Medical Uses

In the UK, some of the most common applications of medical cannabis include treating or easing the symptoms of chronic pain, mental health concerns (such as anxiety, depression, and PTSD), gastroenterological and neurological conditions, sleeping disorders, and as a complementary cancer support therapy option, plus much more. In most cases, medical cannabis should not be seen as a straight replacement for conventional treatment, but as a complementary therapeutic option. It has shown to be effective in providing relief and improving the quality of life for those suffering from a wide range of health issues.

The NHS is currently only willing to offer medical cannabis prescriptions for two rare forms of epilepsy, muscle spasticity caused by multiple sclerosis (MS), and chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, and even then, in very specific cases. Releaf clinicians can legally prescribe medical cannabis for a much wider range of conditions, including treating or easing the symptoms of chronic pain, mental health concerns (such as anxiety, depression, and PTSD), gastroenterological and neurological conditions, sleeping disorders, and as a complementary cancer support therapy option, plus much more.

Researchers are still uncertain about the exact causes of Parkinson's Disease. However, it is understood that this neurodegenerative disorder arises from the gradual loss or damage of nerve cells in the brain's movement centre. Medical cannabis has been observed to alleviate both motor and non-motor symptoms for Parkinson’s patients, including bradykinesia, rigidity, tremors, sleep disturbances, and pain. It has also been shown to reduce inflammation and oxidative stress, factors believed to contribute to the progression of Parkinson’s Disease. To learn more, check out our blog on medical cannabis and Parkinson's disease.

While medical cannabis has been shown to help reduce the frequency and intensity of seizures relating to certain types of epilepsy, it should not be seen as a cure-all solution for all epilepsy sufferers. It is a potential supplemental treatment option that may help to reduce seizure activity and improve the overall quality of life of those with epilepsy and other chronic conditions. Multiple studies and an ever-growing body of peer-reviewed research have shown that the cannabinoids contained in CBMPs can reduce seizure activity for some types of epilepsy. To learn more, check out our blog on medical cannabis and epilepsy.