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Best CBD Oil For Parkinsons: Does It Really Help In 2024?
Updated on
- Written by Kathy Shattler, MS, RDN
Medically reviewed by
Kimberly Langdon, MD
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CBDfx
- Third-party lab tested
- Organically grown
- Non-GMO
- Wide variety of products
- Full-spectrum
25% Off Coupon: HEALTHCANAL
Spruce CBD
- Third-party lab tested
- 100% Natural
- No pesticides
- Full spectrum
15% Off Coupon: HEALTHCANAL
Joy Organics
- Organic
- Free from THC
- Uses nanotechnology
25% Off Coupon: HEALTHCANAL
Parkinson disease is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder globally. It affects dopamine-producing brain cells, although the cause remains largely unknown. There is no cure, and treatment currently includes medication and surgery.
Although Parkinson’s Disease (PD) itself is not fatal, severe complications can arise, and the Centers for Disease Control lists it as the 14th cause of death in the world.
Best CBD For Parkinsons On The Market In (September. 2024)
- CBDfx – Editor’s Choice
- Spruce CBD – Best Option
- Joy Organics – Best Absorption
- CBDPure – Best Priced
- Medterra – Best Quality
CBD Oil For Parkinson’s
CBD oil can help with various health issues, significantly in pain and high blood pressure.
Preliminary research[1] has found that CBD oil may help with treating quality-of-life issues in patients without psychotic symptoms. Another study showed the effectiveness of CBD in the treatment[2] of psychosis in PD patients. The treatment did not worsen motor functions, and one of CBD’s benefits was that it alleviated the psychotic symptoms present in PD patients.
There are clear advantages to using CBD oil for Parkinson’s in the relief of non-movement-related symptoms, not to mention it may have neuroprotective effects as part of the treatment.
While few studies exist as to CBD’s potential benefits on movement disorder treatment in PD, clinical and pre-clinical research has shown a reversal of catalepsy in rodent[3] models. And, dose-related improvement in dystonia[4] was noted with CBD oil in five patients in an open-label study on movement disorders.
The improvement ranged from 20% – 50% in its effects on dystonia symptoms of Parkinson’s. More research is needed on CBD’s effects on the nervous system in general and on the motor and non-motor symptoms, specifically in people with Parkinson’s.
While evidence exists as to the positive effects that CBD may have on PD patients’ quality of life issues, such is not the case for medical marijuana. There is insufficient evidence[5] as of the last updated study in 2020 to indicate medical marijuana’s usefulness in treating PD patients’ motor symptoms.
Evidence suggests it should only be considered on a trial basis for non-refractory issues such as pain. Symptoms of Parkinson’s should be treated with a CBD product as opposed to medical marijuana. Using CBD is safer than medical marijuana for treating Parkinson’s symptoms.
The following are the five best CBD oils for Parkinson’s in 2024.
Best CBD Oil For Parkinsons In 2024
CBDfx
25% Off Coupon: HEALTHCANAL
This innovative company, which started in 2015, hosts a wide variety of products that it sells nationally and internationally.
- Third-party tested
- Non-GMO
- Organically grown
- Wide variety of products
- Full-spectrum
- Important information not readily available
- Returns are not convenient
CBDfx extracts its oils from hemp grown in Europe or Kentucky, where it is then shipped to southern California for further processing. CBDfx uses organic farming techniques and CO2 extraction to guarantee the finest CBD oils it can produce. CO2 is widely considered the safest option for the extraction of hemp.
CBDfx manufactures full-spectrum oil. Being full-spectrum, you are guaranteed the entourage effect that enhances the beneficial functions of CBD. Full-spectrum means you have the advantage of terpenes, flavonoids, and all the cannabinoids.
The product line is widely diverse, from those supplements made for pets’ use to those for the use of the rest of us like tinctures, oils, drinkable shots, sublingual strips in fun flavors, and capsules. CBD treatment can be fun and full of variety.
