How Alternative Treatment Might Heal Chiari Malformation Survivors When Traditional Healthcare Fails

​Chiari malformation, a structural defect in the cerebellum—the part of the brain that controls balance among other things—presents a myriad of challenges for those affected. This condition occurs when brain tissue extends into the spinal canal, leading to symptoms such as severe headaches, neck pain, muscle weakness, and, in some cases, scoliosis. Traditional treatment modalities often include medications, physical therapy, and surgical interventions. However, an increasing number of patients and healthcare providers are exploring alternative therapies, notably medical cannabis, to manage the chronic pain and muscle spasms associated with Chiari malformation.

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The Therapeutic Potential of Cannabis in Neurological Conditions

Research has recognized Cannabis for its analgesic and muscle-relaxant properties, making it a candidate for managing various neurological disorders including Chiari Malformation. The cannabinoids in cannabis interact with the body's endocannabinoid system, which plays a role in regulating pain, mood, and muscle spasticity. For patients with Chiari malformation, these interactions can potentially alleviate chronic pain and reduce muscle spasms, thereby improving quality of life. Studies have indicated that medical marijuana may help manage symptoms such as chronic pain, headaches, and muscle tension associated with Chiari malformation.

Navigating the Landscape of Cannabis Legalization

As of March 2025, the legal status of cannabis varies across the United States. Medical marijuana is legal in 39 states, while 24 states have legalized recreational use. Recreational use is the greatest option for removing red tape to good care. In this situation, those who need all natural cannabis for medical reasons can purchase grown and purchase this life-changing medication outright and take care of themselves without bias middle men. This patchwork of legislation necessitates that patients seeking cannabis-based therapies consult their state's specific laws and regulations. For instance, in Pennsylvania, efforts to legalize recreational marijuana have been ongoing, but as of March 2025, recreational use remains illegal, with medical marijuana permitted under specific conditions. 

Systemic Discrimination in Healthcare

African American women often encounter significant disparities in the healthcare system, including biases that lead to underdiagnosis and undertreatment of medical conditions. These systemic issues can result in delayed diagnoses, inadequate pain management, and a general mistrust of medical institutions. 

All the time, we hear and read articles about the reality that Black women receive the worst medical treatment in the United States—but these discussions are rarely framed from the perspective of the Black women patients living it. Instead, the conversation is filtered through policymakers, clinicians, or researchers, never giving full voice to the women themselves. Because of this, we rarely encounter clear, finite dialogue that identifies exactly what is broken and where accountability fails. That’s intentional. Vague language, endless "studies," and generalized sympathy prevent real correction.

So let’s be specific. Let’s name exactly where the cracks are: at the accountability level.

The truth is, there are no checks and balances within the system to ensure that Black women receive adequate, honest, and humane medical care. No mechanism forces verification of treatment histories. No consequences exist when doctors falsify records or deny care based on biases. The lack of oversight, the exploitation of public health programs, the unexamined power of EMRS documentation, and the silencing of patient voices all create a perfect storm—one designed to maintain control rather than provide care. The vanity checks and balances that exist and are commonly available weren't housed with black people and so, unfortunately, what exist is rarely enforce.

In case you missed the message there: Black oversight organizations, led by and composed of predominantly Black personnel to address specifically Black issues—such as Black health—are urgently needed. This need is justified by countless studies on racial health disparities, so there’s no back and forth required; there’s nothing to do but get it done. Wherever there are disparities, the solution is to come together and pursue resolution independently, because those who created and perpetuate these issues are not going to resolve them without enforced oversight; not cooperation—oversight. Requirements. Even better, fill those employment positions with individuals representative of the disparity itself. Only Black people can put that together. Moving forward.

Black health matters. It is time to stop framing the crisis as an unsolvable enigma and start demanding concrete accountability, transparency, and structural correction in the American healthcare system. The health and lives of Black women depend on it; and if black women face disparities all black men and black children are also at risk. So let's talk about what's happening within the system and discuss possible alternatives to it.

With all the well-documented discrimination embedded in every layer of healthcare for African American women, achieving "good health through American clinical treatment" often becomes not only an unrealistic dream but an unattainable expectation. Doctors are frequently dismissive, undereducated, and carry an insidious attitude of “expected” poor health when treating Black women—convinced there is no reason to improve what they’ve already predetermined as inevitable decline.

For those who are ill, handicapped or disabled and managing limited income—often as a result of the very illnesses they’re seeking care for—reliance on public insurance programs like Medicare and Medicaid also becomes common; creating another barrier to efficient and dignified healthcare. Yet, the tangled bureaucracy of Medicaid, coupled with the lack of meaningful oversight over the "social workers" tasked with administering these programs, creates the perfect conditions for exploitation. Doctors and clinics leverage this intentional lack of accountability, subjecting African American patients to endless rounds of testing and empty promises of answers that never materialize.

