CBD Cannabis Extract: An Alternative for Symptom Relief and Pain Management

Phyathai Nawamin

4 Min

22/11/2023

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CBD Cannabis Extract: An Alternative for Symptom Relief and Pain Management

What are CBD and THC substances? How are they used medically in patients?

Currently, there is increasing discussion about CBD and THC substances, especially among patients suffering from chronic life-threatening illnesses that cannot be cured but continue to cause pain from symptoms. What is CBD? How is it different from THC? And what benefits does it provide? Find the answers in this article.

 

Interesting Topics

  1. What is CBD?
  2. How is CBD different from THC?
  3. What are the benefits of CBD?
  4. What diseases can CBD help treat?
  5. Precautions regarding the use of CBD

 

What is CBD?

CBD stands for Cannabidiol, which is a type of extract derived from the cannabis plant. Cannabis contains two main types of cannabinoid compounds:

  1. CBD (Cannabidiol)
  2. THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol)

Currently, both substances are used medically to help relieve symptoms, reduce anxiety, alleviate pain, and address other health issues as determined by physicians.

 

How is CBD different from THC?

  • Cannabidiol (CBD): Not classified as a narcotic and is non-psychoactive, meaning it does not cause intoxication or addiction. CBD has effects that help relieve stress, reduce inflammation of wounds, protect nerve cells, prevent seizures, reduce pain, alleviate nausea, counteract psychotropic effects, and can also inhibit or suppress cancer cells. Therefore, it is used in various ways including care for terminal patients, palliative care to improve quality of life, as well as in herbal products, medicines, and food.
  • Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC): Classified as a Schedule 1 narcotic (by the World Health Organization), it has psychoactive effects causing euphoria, relaxation, drowsiness, and helps relieve insomnia, stimulate appetite, reduce pain in terminal cancer patients, and counteract nausea and vomiting from chemotherapy. THC must be prescribed only by oncologists because it can cause addiction. The Ministry of Public Health has declared that THC extracts containing no more than 0.2% are not narcotics and can be used for medical purposes, research, and product manufacturing under conditions set by the Ministry.

 

Currently, Phyathai Nawamin Hospital primarily uses CBD (CBD First) in caring for palliative care patients or those facing life-threatening illnesses to improve their quality of life.

What are the benefits of CBD?

Because CBD works by reducing pain, inflammation, and anxiety without being toxic to the nervous system or addictive, it helps alleviate symptoms of diseases with many benefits such as:

  • Improving the quality of life for terminal patients
  • Helping treat epilepsy resistant to other treatments
  • Stimulating appetite
  • Relieving insomnia
  • Reducing nausea and vomiting
  • Alleviating chronic pain

 

What diseases can CBD help treat?

CBD has many health benefits but focuses more on symptom relief than cure. It is one of the options used to help alleviate symptoms, especially in terminal patients who are the group most likely to benefit from medical cannabis extracts.

Medical cannabis extracts are used in palliative care patients or terminal patients with diseases or conditions leading to death (life-threatening conditions) such as:

  • Cancer
  • Stroke
  • Emphysema
  • Heart failure
  • Kidney failure

Including symptoms in late-stage patients with complex symptoms due to body deterioration, where symptom relief in the final stage using multiple conventional drugs may cause side effects such as pain, loss of appetite, and insomnia. CBD can help alleviate these symptoms, reducing patient suffering.

Treatment or symptom relief with CBD requires patients to be examined by a physician to assess the disease condition, then plan treatment to alleviate symptoms. The physician will consider together with the patient and family before prescribing CBD.

 

Precautions regarding the use of CBD

Although CBD has medical benefits, its use must be cautious and under medical supervision because there are many contraindications and precautions, especially in young children, pregnant women, and breastfeeding mothers. They should avoid using CBD and THC in medical treatment, consumption, and products containing CBD because it directly affects the fetus and can be passed through breast milk. Additionally, there are other precautions such as:

  • Using CBD products may cause drowsiness, so do not drive vehicles, operate machinery, or perform hazardous work.
  • Do not use continuously for a long time or without a doctor’s prescription.
  • Use cautiously, especially in patients receiving treatment with sedatives or other psychoactive drugs.
  • If allergic reactions occur such as rash, swollen lips, swollen eyes, or swollen face, stop using and consult a doctor.
  • Use only under the control and prescription of a trained physician.

 

Proper use of cannabis extracts CBD and THC under medical supervision is beneficial to patients and their families and is another option that can improve patients’ quality of life.


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