CBD for Children overview
CBD oil has been shown to be effective for the treatment of seizures in children with certain rare types of epilepsy.
CBD oil is manufactured by a vast number of companies. Since it isn’t federally regulated, it’s hard to know whether a product is safe and providing an accurate dose. CBD oil can sometimes contain THC and other toxins.
Cannabidiol oil hasn’t been significantly researched for its use in children. It may show promise for conditions such as autism. However, the products you buy online or off a shelf doesn’t necessarily parallel those supplied medically or used in research.
Anecdotally, many parents have reported that CBD oil is beneficial for their children. However, when it comes to your child, take a buyer beware approach. Always talk to your child’s pediatrician before starting any new supplements or medications.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
There’s little research on CBD oil’s benefits or risks for children with ADHD. Anecdotally, some parents report a reduction in their children’s symptoms after CBD oil use, while others report no effect.
Currently, there isn’t enough evidence to confirm whether CBD oil is an effective treatment for ADHD.
Anxiety
Some animal and human studiesTrusted Source indicate that CBD oil may help reduce anxiety, although this claim hasn’t been tested sufficiently in children.
Preclinical evidence indicates that CBD oil may have a place in the treatment of anxiety disorders, including social anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
A studyTrusted Source of one 10-year old patient with PTSD found that CBD oil improved her feelings of anxiety and reduced insomnia.
Autism
Several studiesTrusted Source that have analyzed the use of medical cannabis or CBD oil in children with autism have suggested there could be an improvement in symptoms of autism.
One studyTrusted Source looked at 188 children on the autistic spectrum, aged 5 to 18 years old. Study participants were given a solution of 30 percent CBD oil and 1.5 percent THC, placed under the tongue, three times daily.
An improvement was seen in most of the participants, for symptoms including seizures, restlessness, and rage attacks, after 1 month’s use. For most study participants, symptoms continued to reduce over a 6-month period.
Reported side effects included sleepiness, lack of appetite, and reflux. During the study, the children continued to take other prescribed medications, including antipsychotics and sedatives.
The researchers indicated that their results should be interpreted with caution, as there was no control group in place. This prevented them from determining causality between the use of cannabis and the reduction of symptoms.
Other studies are currently underway around the world, which may help to determine if there are safe and effective doses of CBD for children with autism.