Cannabidiol or CBD has many health benefits; it’s more like a wonder drug that helps to treat many ailments. It doesn’t cause any psychoactive effects associated with cannabis. However, it’s still one of the most controversial drugs of the decade. CBD oil comes from the cannabis sativa (one of the cannabis plant that contains both CBD and tetrahydrocannabinol, THC) or from the hemp.
First, hemp plants are processed, and then the oil is extracted to form an oil base, which is packed as CBD oil. The oil is then used for treating various ailments like skin irritations, pains, and other conditions.
However, of all the benefits of CBD, the uses of cannabis for treating epilepsy is becoming a rage. In fact, patients who suffer from consistent seizure, which is hard to treat with other drugs use marijuana to get better.
What Is Epilepsy?
Epilepsy is a neurological disorder that can happen to anyone of any age. It’s the same as seizure disorder that varies from person to person. A person is diagnosed with this condition if they suffer two unprovoked seizures.
The seizures in epilepsy are usually linked to brain injuries. However, its actual causes are still unknown. Epilepsy occurs because of the disturbances occur in the brain’s circuit, causing vibrations like electrical overload in the brain. This overload sensation creates an involuntary reaction leading to uncontrolled seizure as well convulsions.
Patients who have been diagnosed with this condition are put under medication to control and stabilize receptors that are linked to the brain’s functionality.
CBD Vs. THC:
While CBD is found from the extraction of the hemp plant and is available in the form of Hemp Oil, gels, gummies, extracts and more, THC is the primary psychoactive compound found in marijuana and causes the sensation of being high.
Moreover, both THC and CBD have the same medical benefits which help in treating several medical conditions. But, CBD doesn’t offer any euphoric effects and doesn’t even have any side effects. In fact, in 2018, the Food and Drug Administration approved the first prescription medicine, Epidiolex with CBD to treat complicated forms of epilepsy. Doctors prescribe Epidiolex for:
- Treating Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS), the rare condition that involves different seizures and occurs in the age group of 3-5 years.
- Treating a rare genetic condition, Dravet Syndrome (DS), that causes frequent fever-related seizures.
What Do Patients Think Of Epileptic?
Patients often are concerned about the use of marijuana and one prime concern is the addictiveness of the drug. While the scientists claim that the usage of CBD offers low psychoactive capacities, it can have additive effects on many others.
Epidemiology Of Epilepsy:
Epilepsy affects over 300,000 kids under age 15, with 90,000 young patients that cannot be treated. According to the Epilepsy Foundation, there are over 50 million people worldwide affected with over three million only from the U.S.
Moreover, the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke found that over 20% of patients have intractable seizures that are hard to treat and don’t even respond to the medications.
Common Factors Of Epilepsy:
- Premature delivery or low birth weight
- Abnormal structure of the brain at the time of birth
- Having seizure in the first month
- Bleeding in the brain
- Insufficient oxygen to the brain at the time of birth
- Brain tumours
- Brain infections like encephalitis and meningitis
- Strokes because of the arteries blockage
- Mental disabilities
- Fever-related seizure or having a family history of epilepsy
- Alzheimer
- Alcohol or excessive dosage of drugs
Treatment Of Epilepsy:
While medications are primarily used by patients to treat multiple seizures, it can be treated with diet therapy, surgery as well with AEDs (antiepileptic medications). Moreover, the patient’s whose test doesn’t link to any kind of seizure recurrence don’t need any medication.
No matter how the disease affects a person, staying well-informed about the condition and having a positive attitude is essential to control the effects of the seizure.
