I feel better already..
New research shows cannabis is effective for reducing fatigue.
New research shows cannabis is effective for reducing fatigue.
Fatigue is a core feature of many types of illnesses, and several studies have shown that people with chronic pain, cancer, Parkinson’s Disease, and multiple sclerosis report increased energy levels after consuming medical cannabis. Other research shows patients are increasingly supplementing with or switching entirely from conventional pharmaceutical prescription medications to medical cannabis, demonstrating a revealed preference for using this ancient and natural form of medicine.
University of New Mexico researchers have shown in a large scale study (n=1224) that using cannabis results in immediate improvement for feelings of fatigue.
On average, people are likely to experience a 3.5 point improvement of feelings of fatigue on a 0-10 scale, after combusting cannabis "buds".
“Despite the conventional beliefs that frequent Cannabis use may result in decreased behavioral activity, goal-pursuit, and competitiveness, or what academics have called ‘amotivational syndrome,’ people tend to actually experience an immediate boost in their energy levels immediately after consuming cannabis,”
Co-author and Associate Professor Jacob Miguel Vigil in the UNM Department of Psychology Department.
The study was based on data from 3,922 cannabis self-administration sessions recorded by 1,224 people using a patented mobile software application(Releaf) designed to help users record varying characteristics of the cannabis they purchase and monitor real-time changes in their symptom intensity and experienced side effects.
Because Cannabis plants are so variable in their chemical compositions, consumers are often challenged with ever-changing availability of strain-specific plant batches, and the Releaf App enables users to keep an electronic diary of user session-specific effects for self-monitoring and self-directed cannabis use.
“One of the most surprising outcomes of this study is that cannabis, in general, yielded improvements in symptoms of fatigue, rather than just a subset of products, such as those with higher THC or CBD levels or products characterized as sativa rather than indica,”
Coauthor and Associate Professor Sarah Stith in the UNM Economics Department.
“At the same time,” describes Vigil, “our observation that the major cannabinoids tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) were largely uncorrelated with changes in feelings of fatigue suggest that other minor cannabinoids and phytochemicals such as terpenes may be more influential on the effects of using cannabis than previously believed. In the near future, I anticipate that patients will have the opportunity to access more individualized cannabis products, with distinct and known combinations of chemical profiles for treating their specific health needs and lifestyles.”
“We’re excited to see real-world data and studies support the use of cannabinoids for helping individuals manage their fatigue and energy levels,”
Tyler Dautrich, COO at MoreBetter, the creators of Releaf App.
“This obviously has implications for patients experiencing fatigue as a symptom of their medical condition, but we also feel this can lead to healthier options to the current energy drink and supplement market.”
Study link.
Author affiliations
