As a patient interested in using medical marijuana, you may wonder what your life will be like after beginning treatment. Here we will explore potential positive and negative changes you may experience from using THC.
Medical marijuana is a savior for many patients who — unfortunately — have to fight severe medical conditions.
Secret Nature recommends smoking or vaporizing Delta-8 THC to feel the most substantial and immediate effects, which will allow it to work instantly due to the rapid absorption these methods provide. You can also take capsules, gummies, or tinctures, which will dilute the potency and effectiveness and provide a slower onset time that usually lasts longer. Be sure to try multiple methods of consumption and see what works best for you.
Read on to learn about the pros and cons of incorporating THC as part of your healing journey.
The Positives Patients Report
1. 10/10 Sleep Quality
Insomnia might lead people to use hypnotics or other medications that can be addictive and have harmful long-term effects. With THC, patients report an improved ability to fall asleep and stay asleep throughout the night. There are many Indica strains with a high THC content that produce these effects
2. Increased Appetite
Losing appetite is a common and unfortunate side effect of many medications used to treat various conditions. That can result in weight loss and muscle atrophy. THC, in turn, can stimulate the appetite by binding to the body’s CB1 receptors.
3. Pain Relief
One of the most common reasons people use medical marijuana is for pain relief. THC interacts with the body’s endocannabinoid system to help reduce pain and inflammation. Painkillers are a more conventional alternative. Yet, THC wins regarding the naturality of recipes for medication.
4. Anxiety Relief
THC can also help to relieve anxiety by interacting with the brain’s serotonin receptors. That can help people suffering from social anxiety disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder.
5. Better Mood
Patients generally report feeling happier and more relaxed after using medical marijuana. That is likely due to the interaction between THC and the brain’s serotonin receptors. Moreover, patients who take THC treats moderately (in the lowest doses) yet systematically share how their upbeat mood is sustained for several days.
6. Improved Focus
THC is a panacea for ADHD patients who struggle to cope with tasks that demand long-term and profound focus on details. Some patients also report feeling more focused and energetic after using medical marijuana. That is likely because THC can increase blood flow to the brain. Moreover, CBD helps ADD, and ADHD patients filter their thoughts naturally and fish out the most relevant and practical ideas they can implement.
7. Better Energy Reserve and Weight Control
Cannabis patients often report an influx of energy. That happens because marijuana helps the body to burn more calories by stimulating metabolism. As a result, people who use medical marijuana tend to have lower body fat levels.
8. Decreased Nausea
Feeling nauseous and throwing up is an unfortunate and common side effect of many medications, chemotherapy, and other treatments. Many medical cases show us people who endure nausea weekly and even daily but still have to perform and ensure productivity. THC can help to reduce nausea and increase appetite.
9. Reduced Seizures
THC has also been shown to be effective in reducing seizures. That is likely due to the interaction between THC and the brain’s CB1 receptors.
10. Better Sex
Some people also report that their sex life improves after using medical marijuana. That is likely due to the increased relaxation and improved focus that comes with using THC. Plus, energy boosts are never odd for such natural things.
The Negatives Patients Should Consider
1. Short-Term Memory Loss
THC can cause short-term memory loss. That is due to the interaction between THC and the brain’s hippocampus. The hippocampus is responsible for forming new memories. That can be mitigated by:
- Changing the medication (in case the picked one does not satisfy the patient);
- Take low doses of THC;
- Use a different method of consuming medical marijuana (vaping, tinctures, etc.).
2. Increased Anxiety
Some people may experience increased anxiety after using medical marijuana. That is likely due to the interaction between THC and the brain’s serotonin receptors. If this is the case, it is recommended to:
- Lower the dose of THC;
- Use a different strain of marijuana;
- Meditate to mitigate anxiety kick-ins.
3. Paranoia
Paranoia is rare when you take THC, but it might happen. If that happens too often, please do not neglect to ask your doctor for specific advice. Doctors might ask you to stop THC intake and prescribe other medications.
4. Dry mouth
That is one of the less harmful effects that might hinder patients’ experience. Generally, two glasses of water or some alternatives like cooled tea work. Drinking coffee and drinks like coca-cola is not advisable because sugars and other components might make you thirstier in addition to dry mouth. Mere cool water is the best option.
5. Diarrhea
Diarrhea is another not too rare side effect. The cause for alarm is when watery stool lasts more than three days. Please, do not hesitate and be shy to contact a doctor if it does not go away in a day or two (that is a normal case that might get severe! You might become dehydrated!).
6. Dizziness and headache
Dizziness and headache are the most widespread side effects. They are not that harmful but can be annoying. If you suffer from them, try the following:
- Do not stand up too fast;
- Take breaks while working on something that requires focus and concentration;
- Sleep well and have a healthy diet.
7. Red eyes
Cannabis might make your eyes red and dry. The good news is that the effect is temporary and goes away in an hour or two. Washing your eyes with water and doing some exercises for eyesight can help!
8. Slow reaction time
THC can slow your reaction time. The effect usually vanishes off after a few hours. That means you should not drive or operate heavy machinery while under the influence of marijuana.
Final Words
Patients should be aware of both the positive and negative effects of medical marijuana before they start using it. THC can be an effective treatment for many conditions, but it is not without its side effects. If your plans have a point about using medical marijuana, it is important to speak with a medical specialist first to ensure that it is an optimal pick!