Treatment of ALS with Medical Cannabis
Lou Gehrig was a famous baseball player for the New York Yankees, who lost his muscle control after being diagnosed, a disease that affects the brain and spinal cord. It makes you not feel good. The condition is named after the 17-year Yankee first baseman known as “The Iron Horse”. Besides being named for the Yankee first baseman had a progressive disorder called Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS).
ALS is a disease for which there are many medications and treatment techniques. Medical cannabis is also one of these treatments, which might work just as well. The ALS News Today reports on clinical trials. They are using cannabis to make medications. In 2018, a study published in The Lancet: Neurology showed that “Cannabinoids can be used to help people with spasticity, this condition is when the muscles in their body are tight and won’t relax”, Some people who have a disease called motor neuron disease also have spasticity. Cannabis can help reduce spasticity in these patients.
According to the study, Sativex was not a problem for people and had no severe negative effects. Spasticity was reduced in the treated group when compared to patients who received a placebo and whose symptoms worsened. “ALS News Today” reports that the findings revealed that Sativex is well-tolerated with no significant negative effects.
ALS Disease Symptoms, Causes, and Treatments
According to the Mayo Clinic, 5% to 10% of all cases of ALS are inherited, but no specific cause has been identified. In the early stages of progressive neuropathy, the symptoms are difficult to cope with and occur in the course of routine activities. Neuropathy can affect every muscle in your body, making you feel weak and weaker day-to-day.
As the disease progresses, the weakened limbs and ankles, as well as muscle cramps and twitching of the tongue, shoulder, and arm, can be seen; as well as tripping and falling, difficulty swallowing or speaking; inappropriate weeping or laughing; cognitive impairments, as well as behavioral changes.
In accordance with the Mayo Clinic, ALS treatment is complicated and there is no guarantee of a cure. However, it may be able to help slow down the progression of symptoms, prevent problems, and feel more independent and more comfortable..
Patients with ALS can benefit from cannabinoids
A study was published 10 years ago, which showed how medical cannabis helped people suffering from ALS symptoms is called “Cannabis and ALS: Hypothetical and Practical Applications.” The author calls for clinical trials in order to provide more evidence on whether or not this works.
As stated by the study published in the American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care, marijuana has powerful anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and neuroprotective effects. The study continued, “Based on the current scientific evidence, we can think that cannabis could slow down the progression of ALS. This would potentially extend life expectancy and reduce the overall burden of the disease.”.
In 2017, a study was published in CNS & Neurological Disorders Drug Targets that found the same thing, reporting that cannabis has positive effects. “The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of CBD and medical cannabis. In addition to this, modulation of a wide range of biological targets involved in neurodegenerative disease processes (receptors, channels) is also explored’ development and maintenance, explain its neuroprotective properties.”
This study found that the results could help with future lab and clinical studies for CBD’s role in different diseases, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and Huntington’s are all diseases. Cannabis proves to be so effective in treating ALS that it has been classed as a medical condition that can be prescribed. If you have ALS, then you might be able to get cannabis as your prescription if you live in Illinois and also have cancer, glaucoma, epilepsy, or Crohn’s disease. Future tests will show how patients with ALS are doing. Trials give people living with ALS hope.