CBD for Autism

New to CBD and looking after someone who suffers from Autism? We’ve put together this ultimate guide to CBD to help you understand how CBD could help relieve aggressive outbursts in autistic children, reduce co-occurring seizures or combat the side of effects of autism medication. We also list the Best CBD Oils for Autism at the end of this article.

CBD for Autism – The Ultimate Guide

According to the National Autistic Society, around 700,000 people in the UK have been diagnosed with autism and 1 in 100 children has an autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, the NHS believes that for every three children with a diagnosis of autism there are another two children who have the condition but have not been given a formal diagnosis.

While more scientific research is still required to better understand the link between CBD and the reduction of autism symptoms, families worldwide who have been battling autism, including autism in children, have reported the positive benefits of CBD such as reduced stress and anxiety in social situations as well as reduced aggression and self-harming behaviours.

There’s also plenty of scientific studies and research papers backing the role that CBD plays in fighting seizures, especially in your children. This makes for very positive news for people suffering from autism with co-occurring seizures.

Choosing CBD, a popular product made from hemp extract (cannabis plant), is a natural and effective treatment for autism symptoms and counteracts some of the side effects of autism medication. There’s also plenty of scientific studies and research papers backing the role that CBD plays in fighting seizures, especially in your children. This makes for very positive news for people suffering from autism with co-occurring seizures.

In this article we discuss the benefits of CBD oil for autism based on research papers and peer-reviewed studies. We explain how CBD oil can help people with an autism spectrum disorder, and provide links to purchase high quality CBD oils for autism we’ve tried and tested.

Take our CBD Quiz

If after reading this guide you are still unsure about what products to choose, simply take our CBD Quiz which has been designed specifically to identify the product and strength that is best suited to your personal needs.

CBD has been proven to help relieve aggressive outbursts in autistic children, reduce co-occurring seizures and combat the side of effects of autism medication.

What is CBD?

Cannabis (or Marijuana) and hemp are the same plant and come from the Cannabaceae family. Both plants are filled with organic compounds known as “cannabinoids”. Hemp has over 112 different cannabinoids, all of which have their own health benefits.

The main two cannabinoids or compounds of the hemp plant are THC (also known as “Tetrahydrocannabinol”) and CBD (also known as “Cannabidiol”).

THC is the compound known to give cannabis smokers this feeling of “high” and is currently illegal in the UK.

CBD on the other hand, contains none of the psychoactive properties associated with THC (meaning it won’t get you “high”) and is completely legal in the UK. It is also non-addictive and has been suggested to have several medical benefits. Some of these benefits include reducing anxiety and depression, improving sleep and insomnia, reducing pain and inflammation, as well as helping with stress or neurological disorders.

These benefits are possible because CBD interacts with your “Endocannabinoid System” (ECS), which essentially monitors and regulate key functions of your body such as your heat level, your food intake, your hormone levels and so on. When your ECS detects that something is operating outside of what it considers to be its “normal range”, it activates to bring things back to its baseline. If you are exercising and become too hot, your ECS activates and makes you sweat to bring your temperature down. If you need more calories for your body to keep performing (for example running) but you aren’t feeding it, your ECS may start redirecting the energy available towards vital organs such as the heart and brain, leading to a drop in physical performance.

The term Endocannabinoid can be broken down into two parts:

Cannabinoid: which comes from Cannabis
Endo: which is short for “Endogenous” and means that it is naturally produced by your body.

So endocannabinoid simply means that your body naturally produces cannabinoids, and does so thanks to cannabinoid receptors present in the body, which fall under two categories:

CB1 Receptors

CB1 receptors, which are located in various regions of the body, with a large concentration in the brain and the nerves of the spinal cord, co-ordinate mood, emotion, appetite, and other functions.

CB2 Receptors

CB2 receptors are more commonly found in the immune system and are responsible for controlling inflammation and pain. CBD stimulates these receptors and induces the body to release serotonin.

Serotonin, or 5-HT, is a neurotransmitter that carries signals from one neuron to the other. CBD increases the level of serotonin, which, in return, helps reduce pain, reduce inflammation in the body and possibly reduces the cramping experienced during period pain.

Whilst there are very few differences between “Marijuana” and “Hemp”, the main difference is simply legal and linked to the level of THC that is present in the plant. So different parts of the cannabis plant are either defined as hemp or as cannabis / marijuana.

