Can CBD Help With Parkinson’s?

Patients living with Parkinson’s deserve the same life as anyone else: a painless, accessible life uninhibited by disease.

Unfortunately, the symptoms of PD can often get in the way. And, with the little scientists know about the disease, it can be hard not to develop a constant sense of hopelessness.

Luckily, some research suggests that greater relief may be on its way. Between its pain relief, neuroprotective properties, and dopamine-boosting effects, CBD may be the secret to managing PD symptoms a little more gracefully.

What is Parkinson’s?

Parkinson’s disease is a disease targetting the body’s nervous system linked to a decrease in dopamine signaling in the brain. Symptoms start small, often with slight tremors, worsened balance, and the loss of unconscious movements like blinking or swinging arms while walking.

Over time, symptoms tend to progress and eventually include muscle rigidity, slower movements, changes to speech (such as slurring), or drastic changes in handwriting. The disease also causes non-motor problems, such as depression, loss of smell, psychosis, and sleep disorders.

At the moment, Parkinson’s disease does not have a cure. However, patients can manage and reduce symptoms using a range of dopamine-boosting medications or symptom-specific solutions like sleep aids.

Related: Best CBD for the Active Elderly

What Causes Parkinson’s?

While it is widely understood that low dopamine levels are linked to the disease, no one knows why that occurs or how to permanently end the condition. For now, the only confirmed cause of Parkinson’s itself is genetic. However, some people may experience Parkinson’s-like symptoms as part of a disease called parkinsonism, which is typically caused by psychiatric medications.

While we don’t know the cause of Parkinson’s, there are some widely-recognized risk factors to look out for. These include traumatic brain injury, toxin exposure, and certain drugs and medications. Gender and age can also play a role, as men and those over age 60 are also at higher risk.

CBD and Health

Though CBD has been shown to alleviate a wide range of conditions, some still feel skeptical about its effects on their health. However, a range of studies has confirmed that CBD can be helpful for PTSD, ALS, and certain epilepsy syndromes.In fact, the FDA has recently approved the first CBD-based medicine, Epidiolex, to reduce seizures in those suffering from these epilepsy conditions.

Though the research hasn’t caught up yet, there are also endless self-reports of patients with anxiety, insomnia, chronic pain, and even addiction that have seen improvements while taking CBD. This makes sense since CBD is known to have relaxing and anti-inflammatory effects without the addiction or high associated with high THC levels.

Related: CBN vs CBG vs CBD

Can CBD Alleviate Parkinson’s Symptoms?

When it comes to Parkinson’s, there are a lot of signs that CBD may become the next major component of the average PD treatment plan. This is partly because of its anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective properties, which can help slow down the degradation of nerve cells in the brain, allowing the disease to progress more slowly.

Other studies have found that CBD can give patients greater motor control while reducing anxiety and pain. And, given that tremors are one of the most common and most debilitating aspects of the condition, reducing these symptoms with CBD would massively improve the quality of life of almost any PD patient.

One of the other majorly distressing symptoms—psychosis—has also shown signs of improvement during clinical studies. This is a massive deal because most current psychosis medications work by blocking dopamine receptors, which is exactly what causes PD in the first place. Luckily, these studies have suggested that patients taking CBD may see fewer psychosis symptoms without negative side effects, such as increased tremors.

Perhaps most excitingly, there is evidence that CBD can increase dopamine signaling in the brain. Since low dopamine signaling is the only known underlying factor of Parkinson’s disease, this is a major argument in CBD’s favor.

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Can CBD Prevent Parkinson’s?

Perhaps what’s even more interesting than CBD’s therapeutic effects are its preventative abilities. Some research has suggested that CBD is even more effective at preventing PD than managing its symptoms, perhaps because of those neuroprotective properties. So, taking CBD may be a good step for those who have PD in the family.

However, keep in mind that these results are based on very early studies. So far, the most jarring effects of CBD on PD have been shown only in research done on animals, and other studies on humans have had much more lukewarm results. This could be due to the early stage of this research, so it’s too early to tell. With larger sample sizes, better controls, and a larger body of research, scientists may better understand CBD’s potential preventative effects.

Related: CBD and Alzheimer’s

Are There Any Risks to Taking CBD for Parkinson’s?

CBD has few negative side effects, most of which are considered pretty mild. For instance, one survey of Parkinson’s patients taking CBD found that the most common side effects were dizziness, dry mouth, cognitive impairment, and increased appetite/weight. Some patients also experienced daytime sleepiness, imbalance, fatigue, apathy, palpitations, and hallucinations. Some studies on PD patients taking CBD report no major side effects at all.

For patients who do see side effects, the trend suggests that higher THC content causes stronger adverse effects, so it’s always wise to start with a low dose and gradually increase to find your sweet spot.

How To Use CBD For Parkinson’s

Choosing a CBD product can be complicated in part due to the wide range of forms it’s sold in. Which do you choose between gummies, pills, lotions, and tinctures?

When buying CBD for Parkinson’s, it’s best to choose a product based on which symptoms you’re hoping to reduce. A lotion or cream is the best choice for localized relief for location-specific pain or tremors. Meanwhile, a gummy or pill may be a good option for more general relief, and tinctures can be great for those who struggle to swallow pills.

Before buying a product, it’s also wise to check that CBD has no known interactions with your current medications. This list can be a great start, but it’s always best to consult your healthcare provider before giving CBD a shot.

Our Top CBD Recommendations For Parkinson’s

If you’re looking for a CBD product for your PD symptoms, consider supporting a family-owned, organic CBD farm like Bordertown.

Bordertown’s full-spectrum peppermint CBD tincture is a great option for general pain, anxiety, or insomnia relief. And, with 800-1800mg per bottle, our tinctures are bound to bring long-term relief.

We also offer more localized relief through our lavender CBD liniment. This extra-strength, anti-inflammatory topical is made with shea butter and created using our home-grown hemp, creating a luxurious application process that leaves you with a little more peace of mind.

Interested in trying out CBD for your PD symptoms? Check out our all-organic CBD products today!