Does CBD for ADHD Work? All You Need to Know About it!
Posted by felipe@cbdvapejuice.net on 22nd Nov 2022
Do these phrases feel familiar? Are you looking for a natural way to treat chronic pain? Get CBD! Having trouble treating arthritis? Try CBD! Can’t manage your anxiety? Purchase CBD!
It is as if wherever you go, people are praising CBD for its therapeutic effects!
If you have ADHD, you might be wondering whether CBD can help. First things first, CBD is not a magical drug that cures all ailments. But it wouldn’t hurt to find the facts about CBD and ADHD.
In this guide, we discuss the effectiveness of CBD for ADHD treatment.
What Is CBD?
Cannabis plants have over 100 active compounds. One of these compounds is cannabidiol (CBD). It is a non-psychoactive compound that does not induce euphoria. CBD is often associated with tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which makes people high.
THC activates some parts of the brain, which causes users to feel high or euphoric. CBD, however, interacts with the body's systems to restore balance.
You see, the body naturally makes cannabinoids, also called endocannabinoids. These chemicals are essential in regulating bodily functions, including sleep, memory and learning, emotional processes, pain control, and immunity response.
Endocannabinoids are part of the endocannabinoid system (ECS), a network of cellular receptors and chemical signals from the brain and the body. CB1 receptors in the brain regulate body systems, such as alertness, hunger, or temperature.
CBD contains phytocannabinoids. These plant-based compounds tap into the ECS to mimic endocannabinoids. They stimulate receptors to keep them working at optimal levels. By doing so, they help restore balance without causing psychoactive effects.
You can extract CBD from hemp or marijuana. CBD from hemp has less than 0.3% THC, which is too little for mind-altering effects. Plus, it is legal nationwide since the 2018 Farm Bill exempted it from the Schedule 1 Drug classification.
As for marijuana, the plant contains more than 0.3% THC on dry weight and is illegal. Compounds from marijuana, including CBD, are illegal, and due to the high concentrations of THC, they will make you high.
It is safer to purchase hemp-derived CBD. You can get full-spectrum, broad-spectrum, or CBD isolate. To enjoy an entourage effect, purchase full spectrum CBD because it contains all plant compounds present in hemp, including less than 0.3% THC.
If you want nothing to do with THC but are okay with several hemp compounds, get broad-spectrum CBD. However, if you only want pure CBD, use CBD isolate products.
Today, vendors infuse CBD into different products. You can discreetly chew CBD gummies, apply CBD as a topical cream, vape CBD, or add CBD oil to your recipes.
Can CBD Oil Be Used for ADHD Treatment?
As people continually express the benefits of CBD, ADHD patients cannot help but wonder whether cannabidiol oil can produce the same effects on them. But what is ADHD?
ADHD, or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects behavior. It is more prevalent in children, but that does not rule out its occurrence in adults.
There are three types of ADHD, mainly:
- Predominantly Hyperactive-Impulsive Presentation: It is difficult for children with this presentation to sit still. Their bodies are restless, making them fidget or constantly on the move. The hyperactive impulse makes it hard to keep quiet, follow directions, or assess risky situations, hence the reasons for their numerous injuries.
- Predominantly Inattentive Presentation: These children have difficulty paying attention to details, tasks, instructions, and conversations. They quickly forget, get distracted, and struggle to complete tasks.
- Combined Presentation: Children with combined presentation have signs of predominantly hyperactive-impulsive presentation and predominantly inattentive presentation.
The causes of ADHD remain unknown. However, genetics, premature birth (before the 37th week), low birth weight, and substance abuse during pregnancy have been attributed as risk factors. There is no cure for ADHD. However, the condition can be managed through psychological therapies and medicine.
How about cannabidiol oil ADHD treatment?
Despite advanced medical and technological advancements, there is little scientific proof of CBD's effectiveness in treating ADHD. More research is currently underway, though we can look into previous studies.
A 2017 study examined the effects of CBD as a self-medication for persons with ADHD. The researchers divided the thirty participants into two groups of fifteen, with one active group using CBD medication and the other using a placebo.
The study found that CBD medication slightly improved symptom reduction and brain function. But it was an insignificant improvement compared to the placebo group.
The study also suffered a significant drawback. Some participants did not follow instructions and used alcohol and other medications during the trial. Doing so may have affected the outcome of the findings prompting the researchers to declare inconclusive results.
Before you lose faith in CBD, note that it can help quiet some ADHD symptoms. Take anxiety, for instance. CBD calms activity in the brain, thus reducing anxiety. It also stimulates the production of GABA neurotransmitters that moderate brain excitement.
Sometimes, hyperactive children may have trouble falling asleep. CBD help restore balance in the child’s body and promotes sleep. By stimulating CB1 and CB2 receptors, CBD can address underlying sleep problems, such as frequent urination, a slow metabolism, or pain.
3 Things to Consider Before Using CBD for ADHD
It is upon you to decide whether or not to use CBD as an ADHD treatment. Science is yet to prove its effectiveness, but some people swear that CBD has helped calm their impulsivity, hyperactivity, and inattention.
If you choose CBD for ADHD, there are three things to remember. First, although CBD is legal, it is not regulated. The FDA has only approved one CBD product to treat rare epilepsies, meaning the rest of the products are unapproved.
The absence of a government body to regulate CBD leaves citizens wary of the products they purchase. This can be tricky since some vendors may mislabel their products to earn more money.
