Medical
HelloMD: Ask the Cannabis Doctor
HelloMD conducted the largest and most comprehensive cannabis study to date earlier this year, with some expected findings, but also some unintended discoveries.
At HelloMD.com, the leading digital healthcare platform for the cannabis industry, we have created a community of cannabis experts who share their tremendous knowledge and experience, helping anybody, nationally or internationally, who may be seeking a professional opinion on medical marijuana.
HelloMD conducted the largest and most comprehensive cannabis study to date earlier this year, with some expected findings, but also some unintended discoveries. The study found that the most common conditions being treated by medical marijuana include chronic pain, anxiety, stress and insomnia, with 84 percent of respondents strongly agreeing that cannabis provides them with relief from their symptoms. Respondents reported beneficial side effects of relaxation, mood elevation, better sleep, and replacement for the use of alcohol or as a libido or sexual enhancement.
To that, it is not surprising that the majority of the questions we tend to receive deal with many of the conditions described above.
Q: I’m 10 weeks pregnant and have morning sickness. Can marijuana help with nausea?
A: Marijuana may be helpful for nausea in general. However, it is currently not advised to take medical marijuana while pregnant or breastfeeding, because cannabis does enter the placenta and breast milk and how it effects the fetus and newborn is not known. Why take a chance? Not taking medical marijuana is the current recommendation provided by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and the American College of Pediatricians (ACP).
Q: I have severe anxiety; can marijuana help?
A: Yes, typically you will obtain relief within a month of starting super high CBD, low THC cannabis tincture administered twice daily as a MCT oil tincture placed under the tongue. Your dose may need to be adjusted if you have not started to sense relief by the third week. As we tell all of our patients, you need to start with a low dose and then slowly increase the amount you use to the effect that you want. Everyone is different as to how they respond to cannabis.
Q: What are the benefits of taking cannabis oil in conjunction with my other cancer treatments?
A: There is sufficient laboratory evidence to conclude that the combination of the two can indeed be beneficial for some, if not many. Cannabis oil has qualities that can assist in combating the symptoms and side effects that may come from cancer and cancer treatments, including chemotherapy, and there is significant laboratory research indicating that certain cannabinoids within cannabis may also have the ability to greatly reduce existing tumors.
Q: Is cannabis bad for my liver? Does the method of delivery make any difference?
A: Cannabis is not bad for the liver, and in fact has been shown to protect the liver from damage. However, a few studies have shown that THC activation of the CB1 receptor can increase fibrosis and other pathological processes, and that CB2 receptor activation has a protective effect. I might not recommend edibles in your condition, and would instead go with tinctures with a high level of CBD. I would try to find the most pure, chemical and additive free cannabis products, and continue to monitor your reaction to varying ratios of CBD:THC and unique strains.
Q: Can marijuana help my sex life?
A: Some people believe cannabis can be good for sex in that for many people it can relieve anxiety. Others evidence seems to point to cannabis allowing the body to experience deeper and longer orgasms. Some men indicate that it is ‘nature’s Viagra.’ Marijuana has been pointed to as an aphrodisiac for thousands of years, so it is not surprising that there seems to be a resurgence around this now that cannabis is somewhat in the limelight. There are even specific products made for couples to enhance sexual pleasure from companies such as Foria.
Q: Is marijuana safe for my dog?
A: It really depends on how and in what form they ingest marijuana. There are specific cannabis products made for dogs and pets, which can help with inflammation, pain, arthritis, anxiety, etc. These products have been effective for many people and some research indicates that cannabis made specifically for pets can be a good replacement for more traditional meds. However as with all medication, if you have cannabis that you use for yourself, keep it out of any area where your pet, or child, can have access to it.
We are bearing witness to cannabis making a significant impact on the betterment of society in countless ways. There is no denying the growing demand for cannabis as a wellness solution, and HelloMD is proud to lead the industry in providing qualified, professional responses to every consumer’s questions.
By Dr. Perry Solomon
This article is sponsored by HelloMD.
Dr. Perry Solomon is the Chief Medical Officer of HelloMD.com, where he oversees all medical aspects of the business at the company’s San Francisco headquarters. Dr. Solomon is responsible for managing the extensive network of qualified physicians for HelloMD, generating content for the company’s Answers platform, speaking to various peer and consumer audiences regarding the use of medical cannabis to treat various medical conditions, and often collaborating with other medically related companies that present themselves to the business. Dr. Solomon is a Board Certified Anesthesiologist with over 30 years’ experience as a medical care provider.
An entrepreneur at heart, Dr. Solomon has embarked on various efforts throughout his 30+ year career. He has a passion for sharing his knowledge about medical cannabis, its countless uses and curative qualities.
