CBD for ADHD-Is it Worth Trying?

Bringing up a child who is tormented by ADHD can be distressing for a parent.

Sometimes the child might become impulsive, anxious, and never seem to pay attention to anything. Although treatments using conventional methods may help address the situation, long term use may result in dependency and other side effects.

As more people shift to natural alternatives for various health complications, cannabidiol, commonly known as CBD oil, has sparked interest in managing ADHD. Today, despite the lack of scientific evidence on the influence of CBD on ADHD, there are reports of people using CBD nugs to curb its symptoms.

What is ADHD?

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a health complication that affects the nervous system. It develops from childhood and could linger until adulthood, although it’s easier to control in the latter stage. The condition is characterized by a lack of attention, impulsiveness, and restlessness.

If it affects an adult, it opens up doors to a myriad of other health issues that have a negative impact on the quality of life. For instance, people with ADHD are prone to anxiety, low personality development, withdrawal, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and depression. Can CBD help deal with ADHD? Well, let’s find out.

What is CBD?

Cannabis or hemp plant contains compounds called cannabinoids. The most relevant cannabinoids are cannabidiol, commonly known as CBD oil, and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Since THC is the psychoactive ingredient in cannabis, the law mandates that not more than 0.3% of this compound should be contained in the beneficial CBD oil.

Since it does not have the ‘high’ associated with THC, there have been suggestions that CBD oil could help kids who have ADHD. However, more research is needed to make conclusive statements regarding the efficacy of either CBD oil or CBD nugs in managing ADHD.

How can CBD help deal with ADHD?

Our bodies are made up of cells in which specific physiological processes occur. The receptors in those cells control activities such as breathing, movement, and the sensation of hunger; the list is endless. The cells making up the endocannabinoid system are involved in maintaining a balanced internal environment in the body.

Lack of balance in neurotransmitters is a factor associated with ADHD, and it causes improper functioning of the brain. This is the reason why people living with ADHD exhibit inattentiveness or behaves weirdly.

Nonetheless, CBD nugs are believed to have the potential to suppress the symptoms associated with ADHD, especially among adults. While in-depth research on CBD may reveal promising results with ADHD in the future, most of those who try this product rely on others’ experiences. Besides, CBD has proved effective in dealing with epilepsy in children. Perhaps it could mean much more difference for people living with ADHD.

The little scientific inquiry that has been done to determine the impact of CBD on ADHD suggests that this compound could potentially give hope to people with ADHD. For instance, a study involving 30 adult participants with ADHD observed that medical marijuana reduced impulsiveness and hyperactivity.

Additionally, there was reduced self-harm tendencies and hyperactivity in another study that examined 53 participants suffering from ADHD and aged between 4 to 22 years. Furthermore, there was a marked enhancement of sleep and reduced anxiety. The only issue with these research efforts involved small study populations, and most of them concluding that more research is needed to shed more light on the relationship between the two.

Suppose you are considering the prospect of using CBD to help deal with ADHD in your child. In that case, it is advisable to seek medical advice, especially if the child has underlying health conditions. Although it may help address the symptoms of ADHD, you never know what could happen with something that has not been approved as a treatment for ADHD.

Can CBD be used effectively on children with ADHD?

Although CBD nugs may not be the best option for kids, CBD oil can be a great natural way to help deal with ADHD. What should be noted is that CBD oil contains negligible amounts of THC, which would induce an adverse reaction, especially in children.

No studies link CBD with normal biological functions such as breathing, blood pressure, and heart rate. The world health organization recognized the great potential of CBD, especially in treating epilepsy in children. That means that this compound could perhaps help battle ADHD and its symptoms in children.

There is a hypothesis that claims that CBD helps raise the level of dopamine in the blood. According to research, ADHD patients have diminished levels of dopamine. Luckily, CBD is believed to influence the dopamine system, promoting mental processes, including mood, memory, learning, and attentiveness.

Whatever the case, children are very delicate in light of treatments, whether natural or pharmaceutical. As a rule of thumb, always consult with a doctor regarding your kid’s health and the potential of using CBD as a natural alternative.

Sometimes other methods could fail, and you can’t let the worst happen because of the stereotypical view of cannabis among some people. Cannabidiol is the good stuff of cannabis and is extracted to sideline all the negativities associated with the whole list of cannabinoids.

How do you take CBD for ADHD?

Adults looking to suppress the symptoms of ADHD can rely on CBD nugs or CBD oil depending on their preference. If you choose the nugs, there are a couple of ways you can gain the benefits CBD is believed to offer.

CBD nugs can be smoked, vaped, or added to foods regularly. This method is said to work faster, and as much as CBD may not clinically treat ADHD, it helps keep the symptoms at bay to help sufferers face everyday life. However, you have to ensure you obtain high-quality CBD nugs to enjoy maximum benefits.

CBD oils are easy to use and are suitable for children to help them keep their restlessness and impulsiveness in check. It’s also believed to help children stay calm by suppressing hyperactivity.

According to most manufacturers’ guidelines, a dropper of CBD oil could be sufficient to keep the symptoms low. Ideally, CBD oil is placed under the tongue for sometime before swallowing, with effects taking between 15 to 30 minutes.

If you have never used CBD before, you should go slowly on the dosage to avoid an overdose that may cause side effects. Beginners should start with half a dropper of CBD oil for the first week before experimenting with more.

The bottom line on the dosage of CBD for ADHD is a successful self-assessment. Since no single dosage can work for all people, everyone has to find their most suitable dosage. This is done through experimentation until you realize the desired effects at a particular dosage.

Are there side effects associated with CBD?

Although some research studies have established a close link between CBD and ADHD, irresponsible handling of this cannabis derivative is said to cause side effects. This means that you should be careful when dealing with CBD nugs or CBD oil.

For instance, smoking or vaping CBD nugs could result in lung problems. This does not necessarily have to do with CBD but the influence of smoke on the breathing system. It would be best if you were careful when buying CBD oil to ensure it does not contain more than 0.3% THC.

Again, research on CBD’s side effects is still inadequate, and individuals react differently to the product. Always be cautious and speak to your doctor if you have other health complications to help manage ADHD without experiencing adverse reactions.

Bottom line

As of today, there is insufficient evidence relating CBD to ADHD. Most of the existing literature points to suggestions and don’t conclude that this compound is useful for ADHD. Nevertheless, this has not stopped people from trying out either CBD nugs or CBD oil in an attempt to cope with ADHD. If you have such a problem, trying out this natural alternative is perhaps the only way to determine its true Worth as far as ADHD is concerned.

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