These Are The 4 Beneficial Effects Of Marijuana On Tourette Syndrome
Cannabis, both in its marijuana form and in other forms, is a psychoactive substance whose effects generate great controversy at a social level. In addition to being one of the drugs most consumed by young people, it poses a health risk by increasing the risk of psychotic break, lung problems and even some types of cancer. It also decreases impulse control and in the long term causes reductions in the frontal lobe.
However, it has been found that its mechanisms of action can be of great help in alleviating the symptoms of some diseases and disorders, such as Parkinson’s. A recent study reveals that Marijuana use could have beneficial effects on Tourette syndrome
Marijuana is one of the various presentations that cannabis is given, resulting from the cutting and crushing of the leaves and stem of the plant in question. Both marijuana and cannabis in general are psychoactive substances known and used since ancient times, initially having a stimulating effect to generate states of relaxation, anesthesia and analgesia. It also causes increased hunger and in some cases perceptual alterations.
Although it is currently used mainly recreationally, cannabis can have medicinal uses that can help improve symptoms and reduce pain derived from different diseases and disorders. Despite this, its consumption must be done in a regulated manner since it can generate different health problems and have both short and long-term effects.
Some of the cases in which cannabis is used medically are for example the reduction of pain and discomfort in cases of tumors and the effect of chemotherapy some types of epilepsy or the one discussed in this article, Tourette syndrome.
Tourette syndrome is a neuropsychological disorder that begins in childhood and is included in tic disorders. It is characterized by the appearance of intermittent tics for more than a year that include one or more motor tics and at least one vocal tic that may or may not appear together.
The tics of these subjects lead them to make small jerky movements, often in the extremities, neck, mouth and eyes. Regarding vocal tics, the presence of coprolalia is very common, emitting insults and swear words involuntarily. These tics can appear both during the day and during sleep (especially REM), which is altered. also appears an increase in disinhibition, aggressiveness and obsessive symptoms
It is also common for patients with this problem to present a high level of anxiety and discomfort, as well as self-harming behaviors. By not being able to control their tics, their anxiety increases even more and they sometimes withdraw or are socially rejected because of it.
The causes of this disorder are not completely known although the existence of alterations in the basal ganglia and the frontal cortex or their interconnection has been reflected, both elements being linked to the control of behavior.
Cannabis and Tourette’s: effects observed in treatment
Research has recently been carried out in Toronto in which the possibility that the consumption of cannabis or any of its components has been explored reduce nervous tics typical of patients with Tourette syndrome
For it a marijuana-based treatment was administered to nineteen patients with this disorder, observing the results afterwards. Tics decreased in sixty percent of the cases, with eighteen of the nineteen participants noticing a high level of improvement. Furthermore, the level of tension and anxiety of individuals with this disorder was reduced.
However, in a large part of them, the administration of cannabis had side effects, mostly a decrease in the ability to concentrate and an increase in drowsiness.
Both in this and other experiments it seems that cannabis has an effect that reduces the activation of involuntary tics On the other hand, the same effect has also been seen in other symptoms, such as the obsessiveness, anxiety and irritability that these people tend to suffer from are reduced (although other studies have reflected opposite results). These are 4 beneficial effects with which this substance could improve the quality of life of patients with this disorder through medications based on this active ingredient.
These results are largely explained by the presence of cannabinoid receptors in the basal ganglia, structures that have altered functioning in patients with Tourette syndrome.
More research is needed
Although the data reflected by this study are promising, it must be taken into account that it was carried out with a very limited sample (of nineteen people), so The observations obtained must be verified in new studies Likewise, the possibility of complications not observed during the investigation must also be taken into account. A control group has not been used either, so the evidence cannot be contrasted with other patients to whom a placebo was applied.
However, the conclusions of this study could serve to open a way that would allow the creation of medication derived from cannabis that would allow the reduction of the symptoms of this syndrome.
