CBD Oil for ADHD Symptoms: How Is It Beneficial?
CBD Oil for ADHD: Benefits and More
Cannabidiol or CBD for short is derived from the cannabidiol plant. It is just one of over 80 different cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant. It will not produce a high feeling as it is not psychoactive as is THC. How does CBD oil for ADHD benefit those that suffer from it?
CBD has not been approved by the FDA to help manage any issues, however, studies have shown that CBD may provide benefits for certain health problems such as inflammation, insomnia, arthritis, depression and migraines, just to name a few.
The Rising Problem of ADHD
The role of CBD oil for ADHD management has gained some attention. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is a common condition among children making it extremely difficult to gain control of their emotions and be able to focus.
Children that suffer from ADHD have difficulty learning for lack of focus and staying still. Their potential for learning is high, but the ADHD causes the inability to stay focused which affects their performance in school and becomes frustrating for them and their parents.
Although CBD oil is not considered a treatment for ADHS symptoms, it could help manage certain symptoms that are experienced by many people.
Those that suffer from ADHD can also have anxiety making their symptoms even worse. Some evidence shows that CBD could help with anxiety.
ADHD in Adults
ADHD can affect adults as well. It is estimated that 5% of adults can suffer from it as well. They typically have had it as a child and has continued into adulthood. They are however, not as likely to be hyperactive but many times have issues remembering and focusing on getting things done. They can also be impulsive leading to purchasing things they really don’t have a need for, overspending and thrill-seeking behaviors. Also typical are mood swings.
Although there are prescribed medications that can help treat ADHD, they are not always effective and come with adverse side effects. So, could CBD Oil for ADHD be a great alternative to prescription medications?
Benefits of CBD Oil for ADHD
CBD has been known to reduce anxiety. For that reason, it may be helpful for those that suffer from ADHD. For children with ADHD that experience anxiousness and hyperactivity, CBD oil could have a calming effect improving their symptoms. Studies have shown that CBD oil improves sleep and relaxation.
Research shows that CBD oil could help ADHD by changing neurotransmitter dopamine levels. People with ADHD are known to have lower levels of dopamine, which is a chemical in the brain that is associated with feelings of reward which has a role in focusing, memory, mood and learning.
There are some medications for ADHD that will raise levels of dopamine and CBD oil could help as well to raise those levels. Studies have shown that CBD oil could interrelate with serotonin receptors in the brain. Your mood, appetite and the ability to learn has a lot to do with your levels of serotonin. It is very complex in how these pathways work.
An arbitrary study showed those that took CBD had minor improvements in impulsivity, cognitive function and hyperactivity, however, the improvements regarding cognitive function were not that substantial. The subjects of the study did not avoid medications that can affect cognitive function such as alcohol, so the researchers thought the results were not conclusive.
The limited research on cannabis and ADHD uses the entire cannabis plant rather than just CBD. It would be more beneficial to have clinical trials or studies that focus just on CBD alone.
Are There Side Effects to CBD Oil?
If there are any side effects reported from using CBD, they are typically mild such as headaches, change in appetite, diarrhea, fatigue and nausea. High quality, pure CBD does not have THC, therefore you will not experience any psychoactive effects.
Regarding CBD and children, there is limited research at this time. The FDA has approved a medication that contains CBD to treat seizures in children. Currently, CBD is found to be safe and well endured by all ages. If you are breast feeding or pregnant, it is recommended to speak with your health care provider before taking it.
In Conclusion
Although there is an absence of studies on CBD oil for ADHD, there is a lot of subjective evidence that those that use it are less hyper, less impulsive and better focused. Clearly, more research is needed having this much subjective evidence.
References:
“CBD Oil for ADHD? What the Research Says – CHADD.” //chadd.org/attention-article/cbd-oil-for-adhd/.
CBDClinicalTrials.com. “CBD Oil for ADHD – October 2021”
“Adult ADHD: Symptoms, Statistics, Causes, Types and Treatments.” webmd.com/add-adhd/adhd-adults.
“What You Need to Know About CBD for Children.” 21 Nov. 2019, healthline.com/health/childrens-health/cbd-for-children.
“FDA Regulation of Cannabis and Cannabis-Derived Products ….” 22 Jan. 2021, fda.gov/news-events/public-health-focus/fda-regulation-cannabis-and-cannabis-derived-products-including-cannabidiol-cbd.
