CBD be helpin’ wit Autism – Ya heard?

Yo, what’s up y’all? My name’s Dan and today we gonna talk about how parents are using CBD to treat their kids with autism. Autism be a developmental disorder that can affect behavior, cognition, social skills, and sensitivity to noises and sensations, among other symptoms. The number of children diagnosed with autism in the United States has been rising, up from approximately 1 of every 125 children in 2004, to approximately 1 out of every 59 in 2018. Boys are 4 times more likely than girls to have autism.

CBD (cannabidiol), a chemical compound found in marijuana, may be very effective in the symptom management of autism and the other disorders that often rise up alongside it. CBD does not impart a “high,” and can be extracted (or synthetically manufactured) to be used completely independently of marijuana. This means that even children can benefit from CBD-based treatments without being exposed to the effects of THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), including anxiety, euphoria or “feeling high.”

CBD is a cannabinoid, a type of chemical that the human body can easily process. Our bodies naturally make their own cannabinoids, which play a role in the regulation of many bodily functions, including movement, sleep cycles, and mood. Children with autism have lower concentrations of at least one of these naturally-produced cannabinoids. CBD has the potential to pick up some of the slack, improving the disrupted communication between the brain and other body systems that some researchers have theorized as the cause of autism.

In a groundbreaking 2018 CBD and autism study in Isreal, researchers found significant improvements in the behavior of kids with autism who were treated with cannabis oil. The oil used in the study contained 20% CBD and also a small amount of THC (1%). The 60 children in this study had not responded to conventional medical therapies, but after at least 7 months of treatment with CBD oil, 80% of their parents reported a decrease in disruptive behaviors associated with autism.

CBD is legal in all 50 U.S. states, but it’s easier to obtain in some states than others. In any of the states where marijuana is legal for recreational use, CBD oil will be readily available in any dispensary. In states where medical marijuana is legal, CBD products may be relatively easy to find in natural-foods stores or herb shops, as well as dispensaries. A significant number of kids with autism also suffer from epilepsy, which is a qualifying medical marijuana condition in many states.

Epilepsy, depression, and anxiety disorders often go hand-in-hand with autism, each disorder potentially exacerbating symptoms of the other. CBD has been shown to improve symptoms of all of these conditions and could provide simultaneous relief.

In conclusion y’all, treating autism with CBD has improved the quality of life for many families, and it’s likely that this trend will continue. In the years to come, we can expect to see much more research on the connection between CBD and autism. So far, the evidence is encouraging – CBD appears to positively affect the same parts of the brain that malfunction in patients with autism. Studying CBD may help bring this treatment option out into the mainstream and could even give scientists new insight into the inner workings of autistic brains. Peace out!