Medical Marijuana Therapy for Dystonia

Dystonia is a broad name for movement disorders characterized by involuntary muscle spasms and pain. These conditions can greatly impact patients’ lives, but there are few treatment options available.

Some patients are looking into whether medical marijuana therapy can assist with dystonia, as cannabis and CBD become more popular. We look into this in-depth topic in this detailed post. But first, let’s take a closer look at dystonia and its symptoms.

What Is Dystonia?

The term “dystonia” refers to a variety of problems affecting the muscles and movement. It causes uncontrollable muscle spasms and cramps, which can be excruciating.

While there are many different forms of dystonia, each affecting a unique area of the body, some common subtypes include:

• Generalized dystonia (affects the whole body)
• Myoclonus dystonia (jerking that typically affects the arms, torso, and neck)
• Cervical dystonia (only affects the neck)
• Blepharospasm (affects the eyes)
• Laryngeal dystonia (affects the larynx)
• Oromandibular dystonia (affects the lower face, jaw, and tongue)

Dystonia is a neurological condition in which individuals have involuntary, sustained muscular contractions. Some forms of dystonia are “task-specific,” meaning that they only manifest when performing specific activities. These activities include writing, typing, or playing a musical instrument.

Dystonia Symptoms

Dystonia symptoms are often mild when they first develop, and may only affect isolated body parts during specific activities.

Finally, these symptoms may sometimes spread to other areas of the body and become continuous most of the time. This is not always the case, however. Some persons notice that their dystonic activity plateaus or improves over time.

The most common symptoms of dystonia include:

• Unusual twisting of the affected body part
• Slow, repetitive movements
• Muscle spasms and cramping
• Tremors
• Uncontrollable blinking

Dystonia symptoms may appear at any age and usually affect women more than men.

What Causes Dystonia?

Dystonia is caused by a glitch in one of the brain regions concerned with movement, according to most experts.

For example, the basal ganglia not only control voluntary muscle movements but also eye movement. This region of the brain is often dysfunctional in patients with dystonia. However, other areas may also be involved to some capacity.

Scientists believe that dystonia may be associated with particular neurotransmitters, such as dopamine and GABA. When the brain cannot process these neurotransmitters correctly, their messages become confused, which can cause irregular movement.

Dystonia is thought to be caused by a malformation in one of the brain areas responsible for movement.

Doctors generally classify dystonia into one of three categories:

• Idiopathic dystonia: This type of dystonia has no apparent cause.
• Genetic dystonia: Dystonia is caused by a variety of genes with specific abnormalities.
• Acquired dystonia: It is a type of dystonia that results from brain damage (stroke, oxygen deprivation, or physical trauma), as well as some medicines.

Dystonia doesn’t just happen in isolation; it frequently co-occurs with other diseases like Parkinson’s, multiple sclerosis, and cerebral palsy. Additionally, there are plenty of Dystonia triggers that can make symptoms worse such as:

• Tiredness
• Stress
• Alcohol
• Caffeine
• Activities such as talking, chewing, writing, typing, etc.

Common Dystonia Treatments (Not Cannabis)

There is no cure for dystonia as of now, but there are several treatments that may help patients lessen their symptoms:

• Botulinum toxin (Botox) injections
• Muscle relaxants
• Physical or occupational therapy
• Deep brain stimulation

To perform deep brain stimulation, doctors usually place a battery in either the chest or abdomen. The said battery is then connected to the patient’s brain through thin wires. Once electrical stimulations have been given to specific areas of the patients’ brains, some people see an improvement in their symptoms while others do not experience any significant changes.

Because there are so few treatment choices for dystonia, it’s no surprise that some patients are turning to medical marijuana. But does it really assist?

Does Medical Marijuana Help Dystonia?

Medical marijuana therapy has grown increasingly popular in recent years. Medical marijuana programs have been enacted in most American states, and some even legalize recreational use.

