Medical Marijuana: Reducing Spasticity in Multiple Sclerosis Patients

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a neurologic disease that affects the Central Nervous System (CNS) through cellular immune response and the demyelination of CNS white matter (McCance et al., 2014, pp. 630–633). The initial causes of MS are unknown however, it is believed that it could possibly be due to an immune response to an initiating infection or an autoimmune response to CNS antigens on the myelin itself (Brück, 2005) (Miljković and Spasojević, 2013). MS is a result of the degradation of the myelin sheath surrounding neurons and therefore disrupts the transmission of action potentials along these cells. MS can display itself in the form of symptoms ranging from muscle weakness to trouble with sensation and coordination (NHS, 2016). The degradation of myelin leads the body to attempt to remyelinate the neurons, a process that in turn leads to the thickening of the cell by glial cells and this causes lesions to form (Chari, 2007). It is this thickening (sclerae) from which the disease gets its name. Sufferers of MS can either have a relapsing type of MS, in which there are episodes that lead to the worsening of symptoms for a period of time, or a progressive type of MS where symptoms gradually progress and worsen (McCance et al., 2014, pp. 630–633).

Multiple Sclerosis, commonly known as MS is an autoimmune disease of the central nervous system. Scientists have been studying MS since the 19th century. In MS, the body’s immune system produces cells and antibodies that attack myelin in your brain which is essential for the nerves in your brain and spinal cord to conduct electricity to perform its function. The attack on myelin results in vison loss, paralysis, numbness, muscle weakness, difficulty walking, stiffness, spasms, and bladder and bowel problems. MS has varying degrees of severity and affects people between the ages of 20-50, mostly women. Although there are treatments, there is no cause and cure yet.

“Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disease in which your immune system attacks the protective sheath (myelin) that covers your nerves” (Mayo Clinic). The immune system is a defensive system that protects your body from diseases and illnesses such as parasites and bacteria (Science Museum). Not only does your immune system defend the human body but also the immune system can work against the body, which is known as autoimmune disease. Since the immune system is working against your body to attack the myelin, this creates an opportunity for multiple sclerosis to invade the nerves in the central nervous system (CNS). The myelin within the body acts like insulation to protect and coat the nervous system (National Multiple Sclerosis Society). Once the myelin is eroded, the nerves become exposed which then causes signals to and from the brain to become distorted or irrupted causing a wide range of symptoms to occur (National Multiple Sclerosis Society). The effect of the myelin eroding is an irreversible process (Mayo Clinic). “The damaged myelin forms scar tissue (sclerosis), which

Multiple sclerosis is an unpredictable, crippling neurological disease of the central nervous system, which affects the flow of information within the brain, and between the brain and body. The name is this disease refers to multiple areas of scarring throughout the brain and spinal cord. This scarring is a result of what happens when the body attacks itself. A substance called Myelin surrounds the nerves to help protect them (Healthline.com, 2015). Multiple Sclerosis is thought to occur in a genetically susceptible individual (although there is no evidence to show that the disease is directly inherited) influenced one or more environmental factors. MS is thought to be an autoimmune disease, however others disagree as the target of the immune

Multiple sclerosis, or MS as it is more commonly referred, is an immune mediated disease that involves the body's own defense mechanism, specialized immune cells, that ultimately attacks the central nervous system. Specifically, the myelin protein that coats axons and forms an electrically insulating layer for quicker processing of the nervous system, is attacked by cytotoxic cells that have crossed into the CNS. In a healthy patient, the blood brain barrier cannot be crossed by cytotoxic cells and it is speculated that an environmental component or outside source mediates this crossing. When the myelin is attacked, it forms scars in the CNS, as multiple sclerosis literally translates to “many scars,” which is the direct result of the disease. The scars disrupt the normal nerve impulses that travel through the central nervous system, and can cause a variety of symptoms including loss of cognition, fatigue, or numbness in the body (Evidence).

Multiple sclerosis, commonly known as MS, is an auto-immune disease. An auto-immune disease is one in which the body attacks itself. In this particular disease, the central nervous system is being attacked. Specifically, the myelin sheath, or the fatty substance that coats and protects nerve fibers in the brain and spinal cord, is attacked. The attacks cause scar tissue, which makes it difficult for signals to travel between the brain and body. Eventually, the nerves may deteriorate, which is a process that is completely irreversible [5]. See the figure below for more detail.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is autoimmune, inflammatory disease involving the central nervous system (CNS). This disease is a result of the immune system attacking myelin proteins. Usually affecting younger people between the ages of 20 and 50 years, multiple sclerosis slowly destroys the myelin sheath that are located in the CNS causing them to eventually create scleroses, or hardened lesions. Symptoms of multiple sclerosis can be different, but visual, sensory, and motor signs are usually affected with this disease. Some early symptoms care problems like blurred or double vision, numbness, loss of balance, and weakness in arms or legs, as well as fatigue, muscle spasms, speech problems. Approximately 400,000 people in the United States and 2.5 million people worldwide are affected by multiple sclerosis (Hersh and Fox, 2014). Educating ones self about multiple sclerosis is important because it has many unanswered questions. There are many theories and treatments that may seem like they work, but there is no cure or definite reason why MS happens. Multiple sclerosis is also a disease that affects many people and is very hard to treat.

