Science: How marijuana works to help those with multiple sclerosis
By Richard Faulk, The Fresh Toast Updated: March 15, 2019
Multiple sclerosis is a neurological disease in
which the immune system attacks the fatty
protein that protects our nerve cells.
The exposed and damaged (i.e. “sclerotic”)
nerves lose their ability to transmit signals,
and this results in a wide array of bad results,
including numbness, dizziness, itching, and
blurred vision.
More than half of people who suffer from MS
experience pain, muscle stiffness or
spasticity, and cognitive impairment.
It’s those last three symptoms that have been
most studied in relation to medical marijuana.
What’s the Good News? Cannabis eases
spasticity and muscle stiffness.
In double-blind, placebo-controlled trials, MS
patients who use cannabis oil, synthetic THC,
or an oral-spray blend of THC and CBD have
reported feeling relief from muscle stiffness
and spasms.
At least one has shown a “highly significant”
difference in spasticity between cannabis
users and nonusers.
Another quantified that difference as an
almost twofold improvement.
What is felt, however, is not necessarily what
can be proven.
Despite
patients
reporting
strong
improvements, a European study from 2005
could only determine a “small treatment
effect” by objective measures.
And there’s more:
The same studies found reduced pain and
improved sleep.
In the past five years, the first studies to
specifically examine the effect of cannabis on
the mental clarity of MS patients have
emerged.
What Do the Pros Say?
In a 2014 overview of the medical literature,
the American Academy of Neurology (AAN)
concluded that cannabis oil, synthetic THC,
and THC-CBD blend oral spray are all
“probably effective” to treat the “patient-
reported” spasticity and pain of MS.
The National Multiple Sclerosis Society
supports access to medical marijuana and
more research on potential benefits of using
cannabis to treat MS.
https://lfpress.com/cannabis-health/science-
how-marijuana-works-to-help-those-with-
multiple-sclerosis/wcm/04718f73-80e1-483b-
bda2-60550bb0554f