Use our chat feature to speak with one of our expert consultants who can help you identify if medical cannabis can help you.
Hundreds of thousands of people across the UK suffer from Neurological conditions. These diseases of the central and peripheral nervous systems include epilepsy, MS, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, ALS, Bell’s palsy and ADHD, amongst others. While conventional medicines and treatments are well-tolerated by many, for some these traditional approaches remain ineffective. In these cases, Releaf may be able to help, offering doctor-backed holistic alternatives for complex Neurological conditions.
Am I eligible?
Neurological
Many neurological conditions have no cure and can significantly impact speech, movement, and emotions. Conventional medicines and surgery often come with severe risks and side effects, and the NHS already prescribes cannabis-based treatments to some MS and epilepsy sufferers. However, evidence shows that these alternative treatments can improve the quality of life for people living with a wide range of debilitating neurological disorders.
How Can Cannabis-Based Treatments Help?
CBD’s antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties may promote the health and functioning of brain cells, and reduce symptoms associated with neurological disorders. Cannabis may also have neuroprotective properties which could help protect against nerve cell degradation and damage and reduce muscle stiffness, tremors, and pain. Some patients have reported increased clarity of thought, an elevated mood, and less anxiety due to taking CBD.
Of people with epilepsy could live seizure-free lives if properly treated.
MS patients have used cannabis to manage symptoms.
Of Parkinson’s patients surveyed have used cannabis-based treatments.
Reduction was noted in spasticity after 12 weeks of CBPM use.
Articles on Neurological
05. 07. 2023
While cannabis is still classed as a Class B controlled drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, in November 2018, the laws surrounding medicinal cannabis shifted in the UK. After decades of lobbying by patient advocacy organisations, doctors, and scientists, medicinal cannabis was finally made available on prescription for patients suffering from certain conditions, with multiple sclerosis (MS) making it on the list.
05. 07. 2023
Sam North
12. 07. 2023
Every single hour, two people in the UK are diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease (PD), the world’s fastest growing neurological condition that currently has no cure. With an estimated 8.5 million people facing this incurable diagnosis across the world, increasing numbers of Parkinson’s patients are turning to medicinal cannabis to help potentially manage tremors and rigidity, relieve the symptoms of anxiety that can go hand in hand with the diagnosis, and improve their sleep quality.
12. 07. 2023
Lucy MacKinnon
14. 07. 2023
Neurological disorders. Varied, potentially devastating, and hard to group into one easy-to-digest category. They are essentially diseases of the central and peripheral nervous system conditions and include epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer's disease and dementia, ALS, Bell's palsy, and a huge range of separate neuromuscular disorders.
14. 07. 2023
Kerry Charron
As humans, we like to learn from others because we feel inspired by them, because there is strength in numbers, and that’s something we’re naturally comforted by. And, at Releaf, sharing patient voices and their experiences with medical cannabis is something we’re committed to, for exactly these reasons. We want to champion our patient’s voices to diversity the conversation, covering all sorts of health conditions treatable with medical cannabis, by speaking to patients one on one about how their health, life, and overall wellbeing, has changed since becoming a Releaf patient. Read more
Condition Neurological
Subscriber 8 months
Jean’s story is one of quiet resilience, a testament to the human spirit’s capacity to adapt and thrive even amidst life’s unavoidable struggles. Read more
Condition Neurological
Subscriber 4 months
For mum Laura, helping her son Harry through a number of health challenges has been a journey filled with ups and downs. Finding the correct diagnoses was a long and frustrating process, as has been managing Harry’s ongoing medical needs. Read more
Condition Neurological
Subscriber 8 months
For years, Chaos has lived with the debilitating effects of anxiety, depression, and chronic pain. Fibromyalgia is only just starting to be properly recognised in the conventional medical community, even though it affects millions of people worldwide. Read more
Condition Pain
Subscriber 6 months
