Can CBD Oil Help Treat Your Epilepsy?
Can CBD oil help treat your epilepsy?
There are many studies that show cannabidiol (CBD) may be effective in treating seizure disorders. We encourage you to do your own research but we’ve outlined some facts for you here.
What is CBD? CBD is a naturally occurring chemical compound found in therapeutic hemp, industrial hemp and marijuana. Unlike THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), CBD is a non-psychoactive cannabinoid and does not cause a high. Both hemp and marijuana are from the same family, cannabaceae. CBD extracted from therapeutic hemp contains very low THC. We test for over 200 pesticides, herbicides, mold, fungi, heavy metals and mycotoxins. It is lab tested as soon as it is extracted and then again by a third party lab to ensure an accurate amount of CBD. Our oils are CO2 extracted from hemp organically cultivated on a licensed farm in Colorado, high up in the mountains, isolated from sources of pollution and irrigated with mountain stream water.
What is epilepsy? Epilepsy is the fourth most common neurological disorder and affects people of all ages, causing unpredictable seizures and a whole host of other health problems. Patients with epilepsy experience a wide range of seizure types. Seizures are sudden and uncontrolled electrical disturbances in the brain. They can cause changes in behavior and in levels of consciousness. Seizures can also be caused by brain tumors, low blood sugar or sodium levels, head injuries, stroke or low oxygen, but if you have recurrent seizures, you probably have epilepsy. Seizures can range widely in severity, most lasting from 30 seconds to 2 minutes. Any seizure lasting more than five minutes is classified as a medical emergency. Signs and symptoms of a seizure may include temporary confusion, staring off into space, uncontrollable movements of arms and legs, loss of consciousness or awareness, or cognitive/emotional symptoms such as fear and anxiety.
Each year 150,000 Americans are diagnosed with epilepsy and 1 in 26 people will experience recurring seizures at some point during their lifetime. Seizures can often be controlled with diet and medication however for about 30%, these conventional tactics simply do not work. Current medications used to treat epilepsy often have side effects such as drowsiness, anxiety, changes in appetite or mood, diarrhea, dizziness, dry mouth, nausea and vomiting.
How does CBD oil work on seizures? There are many different types of epilepsy. In particular, Dravet Syndrome and Lennox Gastaut Syndrome often do not respond to conventional treatment. Although cannabidiol does not produce psychoactive effects, it has been shown that it may promote positive effects in different parts of the body. CBD is mostly devoid of adverse psychoactive effects and may possess anticonvulsant, analgesic, anti-anxiety, antiemetic, immune-modulating, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotectant, and anti-tumorigenic properties.
Product Safety Though often well tolerated, CBD oil can cause side effects for some people. These side effects are usually mild but can include dry mouth, diarrhea, reduced appetite, drowsiness and fatigue. It can also interact with other medications so speak to your doctor before giving it a try.
Studies & Trials
The New England Journal of Medicine
https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1611618
Mayo Clinic
https://www.mayoclinic.org/medical-professionals/neurology-neurosurgery/news/clinical-trials-of-cannabidiol-for-epilepsy/mac-20429606
Journal of Epilepsy Research
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5767492/
WebMD
https://www.webmd.com/epilepsy/news/20180516/low-dose-of-cbd-oil-eases-epilepsy-seizures#1
Epilepsy Foundation
https://www.epilepsy.com/learn/treating-seizures-and-epilepsy/other-treatment-approaches/medical-marijuana-and-epilepsy
Epilepsy Society
https://www.epilepsysociety.org.uk/cannabis-oil-epilepsy#.XPVnj9NKii4