Hydrolife Magazine April/May 2017 (Canada Edition)

Dr. Orrin Devinsky, who specializes in
epilepsy and neurology, is the director
of NYU Langone’s Comprehensive Epilepsy
Center. The centre not only treats
patients with the most cutting-edge
treatments, but they are also leaders
in epilepsy research. Dr. Devinsky sees
medical cannabis as a promising treatment
for epilepsy. “We don’t today know
exactly how CBD exerts its biological
effects, which include, in animal
models, very potent anticonvulsant or
anti-seizure effects in numerous species
and in numerous different models of
epilepsy,” he says. “And interestingly,
in none of the animal models that have
been looked at to date has CBD been
actively causing seizures, and in the
majority of them, it is quite effective as
an anti-seizure agent.
“By contrast, THC…is also an important
and potential anti-epileptic
drug based on our animal experience
because in most animal studies, THC
also exerts anti-seizure properties.
However, in about 10 per cent of the
animal models, THC can actually lead
to more seizure activity or more seizure
severity. So, it is something to keep
in mind that THC and CBD are really
quite different, both in how they act
in the brain and, potentially, how they
affect different types of epilepsies. We
still don’t have really good clinical scientific
data from humans, but we have
quite good data in animals.”
Many studies point to the benefits
of cannabis, and particularly CBD, in
treating seizures. In 1978, nine patients
received either 200 mg per day of pure
CBD or a placebo for three months in
a randomized study (Mechoulam and
Carlini 1978). Two of the four patients
receiving CBD became seizure-free,
while there was no change in the five
placebo recipients.
In 1981, 15 adult patients were enrolled
in a double-blind, placebocontrolled
study to examine the effect
of CBD for 18 weeks (Carlini and Cunha
“THC and CBD are really quite
different, both in how they act in the
brain and, potentially, how they affect
different types of epilepsies.”
1981). These patients exhibited partial
seizures with secondary generalization.
Of the eight patients who received
CBD, four became seizure-free, one
“improved markedly,” one “improved
somewhat,” one showed no improvement,
and one withdrew from the study.
A retrospective case review of 75 pediatric
epilepsy patients was performed by
researchers at Children’s Hospital Colorado.
Each patient used a form of cannabis
extract containing CBD. Researchers
found that 57 per cent had some seizure
reduction, while 33 per cent had a reduction
of 50 per cent or more.
In March 2017, Mexican researchers
used a pure CBD oil to successfully
reduce seizures in patients with
Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome, a rare form
of epilepsy. Of the study’s 38 patients,
86 per cent reported a 50 per cent
reduction in motor seizures, 55 per cent
had a 75 per cent decrease in overall
seizures, and 13 per cent experienced
complete seizure remission after four
months of treatment. Nobody reported
negative side effects.
There are many types of epilepsy and
many different strains of cannabis with
varying amounts of THC and CBD, so it
may take time to find the correct strain
and dosage for each individual situation.
While most doctors recommend
trying pharmaceuticals first, many see
cannabis as beneficial to patients who
are drug resistant and recommend they
find a strain high in CBD and low in THC
for best results.
Charlotte’s Web and Haleigh’s Hope are
two well-known, high-CBD strains developed
in Colorado. A British company, GW
Pharmaceuticals, has created Epidiolex,
which contains almost pure CBD and is
expected to file a new drug application
with the FDA in the first half of 2017.
CBD is generally taken in the form of
tinctures, capsules, oils, and patches.
The Mayo Clinic recommends taking
200-300 mg of CBD by mouth daily for up to
18 weeks. Some patients find success with
a combination of pharmaceuticals and
cannabis. It is important to work closely
with your doctor to create a treatment plan
suited specifically to your needs.
After owning an indoor garden store for 5 ½
years, Monica Mansfield sold the business
and started a seven-acre homestead with
her husband, Owen. Monica is passionate
about gardening, sustainable living, and
holistic health. She writes about these
topics and her homestead adventures on
her blog thenaturelifeproject.com.
myhydrolife.ca grow. heal. live. enjoy. 41