How Cannabis is Helping to Treat Patients of Neurodegenerative Diseases

PUBLISHED : 23 Dec  2019 - 11:14

Neurodegenerative diseases are amongst the leading causes of death across the world. Inflammation is a common symptom among the various neurodegenerative diseases.

Thus, cannabis is a promising treatment for these diseases as its compounds can prevent brain disease. Cannabidiol (CBD), one of the cannabis compounds have anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects that fight neurodegenerative ailments. 

What are neurodegenerative diseases?

Neurodegenerative diseases are a group of various conditions that impact nerve cells or neurons in your brain. Neurons are the building blocks of your nervous system, including both the brain and spinal cord. 

A combination of many factors, such as traumatic brain injury, environmental factors, and genetic mutation, increases the risk of acquiring neurodegenerative diseases. Age is a consistent factor that leads to Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases. The symptoms that vary across the spectrum include:

• A weakening of heart function.
• Memory and cognition impairment.
• Paralysis.
• Breathing issues.
• Tight muscles.
• Weakness.
• Issues with movement.

The most popular kinds of neurodegenerative diseases are:

• Parkinson’s
• Alzheimer’s
• Multiple sclerosis
• Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
• Prion disease
• Cancers 

Nonetheless, other various neurodegenerative ailments affect many individuals worldwide. The increased legalization of cannabis brings this plant to the forefront. Thus, family and caregivers of patients with neurodegenerative diseases are hopeful that medical marijuana might help lessen symptoms of these ailments. 

How cannabis helps treat patients with neurodegenerative diseases

Cannabis is available in different forms like CBD concentrates, and THC concentrates. Are you wondering what are CBD concentrates? They are cannabis products with concentrated CBD extracts such as CBD vape, CBD edibles, CBD drinks, and CBD shatter.

The various forms of cannabis allow people to consume cannabis in whichever form they choose. Nonetheless, cannabis can help with neurodegenerative diseases through the following ways: 

1. Cannabis affects the endogenous cannabinoid system 

ECS plays a crucial role in protecting your body from harmful stressors and toxins present in the environment or those you may acquire through lifestyle choices like a poor diet. Therefore, ECS helps maintain homeostasis.

Cannabinoids may help improve ECS to halt or slow the progression of neurodegenerative diseases. Cannabis can help maintain the integrity of your ECS to prevent some of the neurodegenerative ailments from developing. Also, it modulates your endogenous cannabinoid system to help treat neurodegeneration.

Many people believe that cannabis may impair your cognitive function. However, cannabis might boost your cognitive function. 

Cannabinoid receptor activation also can help reduce oxidative stress and lessen neuro-inflammatory processes to suppress symptoms of the cognitive and neurodegenerative motor. CBD and THC augment and imitate the activity of your endogenous cannabinoids, which you produce internally.

The endogenous cannabinoids are part of your ECS that regulate various physiological processes such as inflammation, neuroplasticity, and cerebral blood flow. Usually, endogenous cannabinoids activate your cannabinoid receptors, CB1 and CB2, to help protect you against motor deficits. Therefore, THC also activates your receptors in the same manner to fight neurodegenerative diseases. 

2. Cannabis treat movement disorders 

Various movement disorders affect individuals battling neurological problems. Therefore, cannabis treats movement disorders since cannabinoids impede neurodegeneration. It also offers anti-tremor, anti-spasticity, and analgesic effects to improve neurodegenerative ailments. 

The active chemicals of cannabis fight neurodegenerative diseases that develop because of trauma like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s. Through addressing the symptoms, cannabis helps patients with these diseases get better. 

3. Cannabis has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects 

The neuroprotective effects of marijuana are due to the combination of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of its primary cannabinoids CBD and THC. Thus, cannabis can treat various neurodegenerative diseases since its chemicals can reduce the impact of severe brain injury. 

Neurodegenerative disorders like Parkinson’s, Huntington’s, and Alzheimer’s ailments share common symptoms. The symptoms are over-stimulation and inflammation of neurons. As well, people with these disorders have issues supplying adequate oxygen and energy to their neurons. 

Thus, cannabis operates on both molecular and cellular levels to help protect your neurons. The cannabinoids have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that reduce the neuroinflammatory processes that lead to neurodegenerative ailments. They also fight neuroinflammatory due to the aging of your brain. Cannabinoids help protect your neurons by regulating the mitochondrial activity to ensure that there is a steady supply of oxygen and energy to your brain cells. 

Cannabinoids have the same neuroprotective properties as your body’s natural endocannabinoids. Typically, CBD and THC might directly combat Parkinson’s disease and lessen its symptoms. 

Another neurodegenerative disease with limited treatment alternatives is Huntington’s sickness. Treatment of this disease with cannabis slows its progression. Both CBD and THC interact with your CB1 & CB2 receptors to provide disease-fighting and protective effects.

4. Cannabis reduces brain injuries

The neuroprotective properties of cannabinoids like CBD help combat many effects of different kinds of brain injury. Some of the neurodegenerative ailments develop or get worse because of brain injury. Thus, reducing brain injuries means that you will be able to lessen some symptoms. Consuming even low dosage of THC 3-4 times can lead to significant protective effects to fight neurodegenerative diseases. Doctors prescribe the use of CBD to their patients all the time. People with its prescription can get it from authorized stores and sites. If you too are looking to buy CBD, we suggest you use the pure kana coupon code to get the best discounts available.  

5. Cannabis helps in controlling muscle pain and spasticity 

Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disorder that you can treat by consuming marijuana since it controls muscle pain and spasticity. It is good news that there are various fun and enjoyable ways that you can consume marijuana. Do you smoke your cannabis? If so, then a genius pipe is one of the coolest ways to smoke. It is an innovative and intelligent pipe that allows you to smoke anywhere. 

Irrespective of how you consume cannabis, it may provide relief from muscle ataxia and spasms. This is a unique combination that many treatments do not offer. It helps a patient move and handles his chores well both at home and in the office. 

Conclusion 

Cannabis might be a great relief for patients with neurodegenerative diseases. The plant’s use promises to combat both underlying causes and symptoms of such diseases. Luckily, you can consume cannabis in different ways, such as taking cannabis in beverages, edibles, or vape it. 

Another advantage of cannabis use for neurodegenerative diseases is to the caregivers and family of the patient. It eliminates the feeling of hopelessness and pain that they feel for their loved ones. Therefore, it promises better and happy lives for both patients and caregivers/family. 

Source: https://candidchronicle.com/how-cannabis-is-helping-to-treat-patients-of-neurodegenerative-diseases/