Smoking of medicinal cannabis good for people with MS

The smoking of medicinal cannabis can alleviate symptoms of multiple sclerosis, according to a new study. Researchers from the University of California and San Diego found that MS patients who smoked cannabis less prone to pain and spasms.

During the study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal looked at 30 people with an average age of 50 years. Half of the participants walked on crutches and 20 percent of them was in a wheelchair. Some were randomly taken cannabis while others received placebo.

Positive results
After the study, researchers found that people who smoked cannabis had less spasms and extreme twitching. In addition, their pain has decreased significantly.

The cognitive functions were found to be going backwards, but the effect was short-lived. The researchers can determine whether future studies with varying doses of the same positive results can be achieved without the cognition of patients. In the United States, medical cannabis is currently legal in 16 states and in Wasington DC, The New York Times reports.

Myelin sheath
Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease that affects the central nervous system and it affect the brain. In the first phase of the disease is the myelin sheath of the nerve fibers affected in a random pattern by immune cells of the immune system. This leads to cognitive problems, muscle weakness, strange sensations and problems with balance and coordination.

It is the fifth study by the Center for Medicinal Cannabis Research at the University of California to the effects of cannabis use on diseases. All studies found a positive effect so far. Research by Professor Raymond Hupperts of the Academic MS Center Limburg showed previously that the immune system of MS patients are less infection sensitive if patients take vitamin D.