Since the discovery of Cannabidiol, the Cannabis plant has been a catalyst for a significant amount of medical discoveries and breakthroughs. Still, skeptics might not consider Cannabis a miracle plant. This is in spite of all its potential benefits covered in the media. However, this little part of nature religiously plays its role in helping the medical world deal with some of its biggest problems. One such problem is Parkinson's Disease (PD). Noteworthy is that the scientific world does not have a lot of data on the use of CBD for Parkinson's Disease. However, based on research, the results are quite promising. As such, in this article, we'll be taking a more in-depth look into the possibilities that exist in using CBD for Parkinson's Disease.
What are the potential benefits of using Cannabidiol for Parkinson's disease?
Parkinson's disease is currently incurable. Any drug that a doctor prescribes, including CBD, is often intended to help manage the disease's symptoms. Different scientific studies across the globe suggest varying benefits of Cannabidiol for Parkinson's disease. Below are some of them:
- CBD could help improve the quality of sleep in people living with Parkinson's
One of the major things that people with PD have to deal with is poor sleep quality. More often than not, people with PD lose their sleep to nightmares, vivid dreams, and movements during sleep. Like any other person who can't sleep well, this often leaves them feeling somewhat fatigued. Different case reports surfaced in 2014 to show how CBD could help solve the problem with sleep. In the end, the study showed that using CBD for Parkinson's disease could actually help to improve the quality of sleep in people with PD.
- It is useful in helping to manage pain
Two of the most common kinds of pain associated with Parkinson's are aching and burning in different parts of the body. Indeed, the level and location of the pain may vary from one individual to the other. However, pain is a very common associate of Parkinson's disease found in virtually all PD patients. In 2014, twenty-two people with Parkinson's disease participated in a study. The purpose was to determine if Cannabis really does help improve the pain associated with the disease. The answer at the end of the survey was yes. Cannabis does help to reduce pain caused by Parkinson's disease. It is worthy of note that the Cannabis used in the study contained both CBD and THC. Based on this, we cannot ultimately say that CBD takes all the credit for pain relief in humans. However, according to a study conducted on animals, CBD was solely responsible for pain reduction. Therefore, this conclusion is inferable.
- CBD reduces the severity of psychosis
Psychosis is a mental health problem that causes people to become disengaged from reality. It is not quite as common as pain, but it is still seen among 50% of people with PD. In people with Parkinson's disease, psychosis induces delusions, hallucinations, deliriums, etc. Those who go through it the most are usually the ones at a later stage of the ailment. Some pharmaceuticals help to manage these symptoms. And some people are curious as to whether or not you can manage psychosis with CBD. In a 2009 study, the result showed that CBD reduces the intensity of the symptoms without inducing any particularly undesirable effects. Perhaps this is why CBD oil for Parkinson's hallucinations is getting more popular by the day.
- It could help ease PD tremors
Tremors represent another primary concern for those who have PD. It comes naturally with the disease, but medications intended to manage it could also be the culprit. The problem with these medications is that prolonged usage does not guarantee tremor reduction. Some experts even advise against it as it could worsen the symptoms. Using CBD for Parkinson's disease could help solve uncontrollable muscle movements, according to a study. However, this study was conducted in 1986 on very few subjects. As such, we still need more research to substantiate this CBD benefit.
What are the possible side effects of using CBD?
Cannabinoids and Parkinson's disease patients usually don't have much of a problem with each other. As such, there are very few side effects of using Cannabidiol in most people. Any side effects that come along tend to be mild. A few of them include fatigue, appetite changes, feelings of nausea, etc. Nevertheless, using Cannabidiol in isolation has no adverse side effects. But, using it alongside another prescription could have several problems associated with it. For example, you should generally be wary of using CBD with drugs that have grapefruit warnings. So, if you are already wondering what strain of CBD is best for Parkinson's, you might want to slow down a little. You still need to consult your doctor before you use CBD alongside your other prescriptions.
How can you take CBD for Parkinson's Disease?
If you want to take CBD, there are many ways you could do so. It so depends on which form of CBD you're using.
The most common types of this product are:
- Oils and tinctures. These should be absorbed beneath the tongue or simply swallowed.
- CBD Pollen: You can either mix it with your yogurt or simply smoke it.
- Creams and lotions. You can apply these like any other cream or lotion. However, they're more useful for treating pains in joints or hands.
- Capsules and pills. You should swallow these. They're particularly great for those whose tremors prevent them from taking liquids. Edibles. These are eaten to deliver a relatively significant dosage of CBD.
- Vape pens. These would let you inhale the CBD.
To Sum Up
Like we mentioned earlier, CBD is quite promising for those who have Parkinson's Disease. Different works of research suggest that it could be great for managing multiple symptoms of PD. However, you must note that many of these studies are either old or quite limited. To be certain, scientists need to conduct more specific studies. Still, this is not enough reason to be pessimistic. If the smaller studies showed positive results, the bigger ones probably would too.
