CBD for ALS
While it’s not been scientifically confirmed, a variety of compelling evidence exists suggesting CBD oil treatment for ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) could work. According to the ALS Association, patients with ALS experience minimal symptoms at first. Ultimately, however, they lose full functionality of motor skills. As a matter of fact, they even lose the ability to breathe naturally without medical assistance. ALS affects its victims differently. Most patients experience a very gradual onset of symptoms. However, death generally occurs within a few hours of diagnosis.
Initial symptoms could include loss of muscle control or weakening of the muscles. Additionally, a person with early onset of ALS may experience a variety of cramps. ALS is a neurological disorder that affects the brain and spinal cord. As such, ALS affects every major bodily function negatively. Unfortunately, ALS is always fatal.
Neurological professionals familiar with both ALS and CBD therapy believe that cannabis can treat ALS. Primarily, this is because medical professionals have already experienced positive results with other neurological disorders like Huntington’s disease.
Professionals from the Muscular Dystrophy Association and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Center provided documentation related to the necessity of CBD oil treatment for ALS. (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20439484)
They noted that in order to treat ALS, scientists would have to create a medication to address a variety of physiological functions. This includes functions from glutamate antagonism, antioxidant management, and anti-inflammatory properties to microglial capabilities, at least one neurotrophic growth factor, and agents to enhance mitochondrial functionality. As luck would have it, CBD initiates activity between the endocannabinoid system and all of these aspects by which ALS is directly affected. Therefore, CBD oil treatment for ALS could be highly effective.
CBD oil treatment for ALS case studies provide compelling evidence that CBD therapy works to treat ALS symptoms.
Karlsborg M, et al, conducted a case study concerning self-medication of CBD oil treatment for ALS. (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28397674)
They used this case study to pose a critical question. Specifically, the question they asked was, “Should patients who use illegal cannabis products as self-medication be diagnosed as drug abusers?” In the case study, researchers documented the way in which CBD oil helped a 40-year-old patient with ALS deal with the effects of this crippling degenerative neurological disorder.
Scientists recognize the value of CBD’s neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory properties when it comes to treating a variety of neuro-degenerative conditions.
A team of researchers in Italy collaborated to provide literature related to CBD oil treatment for ALS as a viable option. (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28412918)
In this report, medical professionals outlined a variety of neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory properties that play a vital role in the long-term maintenance of neurological health. Furthermore, they addressed the many links between the endocannabinoid system and specific neuro-receptors in the brain and immune system whose enhancement with CBD may be able to slow the progression of ALS – if not prevent its onset entirely.
Scientists are also conducting research with CBD and a variety of other neurological disorders.
Endocannabinoid professionals are researching CBD as treatment for a wide array of neurological diseases. Medical researchers have recently learned that CBD is highly effective for treating and preventing Huntington’s disease. They attribute the efficacy of CBD therapy for Huntington’s disease to CBD’s neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory properties. Furthermore, they recognize that CBD plays a vital role in regulating a variety of neurological functions. Therefore, doctors are able to extend neurological health with CBD therapy. Perhaps in time, doctors will be able to use CBD oil treatment for ALS to prevent early death.