Chronic itch known clinically as chronic pruritus is characterized as an unrelenting and sometimes even debilitating sensation to itch, and often lowers the quality of life for those who suffer with it. Treating the condition has been difficult because there are few Food and Drug Administration-approved therapies. Now, a recent case study by Johns Hopkins Medicine researchers provides evidence that a promising option for patients with chronic itch may already be available: medical marijuana (cannabis).
A report on the team s findings was published April 9, 2021, in Chronic itch can be an especially difficult condition to treat, with off-label therapeutics often utilized, says Shawn Kwatra, M.D., assistant professor of dermatology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. With the increased utilization of medical marijuana and our knowledge of the role of the endocannabinoid system [a complex cell-signaling system that regulates a variety of functions in the body]
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