Bell's palsy and marijuana

It can be scary if your face is suddenly paralyzed. You're freaking out – but can medical marijuana help?

It's in the news and can be scary, especially since it affects about 1 in 70 people. As for the cure, what's even scarier is that the cause is unknown. The cause is thought to be swelling (inflammation) of the facial nerve in the area where it passes through the skull bones. The incidence is highest in people aged 40 years, but is most common in people under 10 and over 65 years. There is no cure and recovery takes about two weeks and can take up to six months to fully recover. What about Bell's palsy and marijuana – can it help, does it hurt?

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The disease usually comes on quickly and a key indicator is mild weakness to complete paralysis on one side of the face, occurring within hours to days. This includes a drooping face with difficulty in facial expressions, such as: B. closing an eye or smiling. Other symptoms include pain in the jaw or ear area of ​​the affected side, salivation, loss of taste and headache. It is important to seek medical help as quickly as possible. An important treatment is an oral steroid or antiviral medication. Taking it quickly at the beginning improves the prospect of a full recovery.

Photo by Julia Koblitz via Unsplash

Research has shown that marijuana does not cause or lead to Bell's palsy. People with diabetes have a higher risk of developing it. There also appears to be a connection with some viruses (including shingles, monovirus, rubella and mumps) that can cause the disease.

There is still research being done on this disease in general and very little has been done on whether the benefits of medical cannabis can help relieve symptoms. Inflammation is the main cause of Bell's palsy symptoms and THC/CBD has an anti-inflammatory effect. Although this may be promising, studies on dosage and more need to be conducted. In addition, the cannabinoids and terpenes contained in the cannabis plant promote nervous system health. So there are building blocks that can help, but so far no concrete data.

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Bell's palsy is often characterized by discomfort in various areas, such as the head, jaw, and behind the ear. Cannabis is good for addressing this problem as it helps the body manage pain and reduce pain signals in a timely manner. Always work with a healthcare professional when using medical marijuana for treatment.