Benefits of Medical Marijuana

How CBD Can Slow Down Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia

Published

6 years ago

February 28, 2019

Do you have problems forgetting things like misplacing keys or names of your friends and acquaintances? While occasional forgetfulness is ordinary, loss of memory could be a sign of dementia, partic Alzheimer’s disease (AD).

AD is one of the most dreaded mental health problems, especially among seniors. Currently, this ailment is the sixth leading cause of death in the U.S. There are even reports estimating that this killer health problem is the third leading killer, behind heart disease and cancer.

An Overview of Dementia & Alzheimer’s Disease

AD is a progressive mental disorder leading to wasting away and death of brain cells. This illness is the most common type of dementia usually characterized by progressive memory loss. Apart from losing the ability to remember, patients of this disease can also suffer from problems in thinking, behavior, and socialization. At its advanced stage, patients with this disorder may lose their capacity to live independently.

This disease often affects people aged 65 or over, but some people start showing AD symptoms as early as 40 years old. During its early stages, this ailment shows mild and usually unnoticeable signs like occasional problems in recalling new information. The reason is this disease usually begins in the areas of the brain responsible for storing further information.

As the illness progress, patients can have:

A difficulty with reading, writing, speaking or working with numbers.
Trouble to organize their thoughts and think in a logical sequence.
Behavior problems such as improper anger outbursts and loss of impulse control, restlessness, agitation, and anxiety.
Paranoia, delusions, hallucinations, and irritability.

Those in the advanced stages can suffer from a loss of physical functions which can lead to lack of bowel or bladder control, seizures, and difficulty swallowing.

CBD for Dementia

Currently, there is still no known treatment for AD and doctors are only providing medications to delay the progress of the illness. One of the compounds that have shown promising therapeutic results is cannabidiol (CBD), a compound extracted from cannabis.

A body of research has shown the benefits of CBD in fighting Alzheimer’s, such as:

Removal of Amyloid

Studies have revealed the potency of CBD against the clump of protein amyloid, which doctors say is responsible for AD. In one experiment, a combination of the cannabidiol and THC, another component of marijuana, successfully removed the amyloid from the lab-grown nerve cells. The same result appeared in another test, this time on mice with AD symptoms. While the studies are only carried out in laboratories, researchers are optimistic medical cannabis will someday provide cure to this mind-wasting disorder.

Fights inflammation

Most neurodegenerative diseases — like AD as well as Parkinson’s, and multiple sclerosis — often involve swelling of the neural tissues. The swelling of the brain cells increases the adverse impact of AD. The anti-inflammatory property of cannabis oil, as well as CBD oil and THC oil, could help slow down the improvement of the disease. Studies have proven that CBD can reduce or remove the impact of inflammation and brain cell decline. With this quality, patients can have now an alternative medicine.

Has anti-oxidant properties

The inflammation of brain cells releases oxygen and causes oxidative stress. Oxidative stress induces the production of free radicals, resulting in a massive loss of neurons and synapses within the brain. This reaction leads to memory loss and a spate of other symptoms associated with Alzheimer’s disease. This mind-damaging reaction can be slowed down by a potent antioxidant like CBD hemp oil.

Stimulates rebirth of neurons

Cannabis oil has a unique capacity to kick start neurogenesis or the brain’s ability to regenerate neurons. In the case of Alzheimer’s disease, neural tissues are on the path of rapid destruction, which results in memory loss, mental impairment, and changes in personality. Through CBD oil, the progression of these devastating effects slows down as it stimulates the production of new neural tissues.

While at present Alzheimer’s disease still has no cure, doctors are positive CBD can slow down its progression. Consult your doctor now to learn how medical cannabis can help AD sufferers overcome their debilitating condition.

Medical Disclaimer:

The information provided in these blog posts is intended for general informational and educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. The use of any information provided in these blog posts is solely at your own risk. The authors and the website do not recommend or endorse any specific products, treatments, or procedures mentioned. Reliance on any information in these blog posts is solely at your own discretion.

Benefits of Medical Marijuana

Can CBD Help with Tinnitus?

Published

3 years ago

April 12, 2022

Carissa Stevens

High-pitched tones and ringing in your ears might already be a normal phenomenon to you, but this condition called tinnitus is actually a type of condition that many other people deal with, especially as they grow older over time.

People have heard that cannabidiol has been great for people dealing with different types of health conditions, from chronic pain, anxiety, insomnia and many others. With its prominence in the field, it comes as no surprise that there are many people who believe that this can help deal with tinnitus as well.

This article will let you in on what CBD products can do to help with tinnitus or if it can even help at all. Read on to find out.

What is Tinnitus?

Tinnitus is commonly described as a term when you hear ringing in your ears. Apart from ringing, you can also encounter high-pitched sounds, a buzzing or hissing sound, whistling, and other similar sounds. This particular condition can actually disrupt or interfere with how you normally hear or perceive sounds.

Tinnitus is often referred to as a symptom primarily because it points to other underlying conditions. For example, this can be caused by an ear injury, hearing loss due to age, high or low blood pressure, wax buildup in the ear canal, and problems relating to the neck, jaw, or teeth, to name a few.

Those who suffer from this condition for prolonged periods of time tend to develop stress, anxiety, and even depression.

This condition is treated and managed with the help of hearing aids, sound generators, environmental enrichment devices such as CD and mp3 recordings, and relaxation techniques.

How CBD Can Ease This Condition

Individuals have their own endocannabinoid system (ECS). This is comprised of the naturally-occurring cannabinoids in the body, enzymes, as well as cannabinoid receptors. The main goal of the ECS is to provide balance and regulation to our different bodily functions.

The cannabinoid receptors in our body, namely CB1 and CB2 receptors respond to cannabinoids we take, such as that of CBD.

Help Calm Nerves

CBD oil and other cannabidiol products have the capacity to help calm the nerves and the body. With cannabinoids being found to be of great help in neural processing within the auditory system, using CBD products can slow down these neural impulses. In turn, tinnitus, and the ringing it brings in your ears, can be toned down.

Potential to Reduce Hearing Loss

A study conducted in 2020 shows a positive disposition towards the use of cannabidiol and treating hearing conditions such as tinnitus. Since CBD is known to have anti-inflammatory and soothing effects, this can reportedly aid with the condition and reduce the chances of hearing loss.

Address Side Effects That Come with Tinnitus

As mentioned, people dealing with tinnitus, especially those who have dealt with this condition for a long time now, tend to develop stress, depression, and anxiety. CBD products are effective in reducing these feelings by interacting with the serotonin receptors in the brain.

The Bottom Line

There is still quite a way to go in studying the effects of CBD on tinnitus. However, with the preliminary studies conducted, it shows that cannabidiol is promising with its ability to manage symptoms of this condition.

Medical Disclaimer:

Benefits of Medical Marijuana

Best CBD for Sleep [VIDEO]

Published

3 years ago

February 28, 2022

Carissa Stevens

In recent years, CBD has become a buzzwordd for its ability to reduce anxiety and treat poor slumber. However, when it comes to addressing sleep problems, not all CBD is created equal. If you’re dealing with insomnia or any kind of bedtime issues, then find out which type of CBD should you use.

Medical Disclaimer:

Benefits of Medical Marijuana

How to Take Epidiolex and What Are Its Side Effects

Published

3 years ago

December 27, 2021

Carissa Stevens

Epilepsy sufferers with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and Dravet syndrome can now use Epidiolex oral solution, which was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration on June 25, 2018. To our knowledge, this is the first marijuana-derived medication to be authorized by the FDA. For the first time, an FDA-approved medicine has been approved for the treatment of Dravet syndrome patients. But aside from being the first-ever accepted CBD drug, do we really know what Epidiolex is? In this article, we will give you more information about this drug, the benefits, and side effects. Read on for more details.

Epidiolex and Its Effectiveness

To treat seizures caused by Lennox-Gastaut, Dravet, or Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (TSC) in persons 1 year of age and older, Epidiolex is prescribed. For those using the medicine, Epidiolex was found to reduce the number of seizures they had during clinical trials. Cannabidiol is the active component in this medication. It’s only available under the brand name. Isn’t presently accessible as a generic medication.

How to Use Epidiolex

As instructed by your doctor, take Epidiolex medicine twice a day by mouth. With or without meals, this drug should be taken in the same manner for each and every dose. Choosing one method and sticking to it is essential. How much medicine you take is determined by your health status and any other drugs you may be taking. If you’re taking any kind of medication, whether prescription or non-prescription, inform your doctor and pharmacist about it. Your doctor may instruct you to begin taking this medicine at a lower dosage and gradually raise your dosage in order to minimize the chance of adverse effects. Your doctor may also gradually lower your dosage if you are told to stop using this medicine. Observe your doctor’s advice to the letter. Using a specific spoon or measuring equipment, carefully measure the dosage. Avoid using a household spoon since you may not receive the right dosage.

Side Effects

Sleepiness, exhaustion, difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep, a lack of energy and a decrease in appetite, weight loss, or diarrhea are all possibilities. It’s important to notify your doctor or pharmacist if any of these side effects continue or worsen. Remember that your doctor ordered this medicine because he or she believes that the benefits outweigh the risks. The majority of people who use this medicine do not have any substantial adverse effects. Signs of liver damage should be reported to your doctor as soon as possible. Anti-seizure medicines may cause depression, suicidal thoughts, or other mental/mood issues in a tiny percentage of people. The risk of a severe allergic response to this medication is quite low. However, if you detect any signs of a severe allergic response, such as a rash, itching, swelling, severe dizziness, or difficulty breathing, you should seek immediate medical attention.

How Much Is Epidiolex?

The price of Epidiolex might vary, just like the price of any other drug. Epidiolex may only be available at a specialized pharmacy. Specialty drugs are permitted to be sold at this pharmacy. Patients may need assistance from a healthcare professional in order to properly and efficiently utilize these medications. Your insurance provider may demand that you obtain prior authorization before covering Epidiolex. As a result, before your insurance company will pay a prescription medication, your doctor and insurance company must talk about it. Whether or not a medicine is covered by insurance depends on the outcome of the prior authorization request. Your insurance provider can help you determine whether or not you need prior permission for Epidiolex.

Conclusion

Though Epidiolex is an FDA-approved drug, there are no guaranteed similar good effects on every person. So if you ever encountered side effects that are listed above or anything that makes you feel uncomfortable after taking Epidiolex, it is recommended to consult your doctor immediately.

Medical Disclaimer: