How Much Does CBD Resolve Central Nervous System Problems?

One of the widely studied compounds of cannabis is CBD. It is believed to solve several health conditions, including central nervous system problems. In this article, you will be able to learn how CBD is involved in reducing symptoms of central nervous system problems.

Cannabis's popularity is growing rapidly because of its recreational and medicinal uses. Cannabis contains more than one hundred compounds known as cannabinoids. While many assume that cannabis is limited to psychoactive effects, it also creates a sense of well-being. Cannabis has shown a positive impact on several health conditions, including neurological disorders in humans such as; Parkinson's disease (PD), Huntington's disease (HD), epilepsy, and autism. Understanding how cannabis works in the body will enable you to decide whether it is good for medical purposes.

The Science of CBD

Cannabidiol (CBD) is a compound found in the cannabis plant. It is also known as marijuana. Of the several compounds found in cannabis, CBD and THC are the main natural compounds used by many people. Unlike tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), CBD is not psychoactive. THC produces a high sense of euphoria when it binds with the (CB1) receptors in the human brain. Today, almost 90% of products made contain the CBD compound. You can take CBD in several forms, including tinctures, topicals, pills, and edibles. CBD is the best option for those who want relief from pain and other health issues without the mind-altering effect or any other side effects of cannabis. The cannabis plant comprises several cannabinoids interacting with the endocannabinoid system (ECS) through the CB1 and CB2 receptors. The CB1 receptors are found in the central nervous system. They help regulate pain, mood, appetite, and other functions. On the other hand, CB2 receptors are found throughout the body, mostly in the immune system. They majorly influence pain and inflammation.

The Central Nervous System

The central nervous system (CNS) is one of the two major parts of the nervous system. The other part is referred to as the peripheral nervous system. The CNS consists of the brain and the spinal cord, whereas the peripheral nervous system contains the nerves that wire the brain and the spinal cord to all other body parts. The brain controls almost all body functions, such as speech, movement, awareness, and all the five senses of sight, taste, smell, touch, and hearing. It consists of five major parts: the cerebrum, cerebellum, thalamus, hypothalamus, and brain stream. The cerebrum is the largest part of controlling emotions, speech, personality, intelligence, and the ability to move and feel. Deeper into the brain are the thalamus and hypothalamus. The thalamus controls memory and movements, while the hypothalamus controls body temperature, appetite, and thirst. Lastly, the brainstem controls blood pressure, breathing, and the body's reactions to danger.

On the other hand, the spinal cord is responsible for transferring information from the brain through the nerves connected to the peripheral system. Neurons are also part of the central nervous system. They are organized in networks that are involved in carrying chemical or electrical messages in and out of the brain.

Neurological Effects of CBD

• CBD contains medicinal properties, including neurological effects, that may help control several health conditions. CBD also has neuroprotective properties which protect neurons from degeneration. This, in turn, enables your brain to remain younger.
• CBD is also referred to as a natural pain suppressor because of its ability to treat chronic pain. It contains pain-killing properties and can be used to treat inflammation and other pain-related conditions.
• CBD is known to contain anti-tumor properties; therefore, very high dosages of CBD can be used to suppress the spread of cancer cells. What is so impressive about CBD is that even with the high doses, it doesn't seem to cause any problems because CBD does not contain any toxic effects.

Effects of CBD on the Brain

• CBD interacts with the serotonin receptors that regulate the release of hormones responsible for appetite, mood, cognition, and pain perception. This interaction is beneficial, especially to patients experiencing neuropathic pain and depression.
• CBD binds with vanilloid receptors that regulate body temperature, inflammation, and pain perception.
• CBD interacts with nuclear receptors to inhibit anti-tumor effects.
• CBD contains anti-seizure properties. This can help treat conditions linked to epilepsy, including neurodegeneration and neuronal injuries.

CBD Involvement in CNS Diseases and Disorders

Neurodegenerative and Neurological Diseases

According to Ortiz, McMahon & Wilkerson (2022), these diseases affect mostly the elderly. Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disease that is characterized by senile plaques (SP), amyloid angiopathy, and neurofibrillary tangles (NFT). Brain injuries associated with AD are depicted by the presence of a broad spectrum of inflammatory mediators produced by cells found in the brain. A study by Kim et al. (2019) suggested that CBD may help treat and prevent Alzheimer's disease since CBD components could suppress symptoms such as memory loss and some behavioral disorders. The study further suggested that using CBD with THC could cause a greater impact than using either alone.

Another common neurodegenerative disease is Parkinson's disease (PD). It is characterized by reductions in motor function like resting tremors, instability, and rigidity. Patients may also have cognitive impairment, pain, sensory disturbances, and mood disorders. Chagas et al. (2014) suggested that CBD administration in PD patients reduced symptoms associated with PD, such as sleep disturbances, hallucinations, delusions, tremor amplitude, and an overall improvement in the patient's motor function.

Huntington's disease (HD) is characterized by mood, movement, and cognition alterations. There is little evidence involving CBD involvement in HD. However, CBD might be beneficial in reducing brain inflammation, alleviating regular side effects of HD, and offering powerful neuroprotective properties.

Epilepsy is characterized by seizures such as blank stares or twitching arms and legs. Medical use of CBD has gained a lot of consideration in reducing seizures in epilepsy patients. Research has yielded promising results with the use of CBD for epilepsy. Due to its non-psychoactive properties, CBD is considered an anti-epileptic, reducing seizures in epilepsy patients.

Chayasirisobhon (2021) experimented on children with complex motor disorders. They were administered CBD for five months, and the results showed an improvement in sleep difficulties, pain severity, and improvement concerning spasticity, and dystonia. Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder also showed behavioral improvement, especially on anxiety and communication problems. This study suggests CBD is a promising treatment option for children with autism and complex motor disorder.

Conclusion

cannabis compounds such as CBD have shown various benefits for disorders associated with the central nervous system. The existence of non-psychoactive properties in CBD helps reduce adverse side effects and increase the efficacy of CBD treatment. However, the therapeutic evidence is limited since there have been fewer human studies to show their impact. Despite CBD being represented as the most studied, its medical actions and mechanisms for central nervous system problems are still unclear and debated.

References

Chagas, M. H., Eckeli, A. L., Zuardi, A. W., Pena‐Pereira, M. A., Sobreira‐Neto, M. A., Sobreira, E. T., ... & Crippa, J. A. D. S. (2014). Cannabidiol can improve complex sleep‐related behaviours associated with rapid eye movement sleep behaviour disorder in Parkinson's disease patients: a case series. Journal of clinical pharmacy and therapeutics, 39(5), 564-566.

Chayasirisobhon, S. (2021). The Role of Cannabidiol in Neurological Disorders. The Permanente Journal, 25.

Kim, S. H., Yang, J. W., Kim, K. H., Kim, J. U., & Yook, T. H. (2019). A Review on Studies of Marijuana for Alzheimer's Disease–Focusing on CBD, THC. Journal of pharmacopuncture, 22(4), 225.

Ortiz, Y. T., McMahon, L. R., & Wilkerson, J. L. (2022). Medicinal Cannabis and Central Nervous System Disorders. Frontiers in Pharmacology, 13.