CBD & Parkinsons

INTRODUCTION 

Cannabidiol also is known as CBD oil is a phytocannabinoid is one of 113 identified cannabinoids in cannabis plants and accounts for up to 40% of the plant's extract.

CBD oil has been studied for its potential role in easing symptoms of many common health issues, including anxiety, depression, acne and heart disease. For those with cancer, it may even provide a natural alternative for pain and symptom relief.

Unlike other cannabinoids — such as Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) — CBD does not produce a euphoric “high” or psychoactive effect. This is because CBD does not affect the same receptors as THC.

People have used CBD for thousands of years to treat various types of pain, but the medical community have only recently begun to study it again.

Scientific studies show that CBD oil is benefitted for diseases like Arthritis pain, Multiple Sclerosis, Chronic Pain. CBD currently has a range of applications and promising possibilities which includes:

• smoking cessation and drug withdrawal
• treating seizures and epilepsy
• anxiety treatment
• reducing some of the effects of Alzheimer’s, as shown by initial research
• antipsychotic effects on people with schizophrenia
• future applications in combating acne, type 1 diabetes, and cancer

CBD Oil Benefits Parkinson’s Disease (PD):

Derived from the part of the cannabis plant that doesn't get you “high” like THC, cannabidiol (CBD) is typically used for health reasons instead of for recreational purposes, and has been found to be especially useful for treating symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. A challenging neurodegenerative disorder, Parkinson’s causes a combination of motor and non-motor symptoms — such as tremors, weakness, stiffness, dizziness, anxiety and sleeplessness — that affect daily life. CBD, typically taken in oil form, has the potential to relieve these symptoms, improving sleep, reducing inflammation and more, which can profoundly help the more than 10 million people across the world suffering.

When people think of Parkinson’s they often think of the uncontrollable tremors, or shaking, that affect about 70 percent of people with the disorder. But rigidity, or stiffness, is also a hallmark of the disease, which prevents muscles from stretching or relaxing as they should. Studies have shown that CBD oil significantly reduced rigidity, as well as pain and irritability.

CBD is available in the following forms:

• Oils and tinctures. As liquids, these forms of CBD can be swallowed or absorbed sublingually (under the tongue). This might be a good option if you have difficulty swallowing pills or chewing gummies.
• Lotions and creams. The effects of CBD-infused lotions and creams can take several hours to develop but may be useful to treat pain or stiffness in hands and joints.
• Capsules and pills. You may experience a delay in effects if you take CBD in a capsule or pill, but this form may be ideal for people with tremors that prevent them from properly dosing a liquid.
• Edibles. Gummies are a popular CBD option. You can also find CBD in a number of other edible foods, though dosage may not be as accurate as in other forms. Edibles discretely deliver a dose of CBD.

CBD holds some promise for people with Parkinson’s disease. Not only might the cannabinoid ease symptoms of the degenerative disease itself, it might ease side effects of the most common treatment.

But it’s important to remember that many of these studies are quite small. Larger, more in-depth studies are necessary before CBD gets the go-ahead from many doctors and the FDA. Yet, the results have been promising, so there’s reason to be optimistic for future research.

Some doctors are becoming more open to CBD as a complementary treatment, so talk to your doctor about what you’re experiencing and how to get relief using CBD or other methods.