By the time this deliberately drawn-out process is recorded in the national Electronic Medical Record System (EMRS), Black patients often find themselves completely locked out of care. Instead of being treated based on current symptoms or individual needs, their healthcare becomes dictated entirely by the accumulated, unchecked electronic notes of prior clinicians—notes that reflect more of a social service case file than an accurate medical history. Worse still, at no point is there any mandate to verify whether the treatments, examinations, or consultations documented ever actually took place. The inhumane truth? They rarely, if ever, did.

When patients speak up or lodge complaints, their resistance is further weaponized against them, recorded as behavioral issues or falsehoods within their permanent records. Electronic medical records can never be deleted, only amended, and the full content of these records remains hidden from the very patients whose lives they define.

What we are witnessing is nothing short of a Black holocaust occurring within the American medical industry—a system so profitable, so deeply entrenched, that no one dares speak its name. While multi-trillion-dollar healthcare profits soar, the sky-high mortality rates and endemic poor health outcomes in Black communities are treated like some inexplicable, paradoxical phenomenon no one can quite diagnose. The brutal reality is that the United States and its healthcare institutions are actively manufacturing and sustaining Black illness and Black death.

The question before us is how do we maintain both physical and mental health while confronting the state of Black health in the USA at a legislative level? Because Black Americans must first be healthy enough to show up, to advocate, and to rebuild systems of their own; the only systems that have been proven to consistently yield positive outcomes for black Americans. There was a time in this nation when Black people had no access to hospitals, yet we were healthier than we are today.

So what are the alternatives for pulling out of the system altogether? Well with regard to Chiari Malformation, for all people, studies say that cannabis maybe a positive tool to add to the alternative toolbox.

Efficacy of Medical Cannabis in Symptom Management

Emerging research suggests that medical cannabis may provide significant relief for several symptoms associated with Chiari malformation:​

• Muscle Spasms and Tremors: A study conducted by researchers from the Department of Neuroscience at the University of Copenhagen found that cannabis was beneficial for patients suffering from pathological tremors. 

  
  

• Headaches: ​Recent studies have explored the potential of medical cannabis in alleviating various types of headaches, including migraines. Notable findings include:​

  
  

  • Reduction in Migraine Frequency: A retrospective study involving 121 adult migraine patients revealed that medical cannabis use led to a decrease in migraine frequency, from an average of 10.4 to 4.6 migraines per month. 

  • Acute Relief: In a study analyzing 699 migraine episodes, inhaled cannabis reduced headache severity by 47.3%. ​

  • Patient-Reported Efficacy: A survey of nearly 10,000 migraine sufferers found that 82% of those who used cannabis for symptom relief reported it as effective.

  
  

  These findings suggest that medical cannabis may offer relief for individuals suffering from various headache disorders. However, further research is needed to fully understand its efficacy and safety.​​

  
  

• Appetite Stimulation: Cannabis has been shown to stimulate appetite, which can be particularly beneficial for patients experiencing reduced food intake due to pain or muscle fatigue. ​

  
  

Limitations and Considerations

While medical cannabis shows promise, it's important to consider potential limitations:​

• Withdrawal Symptoms: A study from the University of Michigan found that more than half of people using cannabis for pain experienced multiple withdrawal symptoms between uses, including changes in sleep, mood, and appetite. 

  
  

Adverse Effects of Traditional Pharmaceutical Treatments

Conventional medications prescribed for muscle spasms and related symptoms can lead to various side effects:​

• Hormonal Imbalances: Some western pharmaceuticals that are commonly prescribed for muscle Spasms and chronic pain, such as Cyclobenzaprine, have been associated with hormonal side effects, including acne, hair thinning, and other endocrine-related issues. ​

• Muscle-Related Side Effects: Certain drugs can paradoxically cause muscle spasms or weakness. For instance, testosterone therapy has been linked to muscle pain or cramps. ​

Medical cannabis presents a promising alternative for managing symptoms associated with Chiari malformation, potentially offering relief from muscle spasms, tremors, headaches, and appetite loss with a different side effect profile compared to traditional pharmaceuticals. However, patients should consult with healthcare professionals to thoroughly evaluate the benefits and risks, considering individual health conditions and potential adverse effects. Further research is essential to fully understand the efficacy and safety of medical cannabis in this context.

The Role of Cannabis in Pain Management for Chiari Malformation

In the context of Chiari malformation, where patients may experience severe pain due to nerve compression and muscle spasms, cannabis offers a potential alternative to traditional pain management strategies. Cannabinoids have been shown to possess anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties, which can help in reducing pain and muscle spasms. For example, strains like Blue Dream, known for balancing pain relief with an uplifting effect, can help ease physical discomfort while improving mood. ​

Advocating for Equitable Healthcare Access

Addressing the systemic inequities in healthcare requires comprehensive reforms at multiple levels:​

• Legislative Action: Implementing policies that ensure equitable access to medical treatments, including medical cannabis, regardless of socioeconomic status or race.​

• Medical Education: Enhancing cultural competency training for healthcare providers to reduce biases and improve patient-provider relationships.​

• Community Engagement: Empowering African American communities through education about medical cannabis and advocating for representation in clinical research to ensure that treatment outcomes are applicable across diverse populations.

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