Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a complex condition that affects how a person communicates and interacts with the world.
Many families and caregivers seek ways to ease the challenges associated with autism, and one avenue gaining attention is the use of CBD (Cannabidiol).
But what does science say about this approach?
Recent studies, including ones that analyzed the effects of CBD in conjunction with THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), have shown promising results.
Some researchers have explored CBD’s potential to improve social behavior in mouse models and alleviate anxiety and repetitive behaviors in humans.
For example, a study published in 2019 focused on the real-life experience of medical cannabis treatment in autism, and found significant improvements in symptoms for many patients.
Other studies have questioned the relevance of CBD enrichment in medical cannabis for treating core symptoms of ASD, emphasizing the importance of THC in treatment.
You might be curious about how this knowledge could be applied in real-life scenarios, or you may want to know which CBD products are the best for autism. Well, you’re in luck.
In this article, we will delve into the five best CBD products specifically targeted at aiding autism, based on scientific research and real-life experiences.
Whether you’re a caregiver, family member, or an individual dealing with ASD, this information might be the key to unlocking a new, beneficial aspect of care and quality of life. Stay with us as we explore this exciting and evolving field!
Our Process for Selecting the Best CBD for Autism
Choosing the perfect CBD product isn’t easy, given the sheer number of options available today. But don’t fret – we’re here to help. We’ve meticulously examined each product with a stringent set of criteria to ensure quality, safety, and transparency.
Unwavering Quality Standards
Each CBD product that made our list meets these essentials:
- It’s made with hemp cultivated right here in the U.S., adhering to high agricultural standards.
- It contains no more than 0.3% THC, as verified by its certificate of analysis (COA) – ensuring you don’t get any unwanted psychoactive effects.
- It’s cleared tests for pesticides, heavy metals, and molds, in line with the COA, safeguarding you from harmful contaminants.
- It’s undergone third-party testing by an ISO 17025-compliant lab, assuring an unbiased quality check.
Delving Deeper into the Details
But we didn’t stop at these basics. We delved further to shortlist products with the following factors in mind:
- The potency of each product, because when it comes to CBD, the dosage makes a difference.
- The ingredient list: we favored products with ingredients specifically known for stress relief.
- The company’s certifications and manufacturing processes to ensure the product comes from trusted, responsible sources.
- The reputation of each brand, including customer reviews, giving us a glimpse into real-life user experiences.
- A keen eye for red flags, like unsupported health claims about their products or a history of FDA warning letters.
Through this thorough and methodical approach, we’re confident that the products we’ve selected are of the highest quality.
Why Only Five Products in Our Guide?
In the landscape of CBD, options abound. You might stumble upon guides featuring 15, 20, or even more products. But let’s face it, isn’t that a bit excessive?
We understand that the wide array of choices can be overwhelming. And after analyzing dozens of merchants and hundreds of products on the market, we’ve found that high-quality CBD products are, in essence, pretty similar. Their differences often boil down to nuances in taste, nothing more.
So, we took a different approach. We wanted to curate a concise list that won’t drown you in a sea of seemingly endless choices.
So we’ve handpicked only five products. But make no mistake, these are not just any five products. They’re the cream of the crop, the top dogs, the… well, you get the point.
Every product on this list is of the highest quality and offers the best price-per-milligram ratio.
So you can be confident that you’re not just getting the best CBD – you’re also getting the best value for your money. Because we believe that when it comes to your health and wellness journey, less can truly be more.
Best 5 CBD Products Effective for Autism
CBD Full Spectrum Oil Softgels
The full spectrum CBD in these softgels may help manage autism symptoms like anxiety, repetitive behaviors, and sensory sensitivity. The additional cannabinoids enhance the benefits through the entourage effect. The capsules allow for consistent daily CBD dosing to maintain effects.
CBD CBG Morning Capsules For Energy Focus
https://cbdfx.com/products/cbd-cbg-morning-capsules-900mg/
The CBD in these capsules may help reduce anxiety and hyperactivity in autism, while the CBG provides alertness. The L-tyrosine also supports focus and concentration. This combination aims to ease autism symptoms while promoting energy, mood, and cognition.
CBD Gel Capsules
https://cbdfx.com/products/cbd-capsules-750mg/
The full spectrum CBD in these capsules may help manage autism symptoms related to anxiety, hyperactivity, and sensory sensitivity. The additional cannabinoids enhance these effects through the entourage effect. The capsules allow easy, consistent daily CBD dosing.
