Urinary incontinence is characterized by loss of bladder control resulting from various biological factors such as, weak bladder muscles and inflammation and also from nerve damage associated with diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS) and Parkinson’s disease
There are preclinical trials which indicate that cannabis can reduce bladder inflammation and bladder over-activity in animals as there were indications that cannabinoid therapy reduced incidents of incontinence. Investigators and researchers at Oxford’s Centre for Enablement in Britain reported that self-administered doses of whole-plant cannabinoid extracts improved bladder control in patients suffering from MS and spinal cord injury. These findings were published in the February 2003 issue of the journal Clinical Rehabilitation.
These initial findings were followed up by investigators at London’s Institute for Neurology in a pilot study of 15 patients with advanced multiple sclerosis using cannabis-based extracts for bladder dysfunctions. Following cannabinoid therapy, investigators determined that urinary urgency, the number of and volume of incontinence episodes, frequency and nocturia all decreased significantly. The reports cited that cannabis-based medicinal extracts are a safe and effective treatment for urinary and other problems in patients with advanced MS.
These results and findings were confirmed in a multi-center, randomized placebo-controlled trial involving 630 patients who administered oral doses of cannabis extracts or THC. Subjects administered with cannabis extracts experienced a 38 percent reduction in incontinence episodes from baseline to the end of treatment. Reports also show that patients administered THC experienced a 33 percent reduction, which suggests a clinical effect of cannabis on incontinence episodes.
With these findings, experts have recommended the use of cannabinoids as potential agents for treating incontinence.
Great article!
I agree!