Is CBD Oil Good for Parkinson’s?

What is CBD?

CBD is a compound sourced from the Cannabis Sativa plant and is commonly used in foods and oils. Depending on its form, CBD can be used to treat inflammation, insomnia, depression, anxiety, pain, as well as other health ailments. Studies have suggested that CBD oil can be used to treat other more serious conditions such as epilepsy. It may also be a great treatment for the symptoms of certain conditions such as Parkinson’s disease. So the question remains: is CBD oil good for Parkinson’s?

People suffering from Parkinson’s disease usually face challenging decisions regarding what medication to use to treat the disease. Most patients tend to use CBD oil as it’s known to reduce dyskinetic activity as well as to treat motor symptoms in neurodegenerative conditions.

What is Parkinson’s disease?

Parkinson’s disease is a long-term, slow degenerative progressive disease that affects the central nervous system. The nervous system is very crucial to the body and mind as it helps people maintain control and function over the motor system. Parkinson’s degenerates the basal ganglia which regulate emotion, learning, coordination of movement, and dopamine levels.

Parkinson’s patients will start experiencing tremors, difficulty with walking and speech, and stiff muscles over time. There is no known cure for Parkinson’s disease, but there are a few ways to slow down its progression. Eating healthy, participating in social events, daily activities, and physical therapies are some of the methods doctors have been using to control the severity of Parkinson’s symptoms. CBD oil, however, has proven to be a great option to treat the symptoms of the disease in recent years.

Is CBD oil good for Parkinson’s?

If you’re considering using CBD oil to treat Parkinson’s, you should weigh the benefits as well as the risks. In low doses, CBD is well tolerated. However, just like other drugs, CBD has side effects which may include mood, hallucinations, weakness, dizziness, nausea, memory, or behavior changes.  Discuss the possible effects on balance, mood, cognition with your doctor if you’re not sure of what dosage to take. 

If you take CBD oil in the right way, however, it may help to slow down the effects of Parkinson’s disease. Although the research is limited, several studies suggest that CBD oil has positive effects for people suffering from Parkinson’s disease, especially in nonmotor symptoms like sleep disorders, anxiety, and depression. 

A study conducted among 22 people suffering from Parkinson’s disease found that CBD helped to relieve pain. However, this study was conducted with medical marijuana that contained both THC and CBD.

The common treatments of Parkinson’s are associated with uncontrolled muscle movements or medicine-related tremors. As a solution, one study suggests that CBD oil might help ease these side effects.

Parkinson’s disease is known to cause psychosis which can lead to delusions, delirium, and hallucinations. This is more common in individuals who are at later stages of the disease. While certain medications are used to treat psychosis, some people have wondered if cannabinoid may be beneficial. A small study conducted in 2009 among people with Parkinson’s disease and psychotic symptoms found that CBD reduced the severity of symptoms.