CBD to treat epilepsy

 

What if the CBD was part of the solution ? 

Epilepsy is a neurological condition that has long been considered a psychiatric syndrome. In the Middle Ages and still today in some cultures, the person in crisis is considered to be possessed by the devil. It is, of course, a neurological disease like any other, and studies on the subject have led to a better understanding of its effects, and to the development of medications that allow patients to reduce their seizures. Very interestingly for epileptics, the effectiveness of CBD oil from Cannabis Sativa was highlighted by new research on the disease.

CBD & Epilepsy

 

What exactly is epilepsy ?

The word epilepsy comes from Latin, and means "to seize". It expresses the well-known seizure effect of this disease, which occurs completely by surprise. This manifestation is transient, and the seizure lasts only a few minutes. It manifests itself by disturbances, such as a loss of consciousness or a confused attitude, a fixed gaze, involuntary repetitive gestures, and sound breathing. Contrary to what one might think, epileptic seizures are not always accompanied by convulsions and tremors, yet they are sometimes spectacular. Epilepsy usually first appears in childhood or adolescence, or even after the age of 60. Seizures are due to a sudden and momentary disruption of the electrical activity of the brain. Sudden and excessively high discharges of nerve impulses will then spread to several neurons with two possible effects:

  • Partial epilepsy, if the abnormal electrical activity remains localized in the same area. The effects of these seizures will only affect certain parts of the body.
  • Generalized epilepsy, if the nerve impulse spreads to all neurons. The effects of these seizures then affect the entire body.

What causes epilepsy ?

This health problem is multifactorial, and in patients suffering from this syndrome we will generally find:

  • A hereditary part in 2/3 of the cases.
  •  Lesions of the brain, following an accident or an illness 
  •  Different diseases (meningitis, encephalitis, lupus) 
  • More or less localized malformations of the cortex - the consumption of different products (alcohol, medication, etc.)

Sometimes the causes of this pathology are not found, making it more difficult to choose a treatment.

What about the therapeutic use of CBD in the treatment of the disease ?

Cannabidiol (CBD), is one of the many cannabinoids derived from hemp (Cannabis Sativa). In recent years, the number of studies on CBD and its benefits has increased steadily. Unlike THC, it has no psychoactive effects. Thus, the use of CBD, e.g. in the form of oil, does not have any high or euphoric effects, unlike THC, which is well known to cannabis smokers. According to a recent study, CBD even has the particularity of reducing the effects of THC.

  • In the United States, and in several European countries, the benefits of CBD-based treatment have shown the tremendous potential of hemp and its famous cannabinoids on children in certain forms of epilepsy of genetic origin such as Angelmann syndrome, Dravet syndrome and Lennox syndrome. Of course cannabidiol (CBD) can be used successfully in the treatment of other forms of epilepsy.
  • At the beginning of the 80's, cannabis was a strictly forbidden product, and the use of CBD hemp oil (Cannabis Sativa) was just a sweet dream. In spite of this, 8 epileptic patients received either a CBD treatment or a placebo product. The 4 patients treated with CBD had virtually no seizures during the entire treatment period and their health status improved.
  • Another study of 117 American children with epilepsy showed an 85% reduction in seizure frequency when taking CBD (THC-free) cannabis oil-based treatment. The parents of 14% of the small patients even reported a total absence of seizures thanks to CBD. The study states that treatment with the usual medication was not very effective in these people. The duration of CBD oil treatment for these patients was 6 months and 15 days. In addition, other beneficial effects of cannabidiol were reported by study participants, such as improved sleep for 53%, improved mood for 63%, and increased alertness for 71%.

CBD yes, but for whom ? 

The various studies on the use of products containing CBD (cannabidiol) in the fight against epileptic seizures tell us a lot about the patients who can benefit from these products.

  • Children suffering from Lennox-Gastaut syndrome- Children suffering from Drake syndrome- Children and adults suffering from common refractory epilepsy.

Hemp oil CBD is therefore a valuable aid for people suffering from epilepsy. Also, if you suffer from this pathology, and you wish to take CBD products in addition to your usual medication, we recommend that you do so in agreement with your doctor.

Each person being different, when you start your CBD cure, go little by little. Start with a low dose, then increase to.