People have been suffering from Parkinson’s disease for hundreds of years. It’s estimated that 1 million individuals in the United States are living with Parkinson's, 35,000 of whom live in the State of Ohio. experiencing this illness, but it is the most common among older people.
Parkinson’s Disease is a progressive neurological disorder that damages and, eventually, kills brain cells. The disease affects neurons that produce dopamine and control movement.
Thus, people suffering from Parkinson’s disease often struggle with impaired coordination, muscle cramps, and tremor.
What Causes These Symptoms?
As neurons die, the level of dopamine in the brain goes down, affecting movement. Given this, people who suffer from the disease may appear to have an abnormally stiff way of walking, as Parkinson’s disease can cause the freezing of parts of the body.
Parkinson’s disease may also cause swallowing difficulties, muscle pain, blinking, drooling, or even constipation. A number of patients also report low blood pressure, stiff muscles, slowed or monotone speech, and stooped posture.
Although there is no cure for Parkinson’s disease yet, we do have some medications used in conventional treatment that increase the dopamine level in the brain.
However, as each over-the-counter medication masks one or two symptoms at max, people are prescribed something we can refer to as a pharmaceutical cocktail.
Such a combination of drugs may involve a number of side effects, namely nausea, vomiting, confusion, hallucinations, low blood pressure, and uncontrolled movements.
3 Easy Steps
Step 1
Schedule an appointment with one of our friendly marijuana doctors at any location throughout the State!
Step 2
Visit our office for your
in-person evaluation with a state-certified medical marijuana doctor.
Step 3
With the doctor's approval, you'll receive your card via email from the Ohio Board of Pharmacy.
How Does Medical Marijuana Help With Parkinson’s Disease
As we mentioned before, many drugs prescribed for the disease are accompanied by some significant, negative side effects over time. These, on the contrary, are not present in medical cannabis, which offers a combination of pain-relieving, antioxidative and anti-anxiety qualities all in one.
Many medical marijuana patients report consuming cannabis calms tremors very effectively, and studies suggest that marijuana can actually help with Parkinson’s Disease.
In 2014, researchers from Tel Aviv University decided to conduct a study with 22 patients suffering from Parkinson’s Disease. The study showed that 30 minutes after smoking cannabis, patients improved significantly in their motor skills.
Additionally, marijuana appeared to ease such symptoms as slow movement, tremors, and rigidity. Patients also reported significant progress in pain relief and sleep improvement.
Another study conducted by Spanish scientists in 2011 aimed to determine whether or not THC improves motor abilities among rats and mice affected with a motor disease. The researchers found out that THC has a promising pharmacological profile for ameliorating Parkinsonian symptoms
More importantly, thanks to the neuroprotective properties of both THC and CBD, marijuana may protect neurons from damage and help them rejuvenate, which means that the plant can be helpful in slowing the progression of Parkinson’s Disease.
As the studies confirmed, cannabis reduces oxidative stress in brain cells, and therefore, it helps to protect them against neurodegenerative damage and death.
Medical Marijuana Doctors Can Help
While marijuana is not a cure for Parkinson’s Disease, it can help make people with the condition much more comfortable. As with any medication, you should always discuss cannabis with a physician before initial use. If you are interested in using cannabis to help manage your symptoms, schedule an evaluation with an Ohio Marijuana Card doctor today!