The popularity of medical marijuana makes it useful for many conditions. But can marijuana help with SLE lupus?
What is Lupus (SLE)?
Lupus (SLE) is an inflammatory disease that results when the immune system attacks its tissues.
When you suffer from lupus, the immune system generates antibodies to block viruses and bacteria. Also, when you have lupus, your immune system can’t differentiate between healthy tissue and those substances that produce an immune response. When you have lupus, your body essential directs antibodies at your healthy tissue, causing inflammation, pain, and damage.
Lupus can affect any body part including skin, organs, joints, the brain, and more.
Lupus can go from mild to deadly and it’s a systemic condition that’s not transmissible. Many sufferers of lupus are women, and it’s believed to originate from genetic and environmental factors.
Lupus is currently incurable, but the symptoms can be regulated with corticosteroids, immunosuppressive drugs, and as well as lifestyle changes.
The different kinds of lupus include.
Discoid lupus: This type of lupus affects only the skin and is characterized by rashes on the face, neck, and scalp.
SLE: This is a severe type of lupus. It affects all body parts including organs and internal systems. Drug-induced lupus results when someone has a response to a prescription drug.
Neonatal lupus: This type of lupus results from a mother passing autoantibodies to a newborn.
Lupus comes with periods of remission without symptoms, as well as periods with high symptoms. So, how does marijuana affect SLE (lupus)?
Does Marijuana Help Lupus?
Research shows that marijuana may be a valuable option for people with this condition. Cannabis is a natural anti-inflammatory because it blocks the components of the immune system. Since cannabis may potentially affect the immune system, it can help relieve the abnormal immune response that comes with lupus.
Particularly, cannabis reduces levels of interleukin-2 and increases interleukin-19 which is an anti-inflammatory protein. These are primary factors that are giving hope to researchers in believing that there’s a beneficial link between marijuana and lupus.
Generally, most researchers believe that cannabis can potentially fight pain and inflammation, which are two of the primary issues people with lupus suffer from.
Individuals don’t necessarily need to smoke marijuana or even get high to receive the benefits of cannabis.
People with Lupus (SLE) may be able to enjoy cannabis through CBD, which is a particular component of cannabis that lacks psychoactive effects. High doses of CBD may help relieve some symptoms of lupus. Regardless, you must choose high CBD products from reputable manufacturers.
So, does marijuana help lupus?
Many researchers are considering marijuana as a helpful way to treat lupus because it’s an autoimmune disorder where the immune system attacks healthy tissue. Marijuana offers beneficial properties which help control this autoimmune response and relieve common lupus symptoms such as pain and inflammation.
The Lupus Foundation of America notes that there is a need for more research regarding marijuana and lupus. They also support the fact that marijuana can act as a viable treatment option for people with this autoimmune disease.