CBD Oil for Autism: Can Hemp Oil Be Used for Autism & Where to Buy?
CBD is partly responsible for the shift in opinions regarding cannabis use. It all started with the late Charlotte Figi, a young girl with severe childhood-onset epilepsy (Dravet Syndrome) who managed to effectively control her seizures and gain a normal life thanks to CBD oil.
Since then, CBD has become the subject of global debate. As scientists conduct more research on the health benefits of this natural compound, it appears that natural resources can succeed where conventional treatment options fail.
Autism is one such condition.
Some people with autism, as well as the parents of autistic children, use CBD oil to manage the symptoms and improve their daily life.
But what’s the exact mechanism behind CBD’s effects on autism disorders? How do you choose the right product for your needs, and how to tell the difference between a high-quality and low-quality product?
This article will explain everything from roots to branches.
CBD Oil and Autism: Can It Help?
Some people decide to choose natural products over pharmaceuticals because of their growing availability and higher safety profile. CBD is known for helping with the following symptoms:
- ADHD
- Addiction
- Anxiety
- Autism
- Depression
- Mood disorders
- Psychosis
- Disturbed sleep cycles
Research on the potential use of CBD for autism is in its infancy as of this writing, but what we have learned so far is very optimistic. For example, an anecdotal study published in the Neurology Journal has found that applying CBD sublingually to autistic patients resulted in the improvement of behavioral problems in 61% of the participants. Communication problems, as well as anxiety levels, dropped by 39% and 47% respectively. The study included 120 participants.
The exact causes of the major symptoms of autism spectrum disorder, such as aggressive and repetitive behavior, social communication difficulties, and sensory dysfunction, are still unknown to scientists. However, CBD has been shown to relieve other symptoms linked to autism, including ADHD, anxiety, and sleep problems.
While CBD may not be the cure for autism — autism doesn’t require “curing” directly, by the way — but it may help patients manage the troubling symptoms that negatively affect the way they function on a daily basis.
Benefits of Using CBD Oil for Autism
Here we shed light on the most promising benefits of CBD oil for autism.
More Stable Sleep
In a study published in 2019 in the Permanente Journal, researchers discovered that people with sleep disorders can benefit from taking CBD. The study reported that 48 out of 72 patients (66.7%) experienced better sleep quality within the first month of their treatment. The results varied throughout the tests, but only three people responded negatively to cannabidiol.
Another study from the Journal of Pediatric Neurosciences found that autistic children suffering from insomnia were able to fall asleep faster and spend more time in the deep sleep stage by taking CBD oil.
Lower Anxiety
The said study from The Permanente Journal reported a significant drop in anxiety levels in 79.2% of the examined subjects. More importantly, the results remained consistent throughout the entire study — without serious side effects. Only a few people reported fatigue and sedation. The study also found that patients were more willing to continue the CBD treatment compared to conventional psychiatric methods.
Anxiety is a prevalent issue among autistic adults and particularly difficult to manage in children and adolescents. Changes in their routine, as well as unexpected events and regular social situations, can deteriorate the anxiousness of those with autism, especially those diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome. Using CBD oil to calm anxiety can lead to improvements in other areas of autism, such as selective mutism or nervous tics.
Better Focus and Attention
Autism can negatively impact one’s focus and attention. Autistic children often find it difficult to cope with distractions, such as background noise or even their own thoughts. For others, it can work the opposite way — they may become laser-focused on one task while forgetting about everything else.
People diagnosed with autism also express symptoms of ADHD. This can lead to disruptions in a person’s ability to focus and ignore distraction triggers. Since CBD promotes the efficient use of serotonin, users may find it eases their anxiety. Lower anxiety leads to better focus.
CBD Oil for Autism: Best Brands and Products
For new customers, it can be difficult to find a trustworthy source of CBD among so many different brands. CBD is a booming market, so it’s no wonder that everybody wants to get their fair share of the hemp cake.
However, the market is also largely unregulated and liberal about the manufacturing and labeling of CBD products. Buying CBD oil online requires you to do your homework before you trust someone with your hard-earned money. Your research should include information about the source of the company’s hemp, its extraction method, and third-party testing practices.
Going through all of the above is challenging and time-consuming. That’s why we’ve put together a ranking of the best 5 brands offering CBD oil in 2023. We have selected these companies according to the quality criteria such as hemp sourcing, extraction method, third-party testing, and price-to-quality ratio.
