Sinusitis is a particularly painful health problem that affects 24 to 31 million people a year in the United States alone. If you’ve ever had a persistent cold, find out how therapeutic marijuana can help diagnose sinusitis.
Too often, medical professionals prescribe antibiotics to treat bacterial infections caused by inflammation. Among the most common therapies, we find prescription drugs to be administered orally and topical steroids, such as nasal sprays. Then there are the more serious cases that require surgery by an otolaryngologist to cleanse the nasal cavities more deeply.
However, the question of the effectiveness of prescription antibiotics on our body is still at the center of heated debates. We often forget that antibiotics not only kill microorganisms that are potentially harmful to our health, but also those that are beneficial. Their action destroys the colonies of “good” germs present in our bodies and could be responsible for the proliferation of some of the most common diseases in our modern society.
Cannabis Gets Into The Game
Cannabis has been used for thousands of years as a natural medicine and, fortunately, the stigmas associated with its use are slowly fading. Thanks to the growing number of countries that have legalized the use of cannabis for therapeutic purposes, this plant is becoming increasingly common and cannabinoids could be the key to stopping bacteria resistant to sinusitis antibiotics.
Given the antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties of many cannabinoids, researchers have discovered that these molecules act as natural antibiotics, with extremely effective properties. This is a really exciting prospect, which we ourselves firmly support because sick people could improve their lives without conventional drugs and their side effects. In this article, we will explore the causes, effects, and treatments based on cannabis against sinusitis.
What Are The Causes Of Sinusitis?
Regardless of whether it is viral or bacterial in nature, sinusitis affects millions of people globally. In most cases, this condition is chronic and is caused by an infection. This painful health problem occurs when the sinus tissue becomes inflamed, causing persistent mucus secretions or accumulations of stagnant mucus. A healthy and normal nasal cavity is usually crossed only by the air, but when it clogs it can become fertile ground for bacteria and germs (responsible for subsequent infections). Sinusitis causes several problems and can worsen in the presence of allergies or after having adopted inadequate timely therapies.
Acute Sinusitis
Acute sinusitis causes infections in the sinus cavities, interfering with drainage and causing mucus to build up. The symptoms usually last less than four weeks and, in most cases, start as a normal cold, which gets worse over time and causes a bacterial infection. Those suffering from acute sinusitis may find it difficult to breathe with the nose, the eyes and the face may appear swollen and may experience excruciating pain in the face or head. Symptoms of acute sinusitis include:
- Loss of smell
- Congestion
- Wheezing breath
- Pressure on the face
- Facial pain
- Sinus headache
- A runny nose
Chronic Sinusitis
Similar to acute sinusitis, the chronic one inflames and inflates the nasal cavities, with symptoms that last three months or more, despite attempts at treatment. Those who suffer from chronic sinusitis may notice swollen face and sore eyes, with headaches and breathing problems due to lack of proper drainage and mucus accumulation. It can be caused by an infection, but also growths inside the breasts (such as nasal polyps) or a deviated nasal septum can be triggered. Symptoms of chronic sinusitis include:
- Temperature
- Nasal obstruction
- Drainage
- Facial congestion
How Can Cannabinoids Help?
You may not be suffering from chronic sinusitis, but remember that the processes with which it initially acts can make many people more susceptible to this disease. Research has shown that cannabinoids have potent antibiotic properties that can help fight infections, especially those who do not respond to conventional antibiotics.
In this case, how can cannabinoids treat sinusitis and other health problems? According to research conducted to give an answer to this question, in our organism there is a physiological system, unknown until a few years ago, which plays a central role in keeping human beings and any other mammal healthy: the endocannabinoid system.
The endocannabinoid system is composed of endocannabinoids and their receptors are distributed in all parts of our body: brain, organs, connective tissues, glands, and immune cells. The main function of this system is to keep homeostasis always stable. Cannabinoids help promote homeostasis, reducing the release of activators in areas of damaged tissue, thus helping to stabilize nerve cells and prevent the release of pro-inflammatory substances. If you want to try a natural alternative to effectively manage sinusitis, you can use cannabis safely, without the stress caused by the side effects associated with many drugs.
Sinus Congestion
Mucus build-up, sore throat, postnasal drip may hinder breathing. Although cannabis is not a real expectorant, it has been shown to be an effective bronchodilator, potentially effective for facilitating sinusitis breathing.
Conclusion
If you suffer from sinusitis, smoking cannabis is certainly not the most practical way to treat this health problem, as breathing is already compromised. The choice of other cannabis products, such as edible or dye, may be more appropriate. Therefore, we invite you to consult a doctor who is in favor of the therapeutic use of cannabis to know which method of intake is the most effective for you.