Introduction; Can CBD Actually Benefit Children/Adults With Autism?
As an older sister with a four year old little brother with Autism (ASD), I find myself observing my little brother’s actions, and overall ways of life. My brother Kendrick has mid functioning Autism and displays symptoms such as, trouble sensing his own needs like being hungry, peeing, etc. In addition to that he also struggles with transitioning what he’s doing to something else, and regulating emotion. Going from doing something that’s fun, to something that is a necessary task can be challenging emotionally for him, and others who have Autism as well. That being said, you can imagine how challenging it may be to help guide your child (Peers/Loved ones) in the right direction, and overall ensure that they have a good quality of life. On top of the fact that you may have tried different medications that aren’t working effectively, or maybe they are showing unwanted side effects that aren’t benefiting your child or loved one.
So, as someone who uses and loves Cannabinidol (CBD) personally, it brings up the question, “Could this be helpful for my family/peers?’ If this is a question that comes to your mind or you genuinely want to scope out other potential options, this blog may be helpful for you. In this blog I’m going to explain how CBD works, and why it could be an effective form of medicine for your loved ones with Autism, and yourself as well.
What is Autism?
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
Autism Spectrum Disorder, otherwise known as (ASD) is a condition relating to one’s brain development and impacts how a person perceives and interacts with others. This can cause issues with social communication and overall interaction. It’s important to note that the term spectrum refers to the wide range of symptoms, as well as the severity. In most cases ASD begins early on in the child’s life, starting around the age of one to two years old. It is also around this time that the child starts to develop the symptoms of Autism. These symptoms may include issues adjusting to change, and needing a plan set in place for preparation. Other symptoms like trouble regulating emotion, non-verbal communication, occasional violent outbursts, and social anxiety/social communication issues can happen too.
Treatment & Medication
It’s important to remember that there is no cure for Autism. That being said, treatment early on in the child’s life would likely be highly beneficial. Things like occupational therapy, and speech therapy are common treatments, as well as medication.
Now, with giving medication to people (children) with Autism there are some things to be aware of. After doing lots of research I found that a lot of the medications given to people with Autism are either Antipsychotics, or SSRIs. (Risperdal, Abilify, Zoloft, Prozac) An article from the Mayo Clinic states, “Certain medications may be prescribed if your child is hyperactive; antipsychotic drugs are sometimes used to treat severe behavioral problems; and antidepressants may be prescribed for anxiety.”
While these medications might benefit some, they may cause nasty side effects for others such as rapid weight gain, heart problems, and causing further agitation and anxiety issues can be another common side effect too. Note that these are the bad side effects of these specific medications, and these medications will affect everyone differently. Although some medications like Anticonvulsants and Stimulants may be beneficial for a lot of people with Autism, it all depends on the severity of the person’s Autism, and what their healthcare provider and the parent(s) think is best.
How Can CBD Help with Autism?
What is CBD?
Let's start with the basics… What is CBD? Well, Cannabidiol (CBD) is one of the many naturally occurring compounds of the cannabis plant. In contrast to its family member tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), Cannabidiol (CBD) is non-psychoactive, meaning it will NOT get you high.
Full Spectrum & Broad Spectrum & Isolates:
To be a little more specific there are a few kinds of CBD that you should know about. There’s Full Spectrum, Broad Spectrum, and Isolates.
Full Spectrum CBD means that there is a trace amount of THC along with the other cannabinoids. This trace amount of THC is always going to be 0.3% or less THC. Full Spectrum CBD involves a complete extraction of the hemp plant, and also has the widest range of potentially effective doses. If you’re wondering, No, Full Spectrum CBD will NOT get you high. One thing it might do is enhance the CBD and other cannabinoids like CBG and CBN to be a little more effective (the Entourage Effect) but, if you’re trying to pass a drug test and you don’t want THC on there, Full Spectrum would not be the best thing for you.
Next, Broad Spectrum CBD means that there is no THC in the product whatsoever, but it still has those other cannabinoids in there, like CBG and CBN. The hemp extract is filtered to remove THC in all Broad Spectrum products, and has a moderate range of potentially effective doses.
Lastly, there are Isolates. Isolate, in other words pure, just means it’s >99% Pure CBD. Isolates have no other molecules from hemp, as well as no plant flavor. Another great thing about Isolates is that they are the least expensive form of CBD, so if you’re on a budget this might be a good option.
For many, CBD can be a very therapeutic supplement, benefitting many aspects of one’s life. As far as the effects of CBD, it’s important to note that everyone’s bodies are different and it all depends on the person’s body and unique situation. CBD will affect each and everyone of you reading in either a similar or different way, and that's part of the beauty of it.
Legality:
Thanks to the 2018 Farm Bill, hemp derived CBD is federally legal. The 2018 Farm Bill removed the term “hemp” from the definition of marijuana in the CSA, making it so researchers can study specific cannabis derivatives that have no more than 0.3% THC by dry weight, including CBD. For more information on the 2018 Farm Bill, check out the FDA’s website, which I have linked here. In Colorado, if you want to get a MED card for your child, make sure that you and the child are Colorado Residents, as well as make sure that your child has a qualifying condition (Autism is one of them). It’s another good thing to note is that all minor patients must see two providers, and submit two provider certifications. Getting a MED card for your child is a route that should be taken if you’re looking to introduce higher amounts of THC rather than the trace amount to work in combination with the CBD. For more information on legality, the Healthline CBD article states, “If you live in a state that hasn’t yet legalized medical cannabis or these products are unavailable, you can still benefit from products containing industrial hemp-derived CBD. We suggest checking your state’s laws regarding CBD.”
