Top 3 Ways Cannabis Can Help With Multiple Sclerosis
According to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, around 1 million adults across the United States may have multiple sclerosis. But what is multiple sclerosis, and how can cannabis help with this condition? Let’s find out.
Multiple sclerosis is a degenerative condition that comes with many debilitating symptoms. In this chronic neurological disease, the immune system of the sufferer starts attacking the central nervous system. This leads to damaging the cells present in the brain and spinal cord. Multiple sclerosis is basically mediated by an abnormal response of the immune system. Multiple sclerosis is a serious and lifelong condition, and as of now, there is no cure for this condition. But proper treatment can slow down the progression of this disease. One possible treatment for this condition is cannabis treatment.
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Cannabis Has Anti-Inflammatory Properties
People with multiple sclerosis have to deal with chronic inflammation. This is where cannabis can help sufferers. Medical cannabis is widely known for helping reduce inflammation. People have been using cannabis for thousands of years across the world because of its ability to fight inflammation. In recent years, various studies have shown that cannabis can help reduce inflammation associated with MS. Cannabis can help fight the pathogens that try to invade and also help with tissue repair.
MS causes inflammation of neural tissue. This inflammation can cause various neurological symptoms, such as muscle weakness and spasms, loss of motor control, fatigue, and an unstable mood. But cannabis can help reduce this inflammation and manage the symptoms.
You can get relief from the pain.
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THC and CBD both help to alleviate muscle spasms.
The sudden, involuntary contractions of a muscle or group of muscles are called a muscle spasm. It is one of the most common symptoms of MS. It is estimated that about 60 to 90 percent of MS patients suffer from spasticity. This symptom can affect balance, walking, and sometimes even speech. The reason behind muscle spasms is the damage caused to nerve pathways that are responsible for controlling movement. There are traditional medications available on the market for the treatment of muscle spasticity, such as Zanaflex, Valium, and Flexeril. But these medications come with some troubling side effects, along with a risk of addiction.
Thankfully, research shows that cannabis may help reduce muscle spasticity. It can even help relieve stiffness in muscles. Studies show that cannabis is more effective than placebo in reducing muscle stiffness. In addition to that, it also helps improve sleep and reduce pain in MS patients. Medical cannabis has the ability to reduce the frequency of muscle spasms and the severity of muscle spasticity.