5 little-known health benefits of cannabis

Citizen movements have done a great deal for the cannabis legalization in countries that have taken the plunge. But this shift has also been driven by the many health benefits of cannabis. Research on cannabis is still insufficient, but cannabis has been shown to be beneficial in a number of ways, among other things for the treatment of nausea and neuropathic pain, resulting from damaged nerves. Below, we present 5 benefits of cannabis, which are often overlooked.

Cannabis Slows the Growth of Cancer Cells

A recent study A study conducted by the National Cancer Institute shows that cannabis compounds slow tumor growth and kill certain cancer cells. Cannabis is also effective in relieving the side effects of chemotherapy, such as nausea, and in promoting sleep and appetite, while reducing pain.

Read more: The US government finally admits that cannabis kills cancer cells

Treatment of Epilepsy

Cannabis is now prescribed as an alternative medicine for the treatment of epilepsy. In a recent study conducted by the American Academy of Neurology, 137 people with epilepsy (including 25 with Dravet syndrome and 22 with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome) who had not responded to current treatments were treated with Epidiolex, a medication containing 99% of THC, for 12 weeks. The results speak for themselves:

• The number of epileptic seizures decreased by 54% among the 137 people who took the treatment’Epidiolex for 12 weeks
• The 25 people with Dravet syndrome saw their seizures decrease by 63%
• The 27 people suffering from atonic seizures saw their seizures decrease by 66.7%

Read more: Charlotte Figi, the little girl who changed cannabis laws in the United States

Brain Cell Growth

Cannabis has long been perceived as a drug that damages the brain. Some studies (here, here and here) show that CBD can help the brain regenerate some of its cells, particularly in the hippocampus, in connection with its anxiolytic and antidepressant effects.

Slowing the Progression of Alzheimer's Disease

Cannabis is one of the few plants that contains omega-3 fatty acids, which lower blood pressure, reduce the risks associated with cardiovascular disease, and help prevent the onset of Alzheimer's. But scientists have mainly suggested, in a study published In the *Alzheimer's Disease Journal*, it was reported that low doses of THC slowed the production of beta-amyloid proteins, which typically accumulate to form plaques in the brain—a well-known characteristic of Alzheimer's disease.

Cannabis is great for the body

We're not going to launch into a never-ending, baseless propaganda campaign, but the reason cannabis has so many health applications is simply that our bodies contain a endocannabinoid system, whose properties are enhanced by cannabis (THC, CBD and other components of cannabis). This system helps the body maintain our cellular homeostasis (the state in which all our cellular functions are working properly) and to deal with external threats. Our cells are therefore designed to receive cannabinoids, whether they are produced by the body or derived from cannabis. These chemical compounds help our bodies maintain a balance between the synthesis, breakdown, and recycling of cellular products. And it’s not just us saying this—it’s the the scientist who discovered THC.

Finally, it should be noted that not everyone reacts to cannabis in the same way, that cannabis cannot—at least for now—replace medical treatment in every case and without risk, and that specialists in the field help patients choose the right treatment, namely the cannabis variety, dosage, and method of administration. Scientists still need to conduct numerous studies to determine the full medical potential of cannabis. Their research are often hindered by federal or national laws that prohibit access to the product, even for medical research.