In recent times, CBD oil is gaining popularity amongst those who seek natural alternatives to alleviate a variety of conditions. Also, many studies are being conducted on this compound that shows its effectiveness in various illnesses, i.e.: epilepsy.
On the other hand, many people must deal with epilepsy today. In fact, according to a Morbidity and Mortality Weekly report from 2017, an estimate of 3 million adults and 470,000 children suffered from epilepsy in the US in 2015. And this number is ever-increasing, probably due to population growth.
But, how does CBD oil for Epilepsy work? We’ll explore this question in this article.
What is Epilepsy?
Approximately 50 million people suffer from epilepsy in the world, and this number is growing every year. In fact, epilepsy is one of the most common neurological illnesses and affects people of all ages.
But, what is epilepsy? First of all, you should know that epilepsy (commonly known as seizure disorder or epileptic seizures) is not a mental illness or a psychiatric condition. On the contrary, epilepsy is a physical condition caused by the abnormal performance of a group of neurons.
People who suffer from epilepsy will typically experience recurrent seizure crisis. These crises usually last from a few seconds to a few minutes. After the seizures are over, the brain goes back to normal. In fact, most people who suffer from this condition can carry out a normal life the rest of the time.
There are three different types of seizures depending on the part of the brain affected and the cause of epilepsy:
- Generalized onset seizures: They affect both sides of the brain. Typically, the person who suffers from it will lose conscience during a crisis.
- Focal onset seizures: They start on one side of the brain, although it can extend to other areas.
- Unknown onset seizures: It is not known in which part of the brain the seizure starts.
Finally, consider that suffering from one epileptic seizure doesn’t mean that you suffer from epilepsy. In order for epilepsy to be diagnosed, you must suffer from more than one crisis.
Causes and Consequences of Epilepsy
Our brain controls all our body functions. When something affects the normal function of the brain, we may suffer an epileptic seizure. So, in order to find a treatment for seizures, it is important to identify the cause. Nevertheless, more than 70% of people don’t know what is causing the condition.
Regardless, below are some typical causes of epilepsy:
- Illnesses in other organs, such as liver and kidney illnesses.
- Alcoholism
- Diabetes
- Genetic causes
- Brain malformation
- Problems during birth that affect the brain, such as lack of oxygen
- Head injuries
- Brain infections, such as meningitis or encephalitis
- Brain tumors
- Stroke
- Alzheimer disease
- Intracranial hemorrhage
On the other hand, suffering from epileptic seizures can have the following consequences:
- Memory alterations
- Mood swings
- Depression
- Anxiety
Additionally, people who suffer from epilepsy must confront the social stigma and discrimination associated with this illness. So, it is important to educate our society to remove this problem.
Treatments for Epilepsy
It is very important to go to the doctor after suffering from a seizure for the first time, to get a proper diagnose. As we stated above, one isolated crisis doesn’t mean that you suffer from epilepsy, there must be at least two unprovoked episodes of seizures to diagnose it.
Typically, seizures are treated with anti-epileptic drugs (AED). These can control the crisis in 70%-80% of the cases. Additionally, there are some treatments that can be also effective when dealing with epilepsy, including:
- Ketogenic diet
- Vagus nerve stimulation
- Surgery
- Deep brain stimulation
- CBD oil
What is CBD Oil?
CBD oil or cannabidiol oil is a derivative from hemp or cannabis sativa. Cannabidiol is one of the 60 cannabinoids that are present in the plant. But contrary to what many people think, CBD contains no (or little) THC, so it has no psychoactive effects.
Although both hemp and marihuana are derived from the cannabis sativa plant, they are not the same thing. On the one hand, marihuana contains high levels of THC, which, as we said, is responsible for the psychoactive effects of the plant. These THC is mainly present in the plant’s flowers and trichomes. On the other hand, hemp or industrial hemp has been cultivated for centuries and has very little levels of THC and high levels of CBD. Additionally, hemp is not a drug and contains many essential nutrients that the human system can’t produce itself.
CBD Oil for Epilepsy
Unfortunately, epilepsy not always responds well to traditional treatments. And, the adverse effects of these treatments can be too hard to endure. That’s why many people have turned to alternative therapies to ease the condition. In recent times, there have been numerous studies about the anti-epileptic properties of CBD, including studies in children.
There is evidence that cannabis was used as a treatment for seizures for thousands of years. Also, in the 19th century, neurologists used cannabis preparations to treat epilepsy. This situation changed during the 20th century due to the legal restrictions on the use of the cannabis sativa plant.
Furthermore, a recent study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine shows the efficiency of cannabidiol in the Dravet Syndrome, a childhood epilepsy disorder with a high mortality rate. This study shows a decrease of seizures in individuals suffering from this condition, going from 12.4 to 5.9 convulsive seizures per month. Moreover, in June 2018 the FDA approved a CBD medicine to treat two epilepsy conditions: Lennox Gastaut syndrome and Dravet Syndrome.
In conclusion, although we need more studies on this matter, there is enough evidence that CBD oil for epilepsy has great potential.
