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CBD relieves the symptoms of ALS
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, better known as ALS or motor neuron disease, is a neurodegenerative disease that causes the degeneration of motor neurons in the body, i.e., the neurons responsible for muscle movement.
Although the average life expectancy is about 2–5 years after the initial diagnosis, (this isn’t true for everyone—for example, Stephen Hawking!),
Several studies have shown that CBD may help alleviate certain symptoms of ALS.
Many people around the world did not know what ALS was until 2015.
In mid-2014 he had launched a Facebook campaign called the “ice bucket challenge” to raise awareness about the disease.
People around the world, including celebrities, have had buckets of ice water thrown over them to symbolize the sensation of the nerve endings that ALS sufferers must endure on a daily basis.
The campaign quickly went viral and was one of the most successful in Facebook’s history, raising over $100 million and leading to the discovery of some groundbreaking research.
The symptoms of ALS
The main symptoms of ALS include:
Progressive muscle weakness
Slurred speech
Abnormal fatigue in the hands and feet
Muscle cramps and spasms
Uncontrollable bouts of laughter or crying
CBD or cannabidiol is known to alleviate severe pain and may provide some relief from ALS symptoms:
Analgesic properties: ALS is a painful disease, so CBD is used to ease the pain.
Muscle Relaxation:ALS causes muscle impingement, CBD helps to relax the body and relieve some tension.
Bronchodilation: CBD opens the airways making it easier for the sufferer to breathe.
Reduction of saliva: As the disease develops it becomes increasingly difficult for the sufferer to swallow causing an increase in saliva to develop in the mouth, consuming CBD causes the saliva glands to stop producing so much saliva.
Appetite stimulation: CBD can cause the user to feel hungry after consumption.
Inducing sleep: CBD can make the user feel sleepy, which is good for people who suffer from pain and have difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep.
A study conducted at the Complutense University in Madrid showed the effects of CBD on mice with ALS. Mice were given small doses of CBD and the results were monitored for a short period of time. They found that due to CBD the progression of the disease actually slowed down, extending the life expectancy of the mice by an average of 6 days. This time frame translated into three years for people.
