Does CBD Oil Help With Seizures?

We know that there is a lot of potential for CBD to help with a wide range of health conditions, but does CBD oil help with seizures? While it’s not a miracle cure and it doesn’t always work the same for everyone, there is strong evidence to suggest that CBD oil can in fact be used as part of a comprehensive epilepsy treatment program. In fact, in 2018 the FDA approved the first drug with CBD to treat certain rare forms of epilepsy.

At their most simple definition, seizures are sudden disruptions in the normal electrical activity of the brain. They can be genetic—such as is often the case with epilepsy—or related to other factors, such as traumatic brain injuries.

In studies beginning as early as the 1970s, researchers have been examining the role of CBD and other cannabis compounds in the treatment of seizure disorders like epilepsy, as well as for use as natural remedies for non-epileptic seizures. This research supplements the experiences of many families who have discovered on their own that the properties inherent in CBD can help with seizures—a grassroots endeavor that helped rapidly progress the idea in more mainstream medical practices.

What decades of research and anecdotal experiences have taught us is that while we still have a lot to learn about how the brain works—and how cannabis compounds interact with it—there is much reason to believe that when it comes to seizures, CBD may just be one of the best (and safest) defenses that we have.

The Science Behind CBD Oil for Seizures

The mechanisms at the heart of the benefits of CBD oil for seizures can be traced to the various actions of CBD in the brain and body.

CBD is a natural anti-inflammatory, and it’s been shown to be able to help regulate cell cycle and immune cell functions. It has a specific ability to perform these actions on Transient Potential Vanilloid Receptor Type 1 (TRPV1), a neural receptor that is increased in neuro-inflammatory episodes such as seizures. When CBD binds to TRPV1, it “leads to a desensitization of these receptors,” reports a recent meta-analysis, and this can lead to a consequent reduction in neural inflammation.

On top of being anti-inflammatory, CBD has also been shown to be an anticonvulsant. In studies, this property alone has led to CBD being recognized as effective in the treatment of epileptic seizures, particularly among pediatric patients.

These mechanisms are only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the connection between CBD and seizure relief. The wealth of support for CBD as an anti-seizure treatment is part of the reason that it has become one of its most widely accepted uses, as well as why these types of studies have been pursued for so many years.

Treating Seizures in People and Pets

It’s not just humans who can benefit from the use of CBD for the treatment of seizures. We’ve seen an increase in the use of CBD oil for dogs with seizures, since it offers similar benefits in the canine brain. In one small study, 89% of dogs who received CBD in a clinical trial had a reduction in the frequency of their seizures. This is major news for pet parents, many of whom have had limited options when it comes to the treatment of canine seizure disorders.

There is rarely a one-size-fits-all approach to the treatment of seizures, but there is ample evidence to suggest that, for many, CBD is a safe and effective treatment component. Browse our site to learn more about CBD benefits and how to get started with CBD, as well as to shop high quality CBD products for people and pets.