HIV is one of the most feared diseases–possibly the most feared–by people across the Earth. If you or someone you know has recently discovered that you or they have become infected, it can be a terrifying experience. Fortunately, modern medicine has made great strides to help those living with HIV improve their quality of life, and while there’s still no definitive cure, HIV treatment does exist. At Woodstock Medicinal Doctors of Florida, our pot doctor in Stuart, FL has helped patients with HIV find relief in their symptoms through the use of medical marijuana. Did you know cannabis can help patients with these symptoms? Let’s talk a little about them.
More About HIV
HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus works by weakening and destroying the immune system. It targets cells that fight diseases and infections, leaving patients vulnerable to germs that would otherwise be stopped by their bodies. Many patients may experience flu-like side effects after contracting the virus, such as fevers, sore throats, swollen glands, and skin problems. These don’t typically last that long, but over time, they can resurface more commonly in later years, after the immune system has taken a larger hit. In addition, other symptoms like nausea, vomiting, joint pain, weight loss, diarrhea, chronic coughing, and severe headaches can become more common without treatment. Medication can help keep HIV under control, but those drugs can also have their own psychiatric side effects like depression, insomnia, and anxiety.
Why Consider Medical Marijuana for HIV Treatment
On the surface, the first selling point of medical marijuana is the effect it has at controlling many of the side effects caused directly or indirectly by HIV. This not only includes relief from symptoms like headaches, pain, and nausea, but can also help relieve those psychological side effects that can step from HIV medication. It can even help give an appetite to those without one maintain a healthy diet. This can improve the quality of life in a patient significantly and help them regain control of their lives. There’s more to medical marijuana than just treating the symptoms, however.
Current research on HIV is exploring the potential for marijuana to lower viral replication, meaning there’s evidence to suggest that cannabis can actually work to slow down or even halt the progression of HIV. Controlled studies that provided non-human primates with Delta-9 THC, a synthetic form of cannabinoid, can reduce the patient’s viral load and tissue inflammation. The study showed a reduction in mortality among the primates exposed to this form of THC. Ultimately, more research needs to be done, but there’s a lot of reason to believe cannabis can do more than resolve symptoms.
Contact Us for A Pot Doctor
Regardless of potential in studies, we do know that cannabis can be used as a form of HIV treatment to limit symptoms of the disease. If you live in Stuart, FL and are interested in finding help managing your HIV, contact us today. At Woodstock Medicinal Doctors of Florida, we aim to provide our patients with the pot doctor that can provide them with a road to recovery with the highest quality of life possible.
