Autism has become one of the most well-known behavioral disorders in the world. However, that was not always the case in the United States.
During the 1960s, the cause of autism was blamed on the parenting styles developed at home, specifically a mother’s supposedly ineffective care of their child.
Since neuroscience and psychology were not as developed as today, not to mention frowned upon and scrutinized by the public, physicians turned children and their “refrigerator moms” away from their services.
While activism of autism occurred between the two decades, the film Rain Man was the definitive piece of awareness that spread to the entire nation of the United States.
The movie focuses on the main character’s struggle of taking care of his autistic brother, as other characters and few doctors are unfamiliar with this diagnosis.
In fact, the movie illustrates the lack of knowledge of autism, causing people to follow-up and become more concerned about this legitimate behavioral disorder.
From various forms of medication, therapy, and special education, autism is regarded as a serious diagnosis that should be treated to help those affected to lead better lives.
The search never stops, as in any specific sector of medicine, for new types of treatments for autism. Recently, CBD has been on the horizon for helping people on the autistic spectrum.
CBD, or cannabidiol, is the non-psychoactive component found in the marijuana plant that has proven to be therapeutic and beneficial for the human body and brain.
Even though studies have been demonstrating CBD’s advantages, governments have only been catching up with the trend.
According to CBD Kyro, the United States signed the Farm Bill of 2018, legalizing hemp and its derivatives, primarily CBD, for distribution and consumption.
A CBD product must contain 0.3% or less THC to be considered legal on American soil.
Since the American government has welcomed the idea of CBD, the general public has also accepted its inclusion in daily life. Overall, the stigma surrounding the subject has been gradually removed over the past couple of years.
As CBD has been recommended as a form of treatment for various illnesses, autism has also joined the conversation.
Autism affects the social skills and development of a human being, where the symptoms are noticeable around a toddler’s age. Today, the neurological disorder affects one in 40 children.
Children with autism may display difficulty interacting with others, lack of concentration and focus, unusual patterns of behavior, and other tendencies. A diagnosis of autism falls under a spectrum ranging from mild to severe.
CBD has helped people experiencing various anxiety disorders, depression, obesity, loss of appetite, and other conditions. Since autism can be displayed similarly to these illnesses, people believed that CBD can become an alternative form of treatment.
Studies have been funded to discover any possible correlation between cannabis and autism in light of the demand for CBD as a treatment in contrast to standard medication.
Most notably, a group of Israeli researchers conducted a study in April 2018, where they observed 60 children classified on the autism spectrum and their behavior when taking CBD.
The children were given CBD oil, with 20% CBD and 1% THC concentration, for seven months.
The results were astounding, as the CBD oil reduced autism-induced behavior, communication, anxiety problems, and other indicators of the disorder.
Around 80% of parents reported that their children had a decrease in problematic behaviors, with 62% noting significant improvements as well when taking CBD.
Moreover, half of the children involved in the study showed improvement in communication alone, and 40% of 40 children who experienced anxiety due to autism began having a decrease in that condition.
CBD is known for having antianxiety and antidepressant qualities due to the substance’s ability to interact with the human brain. Most people are not aware that the human body produces cannabinoids naturally, allowing for CBD to become the next best form of treatment.
According to Cool Things Chicago, the endocannabinoid system has receptors that the CBD can connect with in order to release the cannabinoids and direct them to produce more.
These receptors are responsible for regulating coordination, memory, appetite, inflammation, allergies, and anxiety levels. Therefore, children diagnosed with autism can greatly benefit from these positive effects of CBD.
Most people are unaware of one of the deadliest, and unfortunately most common, symptoms of autism - seizures. While about 2% of the general population has epilepsy, up to 33% of people on the autism spectrum suffer epilepsy and seizures.
Medical professionals do not clearly understand the reasons behind the relationship, but a possible cause relies on autistic children’s brains. Their brain development might be more likely to create circuits that cause epileptic seizures.
Fortunately, CBD has shown immense success in aiding those experiencing seizures and diagnosed with epilepsy, meaning that those with autism can benefit from those results as well.
A research study had eight participants suffering from seizures take 300mg of CBD, demonstrating positive results. After four months of CBD use, more than 50% of the participants stopped having seizures, and the frequency of the seizures themselves have significantly reduced.
Due to multiple studies as these and the welcoming nature of CBD, the substance was officially seen as a valid form of treatment for seizures.
The battle of autism has spanned for over half a century, and CBD may become a potential answer to behavioral disorder.
As the demand increases for CBD, multiple businesses are implementing the substance into their products and services, and medical professionals are getting their licenses to prescribe the treatment for their patients.
CBD is becoming a valid drug to use for various conditions, and the autism community is beginning to see CBD as a form of treatment.
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