HOW BETTER IS CBD OIL FOR TREATING MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS CONDITION-min

HOW BETTER IS CBD OIL FOR TREATING MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS CONDITION?

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CBD oil (cannabidiol) has numerous and well-documented health benefits. To date, CBD has been known to alleviate a range of symptoms associated with anxiety, inflammation, pain, among other neurological issues. However, other areas where CBD Oil could be potentially helpful are still being explored.

CBD oil can be helpful in the treatment of Multiple Sclerosis (M.S.). That said, let’s explore the miracle of CBD oil and how good it is in treating Multiple Sclerosis conditions.

Understanding Multiple Sclerosis: What Is It?

Multiple Sclerosis (M.S.) is a self-aggressive condition in which one’s immune system attacks their central nervous system (CNS), leading to chronic symptoms such as fatigue, depression, anxiety, vision problems, among others. Researchers haven’t had a breakthrough as to what causes M.S., but the consensus among physicians is that this disease is often triggered by a combination of environmental and genetic factors.

Statistically speaking, over 2 million have been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in the United States, mostly in their 20s and 50s. But the cause, as well as the exact section of population at risk, is still unclear. Multiple sclerosis affects the nervous system and destroys the protective layer that covers the nerve receptors. And as one’s central nervous system notices the damage caused by a self-aggressive immune system, it sends false alarms to the brain, which may result in symptoms that range from fatigue and muscle cramps to memory impairment. If such symptoms aren’t attended to, M.S. can lead to partial or complete paralysis.

Causes and Symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis

As already mentioned, research on M.S. is still behind, and scientists haven’t figured out the exact cause of this condition. However, most link the development of the diseased to genetic and environmental factors. Regardless, the following symptoms are associated with patients suffering from Multiple Sclerosis.

  • Extensive fatigue.
  • Severe muscle pain and cramps (frequent muscle spasms, weakness, numbness, and stiffness
  • Impaired memory and focus (this leads to problems with thinking, planning, and learning).
  • Impaired vision.
  • Depression and anxiety.
  • Mobility problems.

How Functional is Cannabidiol Oil in the Treatment of Multiple Sclerosis?

The most common means through which CBD oil helps alleviate multiple sclerosis is via its properties that enhance nervousness and depression. CBD oil works in conjunction with the endocannabinoid system that regulates multiple functions in the human body through this property. Experts have also suggested that cannabis oil works better when combined with a certain dosage of THC.

Today, a big percentage of M.S. patients are taking CBD products as a remedy for multiple sclerosis. And to that extent, many have praised its success in repairing damaged nerves. Study reports on CBD oil, including the U.S. National Research Institute, have shown that natural plant extracts such as CBD possess properties that can effectively reduce spasms and pain in multiple sclerosis patients.

Is CBD Oil Better at Treating Multiple Sclerosis?

Traditionally, Multiple sclerosis is treated via physical and occupational therapies, resilience counseling, speech therapy, neuro-psychology evaluations, among others. And while M.S. patients have had success with CBD oil, albeit with side effects, research is still behind, unfortunately, as to whether or not CBD oil can cure this condition.

The general belief among physicians is that M.S. is an autoimmune disease caused by a combination of genetics and one’s body’s response to environmental factors. And while this belief prevails, there is hardly any prevention method that has been discovered to date. Symptoms vary from mild to severe and differ from one patient to the other. Besides, every symptom is treated differently, with multiple prescription medications being administered to patients. Often, physicians prescribe:

  • Muscle relaxants treat muscle contractions/spasticity, albeit with side effects such as numbness, anxiety, depression, and vomiting.
  • Anti-inflammatory medication to suppress inflammation associated with M.S., albeit with side effects such as peptic ulcer, bone weakness, blood pressure, and mood swings.
  • Medication that suppresses the nervous system.

Given the properties, symptoms suppression, and anti-inflammatory properties exhibited by CBD oil, M.S. patients have, unsurprisingly, in the last few years, turned to CBD oil. States have always known that cannabis (medical marijuana) has medicinal value and can work with the human endocannabinoid system to regulate several bodily functions.

And until recently, cannabis use was illegal, but thanks to the CBD’s health benefits, progressive medical minds, and years of research, most states in the U.S. have legalized medical cannabis. The trick with CBD is that it guarantees the medical value but without the high associated with THC.

What is Considered Safe Dosage of CBD Oil?

If you decide to try CBD oil to suppress your MS-associated symptoms, you can access this substance in the form of oil drops, sprays, edibles (sublingual), and capsules. Over the years, there hasn’t been any reported case of CBD related fatalities or any adverse health effects. However, experts clarify that it is best used without interacting with other prescription medications. That’s why you have to consult your physician first and foremost. Nonetheless, a standard serving of CBD oil is 25 mg taken twice per day.

For those managing muscle spasticity, spasms or contractions, it is best to use the full CBD spectrum that is hemp-based and is mixed with 0.3% THC or less. For severe symptoms, a patient may need higher concentrations of THC.

What Research Says About CBD Treatment of Multiple Sclerosis

  • A 2015 study involving researchers investigating M.S. patients who used CBD to treat their symptoms revealed that a mixture of CBD and a higher percentage of THC patients well tolerate the THC/CBD solution and that the side effects suffered weren’t linked primarily to CBD oil.

In 2016, scientists also looked at how CBD spray could alleviate muscle spasms in multiple sclerosis patients. Several hundred M.S. patients used Sativex (a spray made from a combination of THC and CBD) for a year. Researchers examined the results and revealed a 20% improvement in muscle spasticity in 70% of the patients. However, 40% of the patients failed to exhibit any improvement, meaning the treatment was ineffective. And while this study wasn’t entirely conclusive, it provides further evidence to suggest that more is needed to examine how better CBD oil is in treating multiple sclerosis.

Elena Ognivtseva
Latest posts by Elena Ognivtseva (see all)

Nutritionist, Cornell University, MS

I believe that nutrition science is a wonderful helper both for the preventive improvement of health and adjunctive therapy in treatment. My goal is to help people improve their health and well-being without torturing themselves with unnecessary dietary restrictions. I am a supporter of a healthy lifestyle – I play sports, cycle, and swim in the lake all year round. With my work, I have been featured in Vice, Country Living, Harrods magazine, Daily Telegraph, Grazia, Women's Health, and other media outlets.

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