Cannabis contains Canadian as the primary component which is known to have valuable medicinal properties. People who use marijuana for insomnia, can use CBD oil which does not produce intoxicating effects while offering relief similar to the natural compound. The cost of production is fairly low since it can be prepared easily from inexpensively available ingredients. Scientists have tested CBD oil on laboratory rats and the results have shown to provide relief in seizures.
Marijuana vs CBD Oil
If CBD oil is made commercially available, it could serve as a relatively safe alternative for treating seizures compared to the natural marijuana that also produces intoxicating effects. CBDoil has the same properties as the naturally occurring compound as it shares a similar molecular structure and is called 8,9-dihydrocannabidiol (H2CBD). This compound is extracted from the Cannabis sativa plant.
Teams of researchers spanning the US and UK are actively engaged in researching this compound. All the tests carried out so far suggest that the CBD can prove to be as helpful in the treatment of seizures in rats as the naturally occurring compound.
The published research on these investigations gives a positive picture of the outcomes witnessed by administering controlled doses of the compound to rats in whom seizures were induced by chemical means.
According to Mark Mascal who is the lead researcher of the team, safety levels are considerably increased by the use of the synthetic compound H2CBS compared to the natural CBD compound. This is a positive sign since it reduces the risk of abuse which is a major concern among policymakers debating legalization of cannabis for medical purposes in states across the US.
The research team is also of the view that even though the synthetic compound has the potential to be commercially produced, it should be used as the last resort in the course of treatments for different kinds of seizures and epilepsy. Hence, there may be some instances where the legalization of marijuana may become a necessity.
How Does CBD Help in the Treatment of Epilepsy and Insomnia?
To state things simply, epilepsy is an umbrella term that is used to refer to different kinds of brain conditions resulting in seizures of different intensities and duration. The CDC estimates that in 2015, around 3.4 million individuals in the US suffering from epilepsy. Among these, 470,000 were children. For centuries, cannabis has been used by people in different parts of the world as a means of relief from seizures with varying levels of efficacy.
What are the Different Uses of CBD Oil?
In addition to providing relief in epilepsy, CBD has also shown to produce positive effects in the treatment of depression. CBD may be a safe treatment for seizures as the scientific results have been encouraging even though no conclusive findings have been obtained so far.
The endocannabinoid pathway, a major channel that affects the nervous system through the action of CBD, was discovered by scientists only two decades ago; hence, any research carried out on the effects of CBD on depression are fairly recent and have not been validated by subsequent studies.
Despite having less intoxicating effects, naturally occurring CBD has some negative effects on the individual. These have been discussed at length in scientific research along with the advantages of using synthetic alternatives in different kinds of treatment.
To Sum Up
One of these disadvantages is that it is termed to be a controlled substance in several countries. Since H2CBD is a synthetic compound, it can be produced and sold commercially without encountering any legal hassles that affect the sale of naturally occurring marijuana. Moreover, CBD requires fewer resources as it can be grown in the lab.
CBD also reduces the potential for people using marijuana to produce THC, which is a commonly occurring malpractice. With H2CBD, this simply cannot take place. Animal studies are being designed to test the effects of H2CBD on other animals, before progressing to formal clinical studies. If the results are positive, the product could soon receive a patent for mass commercial production of the compound. The results for thousands of patients would be extremely positive in the US and other countries around the world.