Can Cannabis Medicine Help Patients with Multiple Sclerosis?

Can consuming cannabis help patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) find relief? In this article, we briefly discuss what MS is, what the science says as we know it right now, as well as some anecdotes from a well-known sufferer of the condition.

What is MS?

Simply put, multiple sclerosis is a debilitating disease that causes the immune system to attack the protective insulation of the nerves. It also impacts the spinal cord. Most patients who suffer from MS experience significant pain, and fatigue, and some can also suffer from vision loss and a loss of coordination. As with most conditions, the duration and severity of symptoms related to MS vary with each patient.

"The National MS Society has recognized that cannabis can help improve some of the symptoms that patients suffer from."

MS is rare, with around fewer than 200,000 cases reported annually. Up until relatively recently, the most commonly accepted form of treatment for MS was physical therapy and medications that restrain the immune system. However, thanks to increased study of cannabis medicine for conditions like MS and high-profile cases of the plant helping patients who suffer from it, this has changed. The National MS Society has recognized that cannabis can help improve some of the symptoms that patients suffer from. Here’s what science tells us as we know it.

What Does Science Tell Us About Cannabis Treatment for MS?

As with many conditions, there is an unfortunate lack of concrete testing and scientific evidence to support the cannabis being used as a treatment for MS specifically. However, there have been studies done that suggest cannabis can help with common MS symptoms. For instance, muscle spasms are one of the main symptoms that most patients who suffer from MS go through. There has been some scientific literature published on subjects who reported that smoking cannabis reduced their muscle spasms.

One of the main reasons for this is because cannabinoids like CBD have been proven to have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Another common symptom in MS sufferers is trouble falling asleep and staying asleep, and this is another area where cannabis can help. Check out our article on some of the best cannabis varieties that can help you get a good night’s sleep. It is also common for patients who suffer from conditions like MS to become depressed and feel down, especially if their condition impacts their mobility. Losing one’s mobility can significantly decrease the quality of life, and this is another area where cannabis might be able to help. It’s no secret that consuming cannabis can help boost someone’s mood, if only in the short-term.

Perhaps the most common symptom of MS is that patients can suffer from severe chronic pain. Patients are often prescribed some powerful and potentially dangerous pharmaceuticals for their pain - like baclofen, tizanidine, gabapentin, methadone, and so on. Some patients self-medicate with alcohol. This is perhaps one of the most promising areas where cannabis can help. There have been several studies that indicate that cannabis can be an effective way to manage chronic pain.

High-Profile Anecdotal Evidence

Perhaps the best known MS patient is the former television host Montel Williams. With the "The Montel Williams Show," he was the first African-American man to host a syndicated daytime talk show. The show ran for 17 seasons, and Williams suffered from MS for most of it. He was also a former Navy officer.

Williams openly discusses how he has consumed cannabis daily since around 2000. He has said many times how it has helped him and has changed his life, although due to his mobility issues he says he “can’t roll a joint to save his life.” This has made him become an advocate for vaporizing as well as for cannabis medicine in general.

Like many celebrities, Williams launched his own medical cannabis company. It’s called Lenitiv Labs and they make products that are geared towards medical patients. Although celebrities are looking to cash in on cannabis, it is still good to have outspoken people in the media advocating for medical cannabis - something that Williams has been doing for several years.

Disclaimer:

The content on this page is provided by HashDash for educational and entertainment purposes only and is not intended as medical advice or as a substitute for professional healthcare advice. Do not use this information to diagnose or treat any medical condition or ailment on your own. Always consult a physician or qualified healthcare provider before making any decisions about treatment. The information and products mentioned herein have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or condition.

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If you found value in our cannabis for multiple sclerosis article, this is just the one installment in our ongoing series on health-related articles. Check out our article on ten therapeutic benefits of cannabis that you might not know about right here, or take a look at how cannabis medicine is helping patients with conditions that cause seizures. Be sure to check back to our blog often, because we post new and informative content several times every week! Connect with us on social media: @hashdash.com on all platforms.

As a part of our dedication to cannabis education, we are building a database of knowledge with articles just like this one. One of the most essential applications of cannabis is how it is a versatile medicine and how it can be applied to help ease the pain and suffering associated with diseases and conditions. This one of the main reasons we are dedicated to cannabis medicine. Sure, recreational cannabis is fun - but the medicinal side can possibly save lives - or at the very least, improve the quality of some.

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