"I’m 86 and in reasonably good health except for one debilitating problem. I have severe shaking in my hands diagnosed as Essential Tremor. Has there been any success with CBD/CBN/THC either alone or mixed to help with this problem. Would THC or CBD help with the shaking?"
I would suggest starting with a tincture that has both CBD and THC, as well as the other cannabinoids and compounds found in the cannabis plant. CBD THC and other molecules provide synergystic effects that are far superior to any of the cannbinoids in isolation. You may want to try various ratios of CBD:THC from 60:1 through a higher THC content. Vaporizarion can also provide more immediate relief.
andrewvanmd
for fibromyalgia you’d want a higher THC:CBD ratio but be aware that higher THC can be psychoactive. The CBD in the edible you take will counteract the psychoactive effect a bit, which is why you might want to look into a ratio of about 2:1 or maybe 3:1.
Nick DeJesus
Parkinson’s is a neurodegenerative condition causing dopamine levels in the brain to drop, and just adding more dopamine won’t work because it cant enter your brain where it’s needed.
Using a balanced CBD:THC ratio for Parkinson’s could make sense because of CBD’s neuroprotective qualities, and THC’s ability to help the brain absorb more of its naturally produced dopamine by blocking GABA.
Nick DeJesus
hmbldt relief is 2:1 THC-to-CBD formula designed to deliver relief from inflammation and spastic pain. That might be a good option for you. We recommend consulting a physician before changing your therapeutic regimen.
derek
You may want to try a Transdermal roll-on or lotion. A THC transdermal is good for local pain, and a CBD transdermal is good for inflammation. Combined, they work together synergistically.
BartSmart
Hi there,
I want to state that I am not a doctor.
First, I’m sorry you suffer from Parkinson’s. I was recently shown this clip from the documentary "Ride with Larry" on Medical Marijuana and Parkinson. Please, take a look, It’s worth the watch to see the amazing cannabis miracle work within minutes – Mind blowing!
A few articles for you:
- https://www.parkinson.org/understanding-parkinsons/treatment/complementary-treatment/medical-marijuana-and-parkinsons-disease
I would say a tincture, smoking and edibles would be great for you to try and do some self testings.
Hope this was helpful!
- Nurit
nurit
The Endocannabinoid system that is present in our own bodies plays a partial role in voluntary movement. There is a relatively high concentration of CB1 receptors in the Basal Ganglia and related structures. This is the part of the brain mostly commonly affected in Parkinson’s disease and other movement disorders.
Surveys of patients with movement disorders (average age over 65) show reported improvements in bradykinesia (slow or halting-type movements), muscle rigidity, and tremor with use.
A small study done in 1986 showed Cannabidiol (CBD) produced some reduction of dystonia (inappropriate movement/a type of spasticity) at doses under 300mg/day. This is much higher dose than generally recommended for CBD but, does indicate a large therapeutic treatment window for cannabis. The average dose of CBD that demonstrates perceivable changes in symptoms ranges between 2.5 and 20mg.
More recent studies (past 6 years) show varying responses to treatment with THC and or CBD, but when surveyed, Parkinsons’ patients consistently report improvement in subjective symptoms with cannabis use. Regular use at lower doses seems to be needed to sustain benefits.
While Parkinson’s and Essential Tremor are considered separate diagnoses, the movement origins for these diseases have some common biological pathways.
The International Essential Tremor Foundation addresses this issue in more detail and the article is worth a review:
https://www.essentialtremor.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/TremorTalkApril2014FINAL.pdf
More study is still needed, but I recommend a trial of CBD concentrated products to determine personal benefit. Keep notes to determine response to treatment and better titrate your dosing. You can find concentrated CBD elixirs or tinctures at many dispensaries. Consider starting with a 2:1 or 4:1 ratio of CBD to THC or higher if you feel sensitive to the THC effects.
drgerhart
So sorry that you are not getting the best answer here. It is so hard to make a recommendation without fully understanding a patient’s background and other health concerns. I can only point you to some great info about CBD, which we believe is the best medicine for many conditions: https://www.leafscience.com/2014/02/23/5-must-know-facts-cannabidiol-cbd/
mari
Whole plant CBD rich extract in a sublingual tincture form is a great place to start. You can try various ratios between CBD and THC as well as different strains. Take a few drops under the tongue, wait a half an hour and increase the dose if needed. Vaporization is also an option that provides more immediate relief.
andrewvanmd
There are many different causes of tremor, only a small subset of which belong to Parkinsonism as a cause. Your first step in obtaining treatment is seeing a neurologist to illicit exactly what the cause is. The most common causes of non Parkinson’s related tremors include anxiety related movements and essential tremor, which can be worsened by anxiety and eased with alcohol (note: alcohol should never be considered a treatment for this type of tremor, but it’s abatement with alcohol is a sign that this is in fact essential tremor). Strains of cannabis that aid in minimizing anxiety can also be helpful in decreasing tremor. This would include high CBD strains, which come in the form of tinctures, edibles, and flowers that can be vaped.
drsara
That’s an excellent question. Like many other medical issues, essential tremor can be multi-factorial, meaning that a lot of different things can contribute to what causes it or how bad the symptoms are, so it can be tough to predict how a particular medicine will work. In the medical literature, I did not find a specific study regarding cannabis and essential tremor, but we could compare it to other types of tremor, such as those found in Parkinson’s Disease or multiple sclerosis, since movement is coordinated in similar areas of the brain. In Parkinson’s, there did appear to be some improvement in symptoms, but in MS studies there was no conclusive improvement. (See also Dr. Gerhart’s reply) Keep in mind that most studies are done with THC alone or THC-dominant products, where the other cannabinoids aren’t quantified or mentioned. As others have mentioned, generally speaking your symptoms are more likely to respond to a product that is balanced between the CBD and THC, and CBD also helps prevent the side effects of THC.
drbultman
II
ETsince9
My wife was diagnosed of Parkinsons Disease at age 59. She had severe calf pain, muscle pain, tremors, slurred speech, frequent falls, loss of balance, difficulty in getting up from sitting position. She was put on Senemet for 6 months and then Siferol was introduced and replaced the Senemet. During this time span she was also diagnosed with dementia. She started having hallucinations, lost touch with reality.
This year, our family doctor started her on NewLife Clinic Parkinsons Disease Herbal mixture, 1 month into treatment she improved dramatically. At the end of the full treatment course, the disease is totally under control. No case of dementia, hallucination, weakness, muscle pain or tremors.
Visit NewLife Clinic website ww w.newlifeherbalclinic .com. She is strong again and able to go about daily activities.
David Craven
davidcraven600
Hi there!
Part of the issue with narrowing down the precise combination of CBD or THC to provide relief is that essential tremors are often caused by multiple symptoms. We still need more clinical research to confirm whether CBD or THC is beneficial for patients experiencing tremors. However, an observational study was conducted in 2014 from Tel Aviv University, where they tested 22 patients with motor disorders. The study revealed an improvement in sleep, pain, and motor abilities including movement, rigidity and tremors approximately 30 minutes after smoking cannabis. The study does not specify whether CBD or THC was used on the patients, but it is another study that confirms that cannabis can provide aid in easing tremors.
As some of our physicians have mentioned previously on this post, you may want to try a tincture or vaporizer that contains both CBD and THC for your tremors. If you are not a fan of psychoactive effects, you would want to find a product that is high in CBD and low in THC. I would also suggest transdermal patches if your tremors are causing you to experience chronic pain. Transdermal patches can enter the bloodstream and reduce pain and tremors within 30 minutes after application. Patches are available with or without CBD, ranging from 1:1, 4:1, and 18:1 CBD:THC.
I hope this information helps! 🙂
VeronicaB
Essential tremors are caused by the nervous system and involuntary or rhytmic shaking is a hallmark of the disorder. It is said to affect more than 10 million Americans, and obviously millions more worldwide. I have known people who struggle to button their own shirt or hold a glass of water, especially as the disorder progresses. It’s important to note that Parkinson’s disease is not the same as essential tremors, the timing of the tremors may be different, parts of body associated and other conditions associated.
Can cannabis help with essential tremors? A new study published by the British Journal of Pharmacology has found that cannabis may help with the symptoms of essential tremors. However, it appears that the motor function improved in rats. Anecdotally, it seems if you look online THC has helped people with essential tremors with some improvement in theie conditions although there does not seem to be any formalized studies. Again in an animal study there seemed to be a positive reduction of tremors with CBD, but this is an animal study.
Based on the reduction of muscle spasticity with use of THC/CBD, possibly there is a correlation of the reduction of tremors, but there is currently no research on humans that I know of to validate this. I will include an article I referenced below.
I am not a doctor and these opinions are mine alone. I hope this helps!
pamelahadfield
i have ceral palsy, will cwhemp help me
fjord4@q.com