Cannabis Medicine: How the Plant Can Help With Seizures

For anyone who knows anything about the many different medical applications of the cannabis plant, there’s a good chance that they will know that the plant can help people who suffer from seizures. Precisely what has been studied, and why does cannabis help? Read on for more information.

Epilepsy is a disorder that impacts the central nervous system and causes abnormal brain activity. According to the Epilepsy Foundation, conditions like epilepsy that cause seizures affect nearly 3 million Americans. The estimated annual cost for medication, doctor visits, and all other associated expenses is $15.5 billion. 1 in 26 people will develop some form of epilepsy throughout their life.

Cannabis medicine, as a potential treatment for epilepsy and other neurological conditions, has been the topic of study and debate, especially in the last five to seven years or so. Conditions that cause seizures are highly debilitating for anyone who suffers from them, and often pharmaceutical medications are ineffective in treating them. These pills can cause a lot of side effects that are particularly dangerous for children and seniors. Not to mention, pharmaceutical pills are often highly expensive. Let us get a better understanding of what the symptoms of epilepsy are.

Symptoms of Epilepsy

While the most commonly understood symptom of epilepsy is seizures, there are several other symptoms of the condition as well. According to the Mayo Clinic, these symptoms include:

• Loss of consciousness
• Confusion
• Uncontrollable jerking motions in the limbs
• Staring into space
• Anxiety or Deja vu

At this time, there is no cure for epilepsy. However, many people suffer from the condition who have managed to get the quality of their lives back in some capacity by controlling it. This is yet another reason why cannabis medicine can be an attractive alternative. But exactly how effective is cannabis in treating seizures?

Cannabis for Seizures - What Science Says

Organizations like the Epilepsy Foundation, as well as the American Epilepsy Society, have expressed their support for cannabis as a potential treatment for the condition. One of the reasons why cannabis has a lot of potential for helping patients reduce their amounts of seizures is because there are minimal side effects with cannabis. As with all things medical herb, we need to see more studies done - and these studies need to move to clinical trials. At this time, the only cannabis medication that is approved by the FDA is one that can help reduce seizures. The drug is called Epidiolex, and it is CBD-based.

There are many patients whose bodies cannot tolerate the powerful anti-seizure medication. A 2017 study found that a combination of medical cannabis oil and specific seizure medication significantly reduced the number of seizures a patient experienced daily. This is dependent on the individual: their age, specific condition, and other factors all play a part in how effective cannabis medicine can be for them. The demographic that appears to respond the best to medical cannabis treatment are children. The majority of kids who participated in the study saw a reduction in seizures, and some were even seizure-free. Unfortunately, it can be difficult for parents to obtain medicine like cannabis oil for their epileptic children. Thankfully, some heartwarming groups are unabashedly doing something about that.

Cannabis Oil for Kids with Severe Conditions

As tough as it can be to witness an adult suffering from debilitating conditions like epilepsy and cancer, it’s even harder to see innocent children go through it. There are many different kinds of epilepsy, with some patients suffering only a few seizures per day - some in the hundreds with rare forms of the disease.

Thankfully, there are organizations like Saving Sophie and CannaKids with amazing people who devote their lives to getting parents the medication their kids need. The CannaKids organization has generated thousands of donations throughout the years. In 2017, they got the first-ever approval of cannabis oil to be transported legally through customers to the U.K.

With more organizations like this coming out, we will continue to normalize cannabis medicine and bring it further into the mainstream. If there is ever a reason to be in favor of legal cannabis, it’s to help improve the quality of life for the most vulnerable and innocent among us.

Disclaimer:

The content on this page is provided by HashDash for educational and entertainment purposes only and is not intended as medical advice or as a substitute for professional healthcare advice. Do not use this information to diagnose or treat any medical condition or ailment on your own. Always consult a physician or qualified healthcare provider before making any decisions about treatment. The information and products mentioned herein have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or condition.

HashDash - Supporting Community and Educating the Cannabis Consumer

If you found value in our cannabis for seizures article, this is just the one installment in our ongoing series on health-related articles. Check out our article on ten therapeutic benefits of cannabis that you might not know about right here. Be sure to check back to our blog often, because we post fresh content every week! Connect with us on social media: @hashdash.com on all platforms.

As a part of our dedication to cannabis education, we are building a database of knowledge with articles just like this one. One of the most essential applications of cannabis is how it is a versatile medicine and how it can be applied to help ease the pain and suffering associated with diseases and conditions.

HashDash is a cannabis matching platform, and we will continue to answer your questions regarding all things plant medicine as well as where to find the best dispensaries in your area. Be sure to sign up for HashDash to discover your cannabis matches if you haven’t already. As always, thanks for reading, and happy consuming!