ADD and ADHD

Lars
January 11, 2021

ADD is not a real medical condition!

ADHD is just a disorder of hyperactive boys!

ADD is an American condition!

Kids with ADHD will outgrow it!

People with ADD/ADHD are sick of hearing such myths around them. (ADD and ADHD are often used interchangeably. For ease of reading, we will use ADD in this article.) Attention Deficit Disorder is a real medical condition that needs medical care and attention. 

Often, it is hard to spot ADD disorder; it is usually over-diagnosed or under-diagnosed. People who have ADD get easily distracted, have trouble being organized, are late or forgetful. In general, routine social tasks become difficult to perform. It affects kids and adults alike. Sometimes, kids carry this disorder into adulthood.

The most widely used medications for ADD are Stimulants, Non-stimulants, and Anti-depressants.

These medications come with many side effects. In some cases, non-stimulants can increase the risk of suicidal thoughts. The other side effects caused by these medications include nausea, loss of appetite, sleep problems, weight-loss, etc.

These side effects sometimes negate the purpose of taking these medications. What if we were to say there’s a natural alternative to these medications that has a better side effect profile and is proved to help with ADD/ADHD symptoms.

Welcome to the world of CBD!

CBD refers to the compound Cannabidiol derived from cannabis species plant. Unlike THC(Tetrahydrocannabinol), which is derived from the same plant and causes the high feeling that you get when marijuana is taken, CBD is non-psychoactive and has many therapeutic benefits. It causes minimal to no side effects.

CBD and ADD


Our body comprises many biological systems such as the digestive system, immune system, reproductive system, etc. Like all these biological systems, our body also has an Endocannabinoid system(ECS), which is known to regulate many body processes such as immune response, appetite, memory, cell communication, and more.

The ECS consists of Endocannabinoids, receptors, and enzymes. CB1 and CB2 are the two receptors found in ECS, which directly affect the physiological processes mentioned above. These receptors are present everywhere in the body and the brain. Our body produces endocannabinoids naturally that activate these receptors.

CBD can also affect this system by acting directly on CB1 and CB2 receptors and positively impacts body processes. CBD influences the parts of the brain responsible for stress, forgetfulness, focus, planning, etc. 

One might wonder if CBD delivers the claims being made in this article. Let us quote a few studies that further firmly establish the positive effects of CBD.

Studies proving the effectiveness of CBD in ADD/ADHD patients


A study called, Subtypes of Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Cannabis Use showed that cannabis users observed symptoms of ADHD when CBD was not being used.

According to another study called, Cannabinoids in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: A randomized-controlled trial, adults with ADHD experienced a reduction of symptoms and no cognitive impairments following cannabinoid use.

Another study, called Cannabis improves symptoms of ADHD, showed that people with ADHD could benefit from taking cannabis.

Social anxiety is common among individuals who have ADHD. A study published in the Frontiers journal proved that CBD reversed anxiety-like behavior in teenagers suffering from social anxiety disorders.

According to a study called, Cannabinoid and Terpenoid Doses are Associated with Adult ADHD Status of Medical Cannabis Patients, a higher dose of CBD reduced the usage of ADHD medication in adults.

Conclusion


It is not easy to live a normal life when one is suffering from ADD/ADHD disorders. Necessary daily activities like paying attention to a project or multitasking, or keeping quiet(hyperactivity) can become difficult. CBD comes as a savior for such people with its better side effect profile.

Many people are turning to CBD to deal with their symptoms stemming from ADD/ADHD. Also, many ADD patients are citing improvement after the use of CBD products. CBD can thus be an effective alternative to traditional medications used in treating ADD/ADHD.

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