Treating Parkinson’s Disease with CBD – Benefits & Effects

Many people are not yet aware of the fact that CBD could also be helpful in treating some of the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease such as sleep disturbances, psychosis, and impaired movement. CBD’s effectiveness in treating Parkinson’s disease is connected with the role of the endocannabinoid system (ECS). Of course, the endocannabinoid system plays an important role of maintaining many functions of our bodies, including mood, temperature, and appetite, etc.

The main cannabinoid receptors located throughout the body are called CB1 and CB2. That being said, when CBD bonds with these receptors, it helps or stimulates the brain to produce more dopamine, which is known to inhibit the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease.

Parkinson’s disease is a progressive nervous system disorder that affects the part of the brain that controls how the body moves. This condition often starts gradually and could sometimes start with barely noticeable tremors in just one hand. Even though tremors are common with Parkinson’s disease, the disorder also commonly causes stiffness or slow movements. During the early stage of this illness, your face may show no symptoms and even your arms may not swing as you walk. Nevertheless, the symptoms may worsen as your condition progresses over time.

The signs and symptoms of Parkinson’s disease often vary from person to person and early signs may either be mild or go unnoticed. That being said, the most common symptoms of Parkinson’s disease include tremor, slowed movement, rigid muscles, impaired posture and balance, loss of automatic movements, as well as speech and writing changes.

The cause of Parkinson’s disease is not fully understood but there are indications that both environmental and genetic factors play a great role. Many researchers have also noted that certain changes occur in the brains of people with Parkinson’s disease, even though it’s not clear why these changes occur. Some of such changes include the presence of Lewy bodies as well as Alpha-synuclein found within Lewy bodies.

The risk factors of Parkinson’s disease include aging, being a male, having a family history of the condition as well as exposure to toxins. Parkinson’s disease can’t be cured, but there are medications that help in managing problems with walking, movement and tremor. Surgical procedures may sometimes be necessary to treat certain symptoms of the condition. Meanwhile, changes in lifestyle will equally go a long way to help manage the symptoms of this condition.

The findings from a study that was conducted in 2017 corroborates the claim that CBD could be effective in treating the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. During this study, the authors found out that CBD blocks a receptor known as GPR6 which is known to cause some impaired movements in patients with Parkinson’s disease. Moreover, the findings from another study also showed positive results, coupled with an improved quality of life for patients with the disease. Researchers have equally argued that unlike the other conventional medications that are used in treating Parkinson’s disease, CBD does not have adverse side effects that could result in any other psychiatric disorder.

CBD is also reported to be effective in improving sleep in people suffering from Parkinson’s disease, thereby improving their quality of life. According to a recent study, 75 mg to 300 mg of CBD proved very effective in treating sleep disorders, which is a very common side effect of Parkinson’s disease. In addition, CBD is known to be effective in treating sustained inflammation in the brain, which could lead to the loss of dopamine.

When CBD is used to treat brain inflammations, dopamine is increased and research has shown that decreased inflammations slow down the progression of the disease. Above all, Parkinson’s disease is a neurodegenerative disease, and CBD is reported to have significant neuroprotective properties that could curb the progression of the condition. But of course, there is a need for more research to be conducted on this subject.