Hemp: hemp is the stalks, stems and sterilized seeds of cannabis sativa (“Cannabis Sativa” is the scientific Latin term that defines hemp, cannabis or marijuana plant species)
Cannabis and Marijuana: the leaves, flowers and viable seeds of cannabis sativa

The varieties of cannabis that are regulated, legal and available in the UK are those that produce less than 0.2 percent THC. And given the fact that most THC is in the flowers, CBD products are primarily made from hemp (stalks, stems and sterilized seeds of cannabis sativa) which contain very little THC and are safe to consume.

There has been a lot of interest in CBD from both the research and medical community over the last few years, due to its range of health applications – including but not limited to pain relief, fighting the side effects of cancer medications, alleviating insomnia, lowering stress levels, improving acne outbreaks, counteracting heat disease, or reducing seizures in patients with epilepsy

For all these reasons, CBD products are legal in the UK if they contain less than 0.2% THC and as long as they are advertised as a health supplement and not a medication.

Products containing CBD come in many different forms, with the most common including CBD oils, CBD gummies, CBD capsules, CBD vapes and CBD edibles. Some forms are more fast-acting than others, some have different flavours, some contain differing proportions of CBD extract, and so on, so the type you choose depends entirely upon your personal preferences and the condition you wish to treat.

Here’s what you need to know about using CBD for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

Autism: What You Need to Know

Autism is a very complex and lifelong spectrum condition that usually appears during early childhood, with the first signs showing by age 2 or 3. According to Autism.org, boys are 4 times more likely to have an autism diagnosis than girls of the same age.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is the medical term for people suffering from autism. However, other names such as autism spectrum condition (ASC) or Asperger syndrome have also been used to describe the condition, the latter being people on the spectrum of autism with no average or above intelligence. This is sometimes referred to as “high-functioning autism“.

Nobody knows what causes someone to develop an autism spectrum disorder, but the research and medical community seem to agree on the fact that it is lined to abnormalities in brain structure or function.

This has been evidenced by brain scans from autistic patients showing differences in the shape and structure of the brain compared to patients who are not displaying autistic behaviours.

However, it is not yet known if these abnormalities are linked to heredity, genetics or medical problems.

All children and adults with the disorder experience difficulty in developing social, speech, and behavioural skills. These include:

Difficulties communicating: People with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) will usually have difficulties with the decoding of both verbal and non-verbal communication, including the voice and body language of another person. But autism may also affect their own ability to communicate, with some autistic people having limited speech and others being unable to speak altogether.
Lack of social interactions: This lack of decoding ability when it comes to others, makes it more difficult for autistic people to maintain ‘normal’ social interactions and relationships with others. As a result, it can be difficult for them to build friendships with people and whilst they will often have a strong support network around them, it can be difficult to not be able to socialize with others outside of that circle.
Issues understanding social nuances: Autistic people will often have issues understanding humour, sarcasm, feelings or abstract concepts. This can make it difficult for them to understand social nuances in specific situations. They may, as a result, appear insensitive, unable to process a joke or understand more abstract subjects.
Routines to reduce anxiety: Seeing as unpredictable situations and social interactions may cause a high level of stress and anxiety for autistic people, they will often seek comfort in routines and repetitive behaviours. Routines, such as eating the same food everyday, taking the same route to go school or wearing the same clothes, will provide them with a sense of knowing what is going to happen that day, wich helps reduce their overall anxiety. They may also in some instance develop repetitive behaviours such as rocking back and forth, touching specific items several times in a row, or counting things over and over again to clam themselves when they feel overwhelmed or anxious.
Hyper-sensitivity to external stimuli: Autistic people may be either over or under-sensitive to external stimuli such as light, sounds, tastes, smells or temperatures. It can be difficult for most people to understand the triggers but a shop with bright neon lights, a coffee shop with a strong smell of roasted coffee or a car playing loud music can cause massive anxiety and even physical pain.
Obsession with hobbies: Whilst most people might go from one interest or hobby to another, people with an autistic spectrum disorder will often develop an intense focus or interest for a particular topic. An example would be an autistic person who has developed a real interest in cars and becoming an expert in that field. Their passion is often shared with others whenever they can, which can be quite overwhelming for their support network.
Anxiety: It isn’t surprising to see how difficulties communicating, understanding social nuances or building strong friendships can increase their overall level of stress and anxiety. This anxiety can in turn trigger other behaviours such as repetitive actions or focusing on their hobby to reduce their anxiety.
Meltdowns: When situations become too stressful and overwhelming for people with an autism spectrum disorder, it is not uncommon for them to temporarily lose control of their behaviour and to experience a meltdown. These meltdowns can be expressed verbally by screaming, shouting or crying, as well as physically by attacking, kicking, biting or scratching. On the other hand of the spectrum, they may shut down completely and stay away from other people. In both cases, this is a traumatic experience for an autistic person and it can be difficult for others to help them calm down as they cannot connect with them.

