Tourette Syndrome is a rare disorder in children. There are very few people living with this disorder in the world. The total number is unknown. Tourette’s Syndrome is one of few neurological disorders that affect the basal ganglia part of the brain. There are few medications available to treat Tourette’s, and they include dangerous potential side effects. CBD is a potential natural cure for Tourette’s syndrome.
Studies are beginning to unravel the effects and benefits of CBD on Tourette’s syndrome. There is a glimpse of hope as CBD for Tourette’s Syndrome might help with this neurological disorder.
What is Tourette’s Syndrome?
Tourette syndrome is a disorder that involves repetitive movements or unwanted sounds (tics) that can’t be controlled. For instance, you might repeatedly blink your eyes, shrug your shoulders or blurt out unusual sounds or offensive words.
Tics typically show up between ages 2 and 15, with the average being around 6 years of age. Males are about three to four times more likely than females to develop Tourette syndrome.
Although there’s no cure for Tourette syndrome, treatments are available. Many people with Tourette syndrome don’t need treatment when symptoms aren’t troublesome. Tics often lessen or become controlled after the teen years.
Symptoms of Tourette’s Syndrome
Tics are sudden, brief, intermittent movements or sounds. They are the hallmark sign of Tourette syndrome. They can range from mild to severe. Severe symptoms might significantly interfere with communication, daily functioning, and quality of life.
Tics are classified as:
- Simple tics. These sudden, brief, and repetitive tics involve a limited number of muscle groups.
- Complex tics. These distinct, coordinated patterns of movement involve several muscle groups.
Tics can also involve movement (motor tics) or sounds (vocal tics). Motor tics usually begin before vocal tics do. But the spectrum of tics that people experience is diverse.
Also, tics can:
- Vary in type, frequency, and severity
- Worse if you’re ill, stressed, anxious, tired or excited
- Occur during sleep
- Change over time
- Worsen in the early teenage years and improve during the transition into adulthood
Before the onset of motor or vocal tics, you’ll likely experience an uncomfortable sensation. The premonitory urge such as an itch, a tingle, or tension. Expression of the tic brings relief. With great effort, some people with Tourette syndrome can temporarily stop or hold back a tic.
Causes of Tourette’s Syndrome
Genetics
Tourette Syndrome is often hereditary. researchers believe that genes contribute to the onset of this disorder. But it is possible that the interaction of various factors, both genetic and environmental, leads to Tourette Syndrome.
Environment
Exposure to stressors such as smoking during pregnancy is one possible environmental risk. This is for the start of Tourette Syndrome. Additionally, complications during pregnancy could contribute to this disorder as well. They include low birth weight or the use of forceps during delivery. Newer studies are now looking at the effects of psychosocial stress on tic severity. This is to understand how an individual affected by Tourette’s can be affected by his/her environment.
Benefits of CBD for Tourette’s Syndrome
1. CBD can help reduce the frequency of tics
Researchers take interest in the possibility that CBD could help reduce the occurrence of tics in Tourette’s patients. There are some published papers and research about this possibility. A study was carried out by researchers in Hanover, Germany. it shows that 17 of 64 Tourette’s Syndrome patients reported use of CBD. about 14 out of them claim that the symptoms are partially gone. For some, there was a complete relief following its use.
The German researchers went on to conduct more studies into cannabis and the reduction of tics. all of which found that the majority of patients experienced significant relief after using CBD. They also found that very few patients experienced side effects. It’s thought that cannabis can similarly reduce TS tics to other dystonia-inducing conditions, like Parkinson’s.
2. Cannabidiol (CBD) helps with sleep-related symptoms of Tourette’s
People who suffer from the disorder tend to have problems going to sleep. There might be no sufficient research to prove this yet, but there is evidence that CBD could help with these sleep-related issues. Tourette’s causes delayed sleep which increases sleep latency. It is well known that CBD helps to induce sleep in users. CBD can help people living with Tourette’s to sleep better and faster.
Some Tourette’s patients experience more tics while sleeping. This has robbed them of peaceful night sleep. CBD can help to lessen the tics, at the same time, give enough rest to the body. They are also less able to remain asleep through the night, another problem with insomnia that CBD can help treat.
3. CBD could minimize anger and rage from Tourette’s
One major issue that this disorder brings mostly in children is outbursts, aggression, and rage. It occurs mostly in at least 25% of children and few adults suffering from Tourette’s syndrome. Most times outburst leads to provocation and frustration in victims. It can lead to major injuries or self-harm. this puts the patients and people around them at great risk or danger. CBD’s ability to help with this aggression has not gone through medical research. But there are substantial pieces of evidence that CBD does have a benefit and positive impact on aggression.
4. It helps to control Anxiety in People with Tourette’s
CBD has a record of dealing with anxiety caused by general issues or chronic diseases. Tourette’s syndrome spikes anxiety in people living it. They get anxious about their association with people and in managing their social lives. CBD could help control anxiety and panic relief. Once again, there is no proof or research to show for the treatment of anxiety in people having this disorder.
Conclusion
Some studies show that CBD could help with other medications used for Tourette’s syndrome. However, we need more research to look into the probabilities of CBD or Cannabis as a whole being the cure for Tourette’s syndrome. It is also advisable to consult your medical practitioner before self-medicating on CBD. Certain dosages are advised for treatment.
