What is ADHD?
ADHD is also known as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is a medical condition that plagues millions of children across the country. In some cases, ADHD goes untreated and lasts into adulthood. ADHD is a very common condition as the American Psychiatric Association states in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders that 5% of children suffer from ADHD.
ADHD affects the way signals are sent within the brain and they particularly affect the areas of the brain that relate to focus and attention. ADHD manifests differently in people and researchers believe this change can be linked to genetics.
Because of this disruption caused by ADHD, most treatment regimen involves medication and therapy. And although there have been significant improvements within the medication made to deal with ADHD, there are still unwanted side effects patients have to deal with. Some of these could include weight loss, headaches, irritability, stomachaches and a host of other disturbing side effects.
Another problem ADHD patient have to deal with is navigating the correct dosage of the drugs or dealing with the effects when the drugs wear off. And like all prescription drugs, there is also a chance of addiction and the high price of these drugs make it difficult for all patients to get access to the drugs.
For all that is known about ADHD, a lot is still unknown. Because of this complexity, this condition could sometimes be misdiagnosed and scientists have discovered differences between the way ADHD shows up within male and female patients increasing the challenges and complexities involved in dealing with the condition.
What is CBD Oil?
Cannabinol (or CBD for short) is one of the naturally occurring chemical compounds found within the cannabis plant. Unlike the other major component that can be found within the plant, tetrahydrocannabinol (or THC), CBD is known possesses all the same benefits found of THC but without the psychoactive effects, THC possesses.
Cannabinol works by communicating with the cells within the nervous system and the brain. The molecules responsible for this are called cannabinoid receptors. Today, cannabinol is used to treat a wide variety of ailments including ADHD.
CBD and ADHD: What are the benefits?
Before we proceed, it is important to state that CBD does not cure ADHD. All the substance does is alleviate the symptoms associated with the condition. Patients who suffer from ADHD usually find it hard to stay focused while dealing with anxiety and CBD helps to deal with these symptoms.
Unlike other drugs, CBD oil is tolerated compared to other forms of treatment. CBD oil also holds an edge over other conventional medicine because one can bypass getting a prescription for the substance.
Conventional ADHD medication is classified into stimulants or non-stimulants and the benefits of CBD oil help you bypass the side effects of these medications.
- CBD helps you avoid the side effects caused by stimulant medications: About 70 – 80% of ADHD patients use stimulant medications but this form of medication has been known to cause side effects like insomnia, headache, dry mouth. Each of these side effects has the potential to hinder the ability of anyone to function normally but with CBD oil, you do not have to worry about any of these symptoms.
- CBD helps you avoid the negative effects of non-stimulant drugs: Although non-stimulant drugs may not have as much side effects as stimulant drugs, they still exist and their side effects greatly resemble that of stimulant medication like nausea, fatigue, dizziness and so on.
The Research: The Effects of CBD Oil on ADHD
Considering how recently the use of cannabis was made legal, it makes sense that research into the use and benefits of the substance is still new and ongoing. And while there are some conditions that have the research to back up the use of CBD oil, other conditions simply don’t have enough research for one to make such definite conclusions.
ADHD oil is one of the latter conditions. But there is a growing number of ADHD patients who have and continued to used CBD oil for the management of their conditions because of its efficacy.
Scientists have theorized that cannabis as a means of getting rid of the symptoms of ADHD would not be successful because the substance has been known to tamper with attention, normal bodily functions and so on.
But other conditions of the brain have responded positively to the use of CBD oil like seizures, anxiety disorders, chronic pain, PTSD and so on. But the primary issue with being able to say CBD oil works in alleviating ADHD symptoms is the lack of research.
Effects of CBD Oil
Like other drugs, CBD oil is bound to have its own side effects. However, it is, important to understand that generally, CBD is very safe and is tolerated by millions of patients around the world.
Here are some of the side effects experienced by patients:
- Dry mouth
- Anxiety and depression
- Psychosis
- Vomiting
- Dizziness
And finally, drowsiness. These effects are the reasons why CBD users are advised to steer clear of driving or operating dangerous machinery while using the substance.
How to use CBD Oil
As expected, there are no generally acceptable CBD oil use guidelines. Usually, the dose to be used depends on a wide range of issues including the weight and height of the patient, the CBD oil concentration, severity of the migraine and so much more.
Method of use of CBD oil could be either through vaping or ingestion. Taking CBD orally could reduce the number of effects seen by users so that could be a place to start. Finally, when using CBD, it is always advisable to start off with a small dose and increase should the symptoms persist. You should also seek your medical doctor’s opinion before using cannabidiol.
There are hundreds of testimonies evidence to back CBD oil as a viable treatment that could be found online about patients who are living better lives because of the substance. However, it is important to use CBD oil wisely and figure out the best dosage for you.
