Parkinson's disease a neurodegenerative disease affecting more than 200,000 people in France, the cause of which is unknown. Despite palliative care, the quality of life of sufferers is severely affected, as there is as yet no cure. there is as yet no treatment to halt its progression.
Many Parkinson's sufferers turn to natural solutions such as CBD oil. Does this non-psychoactive molecule derived from cannabis help relieve the symptoms of the disease? Could it one day become an effective treatment? We invite you to find out.
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Parkinson's disease: causes, symptoms and treatments
Since its discovery in 1817 by James Parkinson, the scientific community has made many advances in understanding the mechanisms of the disease and proposing appropriate palliative treatments.
But there's still a lot to learn, including, as we'll see a little later in our article, the link between CBD and Parkinson's.
What is Parkinson's disease?
As mentioned above, Parkinson's is a neurodegenerative disease, meaning that it progressively affects the functioning of the nervous system.
More precisely, Parkinson's is characterized by the destruction of very specific neurons, dopamine neuronsneurons, located in the substantia nigra of the brain, in the brainstem [1].
Dopamine is a neurotransmitter involved in many psychological mechanisms, such as mood managementbut also movement controlparticularly automatic movements, which we perform without thinking.
Dopamine deficiency is the cause of many motor and psychological motor and psychological symptoms (see next paragraph), but the scientific community still doesn't know what causes the destruction of this neurotransmitter. There may be a genetic explanation, or aggravating environmental factors, such as prolonged exposure to certain harmful substances.
What are the symptoms?
The diagnosis of Parkinson's is based on the observation of 2 of the 3 major symptoms of the disease:
- Slowness of movement (akinesia);
- Muscle and joint stiffness;
- And finally, resting tremors.
Like many neurodegenerative diseases, Parkinson's symptoms vary from person to person. vary from person to personMany of them are actually side-effects of treatment.
In any case, in addition to the motor disorders mentioned above, people with Parkinson's also suffer from several disorders that can be :
- Cognitive Cognitive: reduced memory capacity, impaired attention, slower thinking, etc. ;
- Psychological Depression, apathy and anxiety, leading to sleep disorders and chronic fatigue.
These symptoms appear when 50-70% of dopamine neurons are destroyed. The asymptomatic phase of the disease can therefore last several years, and diagnosis is rarely made before the age of 50.
Good to know
Parkinson's disease should not be confused with Alzheimer's disease. The former does not affect intellectual capacity, whereas the latter does. To find out more, consult our dossier CBD and Alzheimer's.
What treatments are available for Parkinson's?
Because the disease manifests itself differently from one person to the next, there are several several treatmentsin terms of both therapeutic action and dosage. In all cases, however, regular exercise is recommended.
There are two types of treatment for Parkinson's disease:
- Drugs that aim to compensate for dopamine deficiency. Levodopa (or L-Dopa) is the most powerful of these, helping to improve motor disorders, but is not effective on other disorders (notably mood disorders), and is habit-forming, requiring an increase in dose throughout the course of treatment;
- Dopaminergic agonists which mimic the action of dopamine at the neurotransmitter level. Their action is broader than that of L-Dopa, as they can also improve mood disorders such as depression. However, it can also worsen emotional states and cause behavioral disorders.
The treatment of Parkinson's disease differs from patient to patient, also in terms of mode of administration and dosage:
- Apomorphine pump dopaminergic agonist injected through the skin via a syringe. Delivers the drug from morning to evening during the off-peak period;
- The apomorphine pen allows the patient to inject the drug for rapid action
- The dopamine pump The drug (Duodopa) is contained in a probe placed directly in the small intestine.
Can CBD relieve the symptoms of Parkinson's disease?
The cannabinoids synthesized in cannabis (including CBD) have the ability to bind to some of our neurotransmitters, those that form part of what is known as the endocannabinoid system.
We still have a lot to learn about the endocannabinoid system, but we do know that it is involved in in maintaining balance within our organismboth in the nervous and immune systems.
And that's why CBD, THC and other cannabinoids are the subject of numerous studies. Among these, some focus on a possible CBD treatment for Parkinson's disease.
Studies on CBD and its effects on Parkinson's disease
Dr. Ethan Russo (neurologist and specialist in the endocannabinoid system) has compiled the results of some twenty studies conducted on the therapeutic potential of CBD for Parkinson's sufferers.
Despite the sometimes questionable experimental conditions, the observations made are extremely encouraging. extremely encouragingIn the majority of cases, patients treated with CBD and/or medicinal cannabis report a significant improvement in their state of health [3][4] :
- 300 mg CBD/day significantly improves quality of life of patients;
- 0.5 g of cannabis help to reduce tremors and improve sleep quality;
- 150 mg of CBD oil taken for 4 consecutive weeks helps to reduce the intensity of psychological symptoms (depression, anxiety, apathy, etc.);
Between 75 and 300 mg of CBD taken orally can improve the quality of sleep (REM phase) in Parkinson's patients.
