It’s typical to endure cognitive deterioration as we age. When we approach our golden years, we are susceptible to frequent ailments including Alzheimer’s, dementia, and memory loss. With the extensive anti-cannabis propaganda that has been spread against us since the 1980s. It may be difficult to think that cannabis may truly assist elderly people to lead better lives.
Seniors may benefit from cannabis treatment for a range of symptoms, including chronic pain, sleep issues, tremor, stiffness, agitation, nausea, vomiting, and decreased appetite, according to a number of online health organizations including the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Since the proportion of senior persons in our community keeps growing. Their quality of life and general well-being are being given more attention. The proper use of cannabis can encourage efforts to delay aging and age gracefully.
Methods and Examples of Consumption:
- Inhalation through vaping or smoking.
2. Sublingual: administration by drops, tinctures, etc. beneath the tongue.
3. Oral: foods, pills, drops, etc.
4. Topical: patches, ointments, lotions, etc.
Seniors should speak with their doctors to determine the optimal consumption strategies for their unique requirements and preferences.
Using Marijuana as Medicine:
A medical professional should consult before deciding whether to use cannabis for therapeutic purposes. Cannabis is continuously being studied for its potential as a safe and efficient treatment for various medical problems. Older adults are specifically mentioned in the information that is currently available. According to certain research, using cannabis in some particular circumstances may have some possible medicinal benefits, including:
- Nausea and Vomiting from Chemotherapy
- Multiple sclerosis-related stiffnesses or muscle contractions
- Chronic neuropathic pain
- Palliative Pain
How Marijuana Could Help the Elderly Population?
Getting older is not for the timid. Ailments and health disorders that can significantly hinder everyday activities and may call for a large amount of pharmaceutical medicine to relieve or control develop as our bodies age. Let’s look at a few of the aging-related ailments that cannabis is believed to aid in treating.
Note: Before taking medical marijuana, consult with a state-registered healthcare provider and obtain a $20 medical card to enjoy the benefits.
Treating Pain:
Pain and inflammation are one area where cannabis is relevant. It has been demonstrated that using cannabis topically or orally can help users experience less pain and inflammation. Neuropathic pain in conditions including diabetes, certain autoimmune illnesses, intractable cancer pain, and other conditions have been demonstrated to be successfully treated with THC and/or CBD. Cannabis users benefit greatly from its ability to alleviate pain, but this benefit is increased when they also experience less dependency on pharmaceutical opioid-based drugs.
Sleep:
The elderly can also benefit from cannabis when it comes to sleep. To keep our health, we all require peaceful sleep. Yet, a person’s capacity to fall asleep is frequently impacted by underlying stress or imbalance, particularly in older people.
Nutrition:
Lastly, over the years, research on cannabis has helped to pinpoint the nutritional advantages of ingesting this plant’s many sections. The importance of vital fatty acids, protein, fiber, and micronutrients rises in this group since malnutrition is frequently a serious problem. Cannabis seeds are only one example of nutrient-rich, plant-based foods that may be incorporated into the diet as a remedy.
Skin Care:
Cannabis can help to lessen inflammation, redness, and even breakouts because of its potent anti-inflammatory qualities. Moreover, they soothes psoriasis and prevents wrinkles from forming. Cannabis has medicinal benefits because of its potent antioxidant properties.
Parkinson’s disease:
Parkinson’s disease (PD), a prevalent brain condition that primarily affects older persons, is brought on by the death of brain cells that produce dopamine, a neurotransmitter that regulates movement. PD is referred to as the “movement disorder” because it impairs balance and walking and produces tremors, stiffness, and slowness of movement. However, may lessen movement disorder and enhance the quality of life in people with Parkinson’s disease.
Bottom Line:
For thousands of years, cannabis has been proven to support health and vitality across a wide range of civilizations. Current research encourages using cannabis in one’s daily routine, in whatever form or dosage since it has several advantages for people of all ages, but notably those over 65.
We will all eventual age, but how we age and the choices we take to live our best lives are entirely up to each individual. The keys to aging gracefully include maintaining mobility and pain-freeness, improving food, getting adequate sleep, and maintaining physical and mental fitness. As we continue to research this great plant for its advantages in the areas of public health and other fields, we can certainly add cannabis usage to this list.
References
1. UCLA: Cannabis Research Initiative. Cannabis and its Compounds. Available at: https://cannabis.semel.ucla.edu/compunds/#:~:text=Cannabis%20contains%20over%20500%20distinct,cannabis%20and%20other%20flowering%20plants. Accessed March 5, 2021.
2. Bruni N, Della Pepa C, Oliaro-Bosso S, et al. Cannabinoid Delivery Systems for Pain and Inflammation Treatment. Molecules. 2018;23(10):2478.
3. Russo EB. Cannabinoids in the management of difficult to treat pain. Ther Clin Risk Manag. 2008;4(1):245-259.
4. Reiman A, Welty M, Solomon P. Cannabis as a Substitute for Opioid-Based Pain Medication: Patient Self-Report. Cannabis Cannabinoid Res. 2017;2(1):160-166.
5. Vyas MB, LeBaron VT, Gilson AM. The use of cannabis in response to the opioid crisis: A review of the literature. Nurs Outlook. 2018;66(1):56-65.