Parkinson’s Disease

Parkinson’s Disease is a debilitating neurodegenerative disorder that mostly affects the elderly, but may also develop in younger individuals. It is characterized by the degeneration of nerve cells in the brain that control movement. Symptoms of the disorder gradually worsen over time and they typically begin with and lead to: weakness in one’s muscles; muscle spasms and uncontrollable shaking; rigidity; significant slowing of movement; and then difficulty walking and with maintaining balance. Oftentimes these result in difficulties with sleep, carrying out basic tasks like writing, and maintaining a normal life. These symptoms will typically cause a sufferer to develop behavioral and psychological issues including: depression, difficulty thinking, and even psychosis.

While the disorder is not life threatening, it can be incapacitating and painful to live with, and there is no known cure. There are a number of medications and therapies that may help with the symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease.

Using Cannabis to Treat Parkinson’s Disease

Cannabis is a complex medicinal plant that may actually be used to treat a variety of debilitating symptoms caused by a surprisingly large number of ailments. Its usefulness as a non-lethal medicine (you cannot die from an overdose of cannabis) cannot be overstated and its versatility in terms of how it can be consumed and as to how it can be useful for so many illnesses is something to be excited about. However, it is important to remember that consulting with your primary care physician should be your first priority when considering incorporating cannabis into one’s medical regiment and that cannabis is to be used as an adjunct therapy and not a replacement. It is also your responsibility to communicate with your doctor as to how your use of cannabis has affected your health and of your progress with utilizing medical cannabis.

Much of the past and ongoing research looking into cannabis’ usefulness in treating Parkinson’s Disease has been focused on the therapeutic versatility of both Cannabidiol (CBD) and Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC); in fact, numerous surveys and studies have shown that both compounds aid with controlling the tremors associated with the ailment, and that CBD can even help with possible psychosis resulting from PD.

Overall, scientific studies have shown that cannabis may be quite useful for treating individuals suffering from the symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease for the following reasons: significantly reducing pain, spasticity, and incontinence; helping to manage uncontrollable tremors; combatting depression and or anxiety; assisting with nausea and the resulting fatigue; battling insomnia; preventing possible psychosis; and with protecting the brain from further degeneration.

Beneficial Cannabinoids and Terpenoids Useful for Treating Parkinson’s Disease

The cannabis plant offers a plethora of therapeutic benefits and contains cannabinoids and terpenoid compounds that are useful for treating the symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease. While most of the ongoing research focuses on CBD and THC, the following list also denotes which cannabinoids and terpenoids work synergistically with each other for possible therapeutic benefit. It may be beneficial to seek out strains that contain these cannabinoids and terpenoids.