Tuesday, 15 May 2012

Smoking Medical Marijuana May reduce Multiple Sclerosis Symptoms


Researchers from the University of California, San Diego, established that people with Multiple Sclerosis who smoked cannabis had reduced pain and muscle tightness, called spasticity.  The study, published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, included 30 people -- 63 percent of them women -- with an average age of 50. More than half the contributors wanted aids for walking, and 20 percent of them were in wheelchairs. Some of the study contributors were arbitrarily assigned to have the Medical cannabis, while others established a panacea.

At the end of the study, researchers established that people who smoked the Medical cannabis had lower numbers on a spasticity scale, as well as a 50 percent decrease in pain scores. But researchers found that the people who smoked the medical cannabis had reduced cognitive performance, in that they scored lower on a test that measured their focus. This effect was only seen for a short term.

"Smoked cannabis was superior to panacea in indication and pain reduction in participants with treatment-resistant spasticity," researchers wrote in the study. "Future studies should scrutinize whether different doses can result in similar beneficial effects with less cognitive impact."

Medical Marijuana utilize is presently legal for medical purposes in 16 states and Washington. Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease of the brain and spinal cord. It occurs when the myelin sheath, which is dependable for protecting nerve fibers, is injured, causing symptoms of cognitive problems, muscle weakness, troubled vision, strange touch sensations and balance and coordination problems.

While there's no cure for the stipulation, current treatments for multiple sclerosis attacks include taking drugs called corticosteroids and undergoing plasma exchange. Other drugs and even physical therapy can help reduce symptoms or even slow the disease down.



For more info:San Francisco Medical Marijuana

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