaling of the skin. People with psoriasis often have inflammation and redness around the scales. The scales associated with psoriasis are whitish-silver, and usually develop in thick red patches. It is not uncommon for these patches to crack and even bleed.

Psoriasis comes about as a result of a sped-up skin production process. When this happens, the skin cells usually grow deep into the skin and slowly rise to the surface, and eventually fall off since the life circle of a skin cell is only one month. In people with psoriasis, the production process could occur in just a few days, thereby giving the skin a limited time to fall off. Hence, the result is the rapid overproduction that leads to the buildup of skin cells.

Typically, the scales associated with psoriasis usually develop in joints such as knees and elbows, even though they could as well develop in other parts of the body including the face, scalp, neck, feet and hands etc. Sometimes, psoriasis also affect the nails, mouth and the area around the genitals. Psoriasis is also a somewhat common condition and it is estimated that up to 7.5 million American are suffering from it.

The disease also has many symptoms which may manifest differently in different individuals. Nevertheless, the most common symptoms of psoriasis include red, raised inflamed patches of skin, whitish silver scales, dry skin which may either crack and bleed, soreness around the patches, itching and burning sensations around the patches, thick pitted nails as well as painful swollen joints.

It should be noted that psoriasis is not a contagious disease and it can’t be passed from one person to another. Even though doctors are yet to find out the causes of psoriasis, research has pointed its cause to two factors, namely genetics and the immune system. Of course, psoriasis is also associated with other medical conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease, Type 2 diabetes, heart disease as well as psoriatic arthritis. Psoriasis has no cure, even though creams and ointments can be applied directly to the skin in a bid to treat mild and moderate cases.

One of the most intriguing studies on the use of medical cannabis in the treatment of psoriasis was done in 2007. During the study, the effects of five different cannabinoids, including THC and CBD were tested on the cells that were induced to hyper-productivity in vitro. The result of this study indicated that all the five cannabinoids that were tested inhibited proliferation. Detailed findings showed that cannabinoids inhibit keratinocyte proliferation, thereby supporting a potential role for cannabinoids in the treatment of psoriasis, by preventing the buildup of dead skin cells.

Other studies have also found out that medical cannabis could be used in treating many medical conditions involving keratinocytes, such as psoriasis and wound healing. Besides, the use of medical marijuana on the skin does not bring about adverse side effects. As a matter of fact, many scientists have argued that the complete absence of negative or adverse side effects from CBD makes it a perfect phytotherapic substance that can effectively act against some of the major symptoms of psoriasis.

According to recent studies, the endocannabinoid system’s functions within the skin are also proving that the disruption of the endocannabinoids’ balance might facilitate the development of both minor, and severe skin diseases. Such findings have equally gone a long way to open new possibilities, which are still being explored for cannabis-based therapies.

The truth is that the amount of research that has been done on medical marijuana and psoriasis is thin. Thus, more research needs to be done on the topic to ascertain the exact extent and the doses of medical marijuana that can effectively treat psoriasis without adverse side effects.

Nevertheless, the effectiveness of medical marijuana in treating psoriasis also depends to a great extent on the method of consumption. Topical cannabis in the form of creams, ointments, sprays, as well as salves, infused with CBD, THC, or a combination of cannabinoids are recommended in the treatment of psoriasis.

Sources:

Health Line
New York Daily News

Marijuana strains reported to help with Psoriasis:

 

How To Get Medical Marijuana

 

If you are a resident of a legal state interested in trying medical marijuana to treat Psoriasis or other medical conditions, you will first need to consult with a certified doctor. To get started, simply fill out the MMJ patient registration form, press submit and a physician or clinic representative will contact you as available.

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