Is CBD Good for Autistic Kids?

Autism is a brain condition that affects how people develop. It can cause different problems for different people. As more people use cannabis and CBD as medicine, many ask if it can help with autism. While cannabis can't cure autism, it might help with some of its symptoms.

What is Autism?

Autism, also called Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), is a group of brain conditions. There are five types listed in a special book doctors use. Boys are diagnosed more often than girls, and it seems to be becoming more common. Signs usually show up between 12 and 24 months, but can appear earlier or later.

Doctors look for two main types of problems:

Trouble with talking and being social:

Hard to share feelings or have back-and-forth talks
Not understanding body language or eye contact
Finding it hard to make and keep friends

Doing the same things over and over

Needing to follow strict routines
Being very sensitive to certain sounds, touches, or sights
Having very strong interests in specific things

To be diagnosed with autism, a person must have all three problems from the first group and at least two from the second group.

Signs of Autism in Children

Here are some things you might notice in autistic children:

Trouble talking to others or sharing their feelings
Not understanding facial expressions or social cues
Finding it hard to make friends
Having very strong interests that are unusual for their age
Doing repeated actions like hand flapping or walking on toes
Playing with toys in odd ways, like lining them up
Speaking uniquely or repeating phrases from TV shows
Needing very strict routines and getting upset when things change
Being very sensitive or not sensitive enough to pain, temperature, or loud noises

Children might also:

Have trouble maintaining conversations
Find it hard to share their interests and emotions
Struggle to understand and respond to social cues
Have difficulty developing and maintaining relationships
Show intense interests uncommon for their age group
Use toys in unusual ways, like throwing them around
Become very upset when routines change
Show unusual reactions to sensory inputs

When Do Signs of Autism Appear?

Some children show clear signs early on, while others seem to develop normally until about 18 months or two years old. Most children are diagnosed between two and a half to three years old.

How Does CBD Work?

CBD works with a system in our body called the endocannabinoid system (ECS). This system helps control things like mood, sleep, and how our body fights illness. The ECS has three parts:

Endocannabinoids: Molecules made by our body
Receptors: Places where these molecules attach
Enzymes: Proteins that break down these molecules

There are two main types of receptors- CB1 (mostly in the brain and spinal cord) and CB2 (mostly in other parts of the body).

Can CBD Help with Autism?

CBD oil comes from hemp plants and has very little THC. This means it won't make a child feel "high" like medical marijuana would. Some parents say CBD oil helps their autistic children in two main ways:

It might reduce stress, aggression, self-harm, and social problems.
CBD also help children who also have seizures.

Many families report that CBD oil helps their children with autism and epilepsy. They say it works as well as or better than regular medicines for anxiety and seizures, with fewer side effects.

How Can CBD Help with Anger?

CBD might also help with anger and rage. Here's how:

It can lower stress hormones in the body.
It might reduce hormones that cause intense anger and anxiety.
It can help balance mood-related hormones.

By doing these things, CBD might help reduce anxiety, anger, and stress. It may help bring the body back to a balanced state, reducing symptoms associated with high stress and anxiety.

Things to Consider Before using CBD for an autistic child:

Talk to a doctor first.
Make sure it's legal where you live.
Choose high-quality CBD products.
Start with a small amount and slowly increase if needed.
Watch for any side effects.

While CBD can't cure autism, it might help with some symptoms. It could reduce anxiety, anger, and social problems in some autistic children. It might also help with seizures if a child has them. However, we need more research to understand how CBD affects autism fully.

Always talk to a doctor before trying CBD or any new treatment for autism. They can help you decide if it's a good option for your child and guide you on using it safely.

CBD is just one possible tool to help manage autism symptoms. It works best when used alongside other treatments and therapies recommended by healthcare professionals. Every autistic person is unique, so what helps one person might not help another. The goal is to find the best combination of treatments to improve the quality of life for each autistic individual.