CBD CBN Night Capsules For Sleep
https://cbdfx.com/products/cbd-cbn-night-capsules-900mg/
The CBD may help reduce anxiety and repetitive behaviors in autism. CBN provides sedation to promote sleep, which is often disrupted in autism. Regulating the sleep-wake cycle supports overall cognitive function. The capsules allow easy daily dosing to maintain effects.
CBD Oil Sleep Tincture
https://cbdfx.com/products/cbd-oil-sleep-tincture-500-4000mg/
The broad spectrum CBD in this tincture may reduce anxiety, hyperactivity, and repetitive behaviors associated with autism. CBN adds sedative effects to improve sleep issues. Regulating the sleep-wake cycle supports cognitive function and behavior. The oil allows easy dosing.
What the Research Says About CBD and Autism
Real life Experience of Medical Cannabis Treatment in Autism: Analysis of Safety and Efficacy
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6336869/
The study was published in 2019 and focused on the real-life experience of medical cannabis treatment in autism. It aimed to understand the safety and efficacy of cannabis products, particularly those containing CBD (cannabidiol) and THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), in treating symptoms associated with autism spectrum disorders (ASD).
The researchers analyzed data from 188 ASD patients who were treated with medical cannabis between 2015 and 2017. The majority of the treatment was based on cannabis oil containing 30% CBD and 1.5% THC. The patients’ symptoms, global assessment, and side effects were monitored over six months, and the outcomes were assessed through structured questionnaires.
Here’s what the study found in a way that a 10th grader might understand:
Autism is a condition that affects how a person communicates and interacts with others. Some children with autism have symptoms like restlessness, rage attacks, sleep problems, and anxiety. In this study, doctors wanted to see if a special oil made from the cannabis plant could help these children feel better.
They gave the oil to 188 children with autism and watched them for six months. The oil had two main ingredients: CBD and THC. Most of the children took oil with 30% CBD and 1.5% THC three times a day.
After six months, many of the children felt better. About 30% of them had significant improvement, and around 54% had moderate improvement. Some of the symptoms that got better were seizures, restlessness, and rage attacks. The children’s quality of life also improved, with more of them being able to dress and shower independently, sleep well, and concentrate better.
The oil did have some side effects, though. About 25% of the children experienced at least one side effect, like feeling restless or sleepy, having a dry mouth, or having digestion problems. But overall, the study concluded that cannabis treatment seemed to be a safe and effective option for children with autism.
So, in simple terms, the study showed that this special cannabis oil might be a good way to help children with autism feel better and do some things more easily. But like any medicine, it might have some side effects, so doctors and families would need to think carefully about using it.
Cannabidiol and cannabis-inspired terpene blends have acute prosocial effects in the BTBR mouse model of autism spectrum disorder
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10311644/
The study was published on June 16, 2023, and it’s all about exploring how Cannabidiol (CBD) and specific cannabis-inspired terpene blends might have positive effects on autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Let me explain it in a way that’s easy to understand.
Imagine you have a friend who has ASD. This condition can make social interactions and communication more challenging for them. Now, scientists have been looking at a special part of the cannabis plant called CBD, which doesn’t make people feel “high” like other parts of the plant might. They’ve also been studying something called terpenes, which are like the unique flavors and smells in different types of cannabis.
In this study, the researchers wanted to see if CBD and these terpenes could help improve social behavior in mice that have ASD-like behaviors. They used a special type of mouse that’s often used to study ASD and gave them CBD and terpenes through vapor, kind of like how some people might use a vape pen.
What they found was pretty interesting! The CBD seemed to make the mice more social, and the terpenes from popular cannabis strains like OG Kush, Blue Dream, and Do-Si-Dos also had this effect. Even more exciting, when they combined the CBD with the terpenes, the mice showed even more improvement in social behavior.
The researchers think that this could be a big deal because it might mean that CBD and these terpenes could be used together to help people with ASD. They also think that this could be a more affordable way to help families, as the CBD and terpenes they used are already available in stores.
Of course, this study was done with mice, so more research is needed to see if the same thing would happen in humans. But it’s a promising start and could lead to new ways to help people with ASD in the future.
So, to sum it up, this study from 2023 showed that CBD and certain terpenes from cannabis might have positive effects on social behavior in a mouse model of autism, and combining them might make these effects even stronger. It’s an exciting discovery that could lead to new treatments for people with ASD.
Behavioral aspects and neurobiological properties underlying medical cannabis treatment in Shank3 mouse model of autism spectrum disorder
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8514476/
The study was published in 2021 and focuses on the effects of medical cannabis treatment on a specific mouse model of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The researchers were interested in understanding how CBD-enriched medical cannabis oil could impact the behavioral and biochemical aspects of ASD.
