How can CBD Help Children and Adults with ADHD?

Children who possibly have trouble concentrating, sitting still, or difficulty completing tasks might suffer from the symptoms of ADHD. It is estimated over 11 percent of American children are diagnosed with ADHD and 6.1 percent of them are being medically treated for the disorder at a young age. For parents who are looking for a natural alternative to help their children with the symptoms of ADHD, adding an edible or CBD oil for children with ADHD could be beneficial for concentration, stress, and much more. Although what makes this natural remedy a viable choice for adults and children who suffer from ADHD? With recent consumer and scientific studies, more individuals have been switching out their previous treatment options for this natural cannabinoid from hemp to help lower levels of hyperactivity, stress, and much more without possible side effects. 

What is CBD?

Cannabidiol, also known as CBD is a natural compound from hemp that could possibly help consumers with pain severity, anxiety, mental focus, and more. CBD is non-psychoactive and also interacts with your body’s endocannabinoid system to promote homeostasis or optimum efficiency. CBD interacts with the CB1 and CB2 receptors in your brain and immune system to help with stress, inflammation, and more. Tetrahydrocannabinol, also known as THC, can get you high, although it could possibly help consumers with pain severity, nausea, sleep deprivation, and more.  

Why CBD for ADHD? 

Scientific studies have noticed individuals with ADHD contain lower levels of dopamine in the prefrontal cortex of the brain. Dopamine is an organic chemical in the brain’s nervous system that helps transmit signals to the neurons and synapsis throughout our brain, known to help memory, attention, and emotional wellbeing. Although scientists have yet to determine what possible genetic or environmental factor that could possibly cause ADHD, some assume that these low levels of dopamine might be a possible contributing factor that could potentially cause ADHD symptoms and other mental health problems. Since CBD helps regulate the CB1 receptor found throughout our nervous system, more consumers are looking into CBD to help increase the levels of dopamine in our brain to possibly help with ADHD, anxiety, and much more. 

ADHD doesn’t just affect children, but around 4 percent of American adults are also diagnosed with ADHD. By looking at the average amount of children diagnosed with ADHD in the United States, Scientists have seen a prevalent pattern on how environmental factors could possibly increase the risk for a child to develop ADHD. A study lead by the National Institute of Mental Health discovered that ADHD is common with children living in lower-income households. Some of the highest percentages of children with ADHD reside in Kentucky, Arkansas, Louisiana, etc.  

Although there has been a limited amount of studies using CBD oil for children with ADHD, there have been numerous reports of consumers seeing a difference with their ADHD symptoms, such as restlessness and hyperactivity with CBD. In a 2017 study, a team of neuroscientists administrated small doses of CBD to thirty adults with ADHD. The researchers noticed a significant improvement with brain function and a reduction in stress levels with CBD compared to the individuals who received a placebo.

Since individuals with ADHD might also struggle with anxiety, high levels of anxiousness could potentially make their symptoms worse. Fortunately, there has been more scientific research on the cannabinoid’s effects for anxiety and stress. In a 2016 study by the University of the Colorado School of Medicine in Fort Collins, a group of researchers administrated a small dose of CBD oil to a young girl with a history of abuse and anxiety. The young girl had previously taken medication for anxiety and stress with minimal success. Under guardian supervision, the young girl took around 25 mg of CBD a day for over a year and saw a significant improvement in anxiety levels and sleep deprivation.  

What are the Treatment Options for ADHD?   

Adults and children with ADHD might have tried a large range of treatment options to possibly help lower their levels of hyperactivity with medication and even different forms of therapy. For example, some young children and adults might have tried behavioral therapy interventions to help possibly condition behaviors conductive to achieving better relationships, discipline, and learning opportunities. These behavioral techniques might include implementing positive reinforcement for a job well done, time-out sessions for unwanted behavior, or a token-economy system to have a child earn rewards and/or consequences for their good or bad behavior. These behavioral therapy treatments might be beneficial for helping a child with ADHD gage their emotional responses, although depending on the severity, some children might have a hard time implementing these behavioral techniques outside their therapist’s room. 

Some of the more traditional treatment options for ADHD include medication such as Ritalin. This medication is possibly prescribed for individuals who are looking to increase concentration for extended periods of time. Although some of the medication’s side effects can include nervousness, anxiety, sleep deprivation, vomiting, dizziness, increased blood pressure, and psychosis. With these possible side effects, more consumers are looking into not only CBD but full-spectrum CBD products for possibly helping ADHD symptoms and other ailments.

How could Full Spectrum CBD be Beneficial for ADHD? 

CBD is only one medicinal cannabinoid in hemp that could help with stress and mental focus, but there are over 100 other beneficial cannabinoids in the cannabis plant. Some of the lesser-known cannabinoids from hemp like CBG and CBN have been studied to potentially help with insomnia, inflammation, cognition, and even cancer. For individuals with severe ADHD, anxiety, and other ailments, some consumers might consider adding a full-spectrum CBD product. Full-spectrum CBD contains the 100 beneficial cannabinoids, but it also contains the legal limit of .3% THC that won’t get you high. This trace limit of THC can boost the medicinal properties in the oil help achieve all body wellness.          

For parents who are looking for CBD oil for children with ADHD that has the fullest benefits from the hemp plant without THC, there are broad-spectrum CBD oils, gummies, and more that will contain the 100 plus cannabinoids without the psychoactive property. Broad-spectrum CBD might also be a beneficial product for adults who might have to worry about possible urine analysis testing since full-spectrum CBD could result in a false positive. 

ADHD is difficult to treat for young kids and even adults, but with CBD, more consumers are looking into the natural remedy to help with concentration, anxiety, and more. As always our certified consultants at Go Green Botanicals recommend consumers to consult your doctor before trying CBD. With less side effects than traditional medication and promising results, CBD is helping more children and adults manage their ADHD symptoms for a bright stress-free future.