CBD and restless legs syndrome
One of the sweetest parts of a long day is jumping into a comfortable bed, letting your body get heavy, and then drifting off into the world of dreams. For those who suffer from Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS), it is almost impossible without the help of medication.
With increasing research focusing on the potential benefits of cannabidiol (CBD) for relaxation, muscle relaxation, and stress management, many people with SNN are turning to CBD as a natural way to help them sleep more restfully .
In the following text, we will look at what the scientific literature says about the use of CBD for restless legs syndrome and how people use it to manage their symptoms.
What is restless leg syndrome?
Restless legs syndrome , also known as Willis-Ekbom disease , is classified as a neurological sleep and movement disorder.
SNN usually manifests itself in the evening before going to bed, when patients experience an extremely unpleasant urge to move their feet, entire legs, arms, arms, and even their neck as they fall asleep. The only relief from this constricting feeling is movement. And thanks to this, they can stay up all night. One of the strange things about this condition is that it occurs almost exclusively in the evening when one is trying to sleep and disappears the next morning. It is common for people with restless legs syndrome to sleep more during the day to make up for the hours lost at night.
Restless legs syndrome can take two forms
Primary restless legs syndrome
Primary restless legs syndrome is idiopathic, meaning it has no known cause and often goes undiagnosed in many people. Some researchers believe it may be related to genetics or low iron levels in the brain.
Secondary restless legs syndrome
Secondary restless legs syndrome is accompanied by other diseases, such as Parkinson's disease, thyroid dysfunction, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, polyneuropathy, but it also occurs, for example, during pregnancy.
Symptoms of restless legs syndrome
A doctor may diagnose a patient with restless legs syndrome if they experience the following symptoms:
- compulsion to move the limbs at rest
- tingling, pulling, or pain in the legs
- symptoms are more pronounced in the evening
- leg pain after sitting or lying down
- the patient feels a constant urge to move
Your doctor may perform blood tests to rule out possible vitamin and mineral deficiencies. Sometimes a neurological examination is also performed. Another common step is an L-dopa test, which is a reliable test that looks for motor control symptoms related to Parkinson's disease.
If a patient's SNN symptoms improve while taking L-dopa, this may indicate that they have Parkinson's disease or confirm SNN. However, the relationship between dopamine metabolism and this disease is still not well understood.
How is restless legs syndrome treated?
Treatment for restless legs syndrome can vary depending on the severity of the symptoms, but always involves taking steps to take better care of yourself – especially exercise and lifestyle changes to reduce stress levels in the body. This also includes cutting back on caffeine, alcohol and smoking, along with relaxation techniques such as meditation, breathing exercises and yoga.
For more severe cases of restless legs syndrome, the patient may be prescribed medications such as L-dopa (levodopa) to stimulate dopamine activity in the brain and nerve pain medications (opioids). In internet discussions, you will find many people waxing poetic about how CBD oil has helped them manage their SNN symptoms. If you suffer from a severe form of restless legs syndrome, you should first visit your doctor and consult with him about your intention to try CBD for treatment .
CBD is the primary active substance in cannabis plants and its main interaction takes place in the endocannabinoid system , which has the task of maintaining homeostasis (balance) and thus helping the optimal functioning of our vital functions. Research into the use of CBD in medicine is a growing field, but it is still in its infancy. Below we will look at some of the possibilities of using CBD in the fight against the symptoms associated with restless legs syndrome.
CBD may support healthy dopamine levels in the brain
Although this finding is not entirely conclusive, some findings link restless legs syndrome to low levels of dopamine in the brain . Dopamine is a hormone with many tasks. One of them is the regulation of purposeful muscle movements and coordination through the modulation of the motor control center in the brain (basal ganglia). It has been found that any disruption to this pathway can result in involuntary movements such as the tremors associated with Parkinson's disease.
Endogenous cannabinoids (produced inside our body) help keep the dopamine system in balance. CBD supports the endocannabinoid system (ECS) by preventing the release of enzymes that break down cannabinoids. These higher cannabinoids are like boosting the wi-fi signal that carries messages throughout the body much more efficiently. CBD is also believed to directly support the mesolimbic dopamine system , which is responsible for our motivation, learning and reward-related motor functions.
CBD can promote sleep quality
Insomnia is very common in patients with SNN. The constant urge to move the limbs at rest can lead patients to pacing the bedroom all night or tossing and turning in bed until morning. For most people, SNN symptoms seem to go away during the day and they can catch up on lost hours of sleep. But this is not always practical because during the day you have to attend to responsibilities such as school, work, caring for loved ones and more.
