A review of clinical evidence for medicinal plants in MS found Cannabis sativa had the highest level of support, with cannabinoids showing efficacy for spasticity, fatigue, incontinence, and tremor.
Read this if you want to know how cannabis compares to other medicinal plants for managing MS symptoms.
Cannabis: highest clinical evidence level among all medicinal plants for MS
What the researchers found
Among ten medicinal plants with clinical evidence for MS symptom management, Cannabis sativa had the highest level of support. Its key bioactive compounds, THC and CBD, showed efficacy for spasticity, fatigue, urinary symptoms (incontinence, urgency, nocturia), memory performance, functional performance, and tremor.
Other plants with positive evidence included ginkgo biloba, ginseng, green tea (epigallocatechin-3-gallate), and boswellia. All herbal medicines reviewed were mostly well tolerated with mild to moderate adverse effects.
The review covered clinical studies only, spanning publications from 1966 to February 2017.
Why it matters
By placing cannabis in the broader context of all medicinal plants studied for MS, this review provides perspective: cannabis is not just another herbal remedy for MS but the one with the most and strongest clinical evidence. This helps clinicians and patients make informed decisions about complementary therapies.
The numbers in context
10 medicinal plants with clinical evidence for MS. Cannabis sativa: highest evidence level. Effective for: spasticity, fatigue, scotoma, incontinence, urgency, nocturia, memory, functional performance, tremor. Key compounds: THC, CBD.
How the study worked
Systematic review of clinical studies from the Cochrane Library, PubMed, and Scopus (1966-2017). Only clinical studies evaluating medicinal plants for MS symptoms were included.
What this study cannot tell us
The abstract does not detail the number or quality of cannabis studies included. "Highest level of evidence" is relative to other herbal medicines, which generally have limited clinical data. The review included all plant-based therapies, not just cannabis, so cannabis-specific analysis may be limited.
How to read the evidence
Systematic review of clinical studies from major databases. Good methodology but the evidence base for herbal medicines in MS is generally limited.
When this study was published
Published in 2017. Cannabis-based treatments for MS, particularly Sativex, have continued to accumulate clinical evidence.
The bigger picture
MS patients frequently seek complementary therapies. This review provides an evidence-based ranking of options, with cannabis at the top. The breadth of MS symptoms that respond to cannabinoids (motor, urinary, cognitive, and neurological) reflects the widespread distribution of cannabinoid receptors throughout the nervous system.
Questions still open
- Which specific cannabis formulations and doses are most effective for each MS symptom? Can cannabis-based treatments replace conventional MS medications or only complement them? Would combining cannabis with other evidence-based medicinal plants produce additive benefits?
Common questions
Is cannabis the best herbal treatment for MS?
What MS symptoms does cannabis help with?
Read the original research
Efficacy and Tolerability of Phytomedicines in Multiple Sclerosis Patients: A Review.
CNS drugs, 31(10), 867-889
Citation
Farzaei, Mohammad Hosein; Shahpiri, Zahra; Bahramsoltani, Roodabeh; Nia, Marjan Moghaddam; Najafi, Fariba; Rahimi, Roja. (2017). Efficacy and Tolerability of Phytomedicines in Multiple Sclerosis Patients: A Review.. CNS drugs, 31(10), 867-889. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40263-017-0466-4
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