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CANNABIS AND HUNTINGTON’S DISEASE
Huntington’s disease (HD, Huntington’s chorea) is a genetic condition that causes the degeneration of nerve cells in the brain. Though the disease is carried from birth, symptoms may not show until later in life. HD leads to movement impairment as well as cognitive and psychiatric disorders that carry with them a wide spectrum of symptoms. Once symptoms begin to present, the patient’s functional abilities gradually worsen over time. Eventually, a person with the disease requires assistance with all of their daily functions.
Treatment for Huntington’s Disease
Treatments are limited to those that reduce painful symptoms and improve a patient’s quality of life as the disease progresses. Powerful medications are commonly prescribed to manage tremors, seizures and psychiatric disorders. Dosages are increased over time until these drugs become ineffective, and the side effects outweigh their benefits. Other treatments that may help patients cope with the progression of the HD include:
● Psychotherapy
● Speech therapy
● Physical therapy
● Opioid treatment
● Support aids
Medical Cannabis for Huntington’s Disease Treatment
Research on the treatment of Huntington’s disease with marijuana is limited because of marijuana’s federal classification as a schedule 1 controlled substance. However, anecdotal evidence supports the theory that cannabis is effective in managing some of the symptoms it presents. For one thing, cannabis has been shown to reduce inflammation throughout the body and reduce pain and cramping. It has also been shown to control tremors and seizures. Finally, THC and CBD are known to improve a person’s mood and can treat the depression, fear, and anxiety associated with Huntington’s chorea.
New Research on Marijuana and Huntington’s Disease
Preliminary research indicates that not only does cannabis provide relief from symptoms, but may slow down the progression of the disease. CBD has been shown to have neuroprotective properties, which can resist the deterioration of neurons in the brain and spinal cord. Recently an exciting study shows that THCA, a non-psychoactive acidic precursor to THC, can reduce inflammation and also serve as a neuroprotective. The medical uses for THCA have been long overlooked because when cannabis is heated up (as is typical during the act of smoking, vaporizing or cooking with cannabis), the THCA has converted to THC; a heavily studied as well as, better-understood cannabinoid. More research is needed. But the potential for cannabis therapy for medical marijuana patients who have Huntington’s disease seems very promising.
Side Effects of Marijuana Therapy for Huntington’s Disease
The side effects of the pharmaceuticals used to treat HD can range from moderate to severe. Since larger dosages are required as the disease inevitably progresses, those negative effects tend to add to the patient’s suffering. Effectively, there’s little risk for trying cannabis to control the symptoms of HD. Marijuana has no contraindications with other medications, and its side effects are comparatively mild.
Visit Revolutionary Clinics Today for All of Your MMJ Needs
Revolutionary Clinics has a varied assortment of infused edibles that registered patients with HD may prefer. Concentrates, flower, and topicals are also available in different strains and varying levels of potency. We offer daily and weekly deals so you can find the product that best suits your symptoms and you can increase your intake as it becomes necessary. If your symptoms are keeping you away from our dispensary, feel free to order online, and we can deliver to you in Somerville and the surrounding areas.
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22 Responses
I am very interested in medicinal cannabis oil for neurodegenerative diseases. I have studied the science of herbs and nutrition read lot of books done loads of research joined lots of research institutes in the US. I would love any information on MS, Parkinson’s Huntington’s and ALS.
Thanks so much for the comment. Wonderful to hear that you’ve been doing all this research. We would also love to publish or link to more resources concerning these topics. Hopefully we will be able to bring out some posts on those types of topics soon. Thanks again.
My mum has HD and has since been told she needs to be referred to Mental Health team as GPs are unable to provide her any stronger medication. Having read up on the use of medicinal cannabis for treatment of HD I came across this article which I think has been informative. I have actually sent the link to my dad so he can research and chat to her specialist at the mental health team when her referral appointment comes through. HD is such an awful disease that affects the whole family so anything that can help reduce my mums symptoms and pains (however big or small) has got to be worth a try surely especially because we are yet to find a cure and therefore all our efforts go into helping reduce the patients symptons and suffering. Thank you for your article I would be interested to hear if you ever get any further information on medicinal cannabis for HD sufferers.
