CBD oil is made from cannabidiol (CBD) that is extracted from the cannabis plant. After extracting CBD from the cannabis plant, it is mixed with a carrier oil such as olive oil, sunflower oil, hemp seed oil, etc.
Various studies conducted over the years have suggested that CBD appears to be relatively well tolerated and safe to use. However, to concretely back this statement up, more research is required to look for CBD’s long-term effects.
Cannabis plants consist of a multitude of different compounds. Two of the most well-known of these compounds are THC and CBD.
THC is responsible for the psychoactive effect, which is associated with the euphoric feeling people usually experience after consumption. Whereas CBD is free of any psychoactive effects, and according to some studies provided, it is associated with various health benefits.
This led many researchers to conduct studies to further explore the potential uses of CBD oil for the treatment of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.
ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder that is often diagnosed at an early age. Some of the most common symptoms of ADHD include impulse activity, fleeting attention, and hyperactivity.
Research Conducted On CBD Oil for ADHD
The interest in whether CBD oil is really effective for treating ADHD has verily outpaced the research regarding its administration, effectiveness, safety precautions, types, and dosage. There are many who would swear by the benefits of CBD. However, the matter of fact here is that there is little research that can solidify these claims.
Most of the knowledge regarding the usage of CBD as a therapeutic treatment for ADHD stems from consuming or smoking medical marijuana. Therefore, there are not many conclusive studies that point out the effect of CBD oil specifically.
Even the available case studies on the use of CBD oil for the treatment of ADHD are rather anecdotal. This is due to the fact that the available data does not provide much support due to their smaller sample size or because they are conducted in a very controlled environment.
Association of ADHD and Cannabis Use- A 2013 Study
A recent study observed the usage of cannabis and various ADHD subtypes. Around 2,811 current users were selected for this study. As per the data gained from the US survey of cannabis users, it was found out that people self-reported experiencing more hyperactive-impulsive behavior when they were not consuming cannabis.
The study suggested that people who self-medicate with cannabis find relief from ADHD-related symptoms such as impulsivity.
Trial-A 2017 Study
This 2017 study comprised a randomized placebo and cannabis medication course for around 30 adults with ADHD. The main objective was to measure cognitive performance and level of activity with the help of QbTest, in addition to finding the impact on emotional lability (rapid or exaggerated mood change) and ADHD.
The participants underwent this randomized course of medication for a year, where half of them received a placebo, and the other half received cannabis.
The outcomes of the study indicated that the group receiving cannabis had a better performance score as compared to those that received placebo. Furthermore, they also experienced an improvement in hyperactivity, inhibition, inattention, and emotional lability.
This study was successful in providing preliminary evidence to support the usage of cannabis for the treatment of ADHD.
CBD for ADHD Symptom Management
Regardless of the scant evidence for using CBD Oil for ADHD, cannabidiol might actually be useful for managing ADHD symptoms such as anxiety and depression. In addition, CBD is known to provide help to patients suffering from generalized panic disorders, PTSD, social anxiety, and OCD as well.
With the studies conducted so far, CBD has proved to be an effective treatment for an array of mental health disorders, so while the treatment of ADHD with CBD still requires additional research, its symptoms can be reduced with cannabis usage.
These anxiety-related disorders have the potential to diminish one’s sense of well-being, or their excessive occurrence may lead to disability. Therefore, treating them with cannabis might prove to be beneficial.
However, it is important to keep in mind the fact that there could be some side effects of using CBD, even though it is generally quite beneficial for the mind and body.
Side Effects
Some of the common complaints after the usage of CBD are mood changes, headaches, nausea, gastrointestinal issues, headaches, drowsiness, and lack of energy. Although these symptoms are mild, it is important to know them.
These side effects might occur with the usage of a higher dosage of CBD. Or perhaps it might be because of the fact that CBD can affect the outcomes of other medications. In addition to these mild side effects, there are also some adverse effects of CBD usage that can worsen some of the common symptoms of ADHD.
While CBD oil does not have any psychoactive properties, there is a possibility that it might contain small amounts of THC, which is known to have psychoactive properties. Therefore, patients can experience memory and attention impairment.
According to a report published in the New England Journal of Medicine by Dr. Nora Volkow, the director of the National Institute of Drug Abuse, it was pointed out that there are an array of adverse side effects caused by marijuana usage.
Some of the key side effects Volkow mentioned were attention and memory problems that can become worse in the long term. Another problem she mentioned is that people suffering from ADHD are at risk of misusing drugs or alcohol because of their impulsive behavior.
This may eventually cause them to misuse the substance or develop a disorder for them and put them at risk for using cannabis or cannabis products.
So whether or not CBD oil contributes to the treatment of ADHD, one thing we do know is that using cannabis can have potentially negative effects. Young people consuming in any way can experience lower cognitive abilities and IQ in their late years.
Lastly, there are some studies done on mice that have suggested that higher doses of cannabis could potentially have an effect on liver health. More research is required on this topic to determine whether the same side effects apply to humans as well.
Some Keynotes You Should Remember
First and foremost, don’t use CBD as a substitute treatment without professional medical help. While we have talked about studies stating evidence that CBD has a positive impact on several mental health issues, it does not, in any way, mean that it can be used as a substitute treatment without the consultation of a vetted marijuana doctor.
Today, we have a number of effective treatments for ADHD that can help people to manage their symptoms better.
More research is being conducted by marijuana-specialized doctors for ADHD to clearly state the long-term impact of the usage of cannabis. Just because CBD is derived from a natural source or that many people have claimed that they have a positive effect after the utilization of CBD oil, it does not sanction its usage. There are a lot of intricacies that need to be looked into before consuming CBD oil for ADHD, which is why experts always recommend consulting professionals before consumption.
Every individual has a different reaction to CBD; therefore, it is important to remember that “natural” does not correlate with safety unless advised by a marijuana doctor otherwise.
Some of the short-term effects of using cannabis without proper guidance may include nausea, drowsiness, headaches, etc. At the same time, the long-term effects may include liver damage that can be caused by using higher doses of the products. In addition, people of a younger age using cannabis could face a significant decrease in their cognitive abilities and IQ.
The jury is still out on the efficacy of CBD oil for the therapeutic treatment of ADHD, and the answers are awaited until further research is done.
One of the major reasons that hinders these researchers is that the products are not regulated and that they (researchers) require special licenses and authority from relevant authorities to carry out research. Therefore, we have to wait for concrete evidence before we begin to officially use CBD products for ADHD treatment.
Final Word
Interested in CBD products? Santa Ana dispensary Planet 13 has an array of CBD products to choose from. To figure out which product, dosage, or type, might work best for you, we welcome you to come into the best OC dispensary, or feel free to contact us. As the best dispensary in Orange County, we offer in-store shopping, curbside pick up, and even delivery!
Although more research is required to fully understand cannabis, we have sufficient data to prove that CBD is a great remedy for several mental and bodily issues like stress, anxiety, epilepsy, and more.