1. Royal CBD (Best CBD Oil for Autism)
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Product Details
| Potency | 250 mg – 2500 mg |
| Available Flavors | Natural, Berry, Mint, Vanilla |
| CBD per serving | 8.3 mg – 83.3 mg |
Why Royal CBD is the Best CBD Oil for Autism:
Based in Nevada, Royal CBD is a premium brand that started out in 2017 as a small craft company. Today, Royal CBD makes big headlines in the media as one of the industry’s top CBD sellers.
Royal CBD makes full-spectrum CBD oil that comes from organic hemp and is extracted using CO2 in its supercritical state. The brand’s products meet the highest quality and purity standards, confirmed by Certificates of Analysis from an independent laboratory.
The Royal CBD oil comes in 4 concentrations, including 250 mg, 500 mg, 1000 mg, and 2500 mg. The strongest bottle contains a massive dose of 83.3 mg per milliliter, which is a great potency for anxiety and restlessness in people with autism. The collection of Royal CBD products also includes full-spectrum softgels, THC-free gummies, and organic topicals.
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2. Gold Bee (Best Organic)
Product Details
| Potency | 300 – 1200 mg |
| Available Flavors | Natural, Honey |
| CBD per serving | 8.3 mg – 33.3 mg |
About Gold Bee
The runner up in our ranking of the best CBD oils for autism, Gold Bee is another brand with roots in Nevada. This company offers premium extracts from organic hemp infused with its signature honey flavor, which is both tasty and natural. Staying true to their mission statement, the guys at Gold Bee does a great job at destigmatizing hemp by combining high-quality products with providing education to their customers.
Gold Bee has partnered with local growers from Colorado to create its own blend of CBD-rich strains, which their extract with supercritical CO2 to achieve pure and potent extracts that retain the phytochemical profile of the original hemp plant.
I only wish Gold Bee had at least one high-potency option for its CBD oils. I admire the quality and the natural honey flavor, but the strongest bottle packs slightly over 30 mg/mL, which may be cost-prohibitive for users who need higher doses in their routine.
Gold Bee also sells 25 mg CBD gummies and softgel capsules that carry 40 mg CBD per count.
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3. CBDPure (Top Transparency)
Product Details
| Potency | 100 – 1000 mg |
| Available Flavors | None |
| CBD per serving | 3.3 – 33 mg/mL |
About CBDPure
The third place on the list belongs to one of the most renowned brands in the industry. CBDPure specializes in selling low-potency oils from organic hemp, although the company has recently added a 1000 mg option to their lineup.
Just like the two above brands, CBDPure uses US-grown hemp and produces its CBD oil with CO2 in a supercritical state, ensuring high purity. This CBD oil contains the full-spectrum of cannabinoids and terpenes — including 0.3% THC — so you’re getting the entourage effect from other hemp compounds. The entourage effect refers to the synergy achieved by these compounds, which allows lower doses of CBD oil to remain effective, especially when it comes to problems like anxiety or inflammation.
On top of that, CBDPure has a 90-day return policy, so if you’re not satisfied with the results, you can return your product for a full refund.
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4. Hemp Bombs (Best CBD Isolate)
Product Details
| Potency | 125 – 4000 mg |
| Available Flavors | Natural, Acai Berry, Orange Creamsicle, Peppermint, Watermelon |
| CBD per serving | 4 – 133 mg/mL |
About Hemp Bombs
Hemp Bombs is your best bet when it comes to THC-free CBD oil. This company manufactures broad-spectrum and isolate-based extracts in a variety of different forms, from traditional CBD oil to capsules, gummies, vapes, and products like beard oil or tattoo aftercare.
Hemp Bombs is a good choice for people who use very high doses of CBD to manage the symptoms of autism. The strongest version of Hemp Bombs CBD oil contains 4000 mg of total CBD, which translates to 133 mg of CBD per milliliter. Even if you don’t need such large amounts of CBD in your regime, you can get a few months’ worth of supply with this potency.
However, due to the lack of THC in its broad-spectrum extracts and with no terpenes or trace cannabinoids in the isolate, you won’t be getting the synergy from the entourage effect. This means that you may eventually need to take more CBD.
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5. CBDistillery (Most Affordable)
Product Details
| Potency | 250 – 5000 mg |
| Available Flavors | None |
| Potency | 8.3 – 166 mg/mL |
About CBDistillery
We’re going to close our list of the best CBD oils for autism with another pioneering company. CBDistillery has been selling CBD extracts as one of the first U.S. companies and is now one of the largest brands in North America. Only a few companies can match their selections of CBD products.
