CBD or Cannabidiol is in talks nowadays. Manufacturers and producers extract the popular compound from the hemp or marijuana plant. It is available in different forms ranging from oil to chewy gummies. It can treat ailments together with some of those that occur in children. Since it is the psychoactive part of hemp, it does not let a person get high. CBD gummies for pain are now widely available everywhere.
There has been a good amount of research conducted on CBD for its effects, though not much is evident about its effectiveness and whether it is safe or not. The difference between CBD effects on children and adults falls in the questioning zone for many researchers and scientists. When a person is in his adolescence, he is resilient and exposed to the risk of consuming harmful substances. Kids can take CBD, but it is still unknown whether it is safe or not.
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Effect of CBD on children
Marijuana or hemp is in the news for years. But, the use of its compound CBD is relatively new for children. Studies on CBD effects on children are less than studies done on animals and adults. There is no scientific evidence whether CBD is safe for kids or not.
Children can use CBD-based products but the only ailment for which the Food and Drug Association (FDA) has approved is epilepsy. Two rare and worst kinds of epilepsies in children are Dravet Syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome.
Epidiolex is an oral solution made of pure derived hemp cannabis. A study with 516 patients shows that cannabis is better effective for treating the frequency of seizures than placebo. Since gummies overpower the smell of oil, you can give children CBD gummies instead of CBD oil. Store-bought CBD products run the same risks that of Epidiolex.
Some of the effects of taking Epidiolex include feeling lethargic, loss of appetite, rashes, weakness in the body, diarrhea, sleeping issues like insomnia, etc. Some risks of using the medication include depression, agitation, suicidal thoughts, panic attacks. The long-term effects of CBD on children are not known as of yet.
Some studies also suggest that CBD can improve symptoms of autism. Side effects included sleepiness, lack of appetite, and restlessness. For some respondents, the symptoms reduced within a month. For some, it took over six months. The researchers say that they had to interpret the results with caution as there was no control group at that place.
Scientists and researchers are carrying out other studies about the risks and side effects of using cannabis for autism in children. If your child is under some medication, CBD might interfere with the process and create problems, so be aware of the warnings that come with it. The recommended dosage of CBD in children is 2.5 mg per kilogram of body weight. Parents can increase the dosage later.
Effect of CBD on Adults
The adult body responds similarly to CBD as children. Studies show that CBD interacts with the Endocannabinoid (ECS) receptors of the brain to cure chronic pain. The ECS is responsible for a range of functions like sleep, regulation of appetite, and immune system.
Several studies prove that CBD can effectively treat pain related to multiple sclerosis and arthritis.
CBD can help in reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety. When they interact with receptors of the brain, they produce chemicals that enable a person to relax, calm down, and feel good. They play a significant role in reducing depression among people. In Brazil, scientists undertook research. They tested cannabis and placebo 90 minutes before a simulated public test on 57 men. They observed that cannabis was more effective than placebo.
CBD can help reduce symptoms of cancer in adults. Scientists conducted a study on 16 cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. They found that a combination of CBD and THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol) through the way of mouth spray was more effective in the cure of chemo-related nausea and vomiting than the treatment in itself.
Another study shows that CBD reduced cancer-causing cells in the breast in rats. CBD even helps people stay away from nicotine and tobacco – significant causes of cancer. People-based studies have been rare, so it isn’t easy to reach a proper conclusion.
CBD can prove to be beneficial against acne. It is rich in antioxidants that fight free radicals that cause wrinkles, premature aging, and other skin-related issues. It has anti-inflammatory properties and controls the production of sebum. This property helps to keep acne at bay.
Like CBD works for epilepsies in children, it is significant for adults. Though research in this area is relatively new, various studies show promising results. Scientists researched 21 people with severe epilepsy. They gave the patients good doses of CBD and found that their seizures decreased by a median of 36.5%. Another study found better results in children, but there were various side effects.
Research also shows that CBD can be helpful for the heart and can reduce the risk of a heart attack. It can also decrease blood pressure. A recent study where nine healthy men took 600mg of CBD showed reduced blood pressure than a placebo. That might be since CBD can lower stress levels and anxiety, further decreasing the risk of high blood pressure.
CBD can help with schizophrenia, as per some studies. It can also reduce people’s dependence on drugs like opioids and heroin. In animals, CBD has demonstrated anti-tumor effects without causing much pain. In a study done on diabetic rats, CBD reduced the incidence of diabetes by 56%. The recommended dosage of CBD in adults is 2.5 mg per kilogram of body weight.
Conclusion
Though it is not evident whether the effects of CBD gummies change according to age, CBD has different actions depending on the stage of the life cycle. For adults, CBD can have calming effects on the brain, mind, and body, while for children, it is used to treat other ailments like epilepsy. CBD is not federally regulated, so it is difficult to know which company provides the best and the purest CBD.
For children, it is safe to ask for a doctor’s advice before opting for CBD treatment. One should be careful of mislabelled packages of CBD. Many studies have revealed this problem in CBD. A last piece of advice we would like to give is that it does not work the same for everyone, so be cautious.
