CBD oil is becoming increasingly popular. CBD became known worldwide through the story of Charlotte Figi, a girl who suffered from severe epilepsy. Specially made CBD oil helped her. Her 300 seizures per day decreased by almost 100%. In this blog article, we will further explore whether CBD helps against epilepsy.
What is epilepsy?
Epilepsy is a disorder of the central nervous system. The condition epilepsy manifests in the form of seizures. These can be mild seizures, but they can also be severe.
Epileptic seizures arise from a sudden, temporary disruption of electrical signal transmission in the brain. The brain contains a few billion gray cells. These cells organize themselves into various networks.
Everything we do, we do with our brains. Thinking, perceiving, feeling, and acting. Each network has its own task. For example, there is a network that controls the movement of your legs or arms. The cells in the networks constantly exchange messages through electrical pulses.
An epileptic seizure occurs due to a short circuit between one or more networks. Someone experiencing an epileptic seizure may have convulsions, fall, or make strange movements. You may also experience a strange smell, be absent, or lose consciousness.
Some people experience such an epileptic seizure daily or multiple times a day or even per hour. For others, it is weekly or less often. It can affect your life, and the seizures often come unexpectedly.
What is CBD?
CBD, which stands for cannabidiol, is a substance from the cannabis plant. CBD oil is often compared to cannabis oil but is not the same. Cannabis oil contains a large amount of THC, while CBD oil often contains no or only a small percentage of THC. The cannabis plants used to make CBD products are grown solely for producing CBD products. It is not possible to make cannabis oil or other cannabis products from them.
In addition to CBD, there are other cannabinoids and terpenes in the cannabis plant. Think of CBN, CBC, CBG, and many others. When CBD is produced and not filtered, the CBD product contains all cannabinoids. This is known as Full Spectrum CBD. The CBD then also contains a small amount of THC. This is never more than 0.05%.
Besides Full Spectrum CBD, there is also a pure CBD, which consists of only CBD, and a CBD THC-free. These products contain no THC but do contain all other cannabinoids. In Full Spectrum CBD, the cannabinoids enhance each other's effects, resulting in the ‘entourage effect.’
CBD and epilepsy: The story of Charlotte Figi
Charlotte Figi was a girl who suffered from severe epilepsy. Charlotte had Dravet Syndrome. She had more than 300 epileptic seizures per day. In 2013, CBB released the documentary “Weed.”
This followed Charlotte’s life. A special cannabis strain was developed for Charlotte with less than 1% THC and a very high CBD content. The 300 seizures per day would eventually cost her life, but through the use of the special CBD oil, the seizures have been reduced by almost 100%.
The news spread worldwide, and CBD became extremely popular because of this. The most important thing was that CBD oil was very suitable in Charlotte’s case. CBD oil contains a low THC content, so it does not cause a ‘high’ feeling and you do not experience the psychoactive effect.
What kind of CBD oil is suitable for epilepsy?
CBD oil comes in several forms. At ProHemp, we have three types of CBD oil: Full spectrum, Pure, and THC-free CBD oil. The cannabis plant grown for CBD products is cultivated solely for CBD products.
The THC content is minimal and will always be less than 0.05% in the products. If it is more than 0.05%, it is illegal in the Netherlands and cannot be sold. Therefore, it is important that you always buy a legal oil. This way, you can be sure it has been tested, is good quality, and does not contain too much THC.
Besides CBD, there are more cannabinoids in the cannabis plant. By keeping all cannabinoids, a Full Spectrum CBD oil is created. The cannabinoids enhance each other's effects, resulting in the “entourage effect.”
In Full Spectrum oil, there will always be a small percentage of THC. However, this is negligible. If you want to use CBD oil for epilepsy in children, you can also choose a THC-free CBD oil. This oil contains all cannabinoids except THC. If you only want to experience the power of CBD, we have a pure CBD oil. In this CBD oil, all cannabinoids including THC are filtered out, leaving only CBD.
All CBD oils contain a percentage of CBD. The lowest percentage is 5% and is used for mild complaints. The highest percentage is 30% CBD oil and is used for severe complaints.
If you have epilepsy and have never used CBD before, it is wise to start with 10% CBD oil and then build up to 20% CBD oil.
How do you use CBD oil for epilepsy?
If you are not yet a CBD user, it is wise to build up slowly. CBD is not a miracle cure that immediately reduces epileptic seizures. CBD requires a buildup phase. CBD can help balance the endocannabinoid system. This natural body system is often out of balance, which can make you more prone to epileptic seizures. The buildup phase of CBD can therefore take eight to twelve weeks.
If you are a beginner CBD user and want to use CBD for moderate epileptic seizures, we recommend starting with 10% CBD oil.
Start with three drops three times a day. Drop the oil under your tongue and hold it there for 90 to 120 seconds. Rinse the CBD oil down with water. Repeat this three times a day.
After three days, increase the dosage by 1 drop at a time. Take four drops three times a day. Increase the dosage until you reach six drops. You can finish the bottle of CBD oil with this dosage.
When the 10% CBD oil runs out, switch to 20% CBD oil. When you start with this, halve the dosage. If you were taking six drops of 10% three times a day, start with three drops of CBD oil three times a day. Build up this dosage again until you reach the right amount. We advise never to take more than 27 drops per day.
Use CBD oil consistently for the best results
Once you start using CBD oil, use it consistently. Take your drops three times a day and make sure you don’t skip a day. If you stop using CBD oil for a while, you will have to start the buildup phase again.
CBD oil is very expensive, and it’s a shame if you don’t use CBD oil properly. If in doubt, we are here for you for personal contact.
Always use legal CBD oil for epilepsy.
CBD is becoming increasingly popular, which leads to many sellers offering illegal CBD oil or CBD oil without a test report. The quality of the CBD oil can also be disappointing among different providers.
There are also providers who try to cheat with the CBD percentage or the amount of ml in a bottle. Always ask your provider if it can be supplied with a test report. Try to make contact and see if the provider has knowledge of CBD oil.
Can they provide you with personal advice? Always ask about the THC percentage. THC is a substance found in the cannabis plant. There are illegal providers who offer cannabis oil instead of CBD oil. Therefore, always check the THC content in the oil.
CBD oil from ProHemp
If you want to start using CBD oil, it is important to choose a good CBD oil. There are many providers on the market offering CBD oil. The quality varies among providers. When buying CBD oil, keep a few points in mind:
- Only buy in a secure environment.
- Check the customer reviews.
- See if there is a test report included with the product.
- Check the company information and see if it is accurate.
- Does the website have a contact page?
- Does the website have a FAQ?
- Read the About Us page and see how the company was established.
The most important thing is that the company is trustworthy. Feel free to ask if they know how the CBD oil is made, if a test report is available, and how the production process works.
Is the environment secure? Does the URL start with https or http? Always go for https, as it means you are in a secure environment. The payment methods are also very important.
Look at customer reviews. Ultimately, those who came before you tell you how the service is, how the product is, and whether the company is trustworthy or not. Customers who had a good experience will show it as well.
If you want to purchase CBD, you probably want personal contact first. Always check if the company is open to contact. Can you easily find the phone number? Can you ask for personal advice or is there a chat function on the website?
At ProHemp, we have it all. We stand behind our product and know what our customers find important. The well-being of our customers is our top priority. That’s why you always receive personal and honest advice.
Together with our team, we look at which product suits you best. Whether you are a beginner CBD user or have used it before, our team of specialists is ready to assist you.
We only provide advice. In case of (serious) complaints, we always recommend contacting your general practitioner or specialist.