Home » Medical Marijuana Strains for Parkinsons Disease

Medical Marijuana Strains for Parkinsons Disease

Return to medical conditions page

Introduction
Medical marijuana has been shown to ease the symptoms of those who suffer with Parkinson’s disease. Here at Sensible Seeds we are actively analysing and presenting research into the cannabis strains and treatments that will offer the most benefits to sufferers of Parkinson’s disease. Sensible Seeds is committed to bringing beneficial cannabis strains and related medical marijuana information to you, and all medical marijuana patients. We continue to update our website as new discoveries come to light. We have sourced information from a variety of well-established medical marijuana websites and a summary of this information can be found below.

What is Parkinson’s Disease?

Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurological condition where part of the brain becomes progressively more damaged over many years. Parkinson’s disease is caused by a loss of nerve cells in part of the brain called the substantia nigra. This leads to a reduction in the amount of the chemical dopamine in the brain. Dopamine is vital because it regulates movement in the body. Without dopamine many of the symptoms of Parkinson's disease result. Nobody knows what causes the loss of nerve cells but experts think that a combination of genetic and environmental factors is responsible.

Approximately 1 in 500 people in the UK will suffer with Parkinson’s disease, with 127,000 people in the UK currently having the condition. On average symptoms start at around the age of 60 although 1 in 20 cases start in people under the age of 50. Men are more likely to develop Parkinson’s disease than women.

 

The symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease

The three main symptoms of Parkinson’s disease are related to movement:

·         Tremors – where parts of the body shake involuntarily

·         Rigidity – muscles become stiff and everyday tasks become difficult

·         Bradykinesia – where physical movements become very slow

Other symptoms for sufferers of Parkinson’s disease can include

·         Depression

·         Sleeping during the daytime

·         Difficulty in swallowing (dysphagia)

·         Dementia

·         Sensory dysfunction

·         Neuropathic pain 

Conventional Treatment for Parkinson’s Disease

Unfortunately there is currently no cure for Parkinson’s disease. A medication called levodopa has proved effective in relieving symptoms but after around 3-5 years of use its effectiveness is reduced and the symptoms can suddenly return. A variety of non-pharmaceutical treatments can be utilised to manage symptoms, such as speech and language therapy and physiotherapy. Some people are able to respond well to treatments and will only experience mild to moderate disability, while others experience severe disability. 

Medical Marijuana for Parkinson’s Disease

Parkinson’s disease has been on record since ancient times and while modern treatment of Parkinson’s largely depends on pharmaceutical medications, doctors have recommended the use of medical marijuana for Parkinson’s disease since the nineteenth century.

Today, a significant portion of patients continue to find medical marijuana to be an effective treatment for Parkinson’s disease, despite its limited availability. A survey published in 2004 found that 25% of patients at the Prague Movement Disorder Centre have tried medical marijuana with nearly half of them experiencing benefits.

The reduction of dopamine in the brain is obviously of great interest and so researchers have begun to investigate compounds that may be able to protect neurons from death, leading them to take a closer look at medical marijuana. Cannabinoid receptors are found in many parts of the brain, including areas involved with dopamine release. Research has shown that cannabinoids such as THC can act to temporarily increase dopamine levels, suggesting a direct benefit for MMJ patients with Parkinson’s. THC and CBD as well as synthetic cannabinoids are effective in protecting dopamine neurons from damage in animal models of Parkinson’s.

Researchers have studied the effects of cannabinoids on specific symptoms of Parkinson’s disease and have found that cannabinoids are able to reduce many of the major symptoms linked to the disorder, including motor impairments, tremors and neuron degeneration. Cannabinoids are highly regarded for their antioxidant and neuro-protective properties, and these may be able to slow the progression of Parkinson’s.

Nearly half of Parkinson's disease MMJ patients say the drug helped relieve their symptoms, according to the Prague survey of patients with the degenerative neurological disorder. Dr. Evzin Ruzicka, an attending neurologist at Charles University in Prague in the Czech Republic, reported the findings but noted that it was “difficult to directly study the medical effects of cannabis in the Czech Republic, where we conducted our research, because of its illegal status." She used anonymous surveys and had 339 returned to her. The responders' average age was about 66, and they had had Parkinson's disease on average for 9 years. Some 25% of respondents had tried MMJ – using it either orally or in dried form. Within this group, 39 patients (46%) reported relief in their Parkinson's disease symptoms with patients who used it for at least three months more likely to experience symptom relief than those with shorter experience.

