Nowadays, more and more patients are using medicinal marijuanas in Australia, with an increase in palliative care patients wanting to use it as a treatment. Despite its benefits, more research is required to guarantee its effectiveness and safety in clinic settings. It has been shown to assist as a form of treatment for patients in palliative care who are undergoing conditions such as AIDs, Alzheimer’s, or terminal cancer.
While medicinal marijuanas in Australia is not suggested as the first line of treatment, there are considerations for it to be an alternative option to alleviate some of the symptoms underlying palliative care patients. More evidence needs to be found before making it a standard source of treatment in clinic settings, however, we will be delving into the findings we have currently.
Disclaimer: for these reasons, it is important to consult with your doctor as to proper treatment and dosage concerning your particular health condition.
Today, we’re going to be taking a look at how medicinal marijuanas in Australia may assist patients undergoing palliative care.
What Is Palliative Care?
There has been an increase in palliative care patients looking towards medicinal marijuanas in Australia as a source of treatment. Palliative care is an individual and family-centered approach to assisting a patient who has a serious, life-threatening condition. The goal of palliative care is to improve the quality of life for the individual and to make their last few years, months, to weeks as comfortable and easy as possible.
Medicinal marijuanas in Australia has been deemed as an option to better assist palliative care patients during this tough time. However, more evidence is required which is why it is used as an alternative after the standard first line of treatment has not been effective. In the next few sections, we’re going to be taking a deeper look into how cannabis can provide some improvement to their standard of living.
1. Pain Alleviation
One of the biggest ways medicinal marijuanas in Australia can assist patients in palliative care is if their condition deals with pain as a major symptom. According to the Australian Journal Of General Practice, there wasn’t much evidence for cannabis making a difference to cancer patients, however, patients with neuropathic conditions see a greater improvement after taking medicinal marijuanas in Australia.
As cannabidiol provides anti-inflammatory qualities, this can help to alleviate painful symptoms in extreme conditions such as Crohn’s disease. While there could be some benefits to cancer patients, it is not suggested as the first line of treatment. On the other hand, there has been evidence showcasing the benefits it offers for non-malignant and neuropathic conditions.
For these reasons and more, it is best to speak to your doctor as to the most suitable treatment and dosage for you.
2. Mood Boost
Another reason why it is suggested as a treatment option for palliative care patients is the fact that it can help alleviate mental health symptoms of anxiety and depression. Medicinal marijuanas in Australia specifically THC contains analgesic qualities, it works to lower cortisol levels and allows the body to fully relax. As a result, cannabis can help to improve the quality of life for the palliative care patient, making those last few moments just a bit easier.
As we’ve noted, it is crucial to speak to your doctor about the correct treatment and dosage, as improper use can lead to adverse reactions.
Summary
In short, there is still much more evidence required before medicinal marijuanas in Australia can be used as a primary form of treatment in palliative care settings. While there is some research showcasing its benefits, we still have a long way to go.