Spruce CBD Oil
15% Off Coupon: HEALTHCANAL
Spruce is a family-run CBD brand that offers high-quality, third-party lab-tested, full-spectrum oil made from one of the finest, oldest hemp strains in the United States.
- Third-party lab tested
- 100% Natural
- No pesticides
- Full-spectrum
- Costs more than average
- Only two potencies
Spruce is a CBD brand established in Raleigh, NC, in 2018. The company prides itself on making American-made CBD products.
It obtains its CBD from a time-tested strain grown in the United States for over 200 years. Its CBD is grown on family-run organic farms in North Carolina and Kentucky. Spruce is a full-spectrum oil containing both CBD and THC (at levels < 0.3%) plus terpenes, flavonoids, and natural plant nutrients. Spruce has usually been rated as one of the best CBD brands for several health issues.
Its CBD is unique in that the extraction is from a moonshine-type fashion with the use of alcohol rather than CO2 extraction. Alcohol extraction is both safe and effective.
CBD Spruce produces a full-spectrum product, meaning you get the full effects of the endocannabinoid system’s effects with all the terpenes, flavonoids, and nutrients from the original plant.
The oil has a pleasant peppermint flavor and comes in two potencies in 30 ml bottles. It comes in 25 mg of CBD per ml (750 mg) and 80 mg of CBD per ml (2400 mg).
Like all good CBD products, Spruce uses third-party testing to guarantee purity and freshness in delivering CBD’s benefits in all of its CBD products.
Joy Organics
25% Off Coupon: HEALTHCANAL
The company prides itself on its transport to all U.S. states and on its freedom from harsh metals, THC, and gluten. It is also organic and Farm Bill compliant.[6]
- Organic
- Free from THC
- Nanotechnology
- Unclear sourcing
- Lack of international shipping
- Not recommended for vegans
Joy Organic uses only phytocannabinoid-rich hemp that contains a range of 112 cannabinoids in its CBD oils! Most CBD oils have some THC in them, but Joy Organic does not have a trace of it in their products. However, the user may still benefit from the full entourage effect of all 112 cannabinoids!
The products go through a testing process whereby a Certificate of Quality Assurance and a Certificate of Analysis are generated by both in-house testing and a third-party lab. Both of these are indicators of purity and standard of quality.
Joy Organic prides itself on using only the finest U.S.-grown hemp. Standards at American hemp farms are higher than those in other countries. The oil products come in four flavors, orange, tranquil, natural, and mint. Along with the four flavors come four different potencies, 250, 500, 1000, and 1500 mg per bottle.
The oil itself undergoes a process to make it more bioavailable, a nanotechnology emulsion technique that involves breaking down the molecule into smaller, more digestible components. The company does not charge its shipping fees, thus saving the customer valuable money.
CBDPure Hemp Oil 300
15% Off Coupon: HEALTHCANAL
CBD Pure offers affordable products that provide excellent results in different dosage options.
- CO2 extraction
- Organically grown
- Affordable
- No Pesticides
- Only two choices
- Limited flavor options
This organic farm began in 2016 in Colorado with a mission to provide the best CBD product on the market. The farm does not use any pesticides or herbicides on its organic ranch.
The third party tests all of its products to guarantee freshness and purity to its customers and even provide a downloadable version of its test to any given location. They are affordable and even offer coupons to help defray expenses. These coupons are available at check-out for all CBD products.
The natural flavoring is because all of the plant residues were removed during CO2 extraction. It is noticeable in the lack of green tint to the oil, and the softgels are tasteless. Their formula allows for the entourage effect’s full expression, and the oil contains all the terpenes, flavonoids, and nutrients from the original plant. THC is < 0.3%.
To prove confidence in their product, CBD Pure offers a 100% guarantee on all of its products so that if you are not entirely satisfied, you can return the product and get your money back within 90 days.
Medterra
15% Off Coupon: HEALTHCANAL
This is a pure CBD oil without additives or THC and is highly affordable, making it a solid CBD oil for Parkinson’s.