I’m Maxim, a 20-year-old from Haywards Heath, with a passion for sales. I’d say I’m a pretty outgoing, yet, ordinary person. I’m enthusiastic about work, and I love to be sociable and meet up with my friends or go out with my girlfriend, like most twenty-something's do. Read more
Condition Pain
Subscriber 9 months
At Releaf, we recognise just how much courage it takes to break free from social and societal norms and begin to advocate for your own healing. Read more
Condition Psychiatric
Subscriber 10 months
Ethan was an active hiker and mountain biker before a back injury robbed him of his mobility, making it hard for him to move around his home and perform simple, everyday tasks—let alone walk the trails of the Scottish Highlands. Read more
Condition Pain
Subscriber 4 months
Have you ever been forced to work through an injury? To just grin and bear it? This is a decision that thousands of people in the UK face every day. For so many of our patients suffering with chronic pain, taking months off work to heal from work injuries was never a realistic option. Read more
Condition Pain
Subscriber 4 months
As more mainstream research shows the benefits of medical cannabis in treating chronic illness, the surrounding stigma in the UK is steadily declining. At Releaf, we’re seeing an increasingly diverse range of people of different ages, religions and ethnicities come through our doors looking for holistic solutions for chronic health issues. Read more
Condition Pain
Subscriber 7 months
Jacqueline's health journey has been one of setbacks, surgeries, and ongoing struggles with arthritis and chronic pain, both of which contributed to mental health challenges. Read more
Condition Pain
Subscriber 4 months
Misdiagnosed with anxiety and depression in her early teens, Georgia spent years on medications that she never felt quite addressed the root of her struggles. Read more
Condition Psychiatric
Subscriber 9 months
Like so many people in the UK looking for alternative treatments for chronic nerve pain, Peter wasn’t aware that medical cannabis had been available in the UK on prescription since 2018. For years, he suffered with trigeminal neuralgia, an excruciating nerve condition, until a chance encounter that led him to Releaf’s doors, where he connected with doctors who understood the complexity of his condition. Read more
Condition Psychiatric
Subscriber 7 months
Most of us love nothing more than a bit of rest and relaxation. That feeling of letting everything go, and just being in the moment. But for 36-year-old Thomas, finding the mental space to relax can be a bit of an issue. Read more
Condition Psychiatric
Subscriber 6 months
The growing evidence of medical cannabis’ effectiveness in treating chronic pain is slowly reshaping how we approach health and wellness. However, many GPs in the UK are still quick to prescribe addictive medications like opioids and benzodiazepines before looking at safe, alternative solutions like medical cannabis. Read more
Condition Pain
Subscriber 9 months
Ryan’s passion is the outdoors, and there’s nothing he loves more than a long hike through the forest with his trusty dog. For years, Ryan’s pain disconnected him from the natural world. Now, his recent treatment with medical cannabis is finally offering hope. Read more
Condition Pain
Subscriber 10 months
Rhona's story is one of resilience and determination. After years of battling through chronic pain and sleeping issues without being able to find a real diagnosis, Rhona was coming to the end of her rope. Read more
Condition Pain
Subscriber 9 months
Omar, 31, is a theatre director who, for years, has battled chronic pain and discomfort due to Irritable Bowel Syndrome. His story is an important one, because it highlights the difference between the holistic approach to healing that Releaf provides, and the conventional one that focuses on physical symptoms. Read more
Condition Gastroenterological
Subscriber 6 months
Ollie is a 38-year-old father of three whose diagnosis with ADHD came only a year ago, sparking a profound reflection on the coping mechanisms he had adopted throughout his youth—most notably, his battle with alcoholism that led to a life-altering arrest for drink-driving at the age of 25 Read more
Condition Psychiatric
Subscriber 5 months
After a car accident triggered his Restless Leg Syndrome, Eric was trapped in a cycle of insomnia, fatigue, and frustration that affected every aspect of his life. Read more
Condition Pain
Subscriber 4 months
After a catastrophic plane crash shattered his shoulder, Matt’s entire life changed. Read more
Condition Sleep Disorders
Subscriber 4 months
