While chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) isn’t a widespread condition, it still significantly affects the lives of those who have it. Like other rare nerve-related conditions, we still need to figure out the exact cause and cure for CIDP. So, some patients are trying medical marijuana as a possible solution.
Many patients who take medical cannabis use it to manage their pain symptoms. As an effective anti-inflammatory, it calms down and protects inflamed nerves to reduce your neuropathy.
You see, cannabis can work like common immunosuppressant treatments to reduce inflammation. When you ingest marijuana, it interacts with the cannabinoid receptors in your cells that influence how your immune system works. It tells your immune system to reduce the inflammatory signals it sends, reducing the resulting pain.
Did you know you can use medical marijuana to both help you sleep and reduce fatigue? A regimen of both indica and sativa strains can provide a good night’s sleep and boost your energy at the right times of the day.
The chemicals in sativa strains provide more of a cerebral effect, promoting creativity and clarity. Patients who deal with CIDP-related fatigue can use sativa medicine as a stimulant. But, as opposed to prescription stimulants, you can’t become dependent on marijuana medication.
Meanwhile, indica strains make you feel calm and sleepy, providing similar benefits to prescription sedatives. Like sativa strains, indica strains have a low chance of dependency and harmful side effects.
Whether it’s as a direct result of your CIDP or as an emotional response to it, depression is incredibly difficult to handle. Fortunately, marijuana medicine also works as an alternative to unpredictable mental health medication.
In addition to providing energy, sativa marijuana strains have antidepressant properties. When used in the right amount for a patient who reacts well to marijuana, it can relieve mood issues that compound your disorder.
Not every patient can make the transition to complete medical marijuana treatment. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t use it to supplement your existing medication to reduce side effects and lower dosages!
Many standard treatments for CIDP have severe side effects and risks that must be addressed in addition to the symptoms already caused by the condition. For instance, corticosteroids can cause blood sugar issues, ulcers, high blood pressure and other harmful side effects.
On the other hand, marijuana only causes mild, short-term side effects like dizziness and dry mouth that don’t hurt you in the long-term. It can even reduce the side effects of other treatments, such as swelling or muscle cramps.
Do you want to learn more about treating your CIDP naturally with cannabis medication? Discuss your symptoms with a cannabis-certified doctor or a knowledgeable budtender for personalized information.
For more information about how cannabis can be used to treat Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy, check out our resources:
