Devin Garlit discovered he had multiple sclerosis (MS) in college. One morning he got out of bed and fell flat on his face. From there on, his condition deteriorated so quickly that by night time, he had lost the use of his legs. Garlit has since become a contributor to multiplesclerosis.net, a community of people coping with the often challenging symptoms of MS. He is also part of a growing community advocating for the use of CBD oil for MS.[1]
After a series of more conventional medications, called disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) Garlit finally found one which helped slow the progression of the disease. But DMTs don’t manage any of the day-to-day symptoms, which commonly include:
- Speech impairment
- Difficulty swallowing
- Problems walking
- Cognitive dysfunction
- Mood swings and depression
- Bladder dysfunction
- Bowel dysfunction
- Sexual dysfunction
Instead, Garlit turned to medical marijuana, and its more accessible cousin, CBD, for MS. Both THC and CBD based products have helped reign in his challenging symptoms. So much so, that Garlit’s friends and family began to ask him what he was doing differently because, clearly, his condition had dramatically improved.
Garlit says that through the use of CBD oil for MS, he was able to get out more, increase his mobility, socialize, and generally just get back into activities.[2]
He published his story eight months after starting a regime of CBD oil for MS. He has successfully managed his daily symptoms during that time and is now advocating for its use among other MS patients who struggle with the disease’s symptoms.
Why Is CBD For MS A Big Deal?
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the most commonly occurring debilitating neurological condition in the world. The Multiple Sclerosis Foundation estimates that roughly 400,000 people suffer from MS in the United States, with more than 2.5 million cases worldwide. [3]
Also, 200 new diagnoses are made each week in the United States alone. Part of the challenge for those coping with MS is that it’s strictly a matter of symptom treatment; there is no cure. The prevalence of the disease and the limited treatment options for the ongoing symptoms have led many people to explore CBD oil for MS.
There is no cure for the disease (not even CBD oil for MS is a cure), but several medications like DMTs are commonly used to help slow its progression. However, these medications often have adverse side effects. These side effects have led many MS patients to seek alternative therapies to relieve their symptoms, including CBD for MS.
What Does the Research Say About CBD Oil for MS?
There is now a large body of research into the potential medicinal properties of CBD, including CBD for MS. One study, from 2013 entitled, “Cannabidiol for neurodegenerative disorders: important new clinical applications for this phytocannabinoid?”, nicely sums up its currently known properties, and possible future applications, including:[4]
- Antiemetic (reduces nausea and vomiting)
- Anti-inflammatory
- Antioxidant
- Antipsychotic
- Anticonvulsant (suppresses seizure activity)
- Anti-tumoral/anti-cancer
- Antidepressant
- Anxiolytic (combats anxiety)
- Analgesic (relieves pain)
RELATED: The Incredible Effects of CBD and Marijuana on The Brain
It's easy to see how many of these potential medicinal characteristics could benefit someone with MS. But what does the research say about CBD oil for MS specifically?
Available in some markets today, primarily in Europe and in Canada, is a pharmaceutical preparation of THC and CBD in a 1:1 ratio. This product is approved for the treatment of spasticity and neuropathic pain associated with MS.
According to the results of their ongoing study, the spray, which is self-administered at home, reduced muscle spasms, improved sleep, and helped with both neuropathic pain and spasticity. In the U.S, the Food and Drug Administration has not yet approved this cannabinoid mixture, nor straight CBD oil for MS.[5]
RELATED: The FDA May Approve CBD-Based Epilepsy Drug
Another interesting, 2013 study applied CBD to a viral model of MS, a method often used in laboratory studies. According to their results, the potent anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive properties of CBD seemed to have beneficial effects on the progression of the disease. Also, CBD seemed to improve mobility in the TMEV-infected study animals. [6]
With more studies, expanded into human models, scientists will get a better understanding of exactly how CBD interacts with this disease.
CBD’s powerful anti-inflammatory effects have also been linked to downregulation of specific molecules responsible for the triggering of an inflammatory response. Three of these molecules are vascular cell adhesion molecule-1, chemokines, and proinflammatory cytokine interleukin-1β. All three are key elements responsible for the progression of MS.
There are many more preliminary studies which have proved (at least in the laboratory or in animal trials), the capabilities of CBD to modulate the symptoms of MS. While this body of research is still in the very early stages of development, the results on CBD oil for MS is promising, to say the least. [7]
What You Need to Know About CBD Oil for MS
Garlit isn’t the only MS patient taking CBD and medical marijuana to manage the challenging daily symptoms of his disease. Today, CBD for MS is a frequent topic of conversation between patients and their physicians. A quick review of the many MS community forums reveals that there is a massive movement of like-minded people now relying on CBD oil for MS.
RELATED: What Pharmaceutical Drugs Can Interfere with CBD
If you are interested in trying CBD oil for MS yourself, you can be assured that the current research demonstrates that CBD has a high safety profile. Although it may have an effect on the efficacy of other medications (for instance, making them more powerful), as long as CBD is taken under the guidance of a medical professional, there is a very little risk of severe side effects.[8]
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Sources:
[1] https://multiplesclerosis.net/author/dev71/
[2] https://multiplesclerosis.net/living-with-ms/cbd-hemp-how-helped/
[3] https://www.healthline.com/health/multiple-sclerosis/facts-statistics-infographic
[4] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3579248/
[5] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16317825
[6] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0969996113001939?via%3Dihub
