Can Cannabis Improve Sickle Cell Anemia

Sickle cell anemia is caused by a defect in your hemoglobin, which is a protein that allows for your red blood cells to carry forth oxygen. 

These red blood cells lose shape and it causes clogging of the blood vessels, creating pain, swelling, and other complications. 

Some say cannabis can help but is it a valid strategy. 

What is It? 

This usually falls under a category of diseases and disorders. While it does have environmental causes, usually it’s because of genetic. 

Hemoglobin is the protein that gives the cells the red color. This is vital for the survival of this, and many are tasked with carrying the oxygen in tis to the rest of the body, cycling your carbon dioxide back to the lungs themselves. 

This is usually a genetic concern, which causes a defect in your hemoglobin, and it causes them to change into a crescent or a sickle shape, creating complications of the symptoms. 

This can cause anemia, pain, a low mood and tiredness, and also problems with swelling too. 

In some severe cases, it can actually cause damage to the organs, a stroke, ulcers of the legs, pulmonary hypertension, blindness, and complications if you’re pregnant. 

Can Cannabis help? 

This can cause a lot of pain and problems in your life, and there are some drugs which can help keep it under control, such as L-glutamine or hydroxyurea in order to minimize pain. 

Some may use cannabis to help with these conditions too, making it a possible use for certain conditions, including this. 

Cannabis targets your endocannabinoid system, or the ECS. When you ingest it, the cannabis do interface with this, creating the homeostasis with this. The terpenes, flavonoids, and other different compounds synergize in order to produce better outcome. 

So how can this help with sickle cell anemia? 

Well it can help elevate the hormones in the short term, helping those with sickle cell anemia temporarily improve their mood. 

However, long-term use of this does make you feel demotivated, and it can also make you feel more anxious and panic. 

There is also the benefits of CBD, which could be better since it offers a clearer, more blissful effect without the psychoactive high that’s there. It also helps bind to your serotonin receptors, improving the mood, and also offering a more meaningful result. 

This also can impact the pain receptors as well, and it can help to reduce the pain that’s there. Many people who already have sickle cell anemia do use this to help with pain, the mood, and sleep, and it can help with reducing the need for pain meds. 

This of course can help those who have sickle cell anemia, and also pain-related behaviors of this. 

Finally, it can help with the immune system. There is a chance that this can help with your immunity, with the ECS playing a role. Right now, future trials are needed to uncover the cannabis parts, and improve the immunity of those patients in a specific manner. 

THC or CBD though? For some people, they may benefit from the combination of both. But because of how potent the THC can be in this, you may want something with more CBD focus, and it can benefit your body and offer a reduced discomfort of the body. 

There are even some pharmaceuticals that can help with this called Sativex, which is a spray that’s used for MC. 

Right now, we’re still exploring the options of this, and there are a lot of benefits which can come from this. But you’ll know for sure over time if this helps.