What is Huntingtons Disease?
It is a degenerative neurological disorder that affects the basal ganglia of the brain, typically diagnosed in adulthood. Abnormal involuntary movements, mental deterioration, and mental health issues characterize it. It can occur at any age. There are a number of symptoms associated with HD, including slurring of speech and difficulty swallowing, muscle stiffness, impaired mobility, and balance problems. Many of these symptoms, including treating localized pain can be addressed with the use of cannabis.
An autosomal dominant gene causes Huntington’s disease on chromosome 4, which causes the Huntingtin gene to repeat CAG trinucleotides repeatedly. Due to these repeats, Huntingtin protein activity is disrupted, leading to degenerative effects.
How Cannabis May Help Huntingtons Disease
As more states legalize cannabis’ medical use, researchers are beginning to explore and study its benefits for treating Huntington’s Disease. Cannabis may alleviate some symptoms of HD, including reduced muscle spasms and tremors, increased appetite, and improved mental health.
Two ways cannabis can help with Huntington’s Disease symptoms are: first, it helps reduce inflammation in the brain, which can help reduce the severity of the disease’s symptoms, and second, it reduces anxiety and depression, both common symptoms of HD.
Methods of Consumption
Several methods of consuming cannabis are effective in treating HD, including inhalation, topical application, and oral consumption. Getting cannabinoids into your system through inhalation is the most effective and fastest method, but it can be challenging for those with respiratory issues. Topical application is most effective when treating localized pain or inflammation, whereas oral ingestion has a systemic effect when treating localized pain or inflammation.
Strains
ACDC, Harlequin, and Sour Tsunami are some of the best strains to treat HD due to their anti-inflammatory and anti-anxiety properties.
Terpenes
Anti-inflammatory, anti-anxiety, and antispasmodic terpenes like linalool, myrcene, and terpinolene ease HD symptoms.
Cannabinoids
The cannabinoids which may help with HD are CBD, CBG, and CBN. CBD has anti-inflammatory and anti-anxiety properties, while CBG has anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, and neuroprotective properties. CBN has sedative, anti-bacterial, and analgesic properties.
Conclusion
Cannabis appears to have therapeutic effects in treating Huntington’s Disease, but to understand the full potential for treating HD furtner research will help to provide more conclusive information regarding consumption methods, strains, terpenes and cannabinoids.
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