Does CBD Help with ADHD?

Over the years (and especially recently), we’ve been seeing a lot of research on the benefits of CBD as a supplementary treatment for certain neural disorders, but does CBD help with ADHD — and if so, how?

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is thought to affect about 9.4% of children and 4% of adults in America, though getting a proper diagnosis can be tricky. The disorder is characterized by impulsivity, difficulties focusing, poor time management skills, and general disorganization, though there’s quite a spectrum of possible symptoms, especially between the genders.

For adults and children, CBD may be able to help with the management of certain ADHD symptoms. And, unlike prescription ADHD medications, there’s no risk of dependency. Below, we explore a few of the ways that CBD can help with ADHD, plus some advice on choosing the best CBD oil for focus and concentration improvements.

The Benefits of CBD Oil for ADHD

There’s a good reason for the burgeoning conversation around CBD oil for ADHD.

While CBD is not an approved treatment for ADHD and there are no definitive studies proving that it’s effective at treating it, there is research showing its ability to potentially combat some of the symptoms of the disorder.

Here are three of the big ways that CBD oil may be able to assist people who suffer from ADHD.

CBD may help ease anxiety and sleep

While anxiety is not a symptom of ADHD per se, it’s estimated that as many as 50% of adults with ADHD and 30% of children with ADHD also have a co-occurring anxiety disorder. This may have something to do with the way the ADHD brain is wired, but could also be due to stressors related to ADHD’s symptoms.

CBD may be able to help. In a 2015 meta-analysis, researchers looked over past studies and determined that “CBD has considerable potential as a treatment for multiple anxiety disorders,” including generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder.

75% of youth with ADHD have sleep issues, as well as adults. CBD before bed may help children get a restful night sleep. CBD has been known to help with REM sleep and naturally relax the body.

CBD may help with hyperactivityMuch of the research around the cannabis plant and hyperactivity has been relegated to marijuana, but there’s promise for CBD, too. This is thought to be due to how CBD interacts with the body’s endocannabinoid system. By causing a surge in naturally-occurring cannabinoids, CBD may in turn reduce some of the hyperactivity caused by ADHD.

CBD may help calm and relaxIt can be understandably difficult to settle down when ADHD is causing your mind to race. But among CBD’s fans are many who tout its ability to promote calmness and relaxation — both of which can help offset some of the restlessness that accompanies ADHD. And likely, CBD helps promote relaxation in the same way it brings about other benefits: by balancing out brain and body through interactions with the endocannabinoid system.

What About CBD for Focus?

Since an inability to focus is a huge part of ADHD, it makes sense to wonder about CBD for focus improvements. And though we may sound like a broken record at this point, the answer is that anecdotally it does seem to.

Similar to CBD’s ability to help with ADHD, its effects on focus can be traced to outlier benefits, including the increased relaxation and decreased hyperactivity mentioned above. Both of these can have huge impacts on focusing ability, as can relief from distracting anxiety. CBD has also been noted to help with cognitive thinking and brain fog.

Get Started with CBD

If you are looking for help managing ADHD symptoms, CBD may be worth a try. We recommend using a high-quality CBD product and gradually increasing your dose until you find what works.

Shop our inventory of safe and natural CBD products, including THC-free CBD oil, CBD capsules, and more, and discover a new tool in the treatment of ADHD.