From its anti-inflammatory properties to its anti-anxiety effects, the benefits of Cannabidiol, a.k.a CBD, have been flooding the media for the last several years. But what seemed to really pave the way for CBD and put it on the map is a story about a young girl named Charlotte Figi.
At a young age, little Charlotte was diagnosed with a rare form of epilepsy called Dravet syndrome. As she aged, her seizures increased, totalling over 300 seizures a week. After countless doctor visits, medical tests, and over a dozen various seizure medications, Charlotte’s parents were desperate. They finally gave CBD a try and saw that within just the first couple of hours, Charlotte didn’t suffer from any seizures. The hours then turned to days, and the days turned to weeks. Soon Charlotte was up walking around, riding a bike, and attending school. All thanks to a mislabeled and misunderstood herb.
Sadly, Charlotte Figi passed away due to complications with COVID-19 on April 7th, 2020. Still, her story not only helped launch the CBD movement, it inspired people around the world to look at CBD from her and her parents’ point of view: as a non-intoxicating medicinal herb. Now, scientists everywhere are focusing their attention on the phenomenon of CBD for seizures and epilepsy in both young children and grown adults.
So what is CBD and how does it work for people who suffer from seizures and rare forms of epilepsy?
Understanding what CBD is…
Both marijuana and hemp belong to the same genus and species of Cannabis Sativa. Because of this origin, many people have steered clear of all things cannabis, in fear of its psychoactive effects. While it’s true that CBD and THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol) are naturally occurring phytocannabinoids found in the cannabis plant, the way they interact within the body is entirely different.
THC, though packed with a number therapeutic properties, is infamously known for its mind altering effects, in that it gets you “high”. CBD, on the other hand, is also packed with similar therapeutic properties and is completely non-psychoactive, so it won’t make you feel “high”. Amazingly, studies show that CBD in higher ratios can actually counteract the psychoactive effects of THC. This means hemp-derived CBD products that have THC (0.3% or less) won’t get you “high”. However, there are several highly effective CBD oil products out there that are completely THC free.
As mentioned before, CBD is packed with tremendous therapeutic properties:
- Anti-inflammatory
- Antioxidant
- Anti-tumor
- Antipsychotic
- Anti-anxiety
- Analgesic effects (pain relief)
- Neuroprotectant effects
- Anti-seizure
But it’s the anti-seizure and neuroprotectant properties that have caught the attention of scientists and medical professionals. But before we dive into how CBD works in stopping seizures, we need to answer the following questions: What exactly is epilepsy? And what are seizures?
Understanding seizures and epilepsy
Epilepsy is an umbrella term used for various brain disorders. This includes seizures. Research shows that epilepsy occurs when “the normal pattern of neuronal activity becomes disturbed, causing strange sensations, emotions, and behavior or sometimes convulsions, muscle spasms, and loss of consciousness.” Health problems that contribute to epilepsy include:
- Abnormal brain wiring
- Imbalance of neurotransmitters
- Odd changes in the channels of the brain
- Or a combination of the above
Seizures are also very similar. According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, there are various types of seizures, and they can be brought on from anything that disrupts the neuron activity from its normal patterns. Health conditions that may disrupt normal neuron activity and lead to seizures include:
- Brain damage
- Abnormal brain development
- Rare illnesses that affect the brain or other parts of the body
Though it’s rare, even high fevers can cause a seizure. When it comes to treating epilepsy and seizures, a slew of pharmaceutical drugs are usually prescribed, along with surgical techniques. Doctors even believe that diet may help reduce some seizures and side effects of epileptic medications.
Ironically, in the last few years, research has shown that CBD interacts with our body in a completely unique way, helping to relieve a number of unwanted aliments and reduce damaging effects on the brain. So does this mean CBD oil can help with seizures?
How does CBD Oil stop seizures?
To really understand how CBD potentially stops seizures, we first need to see how it works in our body. To do that, we need to look at one of the most ubiquitous receptor systems in the human body, the Endocannabinoid System (ECS). The ECS is a signaling communication system that helps regulate a number of biological functions in our body:
- Mood
- Perception of pain
- Appetite
- Digestion and metabolism
- Sleep
- Memory
- Reproduction and hormones
- Immunity
- Cognitive function
- Neuro-health
- And overall cellular health
Without the ECS, our body would not function correctly. However, according to scientific research, many major health conditions –– like anxiety, depression, various neuropathy disorders, bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and many other serious health diseases –– could be the result of an endocannabinoid deficiency. Meaning, disruptions within the ECS could cause unwanted symptoms and diseases.
It’s still unclear as to exactly how CBD stops seizures, but recent scientific research shows that CBD affects the modulation and the binding of the following:
- GPR55 –– a G protein receptor found in the central nervous system. It has been studied for its role in anxiety and it’s also known to be a novel cannabinoid receptor. This means it shows promise in binding and activating the receptor cells found throughout the body.
- TRPV4 –– belongs to the transient receptor potential family and is known to have therapeutic value. TRPV is considered an ion channel that has some influence on our perception of pain.
- 5-HT –– some of these receptors are also known as serotonin receptors. Studies show that “CBD exhibits reasonable affinity” to 5-HT1A and 5-HT2A receptors, both of which are targeted during an epilpetic seizure.
- A1 and A2 adenosine –– these receptors are present in the brain. CBD is known to affect both of these receptors by producing anticonvulsant effects.
