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Asthma is a chronic, respiratory condition, meaning there is no cure. Airways in the chest get narrower or become inflamed, and common symptoms include:
- Coughing
- Difficulty breathing
- Wheezing
Treatment of asthma involves managing the symptoms and preventing complications. And that’s where medical cannabis comes in. We’ll be exploring medical cannabis for respiratory health below.
Understanding Medical Cannabis
To understand the link between medical cannabis (marijuana) and asthma, we first need to understand a bit about the cannabis plant. It’s one of the most versatile plants in the world, and can have a profound effect on both the body and mind. Some of its 500+ chemical compounds have shown signs of being antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and even anti-cancer agents.
One of the main things to pay attention to when talking about medical cannabis, are the different cannabinoids, a class of chemical compounds that interact with receptors in our cells and alter the release of chemicals in the brain. Cannabis produces over 100 cannabinoids, but don’t worry. The two you need to pay attention to, and that you’ll see most often, are cannabidiol (CBD) which is non-psychoactive, meaning it doesn’t make you feel “high”, and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). This is psychoactive, so can be behind that “high” feeling cannabis is sometimes associated with, especially when used recreationally.
CBD and THC can sometimes work better together, and have a more profound impact on the body, due to a phenomenon known as the entourage effect.
When prescribed medical cannabis, your doctor will work with you to find what’s best for your needs. The effects you feel will depend on what you’re using and the dosage. Different forms, strains and cannabinoids will also impact you as an individual because everyone is biologically different.
Potential Benefits of Medical Cannabis for Asthma
Anti-inflammatory Properties
THC and CBD interact with your body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS), a messenger and receptor system that is integral to the management of balance within the human body. This includes reducing inflammation.
One of the core components of the ECS are the cannabinoid receptors. This includes cannabinoid 1 (CB1) and cannabinoid 2 (CB2), and they’re one of the main reasons behind why so many different conditions react so positively to cannabis.
CB2 receptors, found in the immune system, help manage inflammation. THC and CBD can interact with these receptors, which is why they can help calm inflammation and relax muscles. And it’s possible that the anti-inflammatory effects of cannabis can help reduce the symptoms of asthma.
Bronchodilation Effects
A bronchodilator is any type of medication that can relax the airways in the lungs. When the airways are relaxed, or open, it makes it much easier to breathe. Some studies have suggested that a certain type of THC may have bronchodilatory properties, meaning it has the potential to massively benefit people suffering from asthma.
Immune System Modulation
THC has been found to help suppress the immune system - in other words, it’s weakened and doesn’t work as well. However, asthma is an allergy reaction, where the immune system over-reacts to something. So, for someone with asthma, having a suppressed immune system means they’re less likely to respond to things in their environment triggering an attack.
Risks and Concerns
Although there are many potential medical cannabis benefits for asthma, there are also potential risks. Side effects are rare, and can vary depending on THC and CBD content as well as method of consumption.
Research has shown that smoking cannabis can lead to lung damage. It’s also illegal, and for this very reason, UK doctors do not prescribe cannabis flower to be smoked. Instead, they advise safer methods like cannabis oils, edibles, vaporisers and vape carts, oils and edibles being arguably the best methods of consumption for people suffering from asthma. It’s a chronic lung disease, so you wouldn’t want to do anything that could potentially make it worse!
Other short-term side effects can include:
- Dizziness and Lightheadedness
- Dry Mouth
- Increased Appetite
- Red Eyes
- Fatigue and Drowsiness
The above effects shouldn’t last long, so don’t worry about them too much. However, if they start to impact your daily life, it may be a good idea to speak to your clinician. The solution could be as simple as lowering your dosage.
It’s also important to be aware that higher levels of THC could cause psychoactive effects. If you’re a medical cannabis patient, with a clinic like Alternaleaf, following your prescription will ensure safe and effective treatment. Levels of THC can still be high enough to result in psychoactive effects, depending on what your clinician prescribes you, but they’ll instruct you on how and when to take your medication. However, when used recreationally, cannabis can be more unpredictable, and it’s important to know the risks.
Summary
There are lots of potential benefits of medical cannabis for asthma. And if you want to incorporate it into a personalised treatment plan, speak to your clinician. They’ll be able to talk through the best dosage and method of administration in detail, ahead of prescribing any medication.
As with any form of medication, there can be risks. It’s important to use responsibly, and it never hurts to do your own research. There’s lots of help and information on the Alternaleaf website, and we’re always here to answer any questions you may have.