Benefits of CBD:
Before we get into the specifics of how CBD may help Autism, we need to know how Cannabinidol may help the overall collective. That being said CBD has a wide range of benefits such as helping with sleep issues, or helping with pain, and for some, it may help addiction and mental health (Anxiety) as well. Personally, I use a CBD topical for pain in my back and hands, as well as Broad Spectrum Capsules for Anxiety and PTSD.
Furthermore, when we look at something more specific like Autism, it raises a lot more questions like, “Can I give my kid with Autism CBD?” or “How would CBD benefit my kid with Autism?” To the first question, it depends on state law, as well as your comfortability with making a decision like that for your child. To the second question, there may be a lot of potential benefits regarding giving someone with Autism CBD to help with their symptoms. As I said earlier, there is no cure for Autism, and although CBD may help with the person's Autism symptoms, it will not take the symptoms away, if anything it might make life more tolerable for you and your loved one.
What Parts of Autism Can CBD Benefit?
There’s been lots of studies and testing done with people (kids) using CBD to help with symptoms of Autism. One of the studies I looked at was from BMC; Journal of Cannabis Research stating “The main improvements of the treatment were as follows: a decrease in behavioral problems was reported in 10 patients (32.2%), an increase in expressive language was reported in 7 patients (22.5%), improved cognition was reported in 4 patients (12,9%), an increase in social interaction was reported in 3 patients (9.6%), and a decrease in stereotypes was reported in 1 patient (3.2%).“
As I started early on, the severity of Autism varies in each person, so it really depends on the severity, and the symptoms being displayed in which CBD may be beneficial. From the research that I've done over time, I’ve noticed that some mothers will give their children with Autism CBD because of violent outbursts towards themselves or others to calm them down, while other mothers will give their non-verbal autistic children CBD to help balance the (social) anxiety aspect. An Abtaba blog on giving CBD oil to kids with Autism said that, “Studies have suggested that CBD oil may have positive effects on social interactions and communication in individuals with autism.”
With that being said it really just depends on what symptoms they’re displaying consistently and need help with.
Ways to Consume CBD:
There are many ways to take CBD, and although it might seem overwhelming, this is all dependent on you and your child's (the person's) comfortability and symptoms. In my personal experience, one of the symptoms of Autism that my brother has is sensitivity to textures and a dislike for pills. In his instance, something like a flavorless water soluble oil tincture works best for him because my mom can just mix it with juice, and call it a day. He does not notice a difference in texture or taste, and also doesn't have to take a capsule, so it’s a win-win scenario. Another quote from Abtaba makes a good point in which they said, “Consulting with a healthcare professional experienced in using CBD oil for autism can help determine the appropriate dosage and approach.” This is another important thing to keep in mind.
Sublingual: Tinctures/Oils
Some people with Autism have more severe symptoms like self violence, or extreme Anxiety. In instances where a person has these specific symptoms more prominently, they often report finding the best results using something fast acting. If you’re looking for something more fast acting, a quick way to get CBD in your system is by using CBD MCT oil and holding it under the tongue for 60-90 seconds (15-20 min. activation). This should last 4-6 hours. Holding the CBD oil under the tongue allows it to absorb through thin mucous membranes making the results quick and maximal. Using CBD MCT oil may be a great option because they are nearly flavorless, which can make it easy to consume without worry of a bad taste. Water Soluble tinctures that are taken sublingually can also take about 15-20 minutes to absorb and will also last about 4-6 hours. These options are great if you’re looking to get more bang for your buck because longer lasting substances result in needing to take doses less frequently and buying less often.
Capsules & Edibles:
With capsules and edibles, since you have to ingest them, typically it takes 45 minutes to 1 ½ hours to fully absorb. In addition to that they last about 8-10 hours. If you’re wanting something that’s longer lasting, this would likely be a good option to try. The great thing about capsules specifically is that they are easy to bring on the go and they are discrete. So, if you want something easier to take places while still being able to manage consistent stress or anxiety, this may be a great option for you or your loved one.
CBD Flower/Dabs & Vape Cartridges
Even though vaping, or smoking CBD is the fastest absorption method, it also leaves your body the quickest. It’s good to remember that because it might be costly over time since the amount of use would likely be pretty often. Adults may prefer to use this option due to the faster absorption method. One thing to be aware of with CBD flower is that it does have a trace amount of THC (0.3% or less) so just keep that in mind if you’re looking into that specific option. Know that CBD dabs and Cartridges are not all solely isolates. Some will have trace amounts of THC, but not all. So just be sure to take precautions when you’re picking out what kind of CBD dabs and Cartridges you are buying.
These are just some of the majority of methods that CBD can be used for. These are the methods of consumption that we often hear parents prefer when giving CBD to their child with Autism. There are other methods like Topicals (lotion, crème, salve), usually people use these for conditions like Arthritis, or just injuries in general. There’s also CBD tea, CBD bath salts, and things like CBD honey sticks. Who would’ve thought, right?
Conclusion:
So, Can CBD help your child (loved ones) with Autism? The answer is, it very well might help. Again, CBD is not a cure, and it will not “fix” the ongoing symptoms, but it may be able to improve or manage them over time, making life a bit easier for you and your loved one. Overall, what we can determine is that Cannabidiol (CBD) can affect everyone differently, because after all everyone’s bodies are different, and that’s awesome! Remember that if you want to try CBD for the first time, for you or your loved one, it’s good to start with small doses and work your way up if you’re ingesting it, or smoking it. If you’re wanting to apply it to your skin, just put it where it’s needed. If you’re looking for CBD, and you live in Colorado, stop into Discover CBD! We would love to help you find what you need. Of everything I know for certain, CBD has changed my life for the better. Truly. I only hope it will do the same for all of you.
Down below I’ve listed a few links in case you want to research more on Autism in general.
- https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13311-015-0371-9
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2lsXC-BADyY