- Broad-spectrum
- Wide variety of CBD products
- Third-party lab tested
- No flavored options
Medterra is a reputable brand with various CBD products to choose from, including creams, tinctures, edibles, oils, and supplements. The gold standard CO2 extraction method is used to remove all impurities and THC.
Its wide variety of products all come with a detailed third-party Certificate of Analysis of its potency and contaminants. Better yet, it is certified by the U.S. Hemp Authority, which issues guidelines on stringent hemp processing.
Some of the products come in liposomal form, a highly bioavailable form of CBD. Other products can be combined with synergistic compounds such as melatonin or lemon balm. There is a full refund policy if you send back the product within 30 days, no questions asked!
What Are The Symptoms Of Parkinson’s Disease?
The symptoms of Parkinson’s are as varied as the disease itself. And, the progression of the illness is individual, with some experiencing faster declines in their nervous system function than others. Symptoms fall into two broad classes, motor symptoms and non-motor symptoms.
Non-motor symptoms include loss of memory, loss of attention span, constipation, early satiety, sleep disorders, anxiety, pain, vision problems, loss of taste or smell, hallucinations, fatigue, psychotic symptoms, and sweating.
Motor symptoms include tremors, rigidity, slowness of movement, dystonia (involuntary contraction of muscles), drooling, dizziness or fainting, stooped posture, movement disorders, facial masking, uncontrollable movements, and postural instability.
The slowness of movement (bradykinesia) must be present along with rigidity or tremor for a diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease to be made.
CBD Oil Treatment For Parkinson’s
Does CBD Help Parkinson’s?
CBD hasn’t been used in Parkinson’s Disease patients long term, and there are few studies to rely on for treatment guidance. Recently, a Phase II clinical trial was completed on CBD’s role in the treatment of Parkinson’s Disease. Treatment outcomes were positive[7] for sleep, depression, behavior, emotion, anxiety, and cognition. Improvements in psychotic features were seen as well.
About 20-40% of PD patients experience psychotic symptoms.[8] And, treatment with antipsychotics may bring out Parkinson-like symptoms. Taking CBD may relieve pain associated with PD, although research favors THC for this effect.
CBD oil for Parkinson’s symptom treatment can be in the form of edibles, oils, tinctures, ointments, vape cartridges, and creams. Topical CBD can be used for muscle spasms so common in patients with PD, and oils can be used to relieve symptoms faster.
However, data is lacking regarding this mode of delivery. Tinctures also offer speedy effects as a way to take CBD. The only FDA-approved way of taking CBD, however, is through the drug Epidiolex although its benefits have been shown from other CBD oils.[9]
What Are The Side Effects Of CBD Treatment?
The user of CBD may experience[4] hypotension, dry mouth, sedation, and light-headedness. The most common side effects of the use of Epidiolex, a CBD isolate, include decreased appetite, diarrhea, liver enzyme elevation, fatigue, malaise, sleep disorders, weight loss, and rashes. Side effects are seen more often with a higher dose of CBD treatment in people with Parkinson’s Disease.
CBD Oil For Tremors
Acute administration of CBD at a dose of 300 mg significantly reduced tremors[10] in a PD patient put in a high anxiety-producing situation. This study found that having someone take CBD may help with a movement-related disorder in an anxious patient with Parkinson’s.
CBD Oil For Dystonia
An oral dosage of CBD for Parkinson’s was administered to five patients varying in strength from 100-600 mg/day. Dose-related improvement[4] was noted in all patients, although doses above 300 mg/day increased resting tremor and hypokinesia.
CBD Dosage For Parkinson’s Disease
The recommended dosage for Epidiolex, an FDA-approved CBD drug, is to start at 2.5 mg/kg/d twice daily up to a maximum of 10- 20 mg/kg/d. This dose may be higher than what is used in many clinical trials on CBD.
This means that an adult weighing 130 lbs., which is 59 kg (130 lbs divided by 2.2 lb/kg), would make 20 x 59 kg = 1180 milligrams of CBD/day taken in divided doses.
