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Crystal Henricks

Professor Chester

English 111-81F

02 April 2017

CBD Oil

If there was a magic oil that could not only bring comfort, but also treat some

neurological disorders, would the expectations for further testing be more desired? Cannabidiol,

CBD oil, has become the subject of many Neurological field discussions due to its potential

for treating many neurological disorders. The recent studies have focused on what is in CBD

oil that makes it effective, how it can be administered to patients, who can use and benefit from

the use of CBD oil, and what diseases are already being treated with this oil. The information

that will be laid out has been thoroughly researched and is backed by highly respected peers in

the medical and neuroscience world.

What is in CBD oil that makes it effective at treating neurological disorders like medicine

resistant Epilepsy and Parkinsons? What makes CBD oil work is where science comes in to

play. CBD is much like THC, 9- tetrahydrocannabinol, but is also significantly different in the

pharmacology and functions. In the journal article Cannabinoids and Epilepsy it says, Most

behavioral, cognitive, and psychotropic effects of cannabis result from the effect of THC on the

brain. (Devinsky 749). THC, known as 9- tetrahydrocannabinol in the science world, is known

for the psychoactive effects and CBD for the nonpsychoactive effect (Devinsky 2015). It goes on

to say that along with impairing the short term working memory it also helps regulate neuron

excitement during a seizure. CBD, on the other hand, reduces glutamate, suggesting a potential
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antiseizure mechanism. As stated in the article Momentum grows for medical use of cannabis

(McCall 1615) CBD simply lacks any psychoactive effects on the user.

There are many forms in which CBD is being administered and prescribed to patients.

Chris McCall, a writer for The Lancet, stated, it is the only medicinal drug in which is

smoked. (McCall 1615). While CBD oil is a bit different than the Cannabis plant, it can be

ingested in similar fashions. Smoking, ingesting, vaping, and oral spray are all options. In

another article, it states, Studies that have examined delivery of CBD through aerosolizing or

vaporization using specialized devices have reported rapid peak plasma concentrations (<10 min)

and bioavailability of 31%... (Cilio). This information is emphasizing how effective and quick

the use of inhalation techniques can be. One example of oral administration would be Charlotte

Figi, a Colorado native who suffers from the rare genetic condition Dravet syndrome, receives

CBD oil directly under her tongue in a measured amount. In other treatment forms, especially

with adults, smoking is a more popular way of receiving the drug.

A big question circulating is who can use CBD oil. Research shows that there is not a

strict age limit for use. The important factor that comes into play is the strength of the CBD oil

and the amount given. In measured amounts, CBD oil is safe and effective to even children.

Charlotte Figi, for example, was only two years old when her family decided to start giving her

the drug (McCall 1615). Charlotte, like previously mentioned, suffers from a rare conditioned

called Dravet syndrome. She once was unable to walk, talk, or eat and was suffering from over

50 seizures a day. She was not expected to live before her mother started treating her with CBD

oil, illegally (1615). In Israel, a study showed, for intractable epilepsy, that CBD is a promising

treatment option in children one to eighteen years old (Ben-Zeev 42). However, there is still
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cause for concern when treating the young. With any drug that has not been rigorously tested, the

effects it could have on a developing infant, toddler, and adolescent is not known.

Side-effects of CBD oils are still being researched and studied. Though most experiments

record similar side effect, the benefits seem to outweigh the risks. With any form of treatment

there will be people who react differently, simply because humans are not all the same. One

persons body can and will handle treatments differently than the next. In the Israeli study, Five

(7%) patients reported aggravation of seizures which led to CBD withdrawal (Ben-Zeev 43).

That would leave 69 patients, ages one to eighteen, reporting positive results, reduction in

seizure activity, with the use of CBD oil. The use of CBD oil has been around for centuries.

There is proof of civilizations such as antient China, India, Arabs, Greek, and Romans using

cannabis as a form of treatment (Devinsky 689). It was in 1970, that marijuana was labeled as a

Schedule 1 drug because there were no approved medical uses and the risk of abuse (Devinsky

748). Some common side effects recorded during multiple studies include fatigue, dizziness, and

oral discomfort from the use of oral spray.

CBD oil has not just been tested for the treatment of seizures and epilepsy in the world of

medicine. Diseases such as Parkinsons, Huntingtons Disease, Multiple Sclerosis, Anorexia,

chronic pain, PTSD, and cancer have all shown promising results in CBD studies. In the Journal

of Psychopharmacology, a research group performed a double-blind study and found that though

larger and more specific studies were needed, CBD oil showed a promising effect on improving

life quality for a person suffering from PD, Parkinsons Disease (Chagas). For posttraumatic

stress disorder, sleep and anxiety often enable the person to effectively function properly. With

the addition of CBD oil, the researchers found that the victims of PTSD were able to improve the

quality and amount of sleep they were getting. It states on the article, Effectiveness of
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Cannabidiol Oil for Pediatric Anxiety and Insomnia as Part of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A

Case Report that, She was ultimately able to sleep through the night most nights in her own

room, was less anxious at school and home, and displayed appropriate behaviors. (Opila-

Lehman 809).

In conclusion, CBD oil seems to have a promising effect in the medical field. Its

treatment options, ways of administration, patients reach, and variety of what it can treat makes it

an ideal source of treatment. More research needs to be performed in order for the medical world

to further their push for more leniency on legalization of marijuana and CBD oil. With the

legalization, even statewide, comes the allowance for more laboratories, colleges, and medical

institutes to conduct these life changing experiments and find more uses for this drug. CBD oil

seems to have a promising future and could be even more promising with the allowances needed

to further the research.

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Works Cited
Chagas, Marco H. N, et al. Effects of cannabidiol in the patients with Parkinsons disease: An

exploratory double-blind triel. Journal of Psychopharmacology, vol. 28, no. 11, 2014.

Ben-Zeev, Bruria, et al. CBD-enriched medical cannabis for intractable pediatric epilepsy:The

current Israeli experience. Seizures, vol. 35, Feb. 2016, pp. 41-44.

Cilio, Maria R, et al. Cannabidiol: Pharmacology and potential therapeutic role in epilepsy and

other neuropsychiatric disorders. Epilepsia, vol. 55, no. 6, 22 May 2014, pp. 791-802.

Devinsky, Orrin, et al. Cannabinoids in the Treatment of Neurological Disorders.

Neurotherapeutics, vol. 12, 3 September 2015, pp. 689-691.

Devinsky, Orrin, et al. Cannabinois and Epilepsy. Neurotherapeutics, vol. 12, 18 August 2015,

pp. 747-768.

McCall, Chris. Momentum grows for the medical use of cannabis. The Lancet, vol. 386, no.

10004, 24 October 2015, pp. 1615-1616.

Opila-Lehman, Janet, Shannon, Scott. Effectiveness of Cannabidiol Oil for Pediatric Anxiety

and Insomnia as Part of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Case Report. The Permanente

Journal, vol. 20, no. 4, 2016, pp. 108-111.