Thank you for sharing your story and glad to hear that you found this article helpful. Hopefully more time and energy will spent researching the benefits of treating HD with cannabis in the very near future. If we hear of any new information we will certainly share it.
Hi there, I have HD. And hopefully in the next week r two I will be starting Canibis RSO. There is strong tests done out there around 2011, with amazing results for HD. I’m certainly up for trying it, legal or not 😁😁
Please let me know your progress.
319-676-5600
Luv
Hawkeye
Very interested to hear anyones feedback from trying cannabis to assist with the symptoms of HD
Very interested to hear anyones feedback from trying cannabis to assist with the symptoms of HD
I was diagnosed 15 years ago with HD and now have begun experiencing chorea. In the information on your site, you mention a study on the effects of TCHA on chorea. Could you send me the site referencing the study please? I am currently relying only on pharmaceuticals to control my symptoms, but as my doctor is heaving to increase the dosage, I worry that, due to the federal and state regulations, he may be forced to limit the amount he currently prescribes.
Thank you for your concern for HD patients.
Hello there, thank you for the comment and question. I am forwarding this question along to the author of the article to see if we can get an answer for you. Stay tuned.
Very helpful and informative read. Please keep me posted on any new research that comes out. HD has affected my whole family. My grandmother, Aunts and Uncles and now seeing signs with some of my cousins. My mother is the only one out of 14 brothers and sisters that does not show signs yet and she is 80. Thank God. I currently have an aunt who smokes cannabis to help with the physical part of HD. My cousin who takes care of her is against it because he is not sure about the mental effects of smoking the cannabis. Is there more research out there that go further into the beneficial and non-beneficial effects on the mind and body?
Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts. Check out C3RN, they are a local organization doing a lot of research into the affects of Cannabis on both mind and body.
Hello I have very late onset in our family CAG 41 onset late 50’s early 60’s am going into my 3rd yr of retirement.mom and several of her siblings had it . My brother had it late 40’s was very negative .i try to be as positive as I can . Grateful that I can still read I hope to start on pot next month fingers crossed !!
Thanks for sharing and let us know if you need any help getting your MMJ card. We have some great resources here.
When my children’s father my ex husband came to stay with me I cared for him the last year of his life we gave him eatables sometimes with tic or just whatever the other one is called and I could actually understand what he was saying and one time he was rolling on the floor laughing and maybe if he had started it earlier it could have helped him alot but what I seen with him was very positive. It was very frustrating for both of us not to understand what he wanted. He was a Marine for 22 years and it was very hard to see him decline and even harder on my children. Thank you for the information and keep me posted please
I have Huntington disease
Thank you for sharing your experience Laurie. Are you an MMJ patient? We have some great resources on our site to find out how to obtain your MMJ card. You can also look into C3RN, they are a local organization doing a lot of research into the effects of Cannabis on both mind and body.
My husband was diagnosed 6 years ago with chorea. It’s hereditary as most with this diagnosis understand. Based on where we live, he cannot get a MMJ card. It’s not allowed. We tried pens from websites and the CBD pills, but not much help. His doctor and neurologist say that they cannot help.
So sad.
I am so sorry to hear that. Hopefully more research will emerge that can help build a case for getting your husband access to medical cannabis. Thank you for sharing with us.
Hi There
I have HD CAG 43. I’m 43 years old I found out I had Huntington’s 10 years ago. I have no symptoms yet but my life is consumed on that ticking time bomb of certain doom. I’m interested has anybody above Had any success with Cbd products.
Jamie from London
Hi Jamie, Thank you for sharing your experience. There is limited medical research on a lot surrounding CBD. We hope you could find some information from our article.
Pls keep me informed on updates