This is much higher than what we are seeing in current studies on CBD oil and PD. Doses in clinical trials using CBD oil are 100-600 mg/day on people with Parkinson’s and increased side-effects with dosages higher than 300[4] mg/day.
The oil may precipitate unwanted effects at higher doses of CBD. More research is needed to come up with the number of milligrams of CBD to use and the dose of CBD to give per day.
Pay attention to your dosage in your use of CBD. It is recommended that you ask your health professional for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Read the label on the bottle for dosage guidance or ask your healthcare professional for medical advice.
It is always good to start with low doses and go slow, paying close attention to how you feel and at what dose your symptoms may improve without making things worse. In no time, you may experience an increase in your quality of life in the long term.
How To Administer CBD Oil For Parkinson’s Disease
Commercial CBD oil may come in 30 ml bottles with a 1 ml dropper in it. The 30 ml vial concentration will differ, so if you have a 500-milligram bottle, each 1 ml dropper will contain 50 milligrams in one dropper-full of CBD. The label should have a table of contents indicating the dose per bottle and dropper.
For the fastest absorption and effects of CBD, squeeze the oil onto the back of the underside of your tongue for rapid absorption through the blood vessel located directly under the tongue. Most CBD bypasses the gastrointestinal tract, and this increases the rate of absorption.
The fastest absorption method is achieved with the use of vape pens. You may experience effects within minutes of using a vape pen. CBD’s effects are noted within minutes of vaping.
Final Thought
Parkinson’s Disease represents an inflammatory condition within the brain. One of CBD’s functions is as an anti-inflammatory compound. It mediates the effects of inflammatory[3] cytokines involved in PD’s neuroinflammation. Thus, one of CBD’s potential advantages is that of an anti-inflammatory. CBD may also act as an antioxidant[11] in the oxidative stress associated with PD. CBD might protect the brain cells from oxidation and inflammation.
People with Parkinson’s Disease may have a decreased quality of life. CBD oil for Parkinson’s may help[12] relieve anxiety, depression, pain, and insomnia, and, thus, improve the quality of life.
Frequently Asked Questions
Since research is limited on THC and its effects on Parkinson’s patients, the best CBD oil to go with is purified to contain mostly CBD with little to no THC. A high-quality CBD product that has a Certificate of Analysis and is third-party tested should be chosen.
Yes. It appears that CBD at doses greater than 300 mg/day[4] can aggravate resting tremors and promote a slowing of movement or bradykinesia.
Ewe-2 Kush is probably the best strain with 1% THC for the person diagnosed with Parkinson’s.
CBD’s benefits include the dampening of non-motor and motor symptoms associated with PD. The use of CBD may improve the quality of life of PD patients.
Currently, 33 states have legalized medical cannabis use. CBD is legal to sell in all states.
Yes. Potential drug interactions may occur with drugs metabolized by the CYP2C19 enzyme pathway, which include Soma, valproic acid, warfarin, diazepam, Dilantin, and proton-pump inhibitors. Other drug interactions may occur that lessen the effects of amlodipine, atorvastatin, bupropion, fentanyl, topiramate, and others. It is best to consult a pharmacist or other health professional for drug interactions.
Sandalwood oil[13] may act as a neuroprotectant for brain disorders through its antioxidant actions and protection against reactive oxygen species (ROS).
+ 13 sources
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- Hortes, M. (2014). Effects of cannabidiol in the treatment of patients with Parkinson’s disease: An exploratory double-blind trial – Marcos Hortes N Chagas, Antonio W Zuardi, Vitor Tumas, Márcio Alexandre Pena-Pereira, Emmanuelle T Sobreira, Mateus M Bergamaschi, Antonio Carlos dos Santos, Antonio Lucio Teixeira, Jaime EC Hallak, José Alexandre S Crippa, 2014. [online] Journal of Psychopharmacology. Available at: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0269881114550355.