The study used a human mutation-based Shank3 mouse model, which is known to demonstrate prominent autistic-like behaviors. The researchers treated these mice with CBD-enriched Avidekel oil and observed the effects on their behavior and biochemistry. The findings showed that this treatment significantly reduced anxiety and repetitive grooming behavior in the treated mutant mice by over 70% compared to non-treated mutant mice. The study also revealed the involvement of the CB1 receptor (CB1R) in the mechanism of the Avidekel oil, along with a reduction in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) glutamate concentrations.
Furthermore, the study explored the changes in mRNA expression of several neurotransmission-related genes after treatment. Interestingly, the results also questioned the relevance of CBD enrichment in medical cannabis for treating the core symptoms of ASD. Instead, the study emphasized the importance of the THC component in alleviating deficits in repetitive and social behaviors in ASD.
In summary, the study provided valuable insights into the potential of CBD-enriched medical cannabis oil in alleviating certain symptoms of ASD, particularly anxiety and repetitive behaviors. It also highlighted the significance of THC in the treatment and opened up new avenues for further research in this field. The detailed examination of the behavioral and biochemical effects offers a promising direction for understanding and potentially treating ASD in the future.
Is Cannabidiol During Neurodevelopment a Promising Therapy for Schizophrenia and Autism Spectrum Disorders?
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7890086/
The study titled “Is Cannabidiol During Neurodevelopment a Promising Therapy for Schizophrenia and Autism Spectrum Disorders?” was published on February 4, 2021. It focuses on the psychiatric neurodevelopmental disorders of schizophrenia and autism spectrum disorders (ASD), which cause high levels of functional disabilities. The study emphasizes the need for new treatments for these disorders, and it explores the potential of cannabidiol (CBD) as a promising strategy.
The study discusses both clinical and preclinical evidence related to CBD’s effects on schizophrenia and ASD. In the case of schizophrenia, the study highlights that it is one of the most debilitating psychiatric disorders, affecting brain functioning in multiple ways. The currently available treatments are limited, especially for negative and cognitive symptoms. CBD emerges as a potential treatment, showing antipsychotic properties without the side effects commonly induced by traditional antipsychotic drugs. However, the study also notes that the effects of preventive treatments with CBD on schizophrenia’s behavioral and molecular aspects are still being debated.
Regarding autism spectrum disorder (ASD), the study points out that it is the fastest-growing neurodevelopmental disorder worldwide. ASD’s core symptoms include impairments in social communication and interaction, restricted or repetitive behaviors, and sensory abnormalities. The presence of comorbidities often causes a delay in diagnosis, and current pharmacological therapies are scarce. The study emphasizes that CBD’s modulation of the endocannabinoid (ECB) system has been implicated in ASD’s pathophysiology and has become a target for pharmacological therapies. Preclinical evidence suggests that CBD’s modulation impacts various aspects related to ASD, including socioemotional reactivity, stereotyped behaviors, learning and memory, susceptibility to seizures, and regulation of circadian rhythm.
In summary, the study presents CBD as a potential therapeutic option for both schizophrenia and ASD. It highlights the need for further investigations to strengthen CBD’s use, given its beneficial potential for the progression of these disorders.
Cannabis-Responsive Biomarkers: A Pharmacometabolomics-Based Application to Evaluate the Impact of Medical Cannabis Treatment on Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9940806/
The study conducted in 2023 aimed to explore the impact of medical cannabis treatment on children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Autism is a condition that affects a person’s social interaction, communication, and learning abilities. The researchers wanted to see if medical cannabis could help with some of the behavioral aspects of autism.
The study was observational and involved 15 children with ASD and 9 typically developing (TD) children as a control group. The children with ASD were treated with medical cannabis for at least a year, and the treatment included different dosages of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). The researchers collected saliva samples from the children before and after the treatment to analyze the metabolites, which are substances produced during metabolism.
The results of the study were quite promising. They identified 65 potential cannabis-responsive biomarkers that showed a shift toward the physiological levels found in the TD group. These biomarkers were categorized into different groups like anti-inflammatory, bioenergy associated, neurotransmitters, amino acids, and endocannabinoids. Some of these changes have been previously linked to behavioral symptoms commonly seen in individuals with ASD.
The study concluded that the biomarkers shifted toward the TD mean after medical cannabis treatment, and this shift seemed to be similar to the trend observed in the behavioral surveys. This suggests that medical cannabis could have a beneficial impact at the metabolic level for children with ASD. However, the researchers emphasized that larger trials are needed to confirm these preliminary findings.
How to Shop for CBD for Autism
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) comes with a range of symptoms and needs. Finding the right CBD product can be a crucial part of a supportive care routine. Here’s how to choose:
Form: What Works Best for Autism?
