Nobody knows precisely how the HHC plant’s complex mix of compounds interacts with the brain—examining what occurs when our brain’s endogenous cannabis neurotransmitter system malfunctions is one method to increase our understanding. Restless Leg Syndrome is one ailment of special attention. Whether consuming HHC to treat it is beneficial for individuals suffering is still unclear. This guide will help clear out every doubt and question you all had regarding the effectiveness of HHC to treat restless leg syndrome.
What exactly is restless leg syndrome?
Restless leg syndrome (RLS), also known as Willis-Ekbom Disease or Wittmaack-Ekbom Syndrome, is a disorder in which sufferers feel tingling and itchy sensations in their legs, as well as an insatiable need to move them. Dr. Karl-Axel Ekbom, a Swedish neurologist, identified and defined the disease in 1943.
Restless Leg Syndrome often increases with age and frequently interferes with sleep. As the name implies, the primary symptom is an almost overwhelming need to move the legs. Getting up and moving about briefly alleviates the sensation; nevertheless, there is no treatment, and the symptoms may endure a lifetime. The efficacy of one innovative treatment sheds light on a possible connection between the endogenous cannabis neurotransmitter system and the neurotransmitter dopamine.
How can RLS affect lifestyle?
This sickness that develops in the evening is one of the most irritating aspects. As a result, patients frequently struggle to fall asleep and wake up at night. Therefore, RLS can substantially impact one’s quality of life.
Sleep loss, however, is not the only way RLS affects people’s lives. Patients’ pain and discomfort may cause them to avoid social situations requiring them to sit or stand for an extended time. People who are made to withdraw from social situations may experience loneliness, anxiety, and melancholy.
Up to 10% of the population in the United States is affected by RLS. Although it’s not yet proved that there is a proper cure for this illness, there is growing evidence that HHC may become beneficial in this situation.
What explains HHC’s advantages for Restless Leg Syndrome?
Individuals’ brains with Restless Leg Syndrome may be in a “hyper-dopaminergic state,” which means too much dopamine production inside the basal ganglia.
Recent research has linked chronic HHC usage to decreased dopamine production ability. Thus, HHC’s success in individuals with Restless Leg Syndrome may be attributed to its ability to inhibit excessive dopamine release and restore regular neuronal activity in the basal ganglia.
It is too early to declare that we comprehend the involvement of the brain’s endogenous cannabinoid system in RLS. However, as more knowledge becomes available, it may one day be feasible to develop effective HHC-like medications for a range of human brain problems.
The strains of HHC having sedative and pain-relieving properties may be beneficial for RLS. Look for solid strains in THC (to encourage sleepiness) and CBD to relieve anxiety since these are beneficial in helping users in getting a decent night’s sleep.
You may experience these strains’ calming and pain-relieving effects by smoking or vaping them for immediate relief. You may even turn them into foods, oils, or topical ointments, giving you several options. You may then keep track of which approaches are most effective for you!
What is dopamine’s function in the brain?
Each neurotransmitter’s function is entirely dependent on the function of the structure in which it is placed. The basal ganglion is an area deep inside your brain. The neurons in the basal ganglia are in charge of providing regular, smooth motions. Dopamine is substantially more abundant in these nuclei than in most other brain areas. As a result, scientists have established that dopamine inside the basal ganglia plays a vital role in movement regulation.
Furthermore, if we expose our brain to a medication that affects dopamine activity, our ability to move is severely hampered. Dopamine is essential for movement, and it is simple to understand how dopamine deficiency may play a role in Restless Leg Syndrome.
Dopamine is also located in the eye’s retina and hypothalamus, which have nothing to do with movement. Dopamine is released into tiny areas deep inside the frontal lobes, resulting in a pleasant sensation. It is not the sole “feel good” neurotransmitter in the brain. The release of acetylcholine in the septal region, for example, provides a sense of well-being and pleasure.
In contrast, releasing the neurotransmitters like enkephalin or anandamide inside the brain causes a sense of euphoria. Surprisingly, dopamine has almost little effect on the euphoria caused by HHC. In reality, HHC inhibits the release of dopamine, which is why dopamine levels rise when HHC is used. Essentially, dopamine levels in the brain increase after HHC usage because neurons cease producing it.
How can HHC help relieve RLS symptoms?
Restless leg syndrome has been discovered for quite some time, and no such direct treatment has been available to treat it. Medications, massages, warm baths, hot and cold compresses, foot wraps, and specific exercises were once the only therapies for RLS. But recently, experts have found CBD to hold the potential to treat this and become an alternate means of curing it. Previously, the only treatments for RLS were medications, massages, warm baths, hot and cold compresses, foot wraps, and particular exercises.
Medical HHC reduced RLS symptoms in a small sample of patients, according to research done at Bordeaux University Hospital’s Clinical Neurosciences Center. For the experiment, six RLS patients were given CBD-rich medical cannabis. Five of the six individuals said their symptoms were entirely gone after using HHC. All of the study’s participants reported improving their sleep once they completed their HHC medication.
Conclusion
For many persons suffering from restless leg syndrome (RLS), the worst aspect of the ailment isn’t only the unpleasant feelings they have to deal with. RLS may often have significant consequences for one’s overall quality of life. HHC may give relief from specific RLS symptoms. Even while further research is conducted to reveal HHC’s full potential for treating restless leg syndrome, many people believe it is worthwhile to try with the plant to find relief. Anecdotal tales may not be reliable, but the number of success stories is undoubtedly increasing. Hopefully, further studies on the use of HHC to treat RLS will be conducted shortly.