Treating Osteoporosis With Medical Marijuana and the Best Strains For It.
There are indications that one of the medicinal effects of the marijuana plant lies in its ability to treat some of the symptoms of Osteoporosis.
Osteoporosis is a condition that causes the bone to be so brittle and weak. The bones of people with Osteoporosis could be so weak that a fall or even mild stresses as a result of bending over and coughing could result in fractures. Osteoporosis related fractures typically occurs in the hips, wrists or spine.
The human bone is normally a living tissue that constantly breaks down and it’s often replaced. However, for people with Osteoporosis, the creation of new bones cannot keep up with old ones.
Osteoporosis can affect anyone, irrespective of age and gender, but white and Asian women, especially older women who are past menopause are at higher risk of developing it. Osteoporosis does not typically show signs and symptoms in its early stage, but, once the bones have been weakened by the condition, patients may start showing symptoms, including back pain (caused by a fractured or collapsed vertebra), a stooped posture, loss of height over time as well as a bone that breaks much more easily than expected.
A number of factors may increase the risk of developing Osteoporosis. Some of such risk factors include being a woman, getting older, being white or Asian, having a small body frame as well as having a family history of the condition.
The risk of Osteoporosis is equally higher in people with certain medical conditions such as celiac disease, kidney disease, liver disease, lupus, cancer, inflammatory Bowel Disease, Rheumatoid Arthritis, as well as Multiple Myeloma, etc. Certain medications can be used to treat Osteoporosis and the most common ones are bisphosphonates such as Alendronate, Risedronate, Ibandronate and Zoledronic acid. Moreover, monoclonal antibody medications as well as bone building medications can also be used in treating Osteoporosis. In some cases, hormone related therapies may also be prescribed to help maintain bone density.
Treating Osteoporosis with Medical Cannabis
Can cannabis help treat Osteoporosis?
Years back, researchers had associated the smoking of cannabis to health problems such as increasing the risk for bone fractures, reduced bone density and an increased risk of osteoporosis. Newer studies have revealed that smoking marijuana moderately during a lifetime actually has no negative impact on bone health, but could instead help in treating certain bone conditions, Osteoporosis inclusive.
The effectiveness of medical marijuana in treating Osteoporosis is not unrelated to the role of the endocannabinoid system. The endocannabinoid system actually plays the significant role of strengthening, growing as well as persevering the human bones. This assertion can be explained by the fact that when CB1 and CB2 receptors interact with the body’s biochemical networks such as the immune system, they become active against bone diseases, Osteoporosis inclusive.
Studies have also revealed that some of the compounds in medical marijuana, including CBD, THC and CBG helps in accelerating bone healing, slowing degeneration thereby also preventing bone diseases including Osteoporosis. During one of these studies, the researchers injected either CBD and THC or plain CBD into rats with broken thigh bones. The findings from this study later revealed that CBD showed a whole lot of effect as far as making the self-healing mechanisms of the body speed up. The researchers of this study also noted that the treated bones were up to 50% stronger than the untreated ones. The findings of this animal based study are pointing towards the direction that medical marijuana could be effective in treating Osteoporosis.
Moreover, there are shreds of evidences that medical marijuana is effective in the treatment of pain, which is equally one of the symptoms of Osteoporosis. According to a review of studies that was conducted in 2008, CBD, one of the most powerful compounds in the cannabis plant could be effective in pain management and unlike other conventional pain medications like opioids, CBD does not result in adverse side effects. This same study also showed that CBD could also be effective in treating insomnia as well as other sleeping disorders which could be associated with painful conditions like Osteoporosis.
It is evident that very few studies have been conducted on the effectiveness of medical marijuana in treating Osteoporosis. Thus, there is a need for more scientific investigations on the subject.
The Best Marijuana Strains for Osteoporosis
Some of the best marijuana strains for osteoporosis disease patients include:
- Blackberry Platinum
- Kraken
- Alien Stardawg
- Lemonberry
- Sugar Shack
- Green Haze
- Grand Master Kush
How To Get a Med Marijuana Card for Osteoporosis
If you are a resident of a legal state and want medical marijuana to help treat Osteoporosis or other medical conditions, you will first need to consult with a certified doctor in order to get your med card.
To get started, simply fill out the MMJ patient registration form, press submit and a physician or clinic representative will contact you as available.
Sign Up for Medical Cannabis Today!
For potential patients, if you’re ready, we make it easy to connect with a medical marijuana doctor nearby or online. If you are interested in getting certified, please fill out the MMJ patient registration form below and press submit to get started. See if you qualify today!
MedCard Registration Form
