Cannabidiol is claimed to help many different ailments, including pain, insomnia, and anxiety. Unfortunately, there is a paucity of peer reviewed data on the potential benefits of CBD, due in large part to the US government’s near prohibition on cannabinoid research. In classic Catch 22 fashion, our government won’t allow cannabinoid studies until cannabinoids have been studied. In effect, the feds outlaw the research needed to prove the usefulness of this class of medicine. The drug war continues, at least in the US congress and FDA/DEA.

Fortunately, other countries are more enlightened. A recent publication out of Brazil in the Journal of Psychopharmacology ( https://doi.org/10.1177%2F0269881119895536 ) has some excellent news for Parkinson’s Disease (PD) sufferers. At a dose of 300 mg, significant reductions in anxiety and tremor was seen in a cohort of 24 PD patients in a double-blind crossover study. No significant side effects were reported. This potential breakthrough in PD research was barely mentioned in the press, and ignored by our government. If this was a patented drug from Big Pharma, one can be sure the news would be screamed from the rooftops, or at least broadcast as nightly TV commercials.

So how do we interpret this new study? The data is in line with previous reports on the anxiolytic and anti-tremor effects of CBD and cannabis in a 2015 article in the journal Neurotherapeutics ( https://doi.org/10.1007/s13311-015-0367-5 ). There, the usefulness of cannabinoids, and in particular CBD in reducing tremor was reviewed. There was an effect on PD, multiple sclerosis, and essential tremors, again at a dose of 300 mg. Other anecdotal evidence supports this conclusion. In particular, CBD seems to relieve the “shakes” caused by stress and anxiety.

From personal experience, I know CBD reduces my essential tremor. Now we have solid data supporting CBD as a possible anti-tremor agent.

Those with tremors should rejoice! Perhaps a simple, safe remedy is sitting in the hemp plant. More studies are needed of course, but this new data is impressive.