Restless
leg syndrome (RLS), also known as Willis-Ekbom Disease, affects 10% of
the population, yet it remains largely misunderstood,
both by the general public and the medical community. This condition can vary in severity, but in
most cases, it can cause, at the very least, incredible inconvenience due to
its discomfort and the way in which it can interfere with important daily tasks.
If you have restless leg syndrome, we understand that
you are probably desperate for relief.
This condition is very difficult to treat, and so many patients feel
hopeless that hey will ever experience the relief that they deserve. However, new evidence indicates that there
may be hope for patients after all, and it’s completely natural and
holistic. CBD, as it turns out, may hold
the key to treating the symptoms associated with restless leg syndrome.
CBD is a cannabinoid that’s abundant in the hemp plant. It’s extracted and combined with other
ingredients so that it may be used for wellness purposes. CBD is widely considered safe, even in large
doses and over extended periods of time.
And, it’s completely legal, and does not require a prescription.
What Exactly is Restless Leg Syndrome?
RLS is a condition which affects a person’s legs. The condition involves uncomfortable,
restless sensations in the legs, and these sensations result in an involuntary
urge to jerk them or shake them. The
legs can twitch sporadically or may feel as though they have fallen
asleep.
Restless leg syndrome seems to be intermittent for
many people, with most experiencing these sensations more frequently during the
evening hours compared to the daytime.
Also, it’s believed that people with the condition are more likely to
experience these symptoms when they have been sitting still for a long period
of time. Therefore, it’s safe to assume
that inactivity seems to make the symptoms worse.
One of the main problems with restless leg syndrome is
that it can dramatically interfere with a person’s ability to sleep. Due to the fact that these symptoms seem to
worsen during periods of inactivity, many sufferers find that when they are
lying down to go to bed, their legs twitch uncontrollably every minute, which
makes it nearly impossible to doze off.
This, of course, can lead to additional problems, as sleep deprivation
can interfere with day-to-day function.
RLS Causes
One of the problems with restless leg syndrome is that
there is no known cause. However,
medical researchers believe that genetic factors may come into play. It’s possible that certain genetic variations
can increase the likelihood of developing the condition, and it seems that it
is passed down from generation to generation.
It is believed that dopamine production comes into
play as well. It seems that restless leg
syndrome may stem from an interrupted dopamine pathway that leads to
involuntary jerking of parts of the body.
This is why those who suffer from Parkinson’s Disease seem to be more
likely to develop restless leg syndrome as the disease progresses.
Also, there are other factors that may contribute to
the development of restless leg syndrome.
These include alcohol abuse, nicotine use, certain types of anemia,
neuropathy and the use of certain medications used to treat other ailments.
Symptoms
The only real symptoms associated with restless leg
syndrome are an uncomfortable feeling of restlessness in the legs, and the
feeling of relief upon moving the legs.
Also, some may experience twitching and jerking of the legs that seems
to be involuntary.
Diagnosing It
Restless leg syndrome cannot be diagnosed using
concrete diagnostic methods such as blood tests. A doctor will determine whether or not a
patient has restless leg syndrome based on the patient’s testimony of their
symptoms. The doctor will ask a series
of questions, and possibly use certain tests to rule out nerve damage and other
neurological conditions.
Are There Any Current Treatments?
It’s notoriously difficult to treat restless leg
syndrome. In most cases, a doctor will
perform certain tests in order to rule out any conditions that may contribute
to restless leg syndrome onset, such as anemia and Parkinson’s. Then, a doctor will likely use medication to
treat this condition, and so restless leg syndrome will likely be treated as
well.
However, there are no known medications specifically
for this condition. Instead, doctors aim
to treat side effects of the condition such as insomnia and any pain that can
result from twitching and jerking the legs.
Could CBD Help with RLS?
While there have been no specific clinical studies in
order to observe the effects of CBD specifically on restless leg syndrome
sufferers, many members of the medical community believe that this cannabinoid
can actually help treat this condition. Various
clinical researchers have observed that CBD can help alleviate the symptoms of
this condition due to the fact that there are cannabinoid receptors found along
the nerves of the legs, and that these cannabinoid receptors respond to CBD
intake by regulating nerve function. In fact, you can easily find lots of
anecdotal evidence of doctors using CBD to treat restless leg syndrome with
much success, whereas before, they were unable to treat it at all with other
methods.
Additionally, CBD can absolutely help with side
effects caused by the condition, such as sleeplessness and irritability due to
the discomfort that is caused by these sensations.
Also, CBD
seems to help regulate the brain’s dopamine production while improving the
dopamine pathways, and, as we said earlier, medical experts
have found a link between dopamine pathway interference and restless leg
syndrome.
How to Take CBD for Restless Leg Syndrome
If you want to try to take CBD in order to potentially
treat restless leg syndrome, first we must urge you to seek out a full spectrum
CBD product. Full spectrum CBD contains
all of the potentially beneficial compounds found in the hemp plant, including
CBD, other cannabinoids and terpenes.
When all of these compounds are taken together, the likelihood of
finding relief increases dramatically.
You also want to strive to find the highest-quality
CBD that you can find. Look for a
company that displays third-party lab results on their website. These results indicate the quality, potency
and purity of the CBD that they put into their formulas.
We suggest that you take CBD orally in addition to
topically. Topically, CBD can be
massaged into the leg, and once it absorbs into the skin, it has the potential
to benefit nerve function. When taken
orally, it can provide more widespread effects, can aid in sleep and can
potentially provide more potent relief.
Take CBD daily for the best results. The endocannabinoid system seems to use CBD
most efficiently when a person takes it daily, allowing it to accumulate. And, you can always increase your dose
incrementally after a few weeks of taking the suggested amount.
If you are on other medications, we suggest that you
speak to your doctor before taking CBD.
Because your doctor knows your medical history, they will want to be
aware of anything that you are using to treat the condition.
The Potential RLS Relief is There
This unpleasant condition may be misunderstood, but
what we do know is that CBD seems to have the unique ability to make many of
the symptoms more manageable. If you or
someone you know is dealing with this condition, we recommend speaking with
your doctor and starting a CBD regimen.
Use the guide above to get started.
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