Medical Marijuana And Glaucoma: Is Relief In Sight?

Glaucoma - Disease Profile

Glaucoma is a term used to characterize a cluster of diseases that erode your eye’s optic nerve and can result in absolute or partial vision loss. Your optic nerve is indispensable when it comes to communicating information to your brain. If the optic nerve gets damaged due to intraocular pressure (IOP), deterioration happens, and since the path between your nerve receptors has most likely been damaged and has caused a disruption, it could lead to full or partial loss of sight.

When there's damage to the optic nerve, deterioration happens, and since the path between nerve receptors has most likely been damaged, that disruption may lead to visual impairment. There are two types of glaucoma - find out more about glaucoma here.

Symptoms

Glaucoma symptoms can include:

• Eye pain

• Headache

• Vision loss

• Blurred vision

• Redness in your eye

• Seeing halos around lights

• Upset stomach or vomiting

• Eye that looks hazy (particularly in infants).

If you notice any of the above symptoms, seek medical care as soon as possible. With early detection and treatment, you have a better chance of saving some, if not all of your eyesight.

Glaucoma Causes

Although glaucoma can be inherited, there are other causes that you should be aware of. There is a mesh-like channel that helps with the flow of fluid inside your eye, which is called aqueous humor.

When this mesh-like channel is blocked or too much fluid is being produced, this causes a build-up which may lead to the start of glaucoma. The precise cause of glaucoma, however, remains a mystery and continues to elude the scientific community.

Alternative Medicine - A Treatment for Glaucoma?

Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) is used to describe medical practices and services used by a naturopathic doctor and other doctors in holistic medicine. Holistic medicine consists of:

• Vitamins

• Meditation

• Reflexology

• Acupuncture

• Homeopathy

• Herbal remedies

• Ayurvedic medicine

• Traditional Chinese medicine

Numerous claims of successful results using CAM remedies in treating glaucoma have been reported. Unfortunately, CAM therapies seem to be devoid of comprehensive, controlled clinical trials. Regardless of the paucity of evidence, studies show that more than 40% of Americans have reported adopting CAM treatments and 5% of patients with glaucoma utilize alternative medicine practices in assisting with the management of their glaucoma condition.

Cannabis and Marijuana - Medical Profile

Oftentimes, people confuse marijuana and cannabis as being one. However, this is not the case at all. Let’s decipher the difference here:

• Cannabis: pertains to anything extracted from the cannabis plant and contains roughly 540 chemical stimulants

• Marijuana: refers to sections from the cannabis plant that contain considerable amounts of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). THC is the substance that’s primarily responsible for the effects that marijuana causes.

There are three types of Cannabis:

• Indica - Produces a body high and is more relaxing. Helps insomnia

• Sativa - Produces a cognitive high that is more energizing. Getting things done.

• Hybrid - A combination of indica and sativa strains that can produce a body and head high. Comes in various variations.

Marijuana/Cannabis features a multitude of healing factors. Studies have proven that the Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in cannabis can reduce some pain and damage caused by glaucoma by relieving optic nerve pressure.

Cannabigerol (CBG) is a non-psychoactive cannabinoid that helps to alleviate IOP by increasing fluid drainage in the eye.

Ask your dispensary about which strains are preferred for glaucoma and headaches.

10 Tips for Living With Glaucoma

1. Exercise: Regular exercise can lower eye pressure by keeping blood circulating to the nerves in your eye.

2. Healthy Diet:. A healthy diet is keen to maintain the health of your body and eyes. Eat more foods that are high in antioxidants. Nutrient-rich foods include:

• Greens - Dark and leafy

• Fish - omega-3 fatty acids

3. Take prescribed medications: Missing your meds can lead to quicker vision loss.

4. Contacts:. Contact lenses should be okay, but use medicated eye drops as directed.

5. Quit smoking: Smoking can raise your blood pressure and cause eye inflammation

6. Limit caffeine. A study found that one cup of coffee could increase pressure in your eye significantly.

7. Elevate the head. Try using a wedge pillow while sleeping, it'll help to lower your eye pressure.

8. Sip slowly: Sip on beverages throughout the day instead of gulping.

9. Guard those eyes: Wear protective glasses when working in the yard, playing sports, or swimming. Use non-allergenic makeup, and wear sunglasses outside, particularly in the summer.

10. Stop rubbing. Ask your doctor about eye drops to treat dryness.

If you're living with glaucoma, and are open to alternative wellness for glaucoma management, or chronic pain, research and ask an alternative medicine or naturopathic doctor about how alternative medicine can help you,