CBDistillery offers its CBD oil in two types: full-spectrum or broad-spectrum CBD; the broad-spectrum option is labeled as “pure oil” and has been purged of THC. Broad-spectrum CBD still contains minor non-psychoactive cannabinoids as well as terpenes, so you’re getting some entourage effect without taking any THC in your product.
Whether you’re a new customer or an experienced user, you certainly won’t run out of options with CBDistillery, as the brand covers the entire concentration range for CBD oils. They start at 250 mg and contain up to 5000 mg of CBD per bottle.
However, CBDistillery doesn’t use organic hemp, so if the source of hemp is your top priority, you may want to consider other companies from our list.
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What is CBD?
According to WebMD, CBD is “a chemical in the cannabis Sativa plant, also known as marijuana or hemp.” It’s one of the two most abundant compounds in cannabis plants, next to THC, which is the cannabinoid that makes marijuana users feel high.
CBD doesn’t have intoxicating properties. It can actually counter the mind-altering effects of CBD by inhibiting the surface area on cells to which THC tries to bind. The World Health Organization issued a report on CBD in 2017, classifying cannabidiol as a safe substance with no risk of abuse or dependence.
The majority of CBD oils are sourced from hemp plants, which contain less than 0.3% THC and are federally legal under the 2018 Farm Bill.
CBD comes in many different forms; CBD oil is the most common product. You can take it by:
- Placing a few drops under your tongue for up to 60 seconds before swallowing.
- Applying it topically to the skin to relieve trouble spots on the body.
- Infusing it into food and drinks
Edibles are another common category of CBD products. These are usually available in the form of gummies.
There are also CBD capsules, concentrates, and E-liquids. Each of these products offers a different route of administration and unique benefits.
Is CBD Legal?
The laws surrounding cannabis and its compounds are complicated in the USA. Whether CBD oil is legal in your state depends on how it is sourced.
As mentioned earlier, CBD can be obtained from hemp and marijuana. The compound itself remains the same no matter the source, but the chemical makeup of hemp-derived and marijuana-derived extracts is different
CBD oil from marijuana will typically contain a significant amount of THC and can get the user high. Marijuana and its derivatives are legal in states that have legalized recreational marijuana or, at least, have a medical marijuana program for patients.
Currently, 11 states allow marijuana for recreational use, while 33 states run a medical program.
Hemp-derived CBD oil is legal in all 50 states. In 2018, the Federal government legalized hemp by removing it from the list of controlled substances. It’s now legal to grow hemp for any use, including clothes, food, paper, fuel, and health supplements such as CBD oil. As long as the product contains less than 0.3% THC, it is legal under federal law.
You can find hemp-derived CBD products over the counter in health outlets, pharmacies, vape stores, dispensaries, and online stores.
High-quality CBD oil can greatly improve one’s daily life. Recently, researchers have been investigating the potential use of CBD for autism.
The next section explains the possible benefits of CBD for autistic patients.
Is CBD Oil Safe for Autism? A Look at the Potential Side Effects of CBD
CBD has been acknowledged as a safe compound not only by the WHO but also by the Harvard Medical School, which only talks about a few side effects.
Possible adverse effects of taking CBD oil include:
- Dry mouth
- Changes in appetite
- A temporary drop in blood pressure
- Sedation
- Diarrhea
On top of that, CBD interacts with a great number of prescription and non-prescription pharmaceuticals. It can also increase levels of Coumadin or Warfarin, two popular blood thinners, so if you’re on these medications and are worried about possible interactions, make sure to consult your doctor. Doing so will help you exclude potential contraindications and safely incorporate CBD into your routine.
Final Thoughts on CBD Oil and Autism
Although we still need more research on CBD and autism to draw conclusions, current findings support the theory that CBD may benefit autistic patients, especially in terms of the management of side symptoms like restlessness, attention deficits, and anxiety disorders.
If you want to use CBD to ease the symptoms of autism, ask your doctor about including CBD oil in your regime. Your best bet is to visit a holistic physician who will have knowledge and experience in this subject because many doctors are still conservative about cannabis and other natural substances due to various biases.
Above all, make sure that you always purchase CBD from a reputable supplier that sells organic and lab-tested products. You can do your own digging or use our recommendations to get yourself started with no worries about the quality of your CBD oil.
Do you know someone who’s using CBD oil for autism symptoms? Does CBD help control them?
