Parkinson's disease - how can CBD help?
Parkinson's disease is commonly associated with old age. Unfortunately, there are cases of people in their forties who are struggling with it. It puts a huge strain on the psyche and limits life in many ways. There is no prevention and treatment is more of an emergency solution to relieve the rapid progression. Can CBD change these prognoses?
It should be said at the outset that no research has yet confirmed the effect of CBD on treating the initial symptoms or the disease itself. But plenty of studies speak of great potential and increasingly mention that reducing the initial symptoms that cannabidiol can alleviate is the key to early diagnosis, delaying Parkinson's disease and treating it more successfully. The Parkinson's Foundation has come down on the same side. But it also reminded that the use of full-spectrum CBD oils containing THC (below the detection limit) can have side effects, however minor. Despite at one point placing her hopes in cannabidiol and questioning the safety of full-spectrum extract, this is a huge step forward.
CBD, Epidiolex and human trials
Research so far is only in animals. This is understandably insufficient to approve CBD for humans in the context of treating Parkinson's disease. Several studies with patients have been conducted, but they have not produced a major breakthrough. Only research on the use of Epidiolex is worth mentioning.
It is highly purified CBD in liquid form from isolate, sesame oil, dehydrated alcohol, strawberry flavor, and sucralose. Since 2018, it has been available in the US and has recently been approved for EU markets. However, it is not yet available in the Czech Republic.
Thirteen patients with Parkinson's disease were given the drug. Three withdrew due to negative side effects, while the others showed improvement in their symptoms. However, five of them experienced elevated liver enzyme values with a longer time interval. The results were not bad and followed the experts' assumptions, but the sample size was too small.
Parkinson's disease
Symptoms of Parkinson's disease come on slowly. Diagnosis usually occurs when the disease has already progressed and living with it limits the patient in many ways. But even early detection would not help. It is a progressive and incurable disease. In the Czech Republic, more than fifty thousand people suffer from it, which is about three times higher than the original estimates. The only method that gives patients a slight hope is deep brain stimulation. But only 2% of patients have had it.
The disease is steadily progressing and getting worse. It is a process that cannot be stopped or reversed. Remedies are being sought to alleviate symptoms and make life with Parkinson's more bearable. The problem with drugs is that most have a limited time of action and are only effective for three to six years. Then their potency plummets and the disease erupts in full force. Treatments must therefore be changed regularly and the body must get used to new substances and methods. It is understandable, therefore, that patients seek natural solutions to relieve their troubles without unnecessarily burdening the body.
Parkinson's disease has a myriad of symptoms. However, a significant number of them may be related to common ailments, and in the first stage no one thinks of the worst.
- Sleep disturbances, apathy, irritability
- Muscle and joint pain, reduced coordination of movement, general slowness
- Silent speech, changes in facial expressions, difficulty swallowing
- Disturbances of smell and taste, decreased sphincter function
- Changes in handwriting and impaired mental flexibility
- Poorer range of motion throughout the body
- Difficulty starting to move (getting up, lifting, moving limbs or fingers)
- Thermoregulatory disturbances
- Compulsive behavior
- Seborrhea, blood pressure fluctuations, decreased libido
- Calm tremors
Tremor (resting tremor) is typical of Parkinson's disease. It is a condition in which, as a rule, the upper limbs (in the advanced stage of the disease, the legs may also be affected) do not remain still and quiver at a frequency of 4-5 Hz per second. Once the patient focuses on targeted movement, the difficulty subsides.
CBD goes for it from the ground up
Cannabidiol does not directly treat Parkinson's disease, and research has not yet confirmed any such link. But it is clear that, given the results of many studies, it can positively affect not only the manifestations of the disease but also associated problems.
The use of CBD can relieve pain, help with insomnia and inflammation, stimulate appetite, reduce cramps in the limbs and relax muscles, which can improve walking, relieve back and abdominal tension, prevent intestinal problems, restore dexterity of the tongue and the ability to control facial muscles. However, CBD affects everyone differently and cannot be relied upon to eliminate all of these problems and not cause side effects.
Ideal dose of CBD oil
For preventative CBD use, dosing is easier. It is easier to start with a smaller amount and increase this as needed. The situation is more complicated when CBD is used to help alleviate illnesses and symptoms. The body can be more sensitive and the appropriate dose can be difficult to judge. The assistance of a physician is necessary.
CBD is not a cure. While it may affect some of the symptoms and ultimately alleviate the disease itself, we do not yet have substantiated information on the negative effects of cannabidiol or its effects on the human body with long-term use. In a fraction of the animals tested, irritability, stomach problems and nausea, allergic reactions, lethargy and impaired reproduction have been observed. However, it cannot be determined if these data are applicable to humans.
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