Today CBD is available everywhere, being offered for sale from online retailers like wonder buds for its ability to make people feel better and relieve pain. Though CBD is extracted from hemp or marijuana, it does not contain THC. THC is a chemical substance in cannabis that gets us high. So long story short, CBD won’t get you high.
CBD is available in the form of oils, vaping, coffee, cocktails, THC-infused gummies, etc. It’s been used as a solution to many health problems such as cancer, chronic pain, anxiety, migraines, and ADHD. Not just adults are experimenting with the benefits of CBD. A lot of parents are turning to CBD to help kids sleep, focus, and calm down and more.
While CBD is becoming very popular, adequate research has not been done regarding its safety and effectiveness. Is CBD safe for kids? Read on and learn more about CBD for children.
Forms of CBD
To being, CBD comes in various forms. Among the popular forms are commercially prepared beverages and baked goods. The various forms can make it difficult for parents to know how much CBD is available in these products.
Unless you are using prescription products such as Epidiolx, it is hard to control the amount of CBD you’re administering to your child when using these products. Some forms of CBD include:
CBD Oil
CBD oil is labeled in various potencies. To use it, you’ll need to administer it under the tongue, but you can also get it in capsule form. CBD oils come in a distinctive, earthy taste that many children may not like. You can also get it in flavored oil. Before administering CBD to your child, talk to the pediatrician so you can know about all the possible risks.
Transdermal Patches
Patches penetrate through the skin to enter the bloodstream. You’ll like it if you want a consistent level of CBD over an extended period.
Gummies
These are edibles candies that contain CBD oil. They are available in a variety of colors, flavors, shapes, and CBD concentrations. If you are looking for a discreet way of ingesting CBD, gummies can be ideal for you.
Uses of CBD for Children
Another reason CBD is helpful because it’s used to treat various health conditions in children. But, the only condition approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is epilepsy.
CBD for Epilepsy
As mentioned earlier, the FDA approved Epidiolex, a form of a medication from CBD to treat Dravet syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome. These are the two rare types of epilepsy.
Epidiolex is an oral solution extracted from purified CBD from Cannabis Sativa. A study including 516 patients with either Lennox-Gastaut or Dravet syndrome was conducted. According to the study, Epidiolex was seen to reduce seizure frequency.
This medication, however, has some side effects. You should discuss both the benefits and potential risks of Epidiolex with your kid’s doctor before administering it.
Some of the side effects include:
- Rash
- Diarrhea
- Infections
- Lethargic or sleepy feeling
- Lack of appetite
- Elevated liver enzymes
- Body weakness
Also, in extreme but unlikely cases, your child might experience, panic attacks, agitation, aggressiveness, among others.
Anxiety
Studies conducted on humans and animals show that CBD oil can help control anxiety, although the claim isn’t proven in kids.
Preclinical evidence suggests that CBD oil can play a role in the treatment of anxiety disorders, including obsessive-compulsive disorder, social anxiety disorder, and post-traumatic disorder.
A study on a 10-year child with PTSD found that CBD helped reduce insomnia and anxiety.
CBD and Autism
Finally, many studies have suggested that CBD oil could help reduce symptoms of autism in children. One study involved 188 kids with autism, aged between 5 and 18 years. A solution containing 30% CBD oil and 1.5% THC was given to the participants, three times a day.
Most participants showed signs of improvement for symptoms, including restlessness, rage attacks, and seizures, after one month of usage. For other participants, improvements were noted over six months.
Some of the side effects reported include lack of appetite, sleepiness, and reflux. During the study, the kids continued to take other prescribed medications, such as sedatives, and antipsychotics Additional studies to determine the safety and effectiveness of CBD for children are still ongoing around the world.
Final thoughts
The long-standing fight for the decriminalization of marijuana may not be over, but these new findings are certainly paving the way for a society that is more tolerant and understanding of the drug’s true potential.
CBD continues to help families and individuals who have sought many alternatives but found no relief for their health issues. If you’re looking to explore this alternative for your children, it helps to look into the laws in your area to see what options are available.
Before using CBD for kids, make sure to consult your pediatrician. Based on the information above, see if this would be beneficial for your child and work through it together.
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