Multiple Sclerosis is an autoimmune disorder affecting movements, sensation and bodily functions. The cause of MS is by the myelin sheath being destroyed in the brain and spinal cord. The immune system attacks myelin sheaths which is a fatty substances that surrounds the nerve axons that makes it possible for the transmission of nerve impulses. When the myelin sheath are destroyed the nerves impulses that are being triggered to the brain and spinal cord get out of disrupted that provoke the messages to become slower and less efficiently. There are four types of MS people could experience which are Relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), Secondary –progessive multiple sclerosis (SPMS), Progressive-relapsing multiple sclerosis (

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disorder that causes the immune system to attack myelin sheath causing neurological damage to areas of the brain and causes neurological deterioration. In the brain the myelin sheath is involved with what allows for communication between brain and the body. As the disease progresses the sheath deteriorates the neurons where the myelin sheath is found is damaged, causing a break or loss of information when the brain is trying to communicate with the brain. As the central nervous system (CNS) is deteriorating it causes permanent damage that is incurable. The symptoms are not as

So what exactly is Multiple Sclerosis? Multiple Sclerosis is an autoimmune disease which affects the central nervous system. The central nervous system consists of the brain, spinal cord, as well as the optic nerves. The simplified meaning of the diseases name is Multiple scar tissues or lesions. A person with multiple sclerosis develops numerous lesions or scars on the brain and spinal cord due to the effects of an overworking immune system. When the immune system overworks, it attacks the “myelin— the fatty substance that surrounds and insulates the nerve fibers — as well as the nerve fibers themselves”(National MS Society). Myelin is essentially the coating that protects your nerves; when trying to understand what myelin is, one can compare the similarities of myelin to the coating that covers electrical wires. After the immune system attacks and damages the myelin,

Multiple sclerosis is a prolonged, progressive, wasting disorder of the Central Nervous System categorized by distributed demyelination of nerve fibers of the brain and spinal cord. The onset of MS is usually between 20 and 50 years of age, although it can occur in young teens and much older adults. Women are affected two of three times more often than men. (Lewis, Dirksen, Heitkemper, Bucher, & Camera, 2014, p. 1428)

Multiple Sclerosis is a chronic autoimmune disease that attacks a person Central Nervous System which includes the spinal cord, brain and optic nerves. MS is a very difficult condition to diagnose due to its exacerbations. It also is difficult to treat because no one person has the same signs and symptoms. In MS the myelin sheath that protects the CNS becomes inflamed and scarred that end up causing lesions.. The lesions cause interruption in the messages to the nerves. MS can happen at any age but mostly found in ages 15-60 and are twice as likely in women. Currently there is no known cure for MS , researchers are working tirelessly to find one.

Medical marijuana should be legalized in every state. Medical marijuana, also known as cannabis or medicinal cannabis, is a plant that is used as a form of herbal therapy for the relief or treatment of a medical symptom. The marijuana plant contains chemicals that can treat a wide range of illnesses. From Alzheimer’s to Crohn’s disease, from anorexia to multiple sclerosis, and from epilepsy to Tourette’s syndrome, this is but a few of the diseases that medical marijuana can help relieve or treat. It can also help stimulate a person’s appetite and can relieve nausea in AIDS and cancer patients. Before it was prohibited in the 1930’s, it was used in many types of medicines. A few of these medicines include

Medical Cannabis is one of the most controversial topics in the United States in today. Even though the FDA stating it has no medical use, twenty-eight states have legalized the use of cannabis for medical purposes including the treatment of inflammation, pain, seizures, mental disorders, obesity, wasting disease, glaucoma, and diseases that affect the autoimmune system including multiple sclerosis and HIV/AIDS. Medical cannabis also shows signs of having anti-tumor effects along with anti-nausea effects which could be a breakthrough in cancer research.

Legalizing Medical Marijuana can help patients with relief from nausea and appetite loss, reduction of muscle spasms and relieve from chronic pain. Helpful for treatment for the AIDS-- reduces the nausea, vomiting and loss of appetite, Glaucoma -- reduces pressure relieving the pain and sometimes stopping damage to the eyes, Cancer -- excite appetite and relieving nausea and vomiting, and Epilepsy -- stops seizures. There are a huge volume of reports and studies which state that marijuana is highly effective in treating a number of illnesses, and it can make a highly achieved replacement for several types of medication, many of which having countless horrible side effects. “Many California doctors recommend the drug because they’ve seen salutary results with marijuana with marijuana not found with its legal pill form equivalent, Marinol.”( Minamide, Elaine. "Medical Marijuana":pg14)