Cachexia Treatment
How Cannabis May Help
Disease Profile: What Is Cachexia?
Cachexia develops as sufferers experience severe weight loss without exerting efforts to do so. It is also referred to as “wasting syndrome” and due to the extreme loss of appetite and body mass, those with cachexia face daily struggles of fatigue, depression, nausea, lethargy, and an overall destitute quality of life.
Furthermore, its progressive onset is often diagnosed as an underlying symptom of cancer, AIDS, or multiple sclerosis.
The Role of Cannabis in Cachexia Treatment
Because of its dependent nature, the cure of cachexia ties directly into the underlying cause of the syndrome itself. Treatment of cachexia typically involves various forms of appetite-inducing stimulants, mainly relying on pharmaceutical medication prescribed by a physician.
Upon further research, experts are now suggesting cannabis as an adequate and natural alternative to previous attempts of cures. Cannabinoids, the organic chemical compounds liable for the healing properties of marijuana, come to merge with the same endocannabinoid receptors found throughout the human brain and body. These endocannabinoids regulate different body systems including mood, memory, pain, and appetite.
Alternative Treatment Options for Cachexia
Many pharmaceuticals used as medications are simply synthetic replicas of medical cannabinoids. Whereas reports of pharmaceutical therapy is less successful in the treatment of cachexia, many patients are seeking natural relief in the use of medicinal cannabis.
This can tie into consumption methods where swift relief comes from smoking or vaporizing over waiting on the gastrointestinal tract to process a pill.
Learn more about other qualifying conditions for medical marijuana.
Related Cannabinoids
