Cannabis, as our regular readers will know, is made up of chemical compounds called cannabinoids. There are about 60 kinds of these champs!
One that's dear to our hearts is cannabidiol, also known as CBD. And we're glad to say it is enjoying a well-earned rise in popularity for its therapeutic potential.
Some of our customers and readers ask...
What's the News on CBD Oil and MS?
Cannabis has been available in the majority of U.S. states for certain medical conditions—including multiple sclerosis. People with MS may be aware of a cannabis-based prescription treatment called Sativex. Does it work? Reports are mixed. A 2014 study found Sativex did not stop tremors. It found some effectiveness for pain, spasticity (stiffness), and bladder problems. It doesn't help everyone with MS, and it's not widely available.
But now, since the U.S. legalization of hemp oil, therapeutic uses of CBD are finding broad social acceptance. So, some people with MS have explored various ways to use CBD, which is legal and available over the counter, to help ease their symptoms.
Are they on the right track?
Fortunately, literature on CBD and MS research is available. Let's take a look.
Research on CBD Oil and Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis impacts the central nervous system. Its effects are felt by more than two million people around the world. The symptoms often include pain, swelling, muscle spasticity, fatigue, and depression. These issues can impair physical mobility and be detrimental to people’s careers and life experiences.
In 2018, the research journal Frontiers in Neurology published the article Cannabidiol to Improve Mobility in People with Multiple Sclerosis. In the article, scientists Thorsten Rudroff (University of Colorado School of Medicine) and Jacob Sosnoff (Department of Kinesiology and Community Health, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign) observe that no current treatment halts or cures MS related symptoms, so many people with MS seek complementary forms of MS treatment such as cannabis.
The plant contains CBD in a concentrated form, they note. While offering an excellent safety profile, there is evidence, the scientists report, that CBD also has numerous beneficial traits, which are:
- Anti-inflammatory,
- Antioxidative,
- Antipsychotic, and
- Neuroprotective.
The team also answers a question that people want to know when asking how to use CBD oil or hemp oil. Continual use at high doses — up to 1,500 mg per day — is well tolerated in the human system. (For a starting point, when planning a dosage for CBD oil and multiple sclerosis, check out this CBD dosage calculator that uses crowdsourced data.)
A Growing Phenomenon
The National Multiple Sclerosis Society hosted an intriguing survey, which Rudroff and Sonoff mention. It found 66% of respondents with MS use cannabis in some way for mobility or other symptom treatment. The growing public appreciation for CBD oil benefits will raise this number, the researchers predict.
Cannabis derivatives with a high CBD ratio reduce pain and stiffness, according to Rudroff and Sonoff.
What do the medical academies say?
- In 2017, the U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine (NASEM) reported that people who took cannabinoids orally said it eased their muscle stiffness.
- The American Academy of Neurology (AAN) reviewed the research available to it in 2014. The Academy found that cannabinoids were well-received and helpful to people suffering from muscle stiffness and pain.
The American Academy of Neurology has highlighted cannabis’ safety profile as well as these benefits. Given pharmaceutical drugs' side effects and the way they hinder rehabilitation, Rudroff and Sonoff state, currently prescribed drugs would be best completely or partially replaced by cannabinoids. "It is our opinion," they add, "that CBD supplementation maybe advisable" for people with MS, to ease pain, fatigue, and muscle spasms, and to improve mobility.
Based on our reading of this research paper, we believe:
Some people with MS who take CBD oil for pain or muscle stiffness might find some benefit, when other treatments have failed.
This reading by Mtiva is subjective. We do not provide it as medical advice or as a third-party verification — nor are we permitted to do so by law.
Mtiva recognizes that MS is notoriously difficult to treat. Many people with MS are in the position of looking for anything that might work.
CBD Oil and MS Drugs: Complementary?
CBD and other plant-derived cannabinoids, when in very high doses, can potentially interact with many prescription drugs. For this reason, the researchers urge people who currently take any prescribed medicines to talk to a doctor about taking CBD or any cannabinoids.
Mtiva also urges you to check with your doctor for individualized advice before your begin or change a CBD schedule — especially if you are taking prescribed medicines. Of course, the research done in making this article available is for our readers' general information only, and should not be taken as medical advice.
So, the scientific consensus on CBD oil so far?
It can safely bring benefits to those who seek help for difficult-to-treat symptoms. It has no psychoactive effects. Yet it's important to research the brand your choose, select pure, hemp-derived oil, and to converse with your medical professional about CBD. If we can answer any questions about our products or our quality, please contact us.
