Does Cannabis Help Parkinson’s Disease Patients
BY MADELINE FERGUSON
Parkinson’s is a neurodegenerative disease, so it’s only natural that cannabis comes to mind when patients or patients’ loved ones are searching for way to relieve the debilitating symptoms of this awful diagnosis because in some studies cannabis is shown to be neuro-protective.
Neuroprotective is defined as serving to protect nerve cells against damage, degeneration, or impairment of function and antioxidants found in cannabis have neuroprotective qualities. Parkison’s Disease is a degenerative disease that causes loss of motor function due to loss of dopamine-producing neurons.
Parkinson’s Disease is not on the state of Utah’s approved conditions list to gain access to the medical marijuana program but it could fall under three categories of qualifying conditions, which are as follows:
Cachexia (weakness and wasting of the body due to severe chronic illness).
A condition resulting in the individual receiving hospice care
Pain lasting longer than two weeks that is not adequately managed, in the qualified medical provider’s opinion, despite treatment attempts using conventional medications other than opioids or opiates or physical interventions.
There needs to be more research on exactly how cannabis impacts and helps Parkinson’s patients, like most things. Research on cannabis has so many barriers of entry, mainly because of stigma and the fact that it is a schedule I substance still. But take a look at any Parkinson’s group on social media or message boards and patients all praise cannabis and its ability to relieve symptoms.
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Symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease can differ greatly from person to person but some of the biggest issues patients face is loss of motor control (tremors), limited mobility, gastrointestinal issues, depression and night terrors. All of those symptoms are conditions cannabis users have reported feeling relief from.
A scientific survey of patients suffering from PD showed cannabis to be effective at reducing the severity of symptoms, so while there is still no cure for Parkinson’s, there are effective ways to help patients live a higher quality life.
THC, one of the main molecules in cannabis, produces it’s well-known effects by targeting CB1 and CB2 receptors in the brain. CB2 receptors can help with pain relief, muscle relaxing (great for PD patients) and muscle relaxing.
According to Very Well Health, a review of 14 studies “acknowledged evidence that medical marijuana provides a reduction in anxiety, tremors, and involuntary or erratic movements. However, the researchers concluded that there is insufficient evidence to recommend medical marijuana use as part of Parkinson's treatment.”
So, essentially while there continues to be no way to cure or even really slow the progression of Parkinson’s Disease, there are medications and therapies (including cannabis) that can help patients better manage symptoms and live a better quality life.
A 2017 study found that use of medical marjuana over three months helped patients improve symptoms of PD without any adverse affects.
Often times the mental health impacts of Parkinson’s Disease are overlooked because the psichal impacts are so much more noticeable, but patients often suffer with progressive anxiety, depression and night terrors.
Many cannabis patients can attest to the anxiety releving properties of cannabis (either THC or CBD) and the plant’s ability to help aid restful sleep, a game changer for many a lot of people.
There are many modalities for PD patients to use cannabis. For some patients, doctors may advise them to avoid smoking or vaping due to age or other health conditions, in that case there are edibles, lozenges, tinctures, dermal patches and many other options.
If you or someone you know suffers from Parkinson’s Disease and is interested in using cannabis for symptom releif you should talk to a medical professional to determine the best plan of actions for your or your loves one’s specific case. This article is intended to inform and is not medical advice.
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