Anorexia
How can Medical Marijuana help Anorexia?
Figures provided by the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders, Inc. (ANAD) indicate that eating disorders affect roughly 9% of the population worldwide. One of the more common types of eating disorders is Anorexia Nervosa-or more simply Anorexia. The condition is characterized by abnormally low body weight, mostly due to fear of gaining weight and a distorted perception of body weight.
The epidemiology of Anorexia nervosa is complicated and involves genetic as well as psychological components. People suffering from Anorexia severely restrict their calorific intake to prevent themselves from gaining weight. They also tend to misuse medicines such as laxatives, diet pills, and diuretics as a means to lose weight.
Some of the most common signs or symptoms of Anorexia include-
Very low Body-Mass Index (BMI)
Extreme fear of gaining weight
A distorted perception of one's weight
A compulsive-obsessive exercise routine
Low self-esteem and self-worth
How does Anorexia start?
Anorexia usually starts when you are in your pre-teens or teens. When someone has Anorexia, they have no control over it and tend to pay little attention to medical advice as well.
Although the cause of developing Anorexia is still not very clear, genetics is supposed to play a pivotal role, at least in some cases. Apart from genetics, some of the other risk factors that might lead to Anorexia include-
Hormonal imbalance
Social or cultural norms that perpetuate unrealistic body expectations
Desire to be perfect
Having eating disorders during the early years of your life
Anorexia can also precipitate as a result of adverse effects of some medications, including anti-cancer drugs. Certain medical conditions such as AIDS, Hepatitis, Cancer, and Chron's disease can also result in loss of appetite leading to Anorexia.
What are the current treatments available for Anorexia?
Diagnosing Anorexia can be challenging. Unfortunately, there are no lab tests to diagnose Anorexia. As a result, the doctor will have to rely on a complete medical history to diagnose.
As the condition has a psychiatric component, patients are often referred to psychotherapists for further evaluation. That said, if physical symptoms are present, medical intervention might be needed. Some of the reasons that you might need emergency care include-
Irregular heart rate (Arrhythmia)
Extreme dehydration
Renal failure
Malnutrition
In many situations, a holistic approach is necessary to treat the condition. Some of the common components of this wholistic treatment plan might include:
Family or group therapy and counseling
Nutrition counseling
Psychotherapy
Medications
Hospitalization
How can Medical Marijuana help in the treatment of Anorexia?
Medical marijuana or medical cannabis has been shown to stimulate appetite and increase the metabolic rate. According to a study published from the University of Chicago, THC in medical marijuana helped increase the caloric intake in HIV patients.
Some studies are also currently being conducted to test the effect of THC and medical marijuana against chemotherapy-induced Anorexia.
Consuming natural medicines like marijuana can have other added benefits for patients suffering from Anorexia, including improved mood. Furthermore, the fewer side effects of medical marijuana make it very safe to use during the treatment of Anorexia.
A solid case for medical marijuana for the treatment of Anorexia comes from studies that show that the brain changes accompany Anorexia. A report published in 2012 indicated that people suffering from Anorexia had malfunctions in their endocannabinoid system. However, it is still unclear whether the changes are a consequence of Anorexia or the cause of developing the condition. The use of medical marijuana can be helpful for people with such issues and play a vital role in managing the condition.
Best strains of medical marijuana for treating Anorexia
It is crucial to pick the right strain of medical marijuana while treating any health condition. While Indica strains are rich in THC that can help with the mental issues such as Anxiety, the Sativa strains are rich in CBD that can increase your energy levels. Hybridized strains of medical marijuana can be rich in both THC and CBD and may be the best options out there if patients are looking for natural treatments for anorexia.
Many strains of medical marijuana can be used to stimulate appetite, relieve Anxiety and manage Anorexia. Some of the most notable strains include:
Pure Kush
Maui Bubble Gift
Platinum Purple Kush
GigaBud
While Pure Kush, Platinum Purple Kush, and GigaBud are Indica strains, Maui Bubble Gift is a hybrid strain that is Indica dominant. As always each patient is different therefore it is important to find what strain of medical marijuana or medical cannabis works best for you.
How to take medical marijuana for treating Anorexia?
It is always a good idea to start taking medical marijuana to treat any health condition, including Anorexia, in small doses. It is crucial to find the correct dosage that provides the best result with the least unwanted effects.
Choosing a strain with high CBD and a low amount of THC can be important as high levels of THC can cause an increase in Anxiety, you may want to start with the strains recommended above to get the best out of medical marijuana to treat Anorexia if you also suffer from Anxiety.
Some of the most popular methods to consume medical marijuana are:
Smoking
Vaping
Edibles
Tinctures and sprays
Topicals
Suppositories
What are the adverse effects of taking medical marijuana for treating Anorexia?
Taking too much of anything is not good, and it applies to medical marijuana and medical cannabis as well. Although natural medical marijuana has no significant or harmful side effects, there can be some undesirable effects of consumption. Some of them include-
Dry mouth and excessive thirst
Reddening of eyes
Feeling sluggish and tired
Potential of developing an addiction
Short-term memory loss
Concluding remarks
Medical marijuana can be a great tool to treat eating disorders, including Anorexia. According to a study published in the journal titled Eating and Weight Disorders, there is a positive impact of consuming medical marijuana and medical cannabis on weight gain in Anorexia patients. Although many scientific studies are still underway, there is enough evidence supporting medical marijuana for the treatment of Anorexia Nervosa.
References
Eating Disorder Statistics: General & Diversity Stats: ANAD. (2021, March 03, March 03). Retrieved from https://anad.org/get-informed/about-eating-disorders/eating-disorders-statistics/
M.D., A. K., Search for more papers by this author, M.D., H. W., M.D., E. S., B.M., M. S., M.D., E. S., . . . 24, R. A. (2007, August 01). Epidemiology and Course of Anorexia Nervosa in the Community. Retrieved August 30 August 30, 2021, from https://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/doi/10.1176/appi.ajp.2007.06081388#:~:text=Results: The lifetime prevalence of clinical recovery rate was 66.8%.
Anorexia: What Causes People to Become Anorexic? (n.d.). Retrieved August 30 August 30, 2021, from https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/eating-disorders/anorexia-nervosa/understanding-anorexia-basics
Badowski ME, Perez SE. Clinical utility of dronabinol in the treatment of weight loss associated with HIV and AIDS. HIV AIDS (Auckl). 2016;8:37-45. Published 2016 February 10 February 10. doi:10.2147/HIV.S81420
Dell DD, Stein DP. Exploring the Use of Medical Marijuana for Supportive Care of Oncology Patients. J Adv Pract Oncol. 2021;12(2):188-201. doi:10.6004/jadpro.2021.12.2.6
Marco EM, Romero-Zerbo SY, Viveros MP, Bermudez-Silva FJ. The role of the endocannabinoid system in eating disorders: pharmacological implications. Behav Pharmacol. 2012 Sep;23(5-6):526-36. DOI: 10.1097/FBP.0b013e328356c3c9. PMID: 22785439.
Roger EV, Møller C, Sjögren M. Treatment studies with cannabinoids in anorexia nervosa: a systematic review. Eat Weight Disord. 2021 Mar;26(2):407-415. DOI: 10.1007/s40519-020-00891-x. Epub 2020 April 02 April 02. PMID: 32240516.
