Can CBD help people diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease? In this article we will take a look at the current research being conducted around the world. Much like any other connection with CBD and a specific ailment, more research is needed but, CBD has shown promise in helping people diagnosed with Parkinson’s.
In this article you will learn how CBD may be effective in reducing and minimising symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease. We will also explore dosing information based on people’s personal stories.
We are not allowed to say that CBD works to reduce symptoms of PD, but we will get as close as we can to providing you with definitive answers.
* If you have Parkinson’s Disease, please note that the acronym CBD may be confusing to you as it can also relate to cortico-basal degeneration. In this article, we will only be discussing the effects CBD may have on Parkinson’s Disease.
What is Parkinson’s Disease?
Parkinson’s Disease or PD for short is a brain disorder that is very debilitating and can severely degrade a person’s quality of life. The effects of PD can lead to shaking, stiffness and the inability to walk.
People with PD may have a hard time standing or walking as they can lose their balance. It is not rare for a person with PD to have trouble talking or communicating with people.
PD can affect both men and women but men tend to be more at risk of having the disease. Parkinson’s typically starts around the age of 60 but can start much earlier. According to the NIH, about 5% to 10% of people may have early-onset Parkinson’s Disease.
What Causes Parkinson’s Disease?
Parkinson’s Disease is a neurological disorder where nerve cells in the basal ganglia die or become impaired. The basal ganglia is a part of the brain that controls movement and motor function for the body.
Under normal conditions the nerve cells, or neurons, create a chemical called dopamine, but if the neurons die or become impaired, it limits dopamine production. This lack of dopamine is the root cause of Parkinson’s Disease.
Science still does not know what causes the nerve cells in the basal ganglia to die, but there are some risks to watch out for:
- Genetics. Scientists have identified key gene-pairs that could play a role in increasing the risk of developing PD. Further in very rare cases, gene mutations present in relatives and passed on could affect whole families. This is rare but has happened in the past.
- Environmental Factors. Exposure to toxic chemicals or environments may play a role in the development of Parkinson’s Disease according to the Mayo Clinic. The risk is relatively low but can not be ruled out.
Other Risk Factors Include:
- Age. PD usually affects people 60 and over but symptoms do start to develop gradually. As you age, be sure to let your doctor know if you experience any loss of mobility.
- Family History. If you have relatives who have Parkinson’s Disease you want to pay extra attention to your own health. The risk is generally small if only one other person in your family has PD, but if that number is two or more, you have a greater risk of having PD yourself as you get older.
Is there a Cure of Parkinson’s Disease?
There is no known cure for Parkinson’s Disease. But there is some research into preventive measures you can take. Caffeine has been linked to a reduced risk of getting PD, but more research is needed.
CBD or Cannabidol has also shown promise in reducing the risk of PD as well as helping those with the disease mitigate their symptoms.
How CBD May Help
CBD reacts with the body’s receptors including CB1 and CB2. These receptors are part of a network called the ECS. The ECS is a network of millions of receptors throughout the brain and body. CBD binds to these receptors helping them regulate body functions and find homeostasis.
When it relates to CBD and PD, there is evidence that it may be able to regulate motor function. A study in published by Frontiers in Pharmacology found that CBD plays a role in reducing movement related symptoms.
Another study in the Journal of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics found that CBD may improve sleep patterns in people with PD. In the study, researchers found that CBD can reduce RBD or REM sleep behaviour disorder. RBD is a disorder where people with PD “act out” their dreams. Taking CBD reduced this behavior in four subjects.
What it means
Although CBD may not be the silver bullet in dealing with Parkinson’s Disease, it may drastically improve the quality of life for some people. CBD is well tolerated in most people and is non addictive.
Most people starting out with CBD will want to take a small amount in the first few days and gradually build up the amount of CBD they take.
We’ve personally found it best to start with a 10% Full Spectrum CBD oil and use 2 drops twice a day. After the first 3 days, increase the number of drops to 4 or 5. Monitor the effect it has on your body and mind. If there is no effect, try adding a few more drops slowly over the course of a few days.
It is important to know that CBD is not a miracle supplement. We can not stress enough to try and manage your expectations.
It is important to know where your CBD oil comes from and what conditions it was grown in. Ours is grown on the same family farm in Switzerland and is lab tested to prove it’s purity.
Conclusion
CBD is not a replacement for traditional therapies for PD. But, when used in parallel, it may be a powerful companion when dealing with the symptoms of the disease. With the promising data surrounding improved mobility and better sleep performance in the studies, CBD may be able to help improve the quality of life for sufferers of Parkinson’s.
If you are considering taking CBD, be sure to only buy products that are organic and have current lab reports. As CBD has grown in popularity, there are more and more companies selling low quality products for maximum profits.
If you are considering buying CBD to help with Parkinson’s Disease, we highly recommend our range of CBD oils. All of our cannabis is grown in Switzerland and are certified by Bio-Suisse.