Years of anecdotal evidence showing the benefits of cannabidiol (CBD) in reducing the frequency of seizures in adults and children alike have finally been confirmed by a clinical trial. CBD oil, while sourced from the marijuana plant, does not have any mind-altering effects.
Published in a recent issue of the New England Journal of Medicine, the randomized trial focused on children with Dravet syndrome. Dravet syndrome is a severe form of epilepsy that begins in infancy and is often fatal. The result of a genetic mutation, it is extremely resistant to conventional seizure medications.
In the study, 120 patients were divided into two groups: CBD and control (placebo). Over the course of 12 weeks, patients receiving the CBD treatment experienced a reduction of over 12 seizures per month to less than 6, on average.
For many parents, this represents a “last hope”, as some of their children have been on 10 or more different seizure medications and combinations with little-to-no improvement.
Prior to this trial, parents have reported as much as a 90% decrease in seizures in their children with Dravet syndrome by using CBD oil.
source: CBC