A different strand of research has indicated that a marijuana-like chemical in the brain could treat Parkinson's disease and schizophrenia. The chemical, known as anandamide has been identified as one that can help to regulate body movement and coordination and so researchers from the University of California Irvine believe it can be used to treat diseases which produce uncontrollable movements such as tics and shaking. Researchers say anandamide interferes with the effects of nerve cells that transmit dopamine, the message-carrying chemical responsible for stimulating movement and other motor behaviour in the brain. The anandamide system works similarly to marijuana. The anandamides bind to cannabinoid receptors, which are where tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the active ingredient in marijuana, docks onto cells. When researchers blocked these receptors, rats experienced severe nervous tics and other uncontrolled motor activity.  

Medical marijuana for Parkinson’s Disease – Sensible Seeds

The Sensible Seeds team are constantly updating the list of marijuana seeds available for Parkinson’s disease sufferers and other medical marijuana patients. Keep checking back at the Sensible Seeds websites for updates on medical marijuana for Parkinson’s disease or contact us for further advice and information.

Homegrown Fantaseeds - Blue Pearl - Regular - http://www.sensibleseeds.com/fantaseeds-blue-pearl-regular.html

 

Humboldt Seeds Organisation - Bubba Kush - Feminized - http://www.sensibleseeds.com/humboldt-seeds-organisation-bubba-kush-feminized.htm

 

Apothecary Genetics 98 Bubba Kush - Regular - http://www.sensibleseeds.com/apothecary-genetics-98-bubba-kush-regular.html

 

Delta 9 Labs - Brainstorm Haze - Regular - http://www.sensibleseeds.com/delta-9-labs-brainstorm-haze-regular.html

 

Delta 9 Labs - Brainstorm Haze X G13 - Regular - http://www.sensibleseeds.com/delta-9-labs-brainstorm-haze-x-g13.html

 

CannaBiogen – Destroyer - Regular – http://www.sensibleseeds.com/cannabiogen-destroyer-regular.html

 

Bomb Seeds - Cherry Bomb -  Feminized - http://www.sensibleseeds.com/bomb-seeds-cherry-bomb-feminized.html

 

Sagarmatha Seeds – Flow - Regular - http://www.sensibleseeds.com/sagarmatha-seeds-flow-regular.html

 

Pukka - Haze Skunk - Regular - http://www.sensibleseeds.com/pukka-haze-skunk-regular.html

 

Sensi Seeds - Jamaican Pearl - Regular - http://www.sensibleseeds.com/sensi-seeds-jamaican-pearl-regular.html

 

Soma Seeds - Kahuna - Regular - http://www.sensibleseeds.com/soma-seeds-kahuna-regular.html

 

Samsara Seeds - Green Love Potion - Feminized -  http://www.sensibleseeds.com/samsara-green-love-potion-feminized.html

 

Return to medical conditions page 

Sensible Seeds source all their medical marijuana information from related MMJ sites on the web. This information comes from reliable sources though we cannot be 100% certain of its accuracy. Medical Marijuana strains listed for helping certain medical conditions are again sourced from other medical marijuana web sites and are not officially approved by any government organisation. Recommended strains usually come from individuals that discovered that a particular strain helped them for a particular condition though this may vary from person to person. Our Medical information serves only as a guideline and customers are advised to make their own independent research. Sensible Seeds are not qualified medical practitioners and source any medical info from information already present on the internet. We cannot accept any liability for any issue arising for information provided on our website.

The Service provides general information about medical conditions and treatments and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

You must not rely on the information provided by this Service as an alternative to medical advice from your doctor or other professional healthcare provider. If you have any specific questions about any medical matter you should consult your doctor or other professional healthcare provider. If you think you may be suffering from any medical condition you should seek immediate medical attention. You should never delay seeking medical advice, disregard medical advice, or discontinue medical treatment because of information provided by this Service.

Reliance on any information provided by Sensible Seeds employees, other parties privy to the Service, or other users of the Service is solely at your own risk.

 

 
The website uses cookies to allow us to better understand how the site is used. By continuing to use this site, you consent to this policy. Click to learn more.