Medicinal CBD for Parkinson's: Benefits in Parkinson's Disease

Can cannabis be a medicinal alternative for people with Parkinson's disease? The answer is yes. Several scientific studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of CBD. in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.

The great potential of the marijuana plant's components, which are boasted about in our Barcelona cannabis associationespecially cannabinoids and their derivatives, not only helps to reduce symptoms, but also gradually slows down the disease process.

Since the end of the 19th century, the British William Richard Gowers, described as one of the greatest clinical neurologists of all time, explained for the first time in Europe the results that could be obtained from the use of cannabis as a viable treatment for this disease.

It is important to note that, according to the World Health Organisation, Parkinson's is the second most prevalent degenerative disease worldwide.. Therefore, scientific studies on this disease remain a priority to this day.

What are the most common symptoms of Parkinson's?

Parkinson's is a disease that affects the nervous system, causing some neurons in the brain to become progressively damaged or die. This leads to a decrease in dopamine levels, affecting the body's motor activity through disturbances in daily movement.

Symptoms usually appear slowly, depending on the individual's condition. In most cases, they begin with tremors felt in one hand and develop into persistent tremors that cause stiffness in the body, impaired posture, speech changes and automatic movements.

What are the benefits of CBD in the treatment of Parkinson's disease?

CBD is attributed with various therapeutic effects that have been proven over time. It should be noted that these benefits vary from person to person, depending on the stage of the disease.

Some of these benefits are:

• Improvement in body stiffness
• Increased motor control
• Relief from tremors
• Provides different therapeutic attributes
• Contains highly anti-inflammatory properties

What are the safest ways to use CBD in the treatment of Parkinson's disease?

CBD can be delivered in different ways, depending on the patient's situation:

• CBD oil. It is used as a food supplement or complement.
• CBD creams for topical use.
• Foods cooked with CBDas well as juices and infusions.
• Supplements such as tablets, capsules, gels, among others.

In conclusion, many patients treated with cannabis report a significant improvement in their quality of life since starting to use this substance as a medicinal alternative.

Sources consulted for the drafting of our article: Medicinal CBD: Benefits in Parkinson's Disease

1. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rmclc.2016.06.010
2. https://www.esparkinson.es/espacio-parkinson/conocer-la-enfermedad/
3. Bougea, A., Koros, C., Simitsi, A.M., Chrysovitsanou, C., Leonardos, A., & Stefanis, L. (2020). Medical cannabis as an alternative therapeutics for Parkinson's disease: Systematic review. Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice, 39, 101154. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctcp.2020.101154
4. Junior, N., Dos-Santos-Pereira, M., Guimarães, F.S., & Del Bel, E. (2020). Cannabidiol and Cannabinoid Compounds as Potential Strategies for Treating Parkinson's Disease and L-DOPA-Induced Dyskinesia. Neurotoxicity Research, 37(1), 12-29. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12640-019-00109-8
5. Cooray, R., Gupta, V., & Suphioglu, C. (2020). Current Aspects of the Endocannabinoid System and Targeted THC and CBD Phytocannabinoids as Potential Therapeutics for Parkinson's and Alzheimer's Diseases: A Review. Molecular Neurobiology, 57(11), 4878-4890. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12035-020-02054-6
6. Patricio, F., Morales-Andrade, A.A., Patricio-Martínez, A., & Limón, I.D. (2020). Cannabidiol as a Therapeutic Target: Evidence of its Neuroprotective and Neuromodulatory Function in Parkinson's Disease. Frontiers in Pharmacology, 11, 595635. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2020.595635