Oil: Quick Response for Anxiety or Behavioral Issues
CBD Oil offers a rapid onset of effects, which can be vital when quick relief from anxiety or sudden behavioral changes is needed.
- Best for: Immediate needs, ease of dosing, and the option of microdosing.
Gummies: Long-Lasting Support and Enjoyable Experience
Gummies offer a sustained release, which might be helpful in providing consistent support throughout the day.
- Best for: Taste preferences, extended effects, and those who prefer a fun way to consume CBD.
Capsules: Consistent, Everyday Routine
Capsules provide a precise and convenient way to include CBD in a daily routine.
- Best for: Those seeking a mess-free, consistent dosage, especially if managing ongoing symptoms.
Types: The Right Spectrum for Autism Needs
Isolate: Simplicity and Purity
Isolate might be suitable for those who need a straightforward, THC-free option, especially if sensitivities to additional compounds are a concern.
Full-Spectrum: Comprehensive Support
Full-spectrum provides the entourage effect, potentially offering a more holistic approach to managing various symptoms.
- Best for: Those seeking a multi-faceted approach to symptom management, including anti-inflammatory properties.
Broad-Spectrum: THC-Free but with Added Benefits
Broad-spectrum offers the benefits of full-spectrum without THC, which might be preferable for those concerned about THC sensitivity.
Potency: Aligning Strength with Needs
Low-Potency (300 mg): Gentle Introduction
Ideal for those new to CBD or with sensitivities.
Mid-Potency (600 mg): Balanced Approach
Suitable for managing moderate symptoms like stress or mild discomfort.
High-Potency (1,000 mg): Intensive Care
Recommended for more pronounced symptoms, such as sleep issues or deep muscle soreness.
Conclusion: Personalized Care for Autism with CBD
Selecting CBD for Autism means considering the unique needs, preferences, and symptoms of the individual. Whether seeking quick relief with oils, long-lasting support with gummies, or the comprehensive benefits of full-spectrum products, the best option will vary from person to person. Always consult with a healthcare provider familiar with your individual needs to make the most informed decision.
FAQ
How can CBD help with autism?
Studies show CBD may reduce autism symptoms like anxiety, hyperactivity, repetitive behaviors, and sensory issues. However, research is extremely limited. CBD may work by interacting with the endocannabinoid system involved in regulating mood, focus, and relaxing the body.
What’s the best way to take CBD oil for autism?
Oral CBD oils, capsules or gummies allow precise dosing and full-body effects. Topicals can provide targeted relief when massaged into muscles. Vaping works fast but is harder to dose and not recommended for kids. Many find combining methods works best.
What is a safe dosage of CBD oil for autism?
There are no official guidelines yet. In studies dosages ranged from 10-25 mg per kg of body weight daily. It’s ideal to start low at 1-6 mg per 10 lbs and go slow under medical supervision to find the most effective dose.
How long does it take for CBD to work for autism?
Relief from certain symptoms may begin within an hour of taking CBD. However, the full effects likely take several weeks of consistent dosing to build up in the body. It also takes time to find the right product and dose. Give CBD 2-4 weeks before assessing the effects.
Does health insurance cover CBD oil for autism?
Most health insurance plans do not cover CBD oil yet, as it is not an approved prescription treatment for autism. Some plans may cover Epidiolex, the only FDA-approved CBD drug. Check with your insurance provider about CBD coverage options.
Is CBD safe for children with autism?
There is very little research on CBD safety for children. Potential side effects include diarrhea, appetite changes, and drug interactions. Work closely with your child’s pediatrician if considering CBD, and administer it under medical supervision. Start with low doses.
Can CBD cure autism?
No, CBD is not a cure for autism. However, early research suggests CBD may help manage certain autism symptoms that impact quality of life, like anxiety. CBD should be used as a complementary therapy, not a replacement for standard autism treatments.
Does CBD help speech and social skills in autism?
There is no evidence that CBD directly improves verbal communication or social interaction skills in autism. However, by reducing associated symptoms like anxiety, CBD may support social and speech therapies indirectly. Much more research is still needed.
Are there drug interactions with CBD and autism meds?
Yes. CBD can potentially interact with medications used in autism like antidepressants and antipsychotics. Discuss using CBD with your child’s doctor and pharmacy team to screen for interactions. Do not discontinue prescribed meds.
Can you build a tolerance to CBD for managing autism?
It’s possible to build up a tolerance over time, requiring higher doses for the same effect. Avoid this by starting low, making gradual dose adjustments only when needed, taking occasional breaks from CBD, and using different CBD products.