When buying CBD, ensure that you source it from a reputable seller whose products undergo third-party laboratory testing. These tests confirm whether the products are safe to use and if they indeed contain the same compound concentrations as those written on the labels.
Mislabeled CBD products make it challenging to understand CBD benefits. Let’s say a product from vendor X has high levels of CBD while another from vendor Y has fewer amounts of CBD, yet they are labeled to possess similar CBD quantities. Chances are you will experience conflicting effects when you use both products. To avoid this, stick to one vendor for consistent results.
Second, CBD occurs naturally in hemp. However, a lot takes place between harvesting and securing the end product. There are different methods of extracting CBD:
- CO2 extraction
- Solvent extraction
- Oil extraction
CO2 extraction uses liquid carbon dioxide to pull desirable compounds from hemp. The process uses sophisticated equipment to subject CO2 and hemp to intense pressure and temperature. The end product is environmentally-friendly and safe, but purchasing the equipment is expensive.
Liquid solvent extraction is cheap since it involves adding a solvent to hemp to strip its cannabinoids. Some of the solvents used are butane, ethanol, and propane. When these solvents strip CBD from the plant, they are separated through evaporation.
Unfortunately, these solvents also remove chlorophyll from hemp, which has a bitter taste and can cause adverse effects. In addition, the highly flammable nature of the solvents makes this a dangerous extraction process.
With oil extraction, hemp is heated to activate its compounds. In addition, heating makes some compounds potent and easy to extract. Once heated, the oil is added to the plant matter and then heated to extract compounds. This process is relatively easy, and you can make CBD oil at home. However, you’ll need to refrigerate the oil since it is highly perishable.
Although these methods extract CBD from hemp, they also alter the natural aspect of CBD. Think of it this way; if you chew a hemp leaf, chances are you will not experience any benefits. However, there are numerous positive effects when you use CBD oil. This means that although these CBD products are ‘pure,’ their composition differs from their ‘natural’ state.
Third, there is no scientific evidence that CBD is safe for children with ADHD. The 2017 study involved 30 adults and no kids. Moreover, giving CBD with traces of THC may do more harm than good.
Therefore, exercise caution when self-medicating your child. We recommend using CBD isolates since they contain 100% CBD. Also, seek your pediatrician’s guidance on CBD dosage.
Are There Potential Side Effects of Using CBD for ADHD?
It’s true CBD is well-tolerated and causes minimal side effects. But before you try it for ADHD treatment, it is worth mentioning that some participants of the 2017 study experienced adverse side effects.
Three participants from the active group reported mild muscular seizures/spasms, while one had severe muscle spasms. Another individual from the placebo group developed serious cardiovascular problems.
It is impossible to establish why these individuals suffered these effects during the trial because the findings were declared inconclusive. The effects could be a result of mixing CBD with alcohol or other medication, or it could be they ingested substandard CBD products. Since there is no way to tell, you should consult your doctor before using CBD.
Are There Particular CBD Strains or Products Recommended for ADHD?
At the moment, there are no particular strains recommended for ADHD. Despite this, CBD tinctures offer fast bioavailability. When you put a few drops of CBD under your tongue, it is absorbed fast into the bloodstream.
You can start with this Active CBD Oil tincture. It is made from organically-grown hemp and free of THC. You can add it to foods and drinks or administer it under the tongue.
CBD vapes also promote fast absorption. However, this is an option for users above 18 or 21 years in certain states. This CBD Genesis disposable vape pen contains broad-spectrum CBD.
You can also try CBD gummies for ADHD. These gummies can promote sleep and relaxation and decrease anxiety. They come in different flavors, so you are spoilt for choice.
If you are not into edibles or smokables, get this CBD topical pain salve. It is specially formulated with pure CBD, menthol crystals, and essential oils for a therapeutic effect. Plus, it leaves no greasy residue after application.
Alternatively, try CBD oil for massage. Since it is difficult for persons with ADHD to stay calm, a massage session with CBD oil can promote relaxation and calmness.
The Best Place to Buy CBD for ADHD Near Me
You must vet CBD products to guarantee you get high-quality products. Sadly, an unregulated market can make establishing where to get the best products challenging.
One way to identify safe products is by finding out the source of CBD used. Sustainably farmed hemp is free of fertilizer chemicals, heavy metals, herbicides, pesticides, and toxic compounds.
Additionally, check that the product has undergone in-house and third-party lab tests. When a product undergoes tests from independent labs, these tests verify the product’s quality and composition. The certificate of analysis outlines cannabinoid, heavy metals, and pesticide analysis.
But where can you get these safe and tested products? At CBD Genesis. We offer delivery services across all the states where CBD is legal.
We sell organic and non-GMO CBD products compliant with the 2018 Farm Bill. Our goal is to deliver authentic products, a reason we uphold strict manufacturing standards. Our products have less than 0.3% THC and are free of harmful chemicals.
We partner with other reputable CBD manufacturers, including Active CBD, Koi CBD, Canna Kings, Delta Effex, Elyxr, and more. They, too, source organically-grown hemp and do not use the solvent-based extraction method.
Our selection has more than just CBD. You can also order delta-8, THC, Delta-10, THC-O, and HHC. Place an order above $50 and enjoy free shipping services.
Does CBD Help with ADHD?
Recent studies did not find the effectiveness of CBD for ADHD. Despite this, CBD does help ease some ADHD symptoms like anxiety. CBD stimulates endocannabinoid receptors to restore internal balance.
If you use CBD oil for ADHD, source your products from reputable sellers like CBD Genesis. Also, seek your pediatrician’s counsel before administering CBD to your child.