A new research shows how cannabidiol from the marijuana plant significantly reduces seizures in children with a rare form of epilepsy called Dravet. What are some of the other illnesses and conditions in which medical cannabis has proven itself useful?
Dravet And Cannabidiol
Latest study showed that cannabidiol, just one of many chemical components in the marijuana plant, has the capability to ease and reduce seizures among kids with Dravet, a rare but deadly form of epilepsy. Because regular epilepsy medicines do not often work for patients with Dravet, 20 percent of children with Dravet die before reaching the age of 20.
However, when researchers of the study administered either cannabidiol or placebo in addition to anti-seizure medication to 120 participants between the ages of 2 and 18, it was seen that the frequency of seizures among patients who were given cannabidiol dropped from 12.4 seizures per month to 5.9. On the other hand, the frequency rates of seizures remained the same among participants given the placebo.
Hope With Medicinal Cannabis
This new research is just one of many studies done that has shown promise in cannabis's medicinal properties. Depending on the strains and compounds in medicinal cannabis, it has proven itself useful in a number of different illnesses.
Apart from preventing and treating glaucoma, a research has also shown that cannabis is useful in protecting the brain after a stroke. Similarly, people with Parkinson's disease also experienced lessened tremors, better sleep, and lessened pain with the help of cannabis.
Epilepsy
In a nationwide study of cannabis use among epilepsy patients in Australia, it was revealed that 14 percent of epilepsy patients in the country opt to use cannabis when the more conventional treatments just do not work for them or gave them intolerable side effects. Among them, 90 percent of adult users reported having significant success in managing the condition.
Cancer
In the case of cancer, many tests are being conducted to see the possible capabilities of cannabis to kill cancer cells. For now, cannabis is mostly used by some cancer patients to regulate the pain and symptoms brought by chemotherapy. In fact, there are already two FDA approved cannabis-based drugs that are used to treat nausea, vomiting, weight loss, and lack of appetite among cancer patients.
Alzheimer's And Dementia
Though California's Salk Institute is facing a legal battle over the development of a cannabis-based treatment for Alzheimer's, there is already evidence showing that cannabis has the chemical capability to unclog the protein buildup in the brain that causes dementia and Alzheimer's disease.
Autism
In January, a mother wrote about her seven-year experience with trying out different strains of cannabis in order to help her son who has a painful gut disease and autism. In hopes of helping her son who, by then was throwing violent rages because of his pain, she researched and tried out different strains of cannabis, baking them into cookies for her son to eat.
Though it took her several tries, the right strain allowed her son to be clear-eyed, active, and free from pain and rages.
