If you or a member of your family suffers from epilepsy and experiences seizures and other seizures associated with this disease, CBD and epilepsy may be the most direct path to wellness.
CBD oil is a tool that is rapidly becoming popular in Lithuania and around the world, which provides promising results in the fight against the symptoms of epilepsy and many other diseases. How can CBD help with epilepsy and what do you need to know before using this product?
Note: This and other articles on Hemp's blog are for informational purposes only. According to the directive of the European Commission, cannabidiol is classified as a 'new food', therefore CBD products should not be used as a food supplement in Lithuania.
The article discusses what epilepsy is, frequently asked questions about CBD and epilepsy, what MCT coconut oil is, and recommendations for choosing CBD oil.
About epilepsy
Epilepsy is the fourth most common neurological disorder in the world. It is a serious brain disorder that causes repeated, unprovoked seizures. Most often, they manifest as convulsive episodes.
Seizures can affect your safety, personal relationships, work, driving, and more. Therefore, it is very important that patients are able to recognize various everyday situations in which seizures are more likely.These factors are listed below.
- Not following the established daily rhythm (e.g., a trip to a country of another time zone);
- Lack of sleep - overwork, sleep disorders, irregular sleep rhythm, etc.;
- Acute and chronic diseases, infections, inflammations;
- Flashes of light (e.g., in a nightclub or driving at night);
- Alcohol - including heavy alcohol consumption or sudden cessation of alcohol consumption, if dependence has already developed;
- Use of psychoactive products (drugs);
- Constant tension, stress;
- Menstrual cycle disorders, irregularity or other hormonal changes.
A doctor can diagnose epilepsy if you have two or more unprovoked seizures, or one, but with a higher risk. True, it is important to remember that not all seizures are a consequence of epilepsy. Seizures can be related to brain injury or inherited genetically, but the cause is often difficult to determine. Are CBD and Epilepsy Related?
CBD and Epilepsy: Answers to Frequently Asked Questions
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What is CBD?
CBD is a cannabinoid - a chemical found in the fibrous hemp plant. This cannabinoid should not be confused with another well-known cannabis product, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). This chemical in cannabis provides an intoxicating effect, can affect the psyche and cause hallucinations.
On the other hand, cannabidiol does not have any hallucinogenic properties and is safe for patients with various diseases, athletes and people using CBD simply for prevention.
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CBD and Epilepsy: Does Cannabidiol Really Bring Tangible Benefits to the Body?
The short answer is definitely yes. CBD can help prevent some types of seizures in epilepsy and has been applied not only to humans but also to animals.
2018 A clinical study involving people with different forms of epilepsy showed that patients who regularly used CBD to treat different forms of epilepsy had a significant reduction in seizures.
Research in other areas is still in its early stages, but there are indications that CBD may help prevent other types of seizures or increase the effectiveness of other anti-epileptic drugs.
CBD helps relieve the symptoms of epilepsy, but it also has other properties that may be relevant to patients. This product calms the body, helps overcome stress, relaxes, improves sleep quality, provides anti-inflammatory effect, reduces or even eliminates body pains of various origins .
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How does CBD help prevent epileptic seizures?
The positive effects of CBD in epilepsy are attributed to the human body's natural endocannabinoid system (ECS), which consists of neurotransmitters and receptors known as endocannabinoids. CBD is believed to bind and interact with the EKS system once it enters the body. This system has been found to influence various bodily functions and systems, including immune response, appetite, pain, sleep, and many other very important functions.
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CBD and Epilepsy: How to Use CBD Oil to Treat Epileptic Seizures?
If you suffer from a severe form of epilepsy (e.g., Dravet syndrome), it is very important to discuss with a neurologist whether CBD products are suitable for you and at what intensity you should use them.
Although in almost all cases cannabidiol does not cause side effects and is safe to use, there is some risk of interactions between CBD and your epilepsy prescription medications. Depending on your epilepsy condition, it is best to have CBD monitored and adjusted as needed by your doctor.
For the best effect - MCT coconut oil
For even better results, CBD oil is often mixed with MCT coconut oil. The full name of MCT in English sounds like this: "medium chain triglycerides". In Lithuanian, MCT is also known as medium-chain triglycerides.
What is MCT? Is there a connection between CBD and epilepsy?
Basically speaking, MCTs are healthy fats, usually extracted from coconuts. It has many beneficial properties - it improves digestion, helps regulate weight, nutrition, lowers the level of bad cholesterol in the blood, improves concentration - which is why it is widely used as a food supplement.
MCT coconut oil is also noted to be a good carrier of CBD. This means that MCTs increase the effectiveness of cannabidiol, making it even more effective in reducing epileptic seizures. Below are the supporting properties of MCT coconut oil.
- Accelerates absorption of CBD. MCT molecules are small, so the human body absorbs them more easily. Meanwhile, pure CBD is more difficult for the body to absorb - its bioavailability is quite low. CBD is mixed with MCTs in order to best absorb the benefits of cannabidiol in the body. This oil ensures that CBD will be carried around the body faster, accelerates its interaction with endocannabinoid receptors.
- Enriches the good properties of CBD. As we mentioned, MCTs thus have unique health benefits. These properties, combined with CBD benefits, further enrich and strengthen the body. This is especially true in diseases such as epilepsy.
We can conclude - CBD and epilepsy are related.
Which CBD oil is the best?
Currently, several types of products are available in Lithuania: CBD isolate, broad-spectrum and full-spectrum oil. CBD isolate has the weakest effect because it contains only CBD, without additional cannabinoids, terpenes and other beneficial additives.
Broad spectrum CBD oil contains other non-hallucinogenic cannabinoids, terpenes and beneficial additives, making it one of the most optimal choices. Meanwhile, full-spectrum CBD oil has the most intense effect, it contains a small amount of THC, so it should not be used by pregnant or nursing mothers and professional athletes.
If you are experiencing seizures related to epilepsy, CBD and epilepsy may be just what you are looking for - try cannabidiol and see how it works!