Living a healthy, active lifestyle has always been a top priority for the dad of four and full-time illustrator and printmaker, Martin. But due to the chronic pain from Ehlers–Danlos syndrome (EDS) and spinal arthritis, each day is a balancing act between managing his symptoms, pursuing his creative work, and getting all the other day to day stuff done. Read more
Condition Pain
Subscriber 9 months
For far too many patients in the UK, finding legal treatment options that are effective and without the burden of heavy side effects can be difficult. To add to the struggle, navigating the complex healthcare and legal systems can often leave patients feeling lost and alone. Read more
Condition Psychiatric
Subscriber 8 months
Maruis’s story is one of trauma, struggle, and resilience in the face of seemingly relentless health challenges. Diagnosed with PTSD, anxiety, and depression, along with osteoarthritis, he faced exhausting day-to-day battles, such as bouts of vivid night terrors and debilitating, life-limiting side effects from an exhaustive list of prescription drugs. Read more
Condition Psychiatric
Subscriber 7 months
Having your health taken away from you, through no fault of your own, is terrible - especially for someone so used to being extremely active. Read more
Condition Pain
Subscriber 10 months
One of our primary goals at Releaf is to remove the stigma associated with medicinal cannabis, and that’s why Hollie’s story is so important. Read more
Condition Pain
Subscriber 8 months
At Releaf, we are dedicated to providing safe, effective treatments that enhance the quality of life for those navigating chronic health conditions. James’ story is an important one, because it draws attention to one of the most common and debilitating conditions faced by many of our patients: severe, chronic insomnia. Read more
Condition Psychiatric
Subscriber 8 months
Diagnosed with a range of conditions, including fibromyalgia, agoraphobia, and PTSD, Helen faced daily barriers that made even simple tasks daunting. Traditional medications only seemed to exacerbate her struggles, leaving her in a cycle of discomfort that made her unable to engage with the most important thing in her life: her family. Read more
Condition Pain
Subscriber 9 months
Daryl is a young dad who suffers from anxiety and depression. For his kids, he knew he had to find a solution. After conventional medicines only made things worse, Daryl reached out to our clinicians at Releaf and began his journey with medical cannabis. Read more
Condition Psychiatric
Subscriber 8 months
As human beings, it's part of our intrinsic, instinctual nature to learn from those around us, and to use the experiences others have had to help guide or inform our own. And in the world of medical cannabis, this is no different. Read more
Condition Psychiatric
Subscriber 10 months
I've actually been on this journey since about 12 years old, when I first started getting my period. From my very first period, I experienced more than normal levels of pain, and I was bleeding throughout the month. Read more
Condition Gastroenterological
Subscriber 9 months
Brandon is a 27-year-old who has faced the challenges of anxiety, autism, Asperger's syndrome, and ADHD throughout his life. For many years, he felt isolated, and his conditions often prevented him from engaging in social circles and made him a target for bullying. Read more
Condition Psychiatric
Subscriber 7 months
Ben had been battling anxiety and depression for nearly two decades when, seven years ago, he was also diagnosed with fibromyalgia. Despite years of being prescribed pharmaceutical treatment options like SSRIs and opioids, he still felt weighed down by their side effects. Read more
Condition Psychiatric
Subscriber 4 months
“Neurological conditions are many and varied in how they can affect us. The more recognised conditions that are treatable with medical cannabis include epilepsy, where CBD mimics the action of the many anti-epileptic drugs; and multiple sclerosis, which the NHS can prescribe Sativex for. Medical Cannabis offers greater flexibility in the delivery of cannabinoid therapy for these conditions and hope in other areas of neurology, such as in the neurodegenerative conditions and the motor disorders.“
Clinical Director
Changes in sensation
Difficulty retaining information
Impaired vision or dizziness
Loss of coordination
Loss of feeling or tingling sensation
Memory loss
Mood swings or emotional changes
Muscle weakness
Persistent headaches
Seizures
Speech and language difficulties
Tremors
It's important to note that these symptoms are general and may not be exclusive to any specific neurological condition. Consulting with a healthcare professional is crucial for accurate diagnosis and tailored treatment plans based on individual needs.
