Medical marijuana is now issued to patients with a range of qualifying conditions, encompassing both physical and mental ailments.
While many people know about marijuana’s ability to tackle issues such as pain and anxiety, one of the most fascinating benefits of marijuana is its ability to help with epilepsy. Epilepsy is a severe neurological disorder that causes temporary changes in the brain, resulting in seizures, unusual behavior, and loss of awareness.
Epilepsy is notoriously hard to treat, with many treatments failing to help patients manage and reduce seizures. However, in recent years, medical marijuana has quickly become a prime treatment for epilepsy and many studies have identified how cannabinoids can help epileptic patients with their symptoms.
What is Epilepsy & How is it Treated?
Epilepsy is a severe and chronic neurological disorder that’s characterized by recurring seizures. The frequency and severity of epileptic seizures can vary. Sometimes sufferers will experience mild seizures, which last for a few seconds and cause temporary confusion and lack of awareness.
Generalized seizures are much more severe, affecting the entire brain and often lasting for several minutes. These seizures can also result in uncontrollable muscle spasms and twitches, and sufferers can sometimes lose consciousness. These seizures can arise at any time and severely impact the quality of life of sufferers.
Epilepsy affects an estimated 65 million people around the world and is notoriously difficult to treat. Traditional treatments include anti-epileptic drugs, surgery to remove certain parts of the brain, and electrical devices that are implanted in the body to help control seizures. However, these treatments can cause negative side effects, and medical cannabis has emerged as a popular alternative.
Medical Marijuana & Epilepsy
Since epilepsy is hard to treat and even traditional treatments often fail, the findings on the benefits of medical cannabis for epilepsy are particularly impressive. Although there’s limited research to suggest that THC helps with epilepsy, CBD has been shown to help epileptic patients manage their symptoms significantly.
A study found that CBD, one of the non-psychoactive compounds found in cannabis, was especially helpful at reducing seizures in patients with Dravet syndrome- a rare form of epilepsy. After 14 weeks of daily CBD treatment, seizures in patients were reduced from 12.4 to just 5.9 a month.
Similarly, another study found that CBD was effective at reducing seizures in patients with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, another rare form of epilepsy. A daily dose of 20mg of CBD per kg of body weight helped reduce drop seizures in patients by 41.9%, while a dose of 10mg of CBD per kg helped reduce drop seizures by 37.2%, compared to just 17.2% in patients who received a placebo.
One of the most interesting case studies of using medical cannabis for epilepsy is the case of Charlotte Figi, a young girl who experienced 300 seizures a week due to Dravet syndrome. Charlotte’s parents tried using a low-THC, high-CBD cannabis strain extract, which instantly helped reduce seizures and improve her condition. The strain is now known as Charlotte’s Web.
How Medical Marijuana Helps with Epilepsy Symptoms
Medical cannabis has been shown to help patients in various ways- especially those who suffer from hard-to-treat forms of epilepsy.
The main benefit of using medical cannabis or CBD for epilepsy is that it can help significantly reduce the frequency of seizures a patient experiences. Seizures can be exceptionally inconvenient and discombobulating, and even a small reduction can significantly improve the quality of life of patients.
Medical cannabis can also help with many of the symptoms associated with epileptic seizures. For instance, it’s known to help with muscle spasms and can also help with headaches and migraines, which epilepsy patients sometimes experience along with seizures.
It’s also worth noting that epilepsy can be triggered by issues such as chronic stress, anxiety, and lack of sleep. Medical marijuana has been shown to help with anxiety and stress and can also improve your sleep, which may contribute to reducing seizures.
How to Use Medical Marijuana for Epilepsy
One of the great things about using medical marijuana is that patients are never short of options. The most common way to use medical marijuana is by smoking dried Marijuana Flower. Low-THC high-CBD strains are recommended for dealing with epilepsy, so epileptic patients may want to use a strain such as Charlotte’s Web.
Patients who want to avoid inhaling cannabis smoke may prefer vaping instead. Vaping allows you to heat Marijuana Flower to produce smooth, inhalable vapor without any harsh smoke. Many patients find that vaping to be a safer and more positive experience compared to smoking.
THC-free CBD products are generally considered the best options for epileptic patients, and these come in many forms. CBD Tinctures are a popular option as you can apply a dose under your tongue for quick and easy absorption. You can also use CBD Capsules and Edibles, which you simply swallow. CBD Vape Oils and Cartridges are also popular options.
How to Get Medical Marijuana for Epilepsy
If you want to use medical marijuana products to help with epilepsy, you’ll need to check the laws of your state. While some states allow all adults to legally purchase marijuana for any purpose, others will require you to apply for a medical card.
To access medical marijuana in Florida, you’ll first need to visit a medical marijuana doctor. They’ll assess whether you qualify based on your symptoms and your medical records. Once you’re approved by a doctor, you can apply for your medical card online and should receive it within a couple of weeks.
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Once you have your medical card, you can buy a range of medical cannabis and CBD products from state dispensaries. If you’re a Florida patient looking to get your medical card, MY FLORIDA GREEN can connect you with a marijuana doctor and guide you through the process.
The Takeaway
While epilepsy can be very hard to manage, research shows that medical cannabis is a safe and effective treatment that can significantly help patients manage seizures and improve their quality of life. Many states now offer medical cards for patients with epilepsy to help them deal with their condition.
Treat Epilepsy naturally by getting your medical marijuana card. The first step is to schedule an appointment with a medical marijuana doctor. We make it fast and easy!
