Cannabis promising to treat the symptoms of muscular dystrophy

Muscular dystrophies (muscle atrophy) – muscle diseases manifested by pathological changes in muscle fibers and connective tissue. These are hereditary diseases.

In this disease, degeneration of striated muscles occurs.  Muscle atrophy is usually bilateral, and most often the xobne muscles (trunk) are degenerated. There are no sensory disturbances. Histopathological changes consist in the enlargement of the muscle group, longitudinal cleavage, obliteration of the transverse striation, vitrification and atrophy. Connective and adipose tissue develops. Changes in muscle cells (myocytes) consist in the atrophy or abnormal structure of proteins - dystrophin and utrophin, whose function is to attach myofibrils to sarcolemma.

How can cannabis help people suffering from muscular dystrophy?

 Scientific publications on the effects of medical marijuana on the treatment of muscular dystrophy are still few, despite the fact that hemp oils are effective in treating common symptoms such as pain or arthritis. There is evidence that suggests that cannabis may help treat similar symptoms in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), which has several similarities – movement disorders and loss of muscle dysfunction. A 2010 study published in The American Journal of Hospice & Palliative Care explained the benefits that medical cannabis can have in treating ALS. At least a few of them can theoretically be used to treat muscular atrophy.

• Antioxidant effect
• Anti-inflammatory effect
• Antibacterial effect
• Modulating the activity of microglial cells
• Prevention of apoptosis (cell death)
• Europrotective and neurotropic effects (helps neurons grow)

The results of the study confirmed that CBD cannabinoids are effective in treating pain – one of the most devastating symptoms of muscle atrophy. A 2013 blind study (the subjects did not know whether they were getting a placebo or medical cannabis) proved that even low doses of CBD/CBD were effective in treating neuropathic pain. Previous randomized trials found that smoking cannabis three times a day reduced painkillers and improved sleep quality.

The only studies that have analyzed the effects of cannabinoids on muscle atrophy were published in Forensic Science. Their description suggests that THC and CBD can bring many benefits in treating the symptoms of the disease. Unfortunately, due to the archival age of the article (1977), the full text is not available, leaving the observations of scientists only for their information.

Despite these properties, cannabis alone is unlikely to eliminate any of the symptoms of muscular dystrophy. All forms of the disease are genetically inherited or result from spontaneous genetic mutations. In DMD, for example, a mutation blocks the body from producing dystrophin, a protein that helps maintain muscle stability. Inherited genetic defects are particularly difficult to treat, but because CBD is effective in normalizing gene expression, it can treat the causes of muscle atrophy very well.

Hemp Muscular Dystrophy Treatment Success Report

Scientific evidence indicates that CBD hemp oils can help patients suffering from muscle atrophy, but what is really important is how patients respond to treatment. Numerous reports suggest that patients benefit from a variety of cannabinoid therapies.

For example, an article from a New Jersey newspaper describes the experience of a young patient – Michael Oliveri. He suffered from tremendous pain associated with muscular dystrophy and none of the drugs helped relieve the pain, so he used cannabis as a last resort. Oliveri stated that the drug "miraculously improved" his quality of life, so much so that he had to say goodbye to family and friends in New Jersey to move to California to gain legal access to medical marijuana.

Dan Pope is a resident of Colorado and suffers from muscular atrophy. In an article published in U.S. News , he stated that medical marijuana helps control his muscle spasms. It also makes his pain more bearable. Another man named Patrick McClellan also found that eating or vaporizing cannabis significantly reduced his muscle spasms and pain.

Another Florida patient named John suffers from myotonic dystrophy. He claims that marijuana makes the pain more bearable while also helping him relax and sleep. John prefers indica strains because sativa strains can be too stimulating. Indica strains generally have a stronger effect on the body than on the mind, so it may work better for muscular dystrophy.

Cannabis – the future of treatment for muscular dystrophy

Scientific evidence and patient reports clearly indicate that medical marijuana may be effective in treating some of the symptoms of muscle atrophy in some people. Further research into the use of high-quality cannabis extracts in the treatment of muscular dystrophy is much needed, and will certainly reveal additional benefits.

Source of medycznamarihuana.com