Medical cannabis remains illegal under the Federal Law. The FDA considers cannabis as a Schedule 1 drug because it’s assumed to have high abuse potential with serious safety implications. However, the FDA has made history by approving its first marijuana-derived drug, Epidiolex, for the management of two rare forms of epilepsy. Justin Gover, the chief executive officer of GW Pharmaceuticals, has described this approval as “a historic milestone.”

Epilepsy- A Brief Review

Epilepsy is the fourth most common neurological disorder that affects people of all ages. It is a chronic disorder with recurrent and unprovoked seizures. A seizure is an abnormal discharging of the brain’s nerve cells resulting in disturbance of motor, and sensory functions.

It is often seen that people with epilepsy could have more than one type of seizures coupled with other symptoms of neurological problems as well. Sometimes, a group of people with epilepsy have similar EEG testing results, family history, and outlook. In those cases, the condition can be described as specific epilepsy syndrome.

Causes of Epilepsy

In most of the cases, it is still not clear why epilepsy happens. However, in some cases, it can be traced to various factors, including:

Genetic factors: Some types of epilepsy run in the families. In these cases, it’s likely that there’s a genetic influence. Researchers also have linked some types to specific genes.

Head trauma: Head injury due to some accident or because of some other traumatic injury.

Brain conditions: Some of the disorders that cause damage to the brain, such as brain tumors or strokes, can cause epilepsy.

Infectious Diseases: Diseases such as meningitis, AIDS, and viral encephalitis, can cause epilepsy.

Prenatal Injury: Sometimes an infection in the mother, poor nutrition or oxygen deficiencies can cause brain damage in the fetus which can result in epilepsy.

Developmental Disorders: Some disorders like Autism and neurofibromatosis.

This condition can affect the person’s safety, relationships, ability to work. Not only this, how people deal with epileptic patients is usually more cause of concern in patients than the actual seizures. Hence, reap the benefits of CBD in alleviating the symptoms of epilepsy and seizures, thereby improving the quality of life.

CBD: The Wonder Molecule

Marijuana contains around 100 types of cannabinoids. CBD is one of them. However, unlike THC, CBD does not have any psychoactive effects. Hence, it produces significant changes in the body with great medicinal effects.

How CBD acts in the body

The multi-pharmacological profile of CBD improves the function of ES system, thus regulates processes including the CNS and convulsive activity.

CBD targets the brain cells through the calcium ion channels, GATA system, sodium ion channels in the brain. Thus, it attaches itself to the brain neurons in the brain thereby managing the flow of ions in the neurotransmitters. Hence, it works on the molecular level, thus regulates homeostasis in all parts of the body.

Benefits of CBD for Epilepsy and Seizures

CBD interacts with the CB1 receptor, which reduces the neurotransmission. Hence, CBD produces an overall reduction in neuronal excitability.

According to a survey, CBD resulted in 84% improvement of the child’s seizures with around 60% reduction in seizure episodes.

CBD also increases alertness with better sleep patterns. Thus, further helps in improving mood among the patients suffering from epilepsy.

CBD protects the hippocampus region in the brain from explosive electrical firing.

CBD shows 36.5% reduction in motor seizures.

With such positive results, CBD shows activity much better than the regular anticonvulsant medications. Thus, CBD is significantly improving the quality of life and reducing the occurrence of seizures with incredible efficiency. Hence, CBD is the best approach in managing epilepsy especially when the conventional epileptic drugs have serious known side-effects such as lethargy, confusion, appetite and weight loss, increased neuropathic pain, blurred vision.

If you are a victim of this condition, enable yourself with the positive effects of CBD by applying on OnlineMMJLosAngeles. It is the best online portal, where 420 evaluations doctors in Los Angeles provide medical cannabis recommendation via video chat or phone call. Once the review is done, you will get your recommendation right away without worrying about the long queues, or any hassles.