Limited research exists to show clinical benefits of using CBD or CBD oil to treat Parkinson’s symptoms. However, people do take forms of CBD for pain, tremors, and sleep symptoms.

Research shows cannabidiol (CBD) may help reduce anxiety, relieve pain, and offer neuroprotective properties.

With those possible benefits on the brain and nervous system, some researchers believe CBD and CBD oil may help with Parkinson’s disease symptoms.

There isn’t concrete research data at this time showing CBD benefits for people with Parkinson’s, but people with the disease are using cannabis and CBD oil as a way to help with various disease symptoms.

CBD is a natural compound found in cannabis plants. CBD hasn’t been used in people with Parkinson’s disease long term, and research into the benefits of this cannabinoid only began a few decades ago.

That means research is limited, and often, the studies that have been done are very small. Scientists and doctors need to conduct larger-scale efforts to confirm any benefits.

In particular, CBD may have benefits for specific symptoms:

Pain: There isn’t Parkinson’s specific research on treating pain with forms of CBD, but overall benefits on pain effects lead researchers to want more large-scale studies and focus on this area.

Tremors: Some of the most common treatments for Parkinson’s disease can cause medicine-related tremors or uncontrolled muscle movements.

Psychosis: Up to 50% of people with Parkinson’s — especially those in the later stages — experience this complication, which may lead to hallucinations, delirium, and delusions. While medications are available to treat Parkinson’s psychosis, some people have wondered if CBD might be beneficial. Some research indicates that people with Parkinson’s who have psychotic symptoms found that the compound reduced the severity of symptoms.

Sleep: One concern for people with Parkinson’s is disrupted sleep and a lack of quality sleep time, with many experiencing vivid dreams, nightmares, and involuntary movements while they’re asleep. There is limited research on the effects of CBD on sleep in Parkinson’s, and more large-scale studies are needed on the topic. This 2025 research noted that cannabis, CBD, and extract might help with sleep disturbances for those with Parkinson’s disease.

Quality of life: Researchers have suggested that using the compound might help improve quality of life. This is a major concern for those living with Parkinson’s disease. Older research found that people who had Parkinson’s disease and no psychiatric symptoms or conditions experienced an improved quality of life with CBD use. This study was done in a very small group of people, so further research is needed to thoroughly support the findings.

Is CBD approved by regulators for Parkinson’s disease?

No, there are no cannabis treatments for Parkinson’s disease approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

However, the FDA has approved a CBD medication called Epidiolex to treat two rare types of epilepsy. This may have implications for Parkinson’s disease.

Researchers believe there may be a benefit for Parkinson ‘s-related tremors, but research isn’t conclusive, and there may be side effects from using the drug to treat the disease.

Generally, there may be several health benefits of CBD oil and related products.

If you’re a beginner with CBD, you may be curious about the best way to take it if you have Parkinson’s disease.

CBD is available in the following forms:

  • Oils and tinctures: These liquid forms of CBD can be swallowed or absorbed sublingually (under the tongue). This might be a good option if you have difficulty swallowing pills or chewing gummies.
  • Lotions and creams: The effects of CBD-infused lotions and creams can take several hours to develop, but they may be useful for treating pain or stiffness in hands and joints.
  • Capsules and pills: You may experience a delay in effects if you take CBD in a capsule or pill, but this form may be ideal for people with tremors that prevent them from properly dosing a liquid.
  • Edibles: Gummies are a popular CBD option. You can also find CBD in a number of other edible foods, though dosage may not be as accurate as in other forms. Edibles discretely deliver a dose of CBD.

A guide for CBD beginners

If you haven’t used CBD as a medical treatment, make sure to first consult your healthcare team about important details specific to your own care journey. Check out this Healthline guide to learn more about using CBD in general, along with your doctor’s guidance.

CBD holds some promise for people with Parkinson’s disease. Not only might the cannabinoid ease symptoms of the degenerative disease itself, but it might also ease side effects of the most common treatment.

Some doctors are becoming more open to CBD as a complementary treatment, so talk with your doctor about what you’re experiencing and how to get relief using CBD or other methods.

Learn more about Parkinson’s disease

Explore how this disease progresses and symptoms evolve, and what other possible treatments may be worth discussing with your healthcare team.

Keep in mind that prescription medication is a first-line treatment for Parkinson’s disease, and your doctor can best guide you forward on using medication, CBD, and other lifestyle measures to help manage symptoms and the disease overall.