THOUGHTS FROM DOC
Medical Marijuana Treatment for Sinusitis
by Dr . Michael J . Poppa , DO , MBA
It is safe to say that nearly everyone has developed sinusitis at some point in their life . Treatment has primarily been relegated to prescription antibiotics , decongestants , and nasal sprays . However , recent research has shown that cannabinoids are often an effective form of treatment for sinusitis .
Cannabinoids may have antimicrobial properties as well as anti-inflammatory effects , which cause the following improvements in sinus congestion :
● Open airways — marijuana acts as a bronchodilator and often makes breathing easier , breaking up congestion and opening sinus passageways .
● Decreased pain in the nasal / facial sinuses — marijuana is known to be an effective pain killer .
● Anti-inflammatory effect — marijuana is often used for reducing inflammation .
As far as treating congestion , expectorants are the favorite medication . Medical marijuana has not been found to serve as an expectorant . However , medical marijuana has been shown to be a bronchodilator , which can often help individuals who have sinusitis and makes difficult breathing somewhat easier . Factors contributing to sinusitis congestion include increased mucus , sore throat with swelling , and post-nasal drip , which make it harder to breathe .
Obviously , smoking medical marijuana is not the preferred method of treating sinusitis if you are having difficulty breathing . Consideration should be given to the use of a vaporizer as well as the ingestion of medical marijuana edibles .
Studies indicate medical marijuana does have a similar effect as codeine as far as pain relief , especially in cancer patients . Individuals with painful headaches due to sinusitis have had positive results using medical marijuana to relieve their headache pain , just as individuals who utilize marijuana for migraines and cluster headaches .
Medical marijuana is considered an analgesic and can relieve nerve pain , headache pain , as well as muscle pain . It can help reduce opioid use by replacing their pain-relieving effects . Since sinusitis can cause pain in the nose , face , throat , ears , and head , many people respond favorably to medical marijuana for the treatment of these conditions .
As with treatment for other medical conditions , there are strains of medical marijuana that can offer the best results for treating sinusitis , including : ( Note , strain names may vary by state . Ask your budtender for help with similar strains .)
● Dance World – this is useful for improving breathing , pain relief , anxiety relief , spasm relief , and its anti-inflammatory effects .
● Royal Medic – is a new hybrid of two Spanish strains that have a bronchodilator effect as well as relieving pain .
● Sour Diesel – is a strain that provides an uplifting effect and works well in treating depression that is often associated with chronic sinusitis due to sinus pain and inflammation .
● White Widow – is a popular strain that produces pain relief and induces an energetic and euphoric feeling .
In treating sinus inflammation with marijuana , individuals could consider the following strains :
● Cannatonic – is most often used to treat pain , inflammation , and chronic illnesses .
● Harlequin – is a Sativa strain used for pain reduction and helping you remain clear-headed . It causes some relaxation but not sedation when used .
Typically , edibles , as well as sublingual strains and tinctures , are more effective and excellent choices rather than vaping or smoking , which is not recommended due to increased irritation of your sinuses .
Sinusitis can be described as both acute and chronic . Typically , acute or chronic sinusitis results in inflamed airways , leading to loss of smell , congestion , stuffy nose , cough , facial pressure , facial pain , sinus headache , and runny nose . Some individuals also experience dental pain , bad breath , fever , and fatigue . If individuals develop at least two or more of these symptoms or have developed a yellow or green nasal discharge , it is important to contact their primary care physician for a trial of oral antibiotics .
The overall goals of treating sinusitis include reducing sinus inflammation , reducing the number of flare-ups , maintaining proper nasal passage drainage , and eliminating any underlying causes , such as structural defects or sinus tumors .
In addition , nasal corticosteroids , saline nasal irrigation , and antibiotics may be medically necessary .
Resources : www . aaaai . org www . webmd . com / allergies / sinusitisandsinusinfection1 www . mayoclinic . org / diseases-conditions / chronic-sinusitis / home / ovc-20211159 www . ncbi . nlm . nih . gov / pubmed / 17283561 www . acsh . org / news / 2015 / 04 / 07 / antibiotics-often-unnecessaryforsinusitis
Michael J . Poppa , D . O ., R . Ph , MBA Board Certified Occupational Medicine . He can be reached at Missouri Cannabis Clinic , 816.353.0420 , 10001 E . 67th St . Raytown , MO . 64133 . Visit Missouri Cannabis Clinic online at www . MissouriCannabis . clinic .
Notice : The information contained herein is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice , but rather a sharing of knowledge and information based on research and experience .
34 February 2024