Epilepsy is a central nervous system disorder in which the brain's nerve cell activity becomes disrupted, causes seizures and convulsions, and results in strange sensations and a loss of consciousness. Epilepsy can be the result of abnormal wiring within the brain, an imbalance of neurotransmitters, and/or changes in brain cells and channels. Traditional treatments aren't always effective, but now CBD is being seen as a powerful treatment option due to its ability to decrease seizure frequency, and at times completely rid a patient of their seizures, all while being well-tolerated by patients.
When CBD interacts with CB1 receptors in the endocannabinoid system, they reduce neurotransmission and neuronal excitability. Research has shown CBD is also able to effectively treat the more treatment resistant forms of epilepsy, like Dravet syndrome, Doose syndrome, and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome. As you may recall from the post on Dravet syndrome, in one questionnaire, 85% of parents reported a reduction in their child's seizures, with 11% of those children becoming completely seizure free and 42% witnessing a reduction in seizures greater than 80%. The children also witnessed other benefits when it comes to sleep, alertness, and mood. While current medications may not be tolerated well by patients, cannabinoids have been found to produce the anticonvulsant effects without producing as many adverse side effects as pharmaceutical medications.
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