CBD's action on disease symptoms
To sum up, CBD could have a positive effect on certain symptoms of Parkinson's disease:
- Tremor reduction Although it is not known exactly how, CBD appears to have a positive effect on Parkinson's-induced tremors;
- Reduced depression and anxiety CBD acts on the synthesis of serotonin, a key hormone which, among other things, regulates our moods. (To find out more, take a look at our dossier on CBD and anxiety)
- Improved sleep quality CBD: serotonin levels are also decisive in promoting quality sleep. Taking CBD therefore potentially helps people sleep better, reducing the chronic fatigue suffered by Parkinson's sufferers, as well as irritability, apathy and other emotional states linked to a person's degree of fatigue. (To find out more, read our dossier CBD and sleep)
Can CBD slow the progression of Parkinson's?
CBD has the potential to relieve Parkinson's symptoms with no side effects and no addictive effects. But could it also slow the progression of the disease? That's what some studies suggest.
Regulation of dopamine levels
As explained at the beginning of this article, Parkinson's disease is mainly caused by dopamine deficiency. That's why current treatments are designed to make up for this deficiency.
A recent study [5] found that CBD acts on the neurotransmitters GPR6 and GPR3. These two neurotransmitters, located between the cortex and the brain stem, play an essential role in cognitive and motor functions, and are the target of many Parkinson's treatments.
GPR6 and GPR3 could in fact stimulate dopamine synthesissynthesis, thereby reducing the progression of the disease. CBD could therefore one day become a natural treatment for Parkinson's.
Anti-inflammatory action in the brain
In a Parkinson's brain, the more damaged the dopamine neurons, the stronger the inflammatory response. the stronger the inflammatory responsewhich worsens the neurodegeneration process and intensifies disease progression.
In this respect, CBD treatment could be of interest. Indeed, some studies suggest that the molecule is capable of reduce inflammatory response in the brain through its action on the immune system:
A study carried out on pigs [6] showed that CBD inhibits the action of cytokines (immune system agents) and glutamate (a neuronal excitatory agent);
In addition, research on patients suffering from epilepsy (a neurodegenerative disease which also causes inflammation in the brain) has demonstrated the potential efficacy of CBD to reduce inflammation at the synaptic level. [7]
How to use CBD oil for Parkinson's disease?
As we've just seen, CBD could one day be prescribed as a treatment for Parkinson's. But for the time being, the data are insufficient and further studies are needed.
If you wish to test the effects of CBD, we recommend that you speak to your doctor, as there may be interactions with your current treatment. We do not endorse self-medication. The advice given below is not a substitute for professional medical advice.
Choosing CBD oil
Our first buying tip is to choose a quality CBD oil:
- Made in Francefrom organically grown flowers organicallywithout pesticides;
- Accompanied by laboratory analysis resultsto provide proof of purity and cannabinoid concentration.
And then, among all the formulas that exist, in the context of Parkinson's treatment we recommend a full spectrum oilbecause it contains all the cannabinoids (THC at less than 0.3%). In fact, this type of oil enables you to benefit from the entourage effect, i.e., the synergistic action of cannabinoids.
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CBD Oil 20% Full Spectrum - Nobilis Product
29,90 €Our Full Spectrum 20% CBD oil is a concentrate of nature and French know-how. Derived from hemp grown without GMOs or additives, it contains twice the concentration of cannabidiol as our 10% formula, while retaining all the cannabinoids, terpenes and flavonoids naturally present in the plant.
Thanks to theenhanced entourage effect, this oil promotes a deeper action on stress, body tension and sleep quality.
Its 10 ml format with pipette allows precise, easy dosing, even at high concentrations.
This oil is :
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🇫🇷 Produced in our French laboratory, from hemp extraction to bottling, with full traceability
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🌿 Réalisée à partir de crude de CBD, pour conserver toute la richesse moléculaire du chanvre : CBD, CBG, CBN, THC < 0,3 %, flavonoïdes, terpènes
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✅ Analyzed with every batch by an independent laboratory, to guarantee consistent, uncompromising quality
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CBD Oil 10% Full Spectrum - Nobilis Product
24,90 €Discover our Full Spectrum 10% CBD oil from hemp grown in France, without additives or GMOs. Its richness in cannabinoids and terpenes guarantees an optimal surrounding effect for deep relaxation and natural well-being. Practical 10 ml bottle with pipette for precise dosage.
Our Full Spectrum 10% CBD oil is :
🇫🇷 Manufactured from A to Z (from hemp extraction to bottling) in our French laboratory.
🧪 Made with CBD crude to provide all the cannabinoids, flavonoids and terpenes.
✅ Analyzed by an independent laboratory for each batch to guarantee quality.
What dosage?
It's always a bit tricky to recommend a dose or dosage, as CBD oil is not considered a medicine, and it depends on a whole host of factors inherent to each individual. factors inherent to each individual (age, weight, medical history, etc.).
Moreover, in the specific case of Parkinson's disease, the question of dosage is particularly thorny, as the symptoms manifest themselves in a singular way.
For these reasons, we recommend starting with a CBD oil that is oil with a low concentration (between 5 and 10%) at a rate of 3 to 5 drops a day. If no effect is observed after a week, the dose can be increased. But remember: ask your doctor for advice.