Parkinson’s disease is a condition where the nerve cells in the brain become damaged and eventually lost, affecting a person’s movement. Nerve cells produce dopamine, a chemical messenger that plays a role in body movement. When dopamine production is reduced, it causes a range of problems with mobility, as well as impaired mental health.
It is not clear what causes the nerve cells to become damaged in those with Parkinson’s, yet it is thought to be a combination of genetics and environment. Unfortunately, there is not yet a cure for Parkinson’s disease, and treatments centre on managing the symptoms and maintaining quality of life.
Parkinson’s symptoms usually develop after the age of 50, but can be at a lower age for some people. Usual symptoms are:
- shaking or tremors
- slowed movements
- stiff muscles
- problems with balance
- memory loss
- changes to sense of smell
- problems with swallowing
- psychotic symptoms such as delusions, hallucinations and paranoia
These symptoms get progressively worse over time. Also, because this type of nerve damage occurs slowly, it is thought that when symptoms show, the disease has already damaged around 80% of the nerves. A person with Parkinson’s may also have other conditions as a result of living with the disease, such as depression, anxiety and insomnia.
Traditional Treatment Options for Parkinson’s
Parkinson’s disease symptoms are managed through medications that help control tremors, and medications that help increase dopamine in the brain. However, using these medications also brings side-effects that may also affect quality of life.
For some people who do not respond to medication, surgery for Parkinson’s may be an option. Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is the most commonly performed surgery, where electrical impulses are sent to the brain via a pulse device, like a pacemaker, from the chest. This is intended to block abnormal nerve signals and improve mobility. Surgery is often a last resort as although there may be a dramatic improvement to begin with, it does come with significant risks, such as changes in personality, as time progresses.
Other traditional Parkinson’s treatments are physiotherapy to help ease muscles stiffness and improve flexibility, speech and language therapy, as well as overall support for day-to-day living. The degree to which a person needs help with everyday activities will depend on how far the disease has progressed, how severe the symptoms are and how well they are being managed.
Eating a healthy diet and paying attention to maintaining fitness levels is important for those with Parkinson’s as this not only contributes to overall health, but may alleviate some additional illnesses such as anxiety and depression. Supplements such as CBD oil have also proven useful in helping Parkinsons disease symptoms and associated conditions.
CBD Oil for Parkinson’s
CBD, or cannabidiol, is one of several cannabinoids found in hemp plants. Hemp is very different to marijuana, yet both are from the cannabis plant species. Marijuana contains high quantities of THC, the cannabinoid that makes people feel high. Hemp only contains trace amounts of THC, so there is no possibility of getting high from hemp oil and it is not addictive. The World Health Organisation has stated that CBD oil is safe to use, even at high doses.
The use of CBD oil is growing in popularity, as it has a wide range of health benefits. For people with Parkinson’s, it is helpful in managing a range of symptoms. Studies into Parkinson’s and CBD oil are still at an early stage, but this study1 states that, “preliminary results indicate that CBD is tolerated, safe, and has beneficial effects in Parkinson’s disease.”
CBD is a known pain reliever, and may help to ease discomfort from stiff muscles. When pain is reduced, it enables physiotherapy to work better to increase flexibility in the muscles and improve movement. CBD is also a neuroprotective, and as Parkinson’s occurs from damage to the nerves, using CBD oil may help to slow its progression.
CBD oil also shows promise as a treatment for the psychotic symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. This study2 describes patients’ responses to CBD, “All patients received CBD in flexible dose (started with an oral dose of 150 mg/day) for 4 weeks, in addition to their usual therapy. The psychotic symptoms evaluated by the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale and the Parkinson Psychosis Questionnaire showed a significant decrease under CBD treatment.”
In addition to providing some relief from the direct effects of Parkinson’s, CBD oil is also effective in helping with anxiety, depression and insomnia, and this contributes to overall quality of life.
Understanding which CBD oil is best for Parkinson’s disease is key to getting to most therapeutic benefits. Always choose a brand that sells high grade CBD oil, uses gentle extraction processes to preserve the beneficial compounds, plus has laboratory analysis freely available for customers to view.
In addition to buying quality oil, the correct CBD dosage is also key to getting the best results. There is no single dosage that works for everyone, instead the optimal amount is based on factors such as height, weight, sex and age, as well as how severe the symptoms are. We’ve made it easy to work out the best CBD dosage for your needs. Use our CBD oil calculator to get a personalised recommendation displayed on your screen in minutes!
The scientific research has already shown evidence that CBD oil helps improve quality of life for people with Parkinson’s. There is also much anecdotal evidence that cannot be ignored. As more is learned about the therapeutic benefits of CBD oil and cannabis, Parkinson’s treatments will be further developed.
What you need to know about CBD and Parkinson’s
Parkinson’s disease is a condition where the nerves in the brain become damaged, affecting mobility and speech. The nerves create dopamine, which regulates movements. When dopamine is reduced, mobility is affected. As more nerve cells are lost, there is less to produce the dopamine needed for healthy functioning. Unfortunately, there is no cure for Parkinson disease yet, however medications can help manage symptoms and prolong quality of life.
The main symptoms of Parkinson’s are shaking or tremors, muscle stiffness and slow movements. As the disease progresses, other symptoms may include psychotic conditions, problems with swallowing and memory loss. Along with Parkinson’s, a person may also develop anxiety, depression and insomnia, as living with a chronic health problem can take its toll on mental health.
Research into Parkinson’s and CBD oil has shown it to be beneficial in many ways. It provides relief from pain, has neuroprotective qualities, and also relieves symptoms of anxiety and depression. Many people who have Parkinson’s report having a greater quality of life when using CBD oil.
The best CBD dosage for Parkinson’s will depend on the individual. A person’s height, age, weight and sex are all considerations when working out the optimal dosage. For a personalised recommendation, use our CBD oil calculator. Not only do you get your result displayed on screen, but we also send to your preferred email address for your reference. Try the CBD calculator now, so you can get the benefits of CBD oil for Parkinson’s.