Medical Cannabis and Kidney Stones
Kidney stones are composed of minerals and salt that accumulate in your kidneys. They can form in the ureters, bladder, and urethra, according to Healthline. Kidney stones are notorious for being extremely painful for many people. Kidney stones can be treated with a variety of methods, including medications, lithotripsy, and tunnel surgery, and which employ sound waves to shatter calcium masses. Healthline reports that each of these treatments “is tailored to the kind of stone.”
Many patients who have kidney stones claim that cannabis treatments help to relieve nausea and their suffering. In 2017, the American Journal of Physiology-Renal Physiology published a study showing how medical cannabis might be utilized to treat kidney disorders, such as stones. According to the medical journal, “The pharmacologically active components of cannabis bind to two distinct subtypes (CB1 and CB2) of cannabinoid receptors in a variety of tissues, including the kidneys.”
Furthermore, “experimental research suggests that activation of these receptors using pharmacological agents or their naturally occurring ligands might have both harmful and depend on receptor distribution, type of renal insult, beneficial effects on the kidneys, and timing of stimulation during acute or chronic kidney injury.”
Kidney Stones: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment
The proportion of crystal-forming chemicals in the urine must be diluted sufficiently to prevent kidney stones from forming, according to the Mayo Clinic. Cystine, Calcium, Uric acid, and struvite, are four types of kidney stones. Passing kidney stones is excruciating; especially in the side and back (beneath the ribs).
The most typical symptoms of kidney stones include abdominal pain and discomfort, a burning feeling when urinating, nausea, vomiting, fever and chills. Obesity and other medical issues are also linked to an increased chance of developing kidney stones. Treatment options for kidney stones are extensive. Smaller kidney stones can be treated with water and painkillers, but more significant ones might require additional surgery.
Is it possible to treat kidney stones with cannabinoids?
Cannabinoids have been studied for their potential to reduce kidney damage caused by cisplatin treatment in people. A study published in the Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics in 2009 looked at whether a cannabinoid might help prevent kidney damage due to cisplatin therapy. Cannabidiol was linked to lower inflammation, less kidney cell death, and improved renal function in mice, according to the study. The researchers conclude that “our findings suggest that non psychoactive cannabinoid CBD may be of significant therapeutic benefit against cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity by reducing oxidative/nitrosative stress and cell death.”
Kidney stones are a painful condition that affects around 9 million people worldwide. According to some studies, kidney stones can be reduced or eliminated by consuming marijuana. Some patients find that medical cannabis is an effective alternative to opioid painkillers when treating the agony caused by kidney stones.