Guest post by Jessica Smith

What is CBD?

Cannabidiol (CBD) needs no introduction. However, for the uninitiated, CBD is one of more than 120 extracts of the cannabis plant, which medical experts recommend for the treatment of various diseases.

Cannabis is a plant genus that produces several variants, including hemp and marijuana. Cannabidiol can be extracted from either of these variants. However, the substance is mostly derived from hemp because hemp-derived CBD contains insignificant traces of the psychoactive cannabis compound – tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).

In many U.S. States and countries that have legalized cannabis, the law is more permissive for hemp-derived products compared to those with marijuana-based cannabidiol. In the US, cannabis remains illegal at the federal level, but most states that have legalized cannabis-based products require the product to contain no more than 0.3 percent THC concentration.

Now, cannabidiol is mostly used to treat conditions with clinical presentations such as pain, inflammation, and anxiety, but it can also help manage neurological and mental conditions. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the disorders that you can treat with CBD, and this article will offer more insights into how cannabidiol relieves this debilitating condition.

What Is ADHD?

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) refers to a severe neurological disorder that is common among teenagers. However, the condition can affect children as young as seven years of age. It can negatively impact your child’s studies, personal development, and social relationships.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, ADHD usually occurs alongside other behavioral, mental, or emotional disorders. About five in every ten children with ADHD also suffer from behavior or conduct problems, with three in every ten children suffering from an anxiety disorder.

The following are some of the common symptoms of ADHD:

• Self-focused behavior – A child with ADHD may not recognize or appreciate other people’s needs. So, they tend to interrupt conversations or butt into games that they’re not part of. The child may also exhibit a sudden and unexplained lack of interest in an activity.

• Emotional turmoil – This is characterized by frequent emotional outbursts, especially temper tantrums.

• Fidgeting – Children with ADHD are incapable of sitting still. They tend to toss and turn or fidget in their chairs. This also extends to playtime, where the child may play rough or be out of tune with the rhythm or rules of the game.

• Poor concentration – A child with ADHD may have problems paying attention even if someone is speaking directly to them. They will also tend to lose interest in tasks and activities that require prolonged mental focus.

• Mistakes – Children with ADHD often experience challenges following simple instructions. They are frequently the weak links in projects that require teamwork. Such children either bungle their school assignments and household chores, or simply don’t finish their assignments.

• Detachment – A child with ADHD may express a tendency to isolate themselves from others in a group. Their escapist behavior could lead to hallucinations or anxiety.

How Does CBD Help Manage ADHD?

As is the case with many other diseases, CBD manages ADHD by treating some of the symptoms. First, it’s important to remember  that you should buy your CBD product from a trusted online dispensary in Canada or in your home country. That is the only way you can vouch for the effectiveness of the substance.

The most severe symptoms of ADHD can be summarized into three main categories, namely anxiety, diminished mental focus, and emotional instability. Let’s examine how cannabidiol helps in each case.

Cannabidiol treats anxiety by improving serotonin signaling. Essentially, the substance increases the amount of serotonin that flows through your brain the same way a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) does. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that performs various roles in ensuring a healthy mind, and low levels of the chemical are associated with anxiety and depression.

The stress-relieving benefits of CBD are well-documented. A 2011 report found that CBD could help to reduce anxiety symptoms in people living with social anxiety disorder. Other findings suggested that CBD might also help to treat post-traumatic stress disorder.

By reducing anxiety, CBD alleviates certain ADHD symptoms, especially those that manifest in irritable behavior, such as fidgeting. All you need to do is buy a potent CBD tincture and administer it as required.

In terms of improving mental focus for ADHD patients, CBD binds partially to dopamine, which is a chemical neurotransmitter in the brain that is responsible for focus, mental awareness, and memory. Low dopamine levels translate to reduced focus, poor memory, and short attention span. By partially binding to dopamine, CBD helps to improve these three critical functions without altering your child’s state of mind. However, it’s important to note that low dopamine levels may not necessarily trigger ADHD, neither do the two phenomena necessarily occur side by side.

Lastly, cannabidiol might help to manage emotional turmoil in an ADHD child, albeit indirectly. Hemp oil is rich in Omega-3 fatty acids. If consumed, these acids have an anti-inflammatory effect on the brain and may boost cognitive function, while also modulating the child’s emotions. According to a study published by the National Institutes of Health, most psychiatric disorders are linked to a deficiency in Omega-3 fatty acids. While you can get Omega-3 fatty acid from other sources, the acids are abundant in their natural form in hemp-based CBD. Certain methods of CBD consumption, such as vaping CBD e-juice or administering tinctures sublingually, deliver the fatty acids straight to your child’s bloodstream.

There are numerous other studies suggesting that CBD might help to alleviate the symptoms of ADHD. In a 2017 review examining a group of adult ADHD patients who were self-medicating using cannabis, researchers discovered a significant reduction in ADHD symptoms.

In this 2013 study that involved over 1,000 cannabis users, researchers attempted to examine the relationship between ADHD and cannabis. It was observed that most ADHD patients reported reduced hyperactivity-impulsivity symptoms when they were using cannabis as opposed to when not using the herb. In this feasibility study involving children with behavioral problems, CBD was able to lower anxiety, communication problems, and behavioral outbreaks.

Final Word

Research on the positive effects of cannabidiol for ADHD is still a work in progress. However, what we know so far is that CBD can help relieve numerous symptoms associated with the condition. Before using CBD for ADHD, talk to your doctor for the best advice on dosage.

Jessica Smith is a content strategist and a passionate writer. When she’s not writing, she spends her time with her pet cat Bonkers & practicing Yoga.

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