Yellow Fever

Can medical marijuana help fight off symptoms of yellow fever? Find out below.

What is yellow fever?

Yellow fever is a viral disease spread by the bite of mosquitoes. The infected mosquitoes and yellow fever are found in Africa and South America in the tropics and subtropics. The mosquitoes become infected when they bite primates with the virus. Some people may have no symptoms, mild flu-like symptoms, or fatal cases in severe forms. Symptoms typically take around three to six days to build.

How common is it?

Approximately 200,000 people worldwide are infected annually with yellow fever. The condition causes about 30,000 deaths yearly, most of which are in Africa.

Who does it affect?

People who work or live in the jungles of Africa and South America are most affected by yellow fever. Travelers to these areas are sometimes exposed to yellow fever through contaminated mosquitoes.

Signs and Symptoms

Symptoms of yellow fever, from less to more severe, may include the following:

  • Fever (low to high, depending on the severity of the virus)
  • Headache
  • Body aches
  • Fatigue
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Jaundice 
  • Hemorrhage
  • Shock
  • Liver failure
  • Kidney failure
  • Fatality

Diagnosis and Treatment

If you’ve been to an area with yellow fever and developed symptoms, you should see a doctor immediately for blood testing. 

There isn’t a cure or treatment for yellow fever. That’s why it’s essential to get vaccinated. Your doctor may advise you to rest and drink fluids to get well. If you need a pain reliever, avoid those which can cause blood thinning, such as aspirin or NSAIDs.

You may have to be hospitalized with severe yellow fever.

 For most, one dose provides lifelong protection when traveling. Other protective tips include:

  • Use DEET mosquito repellent.
  • Wear pants, long-sleeved shirts, and socks outdoors
  • Utilize bed netting if your room doesn’t have air conditioning or window screens
  • Avoid being outdoors during times when mosquitoes are active

Terpenes for headache relief

Although typically placed into Indica, Sativa, or Hybrid categories, we now understand that those classifications have little to do with a medical cannabis strain’s psychoactive properties. THC, CBD, and other minor cannabinoids play an essential role, but terpenes also work behind the scenes to help provide a particular strain’s effects.

So far, there has been limited research into terpenes and their relation to migraine headaches and the human endocannabinoid system because recreational cannabis is federally illegal. But one cannabis science study found that the terpenes, myrcene, and caryophyllene, have medicinal benefits that can ease migraine attacks and potentially reduce migraine frequency. Discussing medical cannabis use with a trusted healthcare provider could help if you’ve exhausted other prescription medication options.

Can medical marijuana help?

How medical marijuana can help with vertigo symptoms depends significantly on the symptoms that the patient is experiencing. Medicinal weed has been known to help with nausea, vomiting, headaches,  inflammation, dizziness, and anxiety. 

Medical marijuana has been shown to help patients with epilepsy relieve and control the symptoms accompanying this brain condition. Cannabidiol CBD is commonly used for various therapeutic benefits, from digestive aids to helping calm mental disorder symptoms. CBD’s benefits have been shown to have positive effects in regulating seizures. 

Research into cannabis as an effective treatment for motion sickness is in its early stages, and further research is needed. However, The Journal of Pain published a 2019 study claiming that the severity of headache disorders and migraines was reduced by around 50 percent when individuals participated in medicinal cannabis use.

Another medically reviewed study in Pharmacotherapy found that 40 percent of people who began medical use of cannabis as a migraine treatment experienced a significant decrease in the frequency of migraine attacks. Anecdotal evidence published in a study by Neurology reported that 42 percent of surveyed patients saw a decrease in their migraine headache frequency.

Research has shown CBD to affect different forms of anxiety disorders positively. It has been shown to reduce stress. CBD benefits general anxiety disorder and other severe anxiety conditions, including post-traumatic stress disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and social anxiety disorder.

Medical marijuana is commonly found to possess significant anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, which can help with chronic pain management and nausea reasonably quickly. Cannabinoid receptors within a cannabis Sativa plant bind to the brain and peripheral nerve cells and help regulate how you see and feel the pain to reduce symptoms like nausea, vomiting, and stomach pain.

Last Updated: June 14, 2024

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