Parkinson’s patients report long-term therapeutic benefits from the daily use of medical cannabis, according to the journal Clinical Neuropharmacology.
Parkinson’s patients report long-term therapeutic benefits from the daily use of medical cannabis, according to data published online ahead of print in the journal Clinical Neuropharmacology.
Investigators at Tel Aviv University in Israel conducted a retrospective assessment of the daily use of cannabis in 47 patients with Parkinson’s disease over a period of several months.
Most (82 percent) of the patients reported that medical cannabis “improved their overall symptoms.” Specifically, cannabis administration was associated with reductions in pain, stiffness, and tremor as well as with improvements in mood and sleep quality. Participants were also less likely to report suffering from falls after initiating cannabis use.
Authors concluded, “[T]he results of our study demonstrate that most of the users had found MC (medical cannabis) to improve their condition, and that MC treatment was safe, without major side effects.”
A 2014 observational study similarly reported “significant improvement” in PD symptoms – including changes in tremor, rigidity, and in bradykinsea (slowness of movement – 30 minutes following cannabis inhalation treatment.
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Related Story: Marijuana And Parkinson’s Disease: What We Kn
Parkinson’s disease is progressive neurological condition in which the brain gradually stops producing dopamine, a neurotransmitter that helps us make smooth, coordinated movements. Its specific symptoms are slowness of movement, muscle stiffness, and trembling (dyskinesia) — which, ironically, can be worsened by Parkinson’s medication (in which case it’s called “levodopa-induced dyskinesia”).
Non-motor effects include sluggish thinking, sleep disorder, lack of appetite, in continence, and, obviously, mood disorders such as depression, irritability, and anxiety. More than 10 million patients worldwide suffering from the debilitating effects of Parkinson’s disease.
In the video below, watch what happens when a former police officer suffering from Parkinson’s uses cannabis oil to quell the horrible symptoms of the disease:
