Taking CBD yourself can be a controversial topic, not to mention giving it to your children. However, many CBD enthusiasts see nothing wrong with CBD products for kids, arguing that the benefits of taking this non-intoxicating substance outweigh its potential side effects. Where lies the truth?
First of all, it is worth mentioning that CBD is a psychoactive compound, meaning it will affect how your child feels and acts. In some cases, it can even have a different effect than planned, such as inducing sleepiness instead of boosting energy levels. Additionally, many parents say giving CBD to kids should require a doctor’s prescription.
On the other hand, if there is data that CBD may help with stress and inflammation, why should we deprive our children of its therapeutic benefits? Some people believe that when traditional medications do not work and doctors are helpless, there is no harm in giving CBD to your child, especially if you go for a premium brand. For example, JohnnyGiraffe.com offers top-branch CBD products, and you can be sure there aren’t any potentially harmful additives in their products.
Join us as we dive deep into the world of CBD to discover if it can be safe or effective in children.
CBD and Anxiety Disorders in Children: A Brief Overview
The United States is one of the countries with the highest rates of childhood anxiety. According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, anxiety disorders affect approximately 31.9% of adolescents between 13 and 18 years old. It means that one in every four kids experiences significant anxiety that may interfere with their ability to function properly.
The most common anxiety disorders in children include separation anxiety, social anxiety, generalized anxiety, and phobias. Many kids also suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder after experiencing a traumatic event.
Unfortunately, only a fraction of them receives appropriate treatment. The majority of affected children either do not know they have a problem or do not want to tell anyone about it because they are afraid of how they will be perceived and treated by others. As a result, they start self-medicating with alcohol and drugs, which only aggravates their condition.
Traditionally, doctors prescribe powerful medications to treat various mental disorders in children. However, these drugs can cause serious side effects like insomnia, fatigue, irritability, weight gain, and headaches. In some cases, they can even lead to addiction. This is why more parents are now turning to alternative treatments like CBD oil when traditional methods fail to provide relief.
CBD for Kids: Is It Safe?
Firstly, let us see what science has to say about CBD for kids. Unfortunately, research in this area is quite limited because it is still illegal in most countries to test CBD on human subjects. Until recently, almost all studies conducted on the effects of CBD were done on laboratory animals such as rats and mice. That said, scientists have managed to draw some conclusions based on what they learned from studying animals.
One of the most important findings was that children tolerate large doses of CBD without showing any adverse effects. For instance, a review article published in Frontiers in Pharmacology mentions the effect of CBD on baby rats. The researchers observed that very high doses of CBD did not affect their behavior or brain development in any way.
Of course, one cannot directly translate these findings to humans due to differences between species. Nevertheless, they suggest that children might be able to safely consume large amounts of CBD without developing any negative side effects or long-term problems.
It is also worth mentioning that although CBD is a potent psychoactive compound that affects how we feel and think, it does not produce intoxicating effects like THC, another major cannabinoid found in marijuana plants.
Therefore, taking CBD will not make you or your child high. This factor makes this natural remedy an attractive option for those who want to experience its therapeutic benefits without experiencing any unwanted psychoactive effects.
CBD Oil for Anxiety in Children: Does It Work?
There is a lack of clinical trials investigating whether CBD oil can treat mental disorders in children effectively. Still, a few studies performed on laboratory animals suggest that this natural remedy may hold potential as an alternative treatment for several mental disorders common among children and adolescents alike.
Several animal studies indicate that CBD may help reduce anxiety by modulating neurotransmitter systems involved in regulating mood and emotion, such as serotonin. For instance, a 2020 study showed that rats treated with CBD exhibited behavior that might point toward an antidepressant-like effect of CBD.
Although these findings need to be replicated in humans before we can say anything definitive about the efficacy of this natural remedy, they suggest that it might help reduce symptoms associated with various types of anxiety disorders in children.
Additionally, many people claim that CBD has a calming effect that helps them cope with stressful situations. In fact, one study showed that patients suffering from generalized social anxiety experienced a significant reduction in anxiety after consuming 600 milligrams of CBD oil.
Nevertheless, it is important to note that the participants had to take a relatively high, but still safe, dose to experience these effects. It is also worth mentioning that the above-mentioned study only included 24 people, so it is difficult to make general conclusions based on its results.
Moreover, even though preclinical studies seem to indicate that CBD may help your child cope with anxiety, clinical trials have not produced enough data to support this claim yet. This is why we should wait for more research to confirm these findings before giving CBD to children.
Side Effects of CBD Oil in Children
Despite being well tolerated by adults, many people are still wary of using CBD because they believe that it may cause side effects. Yet, there are no reports of serious side effects associated with CBD consumption in healthy adults or children.
Side effects of CBD oil in children are usually mild, but they can vary from one child to another. It is quite important to do thorough research before giving CBD oil to your child, especially if they have never used it before.
The most common side effects include:
- drowsiness,
- decrease in energy levels,
- sedation,
- lethargy,
- tiredness,
- lower blood pressure,
- disorientation or lack of coordination,
- irritability,
- sleep disorders,
- trouble balancing and walking.
In Conclusion
To sum up, taking CBD has a number of benefits, including helping you lose weight, sleeping better, relieving stress and depression, improving skin condition, treating chronic pain conditions, and many more.
However, there are also some potential side effects of CBD use. The higher the dosage you take, the more likely you are to experience adverse reactions. Taking CBD with other medications may cause drug interactions as well. We recommend consulting a doctor before taking CBD for therapeutic purposes.
If you want to buy CBD products for yourself or your children, make sure to choose a reputable company that sells CBD oil from organic hemp plants. Besides, ensure that you know exactly how much CBD and THC your kid consumes with each product, and talk to your doctor if you have any questions.