Additionally, current research is constantly uncovering more advantages of the plant. So far, most investigations have been fixated on THC and CBD, which are the two most significant cannabinoids. Not only is THC well-known for its ability to intoxicate, but it also has a plethora of medicinal uses. CBD, however, provides many of the same benefits as THC without the intoxication.

The jury is still out on whether medical marijuana can help with dystonia. While numerous studies have shown that marijuana may assist people with dystonia, these are mostly single case reports, according to a 2015 study published in Neurotherapeutics. Large-scale clinical trials are lacking.

A 2002 study investigating the impacts of nabilone (a synthetic form of THC) found no significant improvements for dystonia patients.

Research into CBD for dystonia is more promising than other treatments. A 2002 study for the European Journal of Pharmacology tested CBD on hamsters with idiopathic dystonia. They found that high doses usually delayed the progression of the disease, giving hope to those affected by this chronic condition.

A study in The International Journal of Neuroscience followed five patients with dystonic movement disorders. For six weeks, they took CBD doses of 100mg to 600mg daily.

All of the patients, including those with Parkinson’s-like symptoms, reported benefits ranging from 20% to 50%. However, two individuals with Parkinson’s-related problems discovered that doses over 300mg made their condition worse.

CBD Effects on Dystonia

CBD is most likely effective for dystonia because it interacts with the endocannabinoid system (ECS). The ECS is present in many of the body’s tissues, including the brain.

The ECS, or endocannabinoid system, is made up of cell receptors called cannabinoid receptors (CB1 and CB2) and chemicals known as endocannabinoids. Together, they work to regulate various physiological functions like mood, appetite, and immunity.

CBD, a non-intoxicating cannabinoid found in medical marijuana, has been shown to increase the levels of endocannabinoids in the brain.

CBD’s effects on dystonia are mediated by the endocannabinoid system (ECS), which is involved in motor function. There is a high concentration of CB1 and CB2 receptors in the basal ganglia of the brain, which experts believe to be where CBD has its effect.

By slowing the breakdown of endocannabinoids, CBD essentially increases their levels in the brain. In addition to this, CBD is also a powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory. These beneficial properties could help protect structures in the brain from damage that results from conditions like Parkinson’s disease.

However, more study is needed to see how effectively CBD aids dystonia.

What Is the Best CBD for Dystonia?

If you’re considering using CBD to treat dystonia, there are a few things you should know.

A medical marijuana card is available to individuals who reside in a jurisdiction where medical marijuana is permitted for medical use and have a qualifying condition. This card allows people with a qualifying condition to buy high-CBD cannabis strains or CBD oil from licensed dispensaries.

The advantage of this is that it allows consumers to select a product with both CBD and THC in it and get the benefits of both cannabinoids.

However, if you live in a state that has no medical marijuana law, you are only permitted to buy hemp-derived CBD oil. Because this product only contains traces of THC, it is often legal in most regions.

Hemp-derived CBD is likewise an excellent choice for individuals who do not want to experience the psychoactive effects of THC.

The issue with many CBD products is that the market is inadequately regulated. As a result, many businesses are selling items that aren’t up to snuff. Some contain far less CBD than they should, while others may include pollutants like pesticides or solvents.

As dystonia is a serious condition, people should be very cautious when buying CBD oil as a treatment option. Always look for brands that offer third-party lab reports on their website. These types of reports show the exact contents of each product and prove that there is nothing to hide.

There is an overwhelming number of options when it comes to CBD products, which can make choosing just one a daunting task. If you need help navigating the landscape of CBD products, read our guide on types of CBD products.

Final Thoughts

Dystonia has a high level of disability. It can cause severe suffering as well as make routine activities difficult. Furthermore, there are few reliable therapies on the market.

More and more people are finding symptom relief for dystonia through medical marijuana therapy. Although there have been customer reports of this natural medicine’s efficacy, hard clinical evidence is still lacking. There is no guarantee that it will work for everyone, but many people have found success with this treatment method.

Always speak with a medical professional before trying cannabis or CBD oil if you are thinking about it for dystonia management. They will help determine whether it is safe for you to use and can offer additional suggestions on symptom relief.