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Type “CBD and Parkinson’s” into a search engine and you will find everything from careful science to videos promising miracles. This is the careful science bit, written for real people, with the miracle claims left firmly at the door.
A quick word on Parkinson’s
Parkinson’s is a condition where the brain gradually loses cells that make dopamine, the chemical that helps control movement. The familiar signs are tremor, stiffness and slowness, but many people say the invisible symptoms are harder to live with: poor sleep, anxiety, low mood, pain and sometimes hallucinations. Around 150,000 people in the UK live with Parkinson’s, and it is those invisible symptoms that have drawn researchers towards CBD.
Why scientists are interested
The endocannabinoid system is unusually busy in the parts of the brain that Parkinson’s affects, which is a good reason to look at compounds that interact with it. In laboratory studies, CBD has shown anti-inflammatory and cell protecting effects, and in animals it has appeared to influence movement and sleep. That is enough to justify human trials. It is not enough to justify a claim, and the two are often confused.
What the human studies show so far
The honest picture is mixed. A small Brazilian trial found that people taking CBD reported a better quality of life, but their movement symptoms did not improve. Very small studies have hinted that CBD might ease the vivid, acted out dreams some people with Parkinson’s experience, and a short open study suggested it might help with hallucinations. Every one of those studies was tiny, and some had no placebo group. The most important trial is happening here in the UK, where researchers at King’s College London, backed by Parkinson’s UK, are testing CBD for Parkinson’s related hallucinations in a properly controlled study. That is the kind of evidence that could change things, and it is worth waiting for.
Things to be careful about
Parkinson’s comes with a few specific reasons for caution. Many people with the condition already experience dizziness from low blood pressure when they stand up, and CBD can lower blood pressure a little further. CBD can also cause drowsiness, which is not ideal when balance is already a concern. And because CBD changes how the liver handles some medicines, there is a real chance of interactions with Parkinson’s drugs and with the antidepressants and sleep medicines often prescribed alongside them. None of this makes CBD off limits, but it does make a conversation with your Parkinson’s nurse or specialist essential before you start.
If you live with Parkinson’s
- Talk to your specialist, Parkinson’s nurse or pharmacist before trying CBD, and tell them exactly which product and how much.
- Never change your levodopa or any other prescribed medicine without medical advice. The timing and dose of those medicines is finely balanced.
- Keep to the FSA guidance of no more than 10 mg of CBD a day, start low, and watch for dizziness or sleepiness.
- Parkinson’s UK has a clear, up to date guide on cannabis-based products, including news on the trials it is funding. It is the best place to keep an eye on the science.
Where our CBD oil fits in
Our oils are wellness supplements, not medicines, and they are not intended to treat Parkinson’s or its symptoms. Some customers who live with long term conditions tell us they value CBD as a small, calming part of their evening routine, and that is a perfectly good reason to use it, provided your medical team knows. What we will never do is promise it will steady a tremor or bring back a good night’s sleep, because nobody can honestly promise that yet.
The bottom line
CBD and Parkinson’s is a story still being written, and for once the most exciting chapter is being written in Britain. Until the results are in, the sensible approach is the kind one: stay curious, stay in touch with your specialist, and treat any product that promises more than the science can as a reason to shop elsewhere.
This article is for general information only and is not medical advice. Native Treatments products are food supplements and cosmetics. They are not medicines and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent Parkinson’s or any other condition. Always speak to your specialist, GP or pharmacist before using CBD if you have Parkinson’s or take any medication.