If you’re suffering from multiple sclerosis, you may want to find out if and how CBD can help with the symptoms and make you feel better!
Suffering from multiple sclerosis is not fun. This disease comes with a number of symptoms. These symptoms are hard to deal with and medicinal drugs sometimes just don’t seem to work. Hence, you might be looking for some alternatives.
If you’re wondering if CBD can help with multiple sclerosis symptoms, here’s the answer in short.
Yes, according to some evidence it does help. Inflammation, spasticity, bladder dysfunction, depression, and fatigue are some of the symptoms of multiple sclerosis that CBD helps with.
Even though CBD cannot cure the symptoms completely. But for a short period of time, it can relieve some of the pain. Let’s find out how!
Does CBD Help With Multiple Sclerosis?
CBD is said to be helpful when it comes to multiple sclerosis. However, unfortunately, it does not come to everyone’s rescue. But a little experimentation with CBD can’t harm, after all!
Although there are many symptoms of multiple sclerosis, like mobility, vision, speech, and swallowing problems, CBD helps with the following four major symptoms.
- Inflammation and Pain
Inflammation is good for the body when it occurs normally as it gets rid of infection and aids in the healing process. However, it is a hazard to the neurological system when inflammation is present in MS patients.
Inflammation in multiple sclerosis patients can be treated by CBD sprays. This medical condition can cause pain and swelling. Besides sprays, you can take CBD of an amount of 6.2 mg to help reduce the swelling.
CBD has neuroprotective properties and anti-inflammatory antioxidants. Hence, it’s extremely helpful to reduce this symptom.
Multiple sclerosis patients suffer from extreme pain. As the disease progresses and more and more nerves are damaged, chronic neuropathic pain becomes more common.
Many studies suggest that CBD helps big time in reducing this pain.
- Spasticity
Spasticity is very alarming as it can trigger other multiple sclerosis symptoms. When spasticity occurs, your muscles will become rigid. This is because of the hyperexcitability caused by the stretch reflex.
Walking and sitting down can be painful and difficult if you have muscle spasticity. As a result, stiffness and pain may develop. MS sufferers’ spasticity can, however, be alleviated by cannabinoids such as CBD, according to researchers.
Cannabinoids, a group of compounds contained in marijuana, are produced by the human body on their own. Research suggests that cannabinoid receptors on our cells may play a role in regulating muscle stiffness.
In MS patients with persistent spasticity, a standardized Cannabis sativa plant extract may reduce spasm frequency and promote mobility with tolerable side effects. This has been revealed by a study in Switzerland.
CBD oil is a very efficient way to get rid of spasticity.
- Bladder Dysfunction
In the initial stages of multiple sclerosis, this symptom is not very prominent. It is said that MS patients can experience this symptom even after six years. In these circumstances, CBD is there to help you out.
- Depression and Fatigue
It is also said that CBD could lessen memory impairment and anxiety. CBD is also helpful for negative psychotropic effects and psychotic-like states that come with THC. Instead of giving a panicked feeling, CBD increases positive therapeutic action.
Side Effects of CBD
Although CBD is beneficial for multiple sclerosis, there are a number of side effects of it.
- Fatigue
- Appetite changes
- Damage to the liver
- Lightheadedness
- Disorientation
- Dizziness/lightheadedness
- Gastrointestinal symptoms (nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea)
- Urinary tract infections
- Dry mouth
- Weight changes
- Low blood pressure
- Drowsiness
- Attention disturbance
- Headache
Remember to consult a doctor before taking CBD for any medical purposes. Taking it in the right amount and the right way can minimize these side effects.
How to Properly Use CBD
CBD may be a blessing for your multiple sclerosis symptoms. But it could backfire if you don’t use it properly. So let’s get into how you can properly make use of it.
The Right Amount
A 300 mg dose of CBD every day for six months is okay. But higher doses will cause health issues for you. But if you do want to take higher doses, taking it for a shorter time is advised.
How To Take CBD
CBD can be taken by inhaling or ingesting. Because of MS or other reasons you may have respiratory issues. So, for people like this inhalation is off the table.
If you are one of these people and are facing inflammation or pain in the joints or muscles, CBD balms and lotions will come to the rescue for your respiratory problems. Apply the balm and lotion to the painful parts of your body.
If you’re not comfortable with smoking there are other smoke-free and heat-free options. Tinctures are the way to go.
CBD can be found in four forms which are oral sprays, oral capsules, oils, and intranasal spray.
Using CBD Oil
There’s no better method to get CBD to enter your system than by using CBD oil. The oil is used mostly in CBD with coconut or hemp seed oil added to it. The oil can be taken in three ways.
Ingesting:
This oil can be ingested by adding it to a drink or food or putting it under the tongue and taking it as a tincture. In addition, it can be applied to the skin.
Most patients who are new to CBD oil choose to use a treatment modality they are already familiar with. The familiar options are capsules, liquid drops, or edibles, to administer it. It’s wonderful to have solutions that are subtle and can have a favorable effect for a short period of time.
Vaping:
The usage of vapes is a quick and simple choice, but be careful as there is a limit to smoking THC vapes. Additionally, transdermal patches, creams, and ointments can be used to alleviate pain in specific parts of the body.
CBD and THC can also be found together in a single capsule. CBD’s therapeutic effects can be enhanced by combining it with other cannabinoids as well. Data reveals that a CBD-THC combo may be the best treatment for muscle spasms.
It’s important to keep in mind that because THC is present, you are likely to experience the well-known “high.”
There is not only one way to take CBD oil, everyone has their own limitations.
Dosage:
It is our advice that you begin by taking the product’s recommended dosage as stated in the product’s leaflet.
The recommended daily dosage of CBD oil is 25 milligrams, taken twice daily. But taking more is great for better effect. But don’t take it directly. Work your way up from 25mg to 50mg and take it 3-4 weeks till you obtain the desired effect.
Another amazing thing is, CBD helps with skin conditions as well!
Conclusion
Multiple sclerosis is a serious medical condition and affects different people in different ways with different symptoms.
If you have chronic pain and other common symptoms related to this condition, CBD could help relieve them.
Try using CBD that’s available in various formats to get the best results. However, be aware of the possible side effects of taking CBD to help with multiple sclerosis.
Most importantly, consult your GP and take the right dosage before trying it. You should also be careful about where you’re sourcing the CBD from.
