CBD For Overall Health and Children Health – What Research Says

Photo Credit: The Leaf Online

All humans and most animals have an endocannabinoid system, and through the endocannabinoid system- cannabinoids are developed. Like cannabis has an endocannabinoid system that develops cannabinoids, so does the human body. And so, the major question is: can CBD be safe for overall health for children?

According to Healthline, “CBD (cannabinol) is the molecule that is derived from marijuana and hemp plants, that has less than 0.3% THC”. They go on to explain that CBD supplies the endocannabinoid system with the necessary properties to bind the receptors to neuro pathways that go to the central nervous system. The central nervous system controls most functions of the body and mind. According to an article in Very Well Health: “CBD can be used for anxiety, and can be instrumental in helping with addiction, heart troubles, nerve pain, and Seizures.”

When it comes to children consuming CBD, according to multiple studies,CBD does have medicinal properties that can help with certain illnesses and mental issues.

According to a double-blind placebo CBD study by the Mayo Clinic in 2016, focused on children with Dravet syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS), found that: “children that took CBD with dravet syndrome reduced their seizures by 39%, versus 16% with those who took the placebo.” The data for the study for LGS is still being analyzed.

Another CBD study focused on children was done in Israel in 2018, and was led by Dr. Adi Aran, Director of the Pediatric Neurology Unit with Shaare Zedak Hospital. The study included 60 children, not older than 12 years old, whose treatments with conventional medicine weren’t working in treating their Autism. The results of the study show that 80% of the parents said that the behaviors that are usually problematic, showed improvement.

A study published in the U.S National Library of Medicine National Institute of Health, through the Permanente Journal shows the results of a CBD study on a 10-year-old girl, sex abuse victim, that was diagnosed with PTSD due to the abuse she suffered when she was 3 years old. She experienced behavior issues, outbursts, and suicidal thoughts. The original evaluation was done in 2012 and it showed that she was displaying destructive behavior.

Conventional medication was given to her to treat her PTSD however, she was showing side effects from the medication, and her PSTD symptoms weren’t decreasing. The reevaluation in 2015 was still showing the same behaviors as the original evaluation. She was given CBD and the results of after 5 months showed: sleeping on her own, improved behavior, and a decrease in anxiety.

In a case study focused on CBD for Epilepsy, in the Epilepsy Center in Slovenia, results supported the recommendation for CBD for children who suffered from the onset symptoms of Epilepsy. The number of patients who participated in this study were 66 children. The results of this study show that 32 patients had 50% or more relief from their seizures. Also, according to this study, 14 patients became seizure free, and not one patient reported their condition being worse.

In Closing

The government says that one must be 18+ to consume hemp. However, hemp is a plant that can save and parents should be equipped with enough information to make informed decisions for their health and their children’s health.

We always recommend researching the company that CBD is being purchased from, discussing anything related to health and CBD consumption with a medical professional, and of course, talking with children about cannabis so that they know it for its medicinal value, not the stigma.

When I asked parents and those who are planning to be parents, if they give their children, or would give their children CBD:

Dom Hart’s answer was emphatically: “I already give my children CBD oil!”

Victoria-Paige J. Sockwell said: “even though I’m not a parent, I’ve known parents who gave their children CBD oil, to help them sleep.”