Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) refers to a wide range of developmental disorders caused by a mix of environmental factors and genetic mutations. According to the latest research by the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) autism affects 1 in 60 children in the US. The signs and symptoms of autism vary across the spectrum and vary in severity from one individual to another.
Despite there being no cure for autism, CBD has provided hope for managing and alleviating the effects of this disorder. There are numerous testimonials by parents with kids with autism discussing the benefits of using CBD for autism. Most of the testimonials online discuss the effects of CBD on seizures which are commonly associated with the disorder. The therapeutic properties of CBD help manage some of the most common negative behavioral effects of the condition, such as epileptic seizures and anxiety.
Save 15% Off Premium CBD Products With your unique code.
We now have numerous ongoing research projects regarding kids where the main goal is to know if this treatment is effective, tolerable, 100% safe, and without side effects. Unfortunately, there’s no study that validates whether CBD is an available treatment option of autism yet. However, we are gaining new success stories and beneficial information regarding the use of CBD to treat autism.
In fact there are many reports from parents claiming their kids benefited after including CBD oil in their treatment, such as :
- a decrease in seizures,
- significant decline in aggressive behavior and
- improved speech including kids who did not speak before and achieved results in a very short period of time after taking their first dose of CBD.
This has generated hope in other parents and caregivers who seek a better quality of life and comfort for their children.
What’s the Relationship between Autism and the Endocannabinoid System?
The connection between autism and CBD starts to make sense in the endocannabinoid system. Many symptoms of autism are directly related to the ECS (endocannabinoid system). The endocannabinoid system is responsible for controlling:
- Pain
- Sleep
- Motor control
- Appetite
- Pleasure and reward
- Memory
- Mood
Moreover, almost every cell in our body contains endocannabinoid receptors. In a study published in 2013, researchers had an “aha” moment when they found endocannabinoid receptors in immune cells in children with autism.
Experience the power of premium CBD today.
Why Use Medical CBD to Treat ASD?
Unlike tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), CBD has anti-anxiety properties and is not psychoactive. Furthermore, research has already proven that Cannabidiol (CBD) can be used to treat anxiety. However, there are no studies exploring the effects of cannabis or CBD on autism and its symptoms. However, despite the lack of published research and clinical data, researchers have followed several lines of evidence to assess CBD as a possible treatment of ASD.
In 2018, the U.S. FDA (Food and Drug Administration) approved Epidiolex which is the first CBD-based pharmaceutical for the treatment of severe and rare forms of epilepsy. Keep in mind that about 30% of children with ASD also suffer from epilepsy and scientists think that the two conditions share similar biological pathways. Interestingly, there’s also a link between the ECD system – that is stimulated by THC and CBD (cannabis-based cannabinoids) – and autism. According to a research published in 2018 in Molecular Autism, autistic children have low concentrations of certain ECDs in their blood. Furthermore, administering CBD has been effective at managing autistic-like social problems of ASD and epilepsy in animal models.
Lastly, many autistic children also have socially disruptive deficits such as self-injury, violence, and tantrums. Kids with these problems do not respond well to conventional medical treatments and are often difficult to care for. This has led parents to consider alternative treatment options including medical cannabis.
Use this code- cbdybch15- to get 15%OFF Premium CBD Oil Products
What’s the Problem with Conventional Medications?
CBD oil comes as a relief for many parents with autistic children partly because other conventional medications prescribed to children with ASD are very powerful. In most cases these children are prescribed Seroquel or Abilify – antipsychotics which are not specifically for children, or autism for that matter.
Moreover, these antipsychotic medications have numerous negative side effects such as stomach pain, weight gain, drowsiness and dizziness yet they are most physicians’ primary choice for treating ASD. However, they have been criticized for being too strong for kids and turning them into ‘zombies’. In fact, they are mostly administered to kids who can’t communicate exactly how they feel. Another troubling problem with most antipsychotic drugs is that their side effects include reducing the threshold for seizures, yet 30% of people with ASD also suffer from epilepsy. Therefore, we are not certain whether epilepsy is triggered by drugs for the condition rather than autism itself especially for autistic kids who didn’t have epilepsy until later in life.
CBD oil, on the other hand, is much less harmful and is anecdotally highly effective at treating the autism symptoms. In fact, CBD without THC is not only nonpsychotic but it also has no serious side effects besides possible drowsiness. CBD oil for autism is a great treatment option because it has tons of potential and kids are also more engaged. For caregivers looking for alternative treatment options, CBD oil might just be the answer they are searching for.
