CBD for Multiple Sclerosis: What You Need to Know

The use of CBD and medical marijuana is beginning to increase across the nation. CBD and medical marijuana are found to be effective treatments for a wide range of conditions. It is important to know the benefits that you might receive in using these products even if you have a life-altering condition like MS. The rates of CBD use is increasing for people that have multiple sclerosis and around 66% of MS treatments are using some form of cannabis treatment.

In studies conducted in 2016 50% of patients were interested in using cannabis to treat the symptoms of their MS if it were a legal solution. With many of the legal conditions regarding cannabis use and CBD use being lifted throughout the country, we are seeing more people that struggle with MS now using these products to treat their condition.

What is CBD?

CBD is a compound that is isolated in cannabis as well as hemp plants. CBD does not contain any of the psychoactive compounds that can be found in marijuana (THC). CBD will not produce any of the mind-altering effects that people typically experience when using marijuana. Most CBD products contain less than .3%.

How Does CBD Work?

CBD binds and activates the endocannabinoid receptors, two of the receptors that have been identified for use with CBD are CB1 and CB2. Each of these receptors is responsible for regulating mood, sleep, and more. CB1 is responsible for regulating our central nervous system, connective tissues, intestines, and more. CB2 regulates immune cells, tonsils, and the spleen to name a few.

Data suggests that CBD is able to bind to these receptors without activating them to affect the way that our brain accepts and uses serotonin. Compounds like THC will activate these receptors which can cause mind-altering effects.

Legalities

CBD is not widely legal across all of North America. CBD and its legality often comes down to a state-by-state basis. Federal legalization of CBD products that are derived from hemp is widespread. As long as the product contains less than .3% THC, it’s often available for sale at most health food stores. There are some exceptions with a few states.

Taking CBD

CBD can be taken in oral capsules, oral sprays, and intranasal sprays as well as in oils. CBD oil is one of the most common formulations of CBD. This is a concentration of CBD that is mixed with a carrier oil like hemp seed or coconut. It can be ingested in food or drink or even applied topically for managing pain.

Vaping CBD has also become a popular choice. Many E-cigarette devices are available that can use CBD oil capsules for managing conditions and accepting CBD. Any of these doses is considered to be quite effective and a fantastic way to introduce CBD into your day to day schedule.

Can CBD Reduce My Symptoms?

CBD can ease MS symptoms. For a number of patients, the benefits of cannabis and MS are still under investigation. A 50-50 ratio CBD and THC used in an oral spray can be useful in reducing muscle spasms and pain in patients that have MS. CBD in other products can also be beneficial with pain management, muscle spasms, and other symptoms related to MS.

Are All CBD Products Created Equally?

There are many formulas containing CBD available online as well as in other sources. Simply trusting in a product that is labeled as CBD may be unwise, however. In various research conducted on CBD products that have been purchased online, 18/84 CBD products that were purchased in a University of Pennsylvania study contained THC. Around 70% of the products that were tested in this study were also mislabelled.

Understanding the source of CBD and making sure that it comes from a company that uses verified plant extraction can be an important step in managing your dose in making sure that you’re getting access to only high-quality CBD products. A better quality CBD product will often result in improvements to your health and a lessening of the symptoms in your condition.

If you would like to learn more about CBD products and what may work best for your condition, you may want to speak to your doctor today to learn more about how CBD can help with your symptoms. Contact us as well for a plethora of authentic CBD options!