CBD for Tremor - How a Tremor Can Be Alleviated

Tremor comes from the Latin word "tremere" and means "to tremble." It is the medical term for uncontrollable shaking and is the most common movement disorder in the world. More precisely, a tremor is a muscle tremor with an involuntary, rhythmically recurring contraction of opposing muscle groups.

Shaking is actually a normal action of our body. Our muscles always shake a little bit without us even noticing. This type of tremor, which every person has, is called a physiological tremor. It is a barely perceptible tremor that can temporarily intensify and become visible (for example, due to nervousness, cold, fear, stress, or too much caffeine).

Physiological tremor is normal and not pathological. This type of tremor is characterized by a high frequency and a low amplitude, meaning a rapid tremor with low intensity occurs. A physiological tremor in healthy people is measurable but barely visible. However, it can be made visible, for example, by extending the index finger and observing its tip. Neuroscientists are still debating the exact causes and mechanisms of physiological tremor, but it is known that the shaking movements can generate life-sustaining heat, and the body therefore begins to shiver when hypothermic.

When a steady hand gives way and eventually starts to tremble, it's an unmistakable sign of aging. However, involuntary muscle movement can also be caused by illness, and a clearly visible tremor can appear as a symptom of various diseases or even be the disease itself.

It can also occur in younger patients from the age of twenty. The most well-known form of tremor is hand tremor, but other body parts such as legs, arms, head, tongue, or even the soft palate can also be affected.

Tremors can take many forms and occur in various situations. The different types can be accompanying symptoms of various diseases and differ, for example, in frequencies and the conditions under which the tremor occurs, such as at rest, in action, when holding, or during undirected or targeted movements. A distinction is made particularly between these two forms of appearance: rest tremor and action tremor:

With a rest tremor, the shaking begins as soon as the affected body parts are in a resting position (for example, the hands resting in the lap or on a surface). The shaking disappears when a movement is performed.

In some affected individuals, rest tremor only occurs after assuming a resting position and eventually disappears after some time. However, not only hand tremor can occur as a rest tremor.

There are several subtypes, such as head tremor (involuntary shaking of the head in a horizontal or vertical direction), palatal tremor (rhythmic movement of the soft palate), or pill-rolling tremor, which is characterized by a rhythmic opening and closing of the hands.

As the name suggests, action tremor occurs when an action - i.e., a voluntary movement - is performed. There are also several subtypes of this tremor, which manifest in different ways:

• Postural tremor: The shaking occurs when the affected person holds the weight of an object, such as a glass, in a resting position. As the muscles tire, coordination suffers and shaking sets in. Everyone knows this natural phenomenon (for example, from exertion during strength training).

• Intention tremor: Shaking movements occur when the affected person wants to perform a targeted movement, for example, when reaching for a glass. The tremor typically increases the closer the affected person gets to the target.

• Kinetic tremor: The shaking appears during everyday activities that are largely performed automatically and without special attention, such as brushing teeth.

• Cerebellar tremor: This form belongs to both intention and kinetic tremor. This slow but strong shaking can be triggered by bleeding, tumors, strokes, and also inflammation.

Increased tremor can be a symptom of various diseases, indicate a traumatic experience, signal poisoning, or be a sign of withdrawal symptoms from drug or alcohol addiction. The tremor can originate in the brain, but also in the nerve pathways or in the metabolism of the muscles.

Pathological, i.e., diseased, types of tremor are often not comparable to normal physiological tremor. This is because a pathological tremor is more pronounced in its expression, usually visible to the naked eye, and permanently present. This type of tremor causes daily limitations for affected individuals, as many things such as drinking, eating, writing, operating a PC, etc., can no longer be managed as easily.

Possible stigmatization by others can also be a psychological burden for affected individuals. These functional limitations and concerns of those affected often lead to a reduction in social activities or contacts, and it is not uncommon for tremor sufferers to withdraw more and more and avoid situations where others might notice the shaking.

However, they should avoid this social withdrawal as much as possible, as this can quickly lead to depression. A disease in which this symptom often occurs and which many people immediately associate with shaking is Parkinson's disease. Another, less known disease, which is much more common and in which tremor occurs in isolation, is essential tremor:

Essential tremor is a nervous system disorder associated with rhythmic shaking of a body part. The disease is the result of impaired communication between certain brain regions, including the cerebellum, thalamus, and brainstem.

The tremor is often misdiagnosed as Parkinson's. However, the difference between the two clinical pictures is that the shaking in essential tremor is usually not seen in the resting position, as in Parkinson's.

Patients shake more intensely when performing a deliberate movement (such as shaking hands or signing a document). The term "essential" means that no cause can be identified for the symptoms.

If the tremor becomes permanent and possibly even affects daily life, you should make an appointment with a doctor. They can reliably determine if a condition is present by performing appropriate examinations.

During the examination, the type of tremor will first be determined. Doctors usually ask questions about the frequency of the trembling, the affected body parts, the situations in which the tremor occurs, and any triggers or factors that reduce or increase the trembling (such as alcohol, lack of sleep, stress, etc.).

Certain medications can also cause tremors as a side effect. It is also important to know if other family members also suffer from a tremor.

During the examination, the trembling is categorized by frequency and severity, which can lead to conclusions about the type of illness. The tremor frequency (speed of trembling) and the tremor amplitude (intensity of trembling) are the decisive parameters for the assessment.

In medicine, a distinction is made between "fine-grained", "medium-grained", and "coarse-grained" tremors. The speed of the tremor can vary depending on the underlying disease.

Tremor amplitude indicates how pronounced the trembling is. Here, too, a distinction is made between fine, medium, and coarse tremors. The amplitude can also provide clues as to whether and how medications affect a tremor. If the intensity of the trembling decreases, the therapy is working; if the trembling increases under certain circumstances, the treating physician must find a new medication or choose a different treatment path.

Further conclusions about the nature of the disease can be drawn by analyzing the situations in which it occurs. Is the trembling observed at rest or during specific movements? Certain forms of tremor are typical for each type of disease.

A "medium-frequency resting tremor", for example, can be a sign of Parkinson's disease.

An intention tremor, which appears during precisely executed movements, can be associated with MS (Multiple Sclerosis) or caused by the intake of certain medications.

A postural tremor is often harmless, but can also be a sign of liver or kidney disease.

On the other hand, there are also forms of tremor whose cause is still completely unknown. This includes essential tremor. Here, only the symptoms can be alleviated, for example, with beta-blockers and antiepileptic drugs.

It is important to understand that a tremor is merely a symptom and not a disease. The underlying condition is crucial for the treatment of a tremor. If the disease is successfully combated, the tremor usually disappears as well.

The range of diseases that can be accompanied by a tremor extends from hyperthyroidism, Parkinson's disease, nerve damage, kidney failure, brain inflammation, and MS to rare hereditary diseases such as Wilson's disease.

If no causal therapy is possible, the tremor itself is treated (as in essential tremor). Medications that affect the nervous system or the metabolism of the muscles are used. On the other hand, relaxation exercises or support from an occupational therapist can also help to manage the tremor or to work around limitations caused by an intention tremor.

Homeopathy uses a wide range of active ingredients for the treatment of movement and nervous disorders. To find the individually suitable remedy, one should consult an experienced homeopath.

Acupuncture therapy aims to re-harmonize disturbances in the body's energy flow. According to traditional Chinese medicine, so-called blockages are the cause of many diseases.

For Parkinson's disease, acupuncture – in addition to medication – can be beneficial. The treatment may improve sleep and slow down the progression of Parkinson's symptoms.

CBD can help with some nervous system diseases and also help combat tremors. Various studies conducted on animals confirm that the human nervous system is primarily protected by the body's own endocannabinoid system (ECS).

It has been found that through the targeted administration of CBD, cannabinoids can protect the central nervous system from damage. This is particularly true when it comes to oxidative stress or nervous system disorders due to poor oxygen supply, inflammation, reduced blood flow, and injuries.

When using CBD, the ECS receptors responsible for muscle movement, which are located throughout the body, can be regulated. By regulating these receptors, CBD promotes relaxation, reduces inflammation, and alleviates symptoms.

The main reason to believe that CBD can help with tremor is that the main properties of cannabidiol are muscle relaxation and pain relief.

Experiments on mice also showed that CBD binds to certain brain receptors that are responsible for the faulty transmission in tremor. CBD was able to curb this transmission, which could reduce the tremor. However, further research is needed to confirm the isolated efficacy of cannabidiol on tremor.

Due to the mechanism of action of CBD oil, it is plausible that the active ingredient can help with tremors. Its use should always be discussed with the treating physician to rule out possible interactions with other medications.

Any tremor is a serious symptom and should be treated as such. Studies on humans for the treatment of tremor have so far only been conducted with THC-containing cannabis. However, current cannabis research is promising and offers hope for soon-to-be-successful treatment of tremor with pure CBD.

*Medical Disclaimer