Oral ingestion of marijuana: Promising treatment for malaria, chronic pain, sleep disorders

The global burden of malaria, chronic pain and sleep disorders is staggering, affecting millions worldwide.

These conditions may have found a potential solution in the cannabis plant, which has a rich history of medicinal, recreational and spiritual use.

Marijuana contains over 100 bioactive compounds, including tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD), which interact with the body's endocannabinoid system.

This interaction produces various physiological effects.

While marijuana has therapeutic potential, high-quality evidence is limited. 

Marijuana's therapeutic potential

The endocannabinoid system regulates physiological processes, including pain, inflammation and immune response.

THC and CBD interact with this system to produce therapeutic effects (Pertwee, 2014).

This regulates pain perception through cannabinoid receptors in the brain and spinal cord to reduce pain perception (Woodhams et al., 2017).

Cannabinoids have therapeutic potential for pain management, providing relief from chronic neuropathic pain (Wilsey et al., 2013) and reducing chronic pain in rodents (Costa et al., 2007).

It also regulates inflammation and immune response.

CBD has anti-inflammatory properties, stimulating anti-inflammatory cytokines (Nagarkatti et al., 2009).

CBD reduces inflammation and improves symptoms in multiple sclerosis patients (Rog et al., 2005) and reduces oxidative stress (Scuderi et al., 2018). 

Cannabinoids modulate the immune response by interacting with cannabinoid receptors (Klein et al., 2003).

CBD suppresses immune cell activation, reducing inflammation (Kozela et al., 2011).

Marijuana as treatment

Malaria is a life-threatening disease with limited treatment options.

THC and CBD have antimalarial properties, inhibiting Plasmodium falciparum growth (Nosten et al., 2018).

They are effective against chloroquine-resistant strains (Nosten et al., 2018; Thomas et al., 2019).

CBD inhibits Plasmodium berghei growth in rodents by inducing oxidative stress (Takahashi et al., 2020).

Cannabis sativa extracts also exhibit antimalarial activity (Onyeibor et al., 2019).

THC and CBD may offer additional benefits, including anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects, in treating malaria (Klein et al., 2003; Nagarkatti et al., 2009).

Chronic pain affects millions worldwide (NIH, 2020).

Current treatments have significant side effects.

THC and CBD have analgesic properties which reduce pain in chronic and multiple sclerosis patients (Wilsey et al., 2013).

Cannabinoids provided pain relief and improved sleep quality in 28 trials (Mücke et al., 2018).

Cannabis reduced opioid use by 64 per cent in chronic pain patients (Bradford et al., 2018).

THC and CBD improved the quality of life in chronic pain patients (Fitzcharles et al., 2016). 

Cannabinoids work by activating receptors, inhibiting neurons and modulating inflammation (Pertwee, 2014).

Sleep disorders, including insomnia and sleep apnea, affect millions worldwide (NIH, 2020). Current treatments have significant side effects.

THC and CBD have sleep-promoting properties which improve sleep quality in chronic pain and Parkinson's disease patients (Chagas et al., 2014, Pertwee, 2014). CBD reduces insomnia symptoms in anxiety disorder patients (Shannon et al., 2019).

Cannabinoids improved sleep quality in 22 studies (Bonn-Miller et al., 2018).

THC and CBD improved sleep quality in obstructive sleep apnea patients (Prasad et al., 2019).

CBD also improves sleep quality in chronic pain patients (Phillips et al., 2020).

Benefits, risks 
Oral marijuana ingestion has benefits, including increased bioavailability and reduced respiratory problems (Pertwee, 2014).

It relieves chronic pain, reduces inflammation in multiple sclerosis patients and also has immunomodulatory effects (Klein et al., 2003; Nagarkatti et al., 2009).

However, oral ingestion also carries risks, including delayed effects, over-intoxication and medication interactions (Pertwee, 2014).

Long-term use can lead to cognitive impairment, psychosis risk and respiratory problems (Large et al., 2011).

Marijuana use during pregnancy increases the risk of low birth weight and complications (Huizink et al., 2017).

Oral ingestion of marijuana is emerging as a promising treatment for malaria, chronic pain and sleep disorders.

THC and CBD have antimalarial, analgesic and sleep-promoting properties.

Further research is needed to understand the benefits and risks.

Research should determine optimal dosage, safety, potential interactions and effects on vulnerable populations.

The writer is a Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine (N.D. candidate), Medical journalist, & medical laboratory technologist.

E-mail: kofiappiah803@gmail.com