One of the popular reasons many people use CBD oil is to naturally promote restful sleep. CBD in large doses before bed can cause relaxation of the whole body, which prepares the organism for rest. Another cannabinoid that is increasingly being used to promote sleep is CBN , or cannabinol. It is a minor cannabinoid that, in combination with CBD, shows greater potential for inducing calmness and relaxation, which can help to achieve restful sleep.
CBD can help with related problems
People who experience more severe problems with restless legs syndrome also report a tingling sensation similar to when you cross your leg, which is likely caused by nerve irritation.
Doctors may prescribe opioids for patients with SNN to help relieve discomfort and help them fall asleep. However, strong opioids are definitely not an ideal treatment because they are highly addictive and have a number of side effects. CBD can bring relief to patients from muscle-related pain due to the broad action of endocannabinoids , which regulate our perception of pain.
CBD can help maintain healthy stress levels
Stress is a common trigger of restless leg syndrome. Many patients report more severe symptoms during stressful times in their lives, which is why many natural-based SNN treatments include stress relief. Although stress is an important biological process in our central nervous system (CNS) for survival, too much stress is bad for us.
CBD activates serotonin 5-HT1A receptors in the CNS, which reduces anxiety and nausea. CBD oil at high doses has also been shown to affect GABA activity in the brain. GABA is a neurotransmitter that counteracts the cortisol-induced stress response. Higher levels of GABA in the brain help calm the central nervous system to go into rest and digest mode.
How do people use CBD for restless leg syndrome?
Before using CBD oil to combat restless legs syndrome, you should check with your doctor to make sure it does not cause any negative interactions with the medications you are taking.
Cannabidiol is a versatile compound that is now found in a variety of over-the-counter products – CBD oils and drops, CBD capsules, CBD gummies and other sweets or even gummies, CBD patches, CBD cosmetics and vaporizer products. It is important to know that what works for one person may not work for another as CBD can affect everyone differently.
Based on the experience with CBD oils from users who suffer from restless legs syndrome, we have some tips for you on how to buy and use CBD oil effectively.
- High doses of CBD
Studies of CBD's effectiveness in promoting sleep and relieving stress have used high doses of CBD, up to 60 mg per day. If you are new to CBD oil, you should start with lower doses.
Use full-spectrum CBD oil
Not all CBD extracts are created equal. There are three common types of hemp extract on the market – full-spectrum hemp extract, broad-spectrum extract, and CBD isolate , which contains only CBD .
Many experts agree that full-spectrum CBD extracts produce the most powerful effects because they contain a variety of secondary cannabinoids and terpenes that enhance and balance the effects of CBD in the body. This synergistic effect is called the entourage effect . All Hemnia oils therefore utilize the potential of the full-spectrum extract .
According to our laws, CBD products can contain up to 1% THC (as of January 1, 2022). It is legal to use and sell products with this THC content, however, if you want to avoid THC entirely - either because of your sensitivity to it or because of possible drug interactions - you have a great option. That option is broad-spectrum CBD extracts. These extracts contain other cannabinoids and terpenes, but have undergone additional processing to remove all traces of THC from the extract.
- Taking CBD with external administration
Many people who need quick relief from restless legs syndrome use CBD in the form of highly effective preparations that are applied to the skin and massaged into the muscles to deliver the CBD directly to the problem area.
These CBD preparations do not enter the bloodstream directly. Instead, they interact with endocannabinoid receptors in the skin and promote homeostasis. Unlike ingesting or smoking CBD, you can apply topical CBD products to your skin as often as you need without the potential for high-dose CBD side effects , such as nausea, headache, dizziness, or drowsiness.
Conclusion: Can CBD Oil Help Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS)?
Research on the use of CBD in the fight against restless legs syndrome is far from sufficient, but in the future we can certainly expect more preclinical and clinical studies that will tell us more about the potential of CBD. Still, many people are turning to cannabinoids now. If you plan to take CBD for SNN, check with your doctor first to make sure it's safe and appropriate for you.
The best course of action when dealing with SNN is a combination of lifestyle changes, natural therapies (such as CBD), and prescription medications to help relieve severe symptoms. For example, SNN patients report that foot baths, massage, stress-reduction therapy, and avoiding caffeine and alcohol help. Check out our blog for more similar articles and information on how you can use CBD to support your health and well-being.
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