REWARDS
If you haven’t heard the most recent news on CBD, the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the first ever cannabis medication for epilepsy, named Epidiolex.
Now children, and other people suffering from epilepsy can legally use this CBD medication to help treat symptoms of epilepsy. This is an amazing breakthrough for CBD, and more medications can be seen coming in the near future. You can learn more about Epidiolex here.
CBD, or Cannabidiol (CBD), is the main non-psychoactive chemical compound found in cannabis. The cannabinoid has been gaining praise recently for its long list of medical benefits. People suffering from physical pain, anxiety, depression, IBS, and other conditions are finding relief through the use of CBD. In addition to these benefits, CBD is non-psychoactive, meaning that it does not produce the “high” that is associated with the consumption of cannabis.
We will first explain what epilepsy is and then discuss how CBD can be beneficial to those suffering from epileptic symptoms.
What is Epilepsy?
Epilepsy is a neurological condition that results in recurring seizures. Approximately 50 million people in the world live with epilepsy. This debilitating condition makes daily tasks like driving, cooking, taking care of children, or holding a job next to impossible in severe cases.
Epileptic seizures are caused by irregular electrical discharges (misfirings) among brain cells, resulting in moderate to violent convulsions of the body, loss of consciousness and occasionally, altered senses (inability to hear or see straight).
Some people are born with epilepsy. Others have developed epilepsy from a bad head injury, a hormonal imbalance in the body, or serious virus. In general, the cause of epilepsy is simply unknown, making it even more frustrating for those suffering from the difficult disease.
How Does CBD Help Epileptic Seizures?
Medical cannabis contains anticonvulsant properties. The cannabis plant contains over 100 chemical compounds – called cannabinoids – with the most recognized cannabinoids being THC (the cannabinoid responsible for getting people high). CBD, however, is where most of the anticonvulsant properties come from.
Since CBD is an anticonvulsant, it affects the neurotransmitters responsible for sending messages or attaching themselves to neurons in the body. As a result, the activity of the cell is altered from switching how the ions flow into and out of the neurons.
A study conducted In 2003 from the Virginia Commonwealth University reported that cannabinoids from the cannabis plant indeed provide health benefits that are not found in conventional pharmaceutical treatments. The lead researcher for the trial had been studying the therapeutic effects of cannabis on epilepsy and other illnesses for over a decade, proving cannabinoids, CBD included, can decrease seizures through the activation of the brain’s CB1 receptors (receptors found in the memory-related areas of the brain and nervous system), which send messages to the brain once CBD is taken.
There have been many success stories from people suffering from epilepsy. Many consumers claim that their loved ones have had a significant reduction in epileptic episodes after taking CBD. It is known to reduce the frequency of seizures, and in some cases has ridden them completely. CBD has truly made a profound impact on their lives, and will continue to positively effect those that need it.
Takeaways
- CBD may provide relief from epileptic seizures
- Epilepsy can make it difficult for those affected to live their normal, daily lives.
- The FDA approved the first legal CBD medication used to treat seizures: Epidiolex
- It is tough to determine the true causes of epilepsy
Daintri’s focus is on health and wellness. We curate only the best of the best CBD products to help you live your healthiest life. If there are any questions about products, manufacturing processes or extraction methods, please let us know. We are on a mission to help as many people as possible with the health ailments of CBD.