Studies also show that CBD targets the enzymes found in the brain, which have some correlation with epilepsy. In fact, there are a few clinical studies that suggest CBD could help relieve seizures and epilepsy.
The benefits of CBD oil for epilepsy and seizures
There have been several studies conducted to explore how the effects phytocannabinoids like CBD have on epilepsy and seizure. For the sake of this article, we’ll only explore a few.
CBD for epilepsy and seizures in humans
516 patients diagnosed with either Dravet syndrome or Lennox-Gastaut syndrome participated in three double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trials. Along with other epilpetic medications, CBD was administered. Amazingly, researchers found that CBD reduced the frequency of seizures compared to the patients who were administered the placebo. This led to the approval of the first plant-based, synthetic free, hemp-derived CBD oral medication –– Epidiolex.
CBD for dog epilepsy and seizures
Additional research has been made to explore how CBD oil affects dogs who suffer from epilepsy and seizures. In fact, in a randomized, blinded, and controlled clinical trial involving dogs with intractable idiopathic epilepsy, CBD or a placebo was administered. For 12 weeks, a CBD-infused oil was administered twice daily in addition to epileptic medications. In the group of dogs that received CBD, the frequency of seizures was reduced. While this study is the first to be conducted on dogs, more studies are needed.
While it’s still unclear how CBD actually works to stop epileptic seizures, it’s clear that from multiple studies, CBD could be a highly effective treatment for these rare and scary brain disorders. Nevertheless, more studies are needed to explore how CBD actually works when addressing seizures. This leads to our next question: Is CBD oil safer than seizure or epileptic medications?
The side effects of CBD oil for epilepsy and seizures
For the most part, CBD is well tolerated among its users. According to studies, CBD is relatively safe. However, there are a few, yet rare, side effects that have been reported. These side effects often include:
- Fatigue
- Nausea
- High blood pressure
- Irritability
Thankfully, while these side effects are rarely reported, if felt at all, they quickly fade. As for the side effects associated with patients who suffer from epilepsy and seizures, patients may experience the following:
- Lethargy
- Elevated liver enzymes
- Changes in their appetite
- Skin rash
- Fatigue
- Weakness
- Malaise
- Insomnia
- Diarrhea
- Etc.
It’s important to note that most of the side effects listed above are associated with Epidiolex and other epileptic medications. It’s imperative to consult with your doctor before consuming CBD. Studies show that CBD uses the same liver enzymes that break down pharmaceutical drugs. This means that CBD could interact with these epileptic medications if taken together. If you are considering CBD for epilepsy or seizures, ask your doctor if they can monitor your liver enzymes and blood levels. Doctors can help establish a safe and healthy CBD dose that won’t interfere with your current medications. If for any reason you experience any adverse effects, stop CBD immediately and consult with your doctor before moving forward.
That said, it’s also important to note that not all the CBD products you see on the market today are formulated the same. This is partly due to the lack of regulation from the FDA. In fact, only one hemp-derived CBD medication has been approved. So does this mean that CBD products, other than Epidiolex, are illegal?
Where does the FDA stand with CBD oil for epilepsy?
The CBD oils and other products you see for sale in stores like Whole Foods and Walgreens are hemp-derived — meaning they only contain trace amounts of THC (0.3%), which isn’t enough to get you high. Thankfully, the 2018 Farm Bill federally legalized industrial hemp. This means that hemp-derived CBD products are federally legal now. However, according to the FDA, they prohibit any products that contain CBD, partly because some companies derive their CBD from marijuana. This can be an issue for those who are sensitive to THC or only want hemp-derived CBD. Because marijuana contains higher ratios of THC, the companies that derive their CBD from marijuana potentially take the chance of having more than 0.3% THC in their final product. Anything higher than 0.3% THC is federally illegal, however under some state laws, higher ratios of THC is legal. Hemp-derived CBD, on the other hand, is legal on the federal level, but illegal under some state laws.
Still, the lack of regulation from the FDA does contribute to poorly formulated CBD products in the CBD industry. This is why it’s extremely important to only seek out reputable CBD companies that formulate high quality hemp-derived CBD products.
So where can you find high quality CBD oil for epilepsy and seizures?
Where to find the best CBD oil for epilepsy and seizures for sale
While it’s possible to find highly reputable CBD oils and other products near you, the easiest place to find the best CBD oil for seizures and epilepsy is online. Why? Simply put, reputable CBD companies do everything in their power to self regulate, and they’ll make it known on their website.
Here are few things that CBD companies need in order to sell high quality CBD products:
- They need a supplier or farmer to cultivate their hemp. This is perhaps the most important step in determining the quality of your hemp-derived CBD product. The hemp should be grown on soil that’s free of harmful toxins like pesticides, herbicides, heavy metals, GMO’s, and other damaging contaminants.
- They will use a safe, non-intoxicating extraction process. CO2 extraction and nano-technology are considered the safest form of extraction.
- They will have all of their products thoroughly tested by accredited third parties. This ensures their products are accurately labeled, free of harmful toxins, and safe to consume. Third party test results will usually be easy to find on the company's website. If for any reason you don’t see their test results, they will provide them for you through their customer service.
Because there is a lack of regulation in the CBD industry, reputable CBD companies that value their customers and reputation will focus on transparency. If, for any reason, you notice any red flags on a CBD company’s website or product label, you may want to reconsider purchasing from them. The more you research the CBD company, the more effective their products will be.
