Recent Discoveries in Cannabis Medicine
We’ve delved into some of the latest research in the realm of cannabis medicine, highlighting its potential therapeutic effects on several chronic conditions. As the medical community continues to explore, new findings are pointing towards the potential of cannabis in managing symptoms of conditions like amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Parkinson’s, epilepsy, and chronic pain.
Additionally, a fascinating revelation suggests that a history of cannabis use might not be linked with a heightened risk of high blood pressure. Let’s dive deeper into these studies.
ALS and Cannabis: A Ray of Hope
Researchers from France embarked on what is believed to be the first extensive study examining the real-world experiences of ALS patients using cannabis to alleviate their symptoms. ALS, also referred to as motor neurone or Lou Gehrig’s Disease, is a rare neurological disorder that results in muscle control loss, leading to paralysis.
A significant 20% of the survey participants confirmed their use of cannabis, with most opting for CBD or what the researchers termed as ‘cannabis weed’. These patients observed improvements in both motor symptoms like rigidity, cramps, and fasciculations, and non-motor symptoms encompassing sleep quality, pain, emotional state, life quality, and depression.
The study concludes, “The findings underscore the urgency for more research on the potential advantages of cannabis use in managing both motor and non-motor ALS symptoms. Cannabinoids might emerge as a crucial addition to the array of treatment choices for ALS symptoms.”
CBD: A Potential Game-Changer for Epilepsy
A recent observational study contributes to the mounting evidence supporting the safety and efficacy of CBD in treating epilepsy. The study evaluated 42 patients who had been prescribed CBD. The results were promising: 29% of the participants witnessed a seizure frequency reduction of over 80%, and 23% observed a reduction exceeding 30%.
The researchers concluded, “CBD emerged as a safe and potent therapeutic alternative for patients resistant to multiple drugs, leading to a significant decline in seizure frequency in over a quarter of the participants, including off-label indications.”
Cannabis: A Potential Solution for Chronic Pain
An oral spray combining CBD and THC was discovered to induce significant reductions in chronic back and neck pain. Australian researchers evaluated the safety and efficacy of an oromucosal spray containing 10mg THC and 25mg CBD on 28 patients suffering from moderate to severe back or neck pain, unresponsive to non-opioid over-the-counter analgesics. The study found that even the lowest dose led to a pain reduction.
The researchers noted, “There were significant reductions in pain at all doses. There was also a decline in pain interference across all domains, including general activity, mood, walking ability, regular work, relationships, sleep, and life enjoyment, based on the dose.”
Cannabis and Blood Pressure: Debunking Myths
US-based researchers have determined that a history of cannabis use does not correlate with an elevated risk of high blood pressure or hypertension. The study assessed the relationship between cannabis consumption and blood pressure/hypertension in a nationally representative sample of nearly 10,000 middle-aged adults. The findings revealed that those who had consumed cannabis in the past year did not exhibit a higher risk of either high blood pressure or hypertension compared to non-users.
The study concludes, “The absence of any association in this study adds to the observational evidence suggesting that frequent cannabis use over decades might not be linked with increased blood pressure or hypertension in middle-aged US adults.”
Understanding the Effects of CBD and THC on Parkinson’s
To gain a deeper understanding of the impacts of CBD and THC on Parkinson’s disease, researchers compared the experiences of patients prescribed CBD/THC treatment with those not on any such treatment.
Even with a limited sample, there was a broad variation in the products and administration methods used, as well as the perceived effects. Those on CBD/THC treatment exhibited lower scores on a cognitive impairment scale but did not show any noticeable differences in specific neuropsychological measures. However, they did display more non-motor symptoms, with no variations in motor symptom levels. Some also reported enhanced pain levels, improved sleep, and reduced anxiety.
