Can marijuana help treat fibromyalgia?
Medical marijuana is increasing in popularity as a treatment for many conditions, including eating disorders, cancers, and pain. It is becoming legal in more and more states.
With marijuana being more widely accepted in the U.S. for medical treatment, research has also gone up.
Fibromyalgia is a disorder characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain accompanied by fatigue, sleep, memory and mood issues. Researchers believe that fibromyalgia amplifies painful sensations by affecting the way your brain processes pain signals.
Fibromyalgia symptoms usually occur after surgery, infection, physical trauma, or some type of major psychological stress. Sometimes symptoms occur with no major cause.
Women are at greater risk of developing fibromyalgia then men. There is no cure known for this condition yet.
There are not many studies on the effects of marijuana on fibromyalgia.
However there are a few studies showing some benefits for fibromyalgia pain.
But, a 2016 review of studies found that there was insufficient evidence to recommend marijuana as a treatment for the pain symptoms associated with fibromyalgia.
It should be noted that although marijuana has shown some pain relief benefits, it is not synthetically grown in a lab. This means that certain compounds can vary from plant to plant, which can make benefits inconsistent.
However, marijuana is well known for treating chronic pain, nausea, muscle spasms and nerve pain associated with multiple sclerosis. Soon, research may find that marijuana can treat similar symptoms in fibromyalgia.
Please consult your health practitioner or physician before trying marijuana for any symptoms.
Note: None of the information in our website is intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any illness or disease. The content on our website is for educational purposes only.
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REFERENCES:
1. “Can Marijuana Help Treat Fibromyalgia?” Medical News Today. MediLexicon International, n.d. Web. 23 Jan. 2017.
2. “Efficacy, Tolerability and Safety of Cannabinoids in Chronic Pain Associated with Rheumatic Diseases (fibromyalgia Syndrome, Back Pain, Osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis).” SpringerLink. Der Schmerz, n.d. Web. 23 Jan. 2017.
3. “Cannabis Use in Patients with Fibromyalgia: Effect on Symptoms Relief and Health-Related Quality of Life.” PLoS ONE. Public Library of Science, 2011. Web. 23 Jan. 2017.
