CBD and Its Effects on Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis is a disease of autoimmune nature that causes a range of symptoms in a person like cognitive impairment, weakness in the muscle, and fatigue. Most people in the United States are affected by this disease, thus destroying their quality of life. In managing the symptoms, one can use CBD as a convenient alternative, and it has beneficial impacts when used. This article explains whether CBD can affect persons with multiple sclerosis.

Multiple sclerosis affects the life of an individual in many ways. Individuals using CBD to manage MS symptoms tend to benefit a lot. It is because CBD has some health benefits when used accordingly. Individuals using it claim to have relived pain, reduced inflammation, and helped in anxiety and depression disorders, among other aspects. CBD is a non-psychoactive compound extracted from the cannabis plant as a pure product. Unlike THC, a toxic substance with euphoric effects on a person, CBD has become essential in aiding several health aspects. CBD is unregulated in the market, with FDA not allowing any product with more than 0.03% THC levels. CBD is being used for different reasons by an individual. Depending on a person's preferences, it can be used as a recreational product or for health purposes. Although the use of CBD for MS has little information, many individuals are still using the product for their gain.

CBD Basics

CBD is extracted from the hemp plant. Hemp cultivation was allowed in the United States after the signing of the Farm Bill in 2018. Hemp

the plant contains both CBD and THC, but they have different effects and characteristics when used. THC is psychoactive and makes an individual feel high when consumed. Other compounds include terpenes, flavonoids, and other cannabinoids like CBN. With CBD gaining popularity in recent years, there is some promising evidence that explains CBD has some therapeutic benefits, which include reducing anxiety, relieving pain, and improving a person's sleep quality. Also, when consumed, it makes a person feel calm and relaxed, aspects that THC cannot do. CBD types are differentiated by compound composition, potency levels, and concentrations. They include CBD isolate, full spectrum CBD, and broad-spectrum CBD. Every kind of CBD contains different compound composition; thus, when consumed, each provides a mixed feeling and experience.

CBD Therapeutic Properties

The cannabis plant contains many biologically active chemicals, with CBD and THC as the main concentrated compounds, and they are believed to have therapeutic effects primarily. CBD has many pharmacological effects as it is antiemetic, antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective. CBD is safe to use as individuals' psychological and psychomotor functions are not negatively affected. Humans using CBD have been seen to tolerate chronic to moderate doses of CBD. People with Multiple Sclerosis are using CBD to manage related symptoms. MS patients broadly use CBD with the laws at hand that legalize CBD consumption. Some states allow medical use of CBD; thus, it can be used as a remedy for people with MS. It can be used by MS people for fatigue reduction, spasticity, and pain and to help improve mobility.

CBD and People with MS

With the increasing number of people using CBD to treat MS, there has been little evidence of CBD helping physical mobility. The benefits of CBD to people with multiple sclerosis are yet to be vetted. Meyer et al. (2019) explained that CBD could help reduce muscle pain and spasticity in patients with MS. Cannabis use is beneficial as it records positive effects by decreasing pain and inflammation as some of the symptoms of multiple sclerosis. Inflammation is a risk factor in Multiple Sclerosis related to fatigue. An individual suffering from MS experiences chronic peripheral inflammation resulting in overactivity of the vagus nerve that causes fatigue. According to Kindred et al. (2017), consistent use of CBD for MS help reduces the main symptoms of MS, which are muscle spasticity, pain, and fatigue, resulting in improved mobility for MS-affected individuals.

CBD and Drugs for MS

Some specific medications are widely prescribed for individuals with MS suffering from panic and anxiety disorders, pain, and spasticity of muscles. Some of the prescribed pharmaceuticals are antidepressants, benzodiazepines, and opioids. Some side effects related to the administration of opioids are respiratory depression, nausea, vomiting, sedation, and dizziness, among others. Benzodiazepines that are traditionally used are known to alter an individual sleeping pattern. With antidepressants, they can result in anxiety, sedation, and dizziness. Using CBD helped reduce the usage of prescribed drugs significantly. Rudroff & Sosnoff (2018) explained that CBD should be used as a long-term goal in managing MS-related symptoms as it is effective. CBD is a non-psychoactive substance and cannot make an individual feel high, as most people with MS avoid being high. Individuals should look for more CBD and fewer THC products, mainly hemp-based products.

How to Find Best CBD for MS?

Type of CBD

There are different types of CBD in the markets. When choosing MS-based CBD products, individuals should be cautious. If a person needs to feel the full benefits of the entourage effects, they are advised to consume the full spectrum of CBD products. Wallace et al. (2020) explained that individuals who want to consume CBD without THC could consume broad spectrum CBD or CBD isolate effects. People should know that each CBD product can contain some THC traces that can appear during a drug test.

Third-Party Lab Result

The Federal Drug Association does not regulate any CBD products. They do not guarantee or test the safety of any product of CBD sold over the counter. They can only send warning letters to companies making health claims which are not approved. Individuals should look for products with a certificate of analysis which help them to know the product is free from contaminants and a specific amount of CBD.

Ingredients

When purchasing CBD products for Multiple sclerosis, an individual should go for hemp-based ones. Check the location of the hemp source as the products should be organic and from the United States. Avoid hemp seed or hemp seed oil products as they do not have CBD infused. Learn more about can cbd cure or stop your hangover?

How to Choose Best CBD for MS?

Choosing the best CBD product for Multiple sclerosis is crucial as one should find products with transparency and good quality. The products should contain less than 0.03% THC levels and be free of heavy metals, molds, and pesticides. One should check the potency level of the products and the manufacturing and extraction processes. Learn more about 4 potential benefits of cbd pain freeze

Conclusion

Multiple sclerosis, an autoimmune disease, can affect a person in several ways, making them unable to carry on their daily activities. Using CBD can help alleviate symptoms associated with multiple sclerosis in a person. It is essential to consider hemp CBD products as they have health benefits. They are associated with pain and inflammation reduction and can help calm a person’s body by reducing anxiety. Patients should consult the doctor before consuming CBD with other drugs to prevent adverse effects.

References

Kindred, J. H., Li, K., Ketelhut, N. B., Proessl, F., Fling, B. W., Honce, J. M., ... & Rudroff, T. (2017). Cannabis use in people with Parkinson’s disease and Multiple Sclerosis: A web-based investigation. Complementary therapies in medicine, 33, 99-104.

Meyer, T., Funke, A., Münch, C., Kettemann, D., Maier, A., Walter, B., ... & Spittel, S. (2019). Real-world experience of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in treating spasticity using tetrahydrocannabinol: cannabidiol (THC: CBD). BMC Neurology, 19(1), 1-13.

Rudroff, T., & Sosnoff, J. (2018). Cannabidiol to improve mobility in people with multiple sclerosis. Frontiers in neurology, 9, 183.

Wallace, J. E., Kogan, L. R., Carr, E. C., & Hellyer, P. W. (2020). Motivations and expectations for using cannabis products to treat pain in humans and dogs: a mixed methods study. Journal of cannabis research, 2(1), 1-12.