"CBD and Epilepsy"

Epilepsy is a common neurologic disorder, it is estimated that ∼50 million people are affected worldwide. 

About one third of those patients are drug resistant, defined as failure to stop all seizures despite adequate trials of at least 2 appropriate medications.

CBD (cannabidiol) has been shown to be an effective treatment for epilepsy, particularly in reducing the frequency and severity of seizures in people with certain types of epilepsy.

In 2018, the FDA approved a CBD-based medication called Epidiolex for the treatment of two rare forms of childhood epilepsy, Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and Dravet syndrome. Clinical trials showed that Epidiolex significantly reduced the number of seizures in patients with these conditions.

CBD works by interacting with the body's endocannabinoid system, which plays a role in regulating various bodily functions, including mood, pain, and sleep. It is thought that CBD may help to reduce seizures by interacting with certain receptors in the brain and nervous system.

There has been an enormous interest in developing antiepileptic drugs with novel mechanisms of action. This review discusses the evidence supporting the anticonvulsant properties of cannabis in humans, focusing on cannabidiol.

"CBD could help people quit cannabis bad habit"

A benchmark clinical trial published on 28/07/2020 shows that cannabidiol (CBD) could be a safe and effective treatment for problematic cannabis use. 

Results from the first-ever randomised clinical trial of CBD for cannabis use disorder suggests that prescribed doses of the non-intoxicating constituent part of the cannabis plant could help people kick the habit.

In the MRC-funded trial, published in the Lancet Psychiatry, researchers administered doses of CBD or placebo to 82 volunteers who were motivated to quit using cannabis but had previously failed to do so. They measured the effects of the drug on levels of cannabis use both during a four-week treatment period and up to six months follow-up.

As this was the first clinical trial to assess CBD for reducing cannabis use, they tested three different doses of CBD in an adaptive design to find out which doses might be most effective.

• In the first stage of the trial, 48 volunteers received either placebo or CBD at doses of 200mg, 400mg or 800mg. The researchers found that the lowest dose of 200mg CBD was ineffective and so they dropped it from the trial.
• In the second stage of the trial, the researchers recruited an additional 34 volunteers to receive either placebo, 400mg or 800mg CBD. At the end of the trial, they found consistent evidence that CBD at 400mg or 800mg was more effective than placebo at reducing cannabis use.

"Cannabis and Migrains"

A migraine is a primary headache disorder characterized by recurrent headaches that are moderate to severe.

Typically, the headaches affect one half of the head, are pulsating in nature, and last from a few hours to 3 days.

Associated symptoms may include nausea,vomiting & sensitivity to light,sound or smell.

A surprising fact is that cannabis and tinctures have been used to treat headaches and migraines for hundreds and possibly even thousands of years.

Some of the prevailing theories about how cannabis can help with migraines and headaches have to do with its potent and proven properties as an analgesic (pain reliever), and antiemetic (preventing nausea and vomiting), and due to its powerful anti-inflammatory effects.

The good news is that studies centering around the effects on headaches and migraines have shown a lot of promise and it may be just the solution you’ve been searching for.

"CBD and Schizophrenia Safety and Effectiveness"

Schizophrenia is a mental illness characterized by continuous or relapsing episodes of psychosis.

Major symptoms include hallucinations, delusions and disorganized thinking. Other symptoms include social withdrawal, decreased emotional expression, and lack of motivation.

Cannabis and mental health are strongly linked.Cannabis helps support health across various facets of mind, brain and body. But there is no end to the wellness advantages it can offer.Cannabis can assist with mental health, help clear your mind, and alleviate depression.It will help you concentrate, and open up a whole fresh realm of energy and liveliness.

The two most abundant cannabinoids in Cannabis are THC and CBD. Different forms of cannabis vary in the relative proportions of THC and CBD, and the risk of psychotic symptoms and impaired cognitive functioning following cannabis use is lower with cannabis preparations that have a relatively high CBD content.

The aim of the present study was to explore the safety and effectiveness of CBD as an adjunctive treatment in schizophrenia. Researchers examined the effects of CBD on positive and negative psychotic symptoms, cognitive performance, level of functioning, and the treating psychiatrist’s overall clinical impression.

"Medical Cannabis Treatment in Autism: Analysis of Safety and Efficacy"

There has been a dramatic increase in the number of children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) worldwide. 

Recently anecdotal evidence of possible therapeutic effects of cannabis products has emerged. 

The aim of this study is to characterize the epidemiology of ASD patients receiving medical cannabis treatment and to describe its safety and efficacy. 

Researchers analyse the data prospectively collected as part of the treatment program of 188 ASD patients treated with medical cannabis between 2015 and 2017. The treatment in majority of the patients was based on cannabis oil containing 30% CBD and 1.5% THC.

The Study...

During the study period, 188 ASD patients initiated the treatment. Diagnosis of ASD was established in accordance with the accepted practice in Israel. 6 board certified paediatric psychiatrists and neurologists were responsible for treatment of 125 patients (80.6%), the remaining 30 children were referred by 22 other physicians.