- AW (2021). Cannabidiol for the treatment of psychosis in Parkinson’s disease – AW Zuardi, Jas Crippa, JEC Hallak, JP Pinto, MHN Chagas, GGR Rodrigues, SM Dursun, V. Tumas, 2009. [online] Journal of Psychopharmacology. Available at: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0269881108096519.
- Peres, F.F., Lima, A.C., Hallak, J.E.C., Crippa, J.A., Silva, R.H. and Abílio, V.C. (2018). Cannabidiol as a Promising Strategy to Treat and Prevent Movement Disorders? Frontiers in Pharmacology, [online] 9. doi:10.3389/fphar.2018.00482.
- International Journal of Neuroscience. (2022). Open label evaluation of cannabidiol in dystonic movement disorders. [online] Available at: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.3109/00207458608985678.
- Bougea, A., Koros, C., Simitsi, A.-M., Chrysovitsanou, C., Leonardos, A. and Stefanis, L. (2020). Medical cannabis as an alternative therapeutics for Parkinsons’ disease: Systematic review. Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice, [online] 39, p.101154. doi:10.1016/j.ctcp.2020.101154.
- Abernethy, A. (2019). Hemp Production and the 2018 Farm Bill. [online] U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Available at: https://www.fda.gov/news-events/congressional-testimony/hemp-production-and-2018-farm-bill-07252019.
- Pauli, C.S., Conroy, M., Vanden Heuvel, B.D. and Park, S.-H. (2020). Cannabidiol Drugs Clinical Trial Outcomes and Adverse Effects. Frontiers in Pharmacology, [online] 11. doi:10.3389/fphar.2020.00063.
- Zahodne, L.B. and Fernandez, H.H. (2010). Parkinson’s Psychosis. Current Treatment Options in Neurology, [online] 12(3), pp.200–211. doi:10.1007/s11940-010-0072-y.
- Junior, N.C.F., dos-Santos-Pereira, M., Guimarães, F.S. and Del Bel, E. (2019). Cannabidiol and Cannabinoid Compounds as Potential Strategies for Treating Parkinson’s Disease and l-DOPA-Induced Dyskinesia. Neurotoxicity Research, [online] 37(1), pp.12–29. doi:10.1007/s12640-019-00109-8.
- Martins, S. (2020). Effects of acute cannabidiol administration on anxiety and tremors induced by a Simulated Public Speaking Test in patients with Parkinson’s disease – Stephanie Martins de Faria, Daiene de Morais Fabrício, Vitor Tumas, Paula Costa Castro, Moacir Antonelli Ponti, Jaime EC Hallak, Antonio W Zuardi, José Alexandre S Crippa, Marcos Hortes Nisihara Chagas, 2020. [online] Journal of Psychopharmacology. Available at: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0269881119895536.
- García-Arencibia, M., González, S., de Lago, E., Ramos, J.A., Mechoulam, R. and Fernández-Ruiz, J. (2007). Evaluation of the neuroprotective effect of cannabinoids in a rat model of Parkinson’s disease: Importance of antioxidant and cannabinoid receptor-independent properties. Brain Research, [online] 1134, pp.162–170. doi:10.1016/j.brainres.2006.11.063.
- Rieder, C.R. (2020). Cannabidiol in Parkinson’s disease. Brazilian Journal of Psychiatry, [online] 42(2), pp.126–127. doi:10.1590/1516-4446-2019-0810.
- Mohankumar, A., Shanmugam, G., Kalaiselvi, D., Levenson, C., Nivitha, S., Thiruppathi, G. and Sundararaj, P. (2018). East Indian sandalwood (Santalum album L.) oil confers neuroprotection and geroprotection inCaenorhabditis elegans viaactivating SKN-1/Nrf2 signaling pathway. RSC Advances, [online] 8(59), pp.33753–33774. doi:10.1039/c8ra05195j.
Written by:
Kathy Shattler, MS, RDN
Medically reviewed by:
Medically reviewed by:
