For those people who live with restless leg syndrome, it’s likely they will do almost anything possible to help with their symptoms and get some relief.
Recently, many people living with this condition have started looking at alternative types of therapies and treatment to help relieve their symptoms. One of those possible treatments that some people recommend is CBD.
Even though it’s been recommended to help with restless leg syndrome, people will want to know if it works before trying it since it’s such a controversial treatment option.
So, does CBD work to help relieve the symptoms of restless leg syndrome? In short, yes for some people it does make a big difference.
There is more that you need to know about CBD before making the choice as to whether you want to try it and if it’s right for you.
A Few Terms You’ll Need To Know
If you’ve never used CBD, or any other cannabis product, before you may not be familiar with the terms of this product and what certain things mean.
That’s ok – here is a brief introduction for a few terms you’ll need to know before you start shopping or considering buying CBD.
There are three main types or kinds of CBD that you will be able to purchase.
Isolate: this is a product that only has CBD in it and does not include any added cannabinoids.
Full-spectrum: this would include any naturally occurring cannabinoids from the plant itself, plus it would contain tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).
Broad-spectrum: these products would contain the naturally occurring cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant itself but would not contain any THC.
It’s important to understand that THC is the psychoactive compound found in cannabis, and it can cause the user to get a “high” – depending on how much product is used.
Can CBD Help With Restless Leg Syndrome?
There isn’t very much research so far on the effects of CBD on restless leg syndrome. It’s a relatively new treatment, but that doesn’t mean there hasn’t been some research done.
Luckily there are a few things we definitely have been able to conclude about CBD and its effectiveness on restless leg syndrome.
Dopamine Synthesis
According to a few different studies, restless leg syndrome is associated with a disruption in the brain’s dopamine pathways.
Research into cannabis and restless leg syndrome shows long-term cannabis use was linked with lower dopamine synthesis capacity.
This outcome has been used to explain the effectiveness of CBD with restless leg syndrome.
Using CBD Oil With Restless Leg Syndrome
If you haven’t used a CBD, or cannabis product, before then you may not be aware as to how to use or consume the product. It’s really easy, though.
You’ll want to make sure that you shake the bottle well, first, before taking it. Most oil bottles will come with a dropper so you can put the dropper under your tongue and hold it there for about 30 seconds before swallowing.
If you prefer, you can mix the oil with food or drinks however this could affect the absorption of it or its effectiveness.
How Much CBD Should A Person Use?
Well the dosing amount for each person is going to be different based on a number of factors.
- Body weight
- Body chemistry
- Metabolism
- Intended use
Finding the right amount for you might take a little bit of trial and error, especially if you have varying symptoms and there are worse at certain times.
The best idea is to start slowly and work your way up in dosing – especially if you have never tried it before. Take a look at the recommended dose on the packaging or talk to your doctor about how much they would suggest taking.
If needed, you can always increase the dose to give you the relief you’re looking for to help ease your symptoms.
For most people, doses can be taken anywhere from 4 to 6 hours apart at any point during the day. It has been found that if you are taking it at night to help ease restless leg syndrome symptoms, most people have found that taking it about an hour before bed makes the most difference and helps best.
How Do You Choose The Right CBD Oil?
Since CBD has really grown in popularity in the last little while, many companies are quick to market with a number of different products.
It’s important to remember that just because a company has a CBD product, it doesn’t mean that it’s a good product or the right product for you.
There are a few ways you can make sure that the product you’re choosing is a quality one and you will be able to experience the relief you’re looking for. Here’s what you may want to look for.
Product Testing
It’s important to make sure the product you’re choosing has up to date testing from a reputable third-party lab.
This part is really important as it will indicate if the product contains the amount of CBD and THC that the label claims it does. Additionally, it will indicate that the product passed testing for other contaminants like mold, heavy metals or pesticides.
The third-party testing is important as a company who produces the product isn’t going to be the one who says it’s not good. The lab testing it doesn’t have any risk factors so they can test it completely independently.
Product And Company Transparency
The best CBD companies will be very transparent about where their hemp is grown and how they make all their products.
If you can’t determine where the raw product comes from, you may want to stay clear of this company.
Ingredient List
Like any other product you will buy for consumption, you want to know the ingredients that are in it.
With CBD, take a look at the ingredients before you buy a bottle of it. You can check for any ingredients you may be allergic to or have a reaction to.
Additionally, there may be added ingredients that can specifically help with restless leg syndrome (or another condition you have that you’re looking for help with).
Brand Reputation
Does the company you’re buying from have pending lawsuits or FDA warning letters? If so, this may be a brand that you don’t want to buy, and make sure you stay way from.
Some quick searching before you buy, or asking around for recommendations can save you from buying a product that isn’t the right one for you or isn’t going to help with your condition.
Is CBD Really Safe?
Generally speaking, according to most medical professionals, CBD is relatively safe for most people to consume.
There are some people are who have side effects from taking CBD. These side effects may fade over time, but could include
- Diarrhea
- Fatigue
- Changes in weight
- Changes in appetite
Before you take any CBD you may want to talk to your doctor to make sure it won’t interfere with any medications you’re currently taking. For the most part it’s considered safe but there could be some medications it will negatively interfere with.
CBD And Pregnancy
There are some cases of women experiencing restless leg syndrome when they are pregnant, and it’s temporary for them.
While the symptoms are going to be the same as anyone else who experiences this condition, it’s really important that they do not use CBD to treat it.
It’s really strongly recommended that those who are pregnant do not use CBD oil for any reason as it can negatively interact and cause issues with the pregnancy.
So, Should You Use CBD For Your Restless Leg Syndrome?
There isn’t any evidence to say it negatively impacts restless leg syndrome, and for many people it provides a lot of relief from the pain and discomfort they feel.
The amount of CBD needed will depend on the person taking it, and on the severity of the symptoms experienced.
If you have a mild case of restless leg syndrome, you may only need to take CBD when you have severe symptoms that are really preventing you from sleeping at night or getting comfortable at all.
As time goes on, you may find you need a little more in terms of a dose to help with the symptoms as they become more severe or you become immune to the effects of CBD.
There hasn’t been a lot of research into the effects of long-term use of CBD oil as it is relatively new in terms of its use for medical treatment. There isn’t anything to suggest it will negatively impact your health if you choose to use this as a treatment option.
You may only want to use CBD when the symptoms are really bad and you can’t sleep at all, or haven’t had a good sleep in days.
If you have concerns about using CBD you can always talk to your doctor to see if they believe this is the right option for you, and if it will work for you. There are many different types of CBD oil available on the market, so they may also have some good recommendations based on what their other patients have been using successfully.