Risk Factors for Autism

Whilst the root-cause of autism is yet to be determined, a number of factors known as ‘risk factors’ can increase the risk of developing autism spectrum disorder. These include:

Genetic factors – researchers seem to agree on the fact that the genes children inherit from their biological parents could make them more vulnerable to developing autism. This is demonstrated by ASD cases running in certain families or younger siblings of children with ASD more likely to develop ASD themselves.
Environmental factors – the second school of thought is that whilst some people may be more predisposed than others to develop autism, their environment is the biggest risk factor. This includes babies born prematurely (before 35 weeks of pregnancy) or exposure to alcohol or certain medications such as sodium valproate (epilepsy drug) during pregnancy.
Psychological factors – Most children without ASD have a full understanding of the concept of ‘Theory of Mind’ (TOM), which is the ability to attribute mental states to both ourselves and others. This TOM serves as one of the foundations of social interactions and children with ASD may not have developed this ability, which prevents them from having empathy or understanding themselves and others.
Neurological factors – In autistic people, the connections between certain parts of the brain, including the cerebral cortex, the amygdala and the limbic system may not be optimal resulting in the information not being transferred properly. This could explain why people with an autistic spectrum disorder experience extreme emotional responses when their routine changes unexpectedly or when something bothers them.

Autism Diagnosis

Autism is a lifelong condition that usually appears during early childhood, with the first signs showing by age 2 or 3. An early diagnosis can lead to improved quality of life, so it’s important to keep an eye on the signs that may point to a child having an autistic spectrum disorder. These include:

Being non-verbal or speaking later than other children
Avoiding eye contact
Having fewer facial expressions than other children of the same age
Exhibiting repetitive behaviours – this could be verbal (repeating the same word over and over) or physical (e.g. rocking or hand flapping)
Limited engagement with others – during play or social interactions
Being distressed by change – be it change to their daily routine, their food, etc
Being distressed by external stimuli – such as light, noises or smells
Focusing on a single activity, topic or toy above anything else

Autism & Other Conditions

Not only can autism be very debilitating, but autistic people may also be affected by other conditions such as:

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: also known as ADHD, is a condition that includes symptoms such as inattentiveness, hyperactivity and impulsiveness.
Insomnia: they may find it difficult to go to sleep or wake up several times throughout the night.
Anxiety: autistic patients often worry about social situations, especially when these are unexpected or outside of their usual routine.
Depression: people with an autism-spectrum disorder may feel irritable, unhappy or even hopeless
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: also known as OCD, is a need to repeat certain actions over and over again.
Epilepsy: Autistic patients with co-existing epilepsy will experience fits or seizures resulting in a tingling feeling in their arms or legs, their body shaking uncontrollably and in the most severe cases them collapsing and losing consciousness.
Joint Pain: Some autistic people also have problems with their joints or other parts of their body and will experience severe joint pain.

Side Effects of Autism Medication

While there is no medication that tackles the core symptoms of autism – difficulties communicating with others, lack of social interactions, repetitive behaviours – doctors primarily focus on behavioural therapy to help their patients deal with the condition.

Pharmacological therapies are also used to help patients with the conditions associated with autism, including ADHD, depression, aggressive behaviours, insomnia or epilepsy, in order to improve the quality of life of their patients on a day-to-day basis.

ADHD Medication

Since half of children with autism demonstrate ADHD symptoms, it is not uncommon for medical professionals to prescribe ADHD medication that works by increasing activity in underactive parts of the brain responsible for ADHD in order to bring significant improvements to the core ADHD symptoms that undermine social, behavioural or academic progress. ADHD medication fall into one of two categories:

ADHD stimulants: Drugs such as Ritalin and Adderall which tend to have a higher success rate but will only be active for a number of hours after the medication is taken. They also tend to have more side-effects than non-stimulant options.
ADHD non-stimulants: Drugs such as Strattera or Intuniv which have a lower success rate but provide a longer coverage (up to 24 hours) but have side effects such as sleepiness, irritability, digestion issues or migraines.

Antidepressants

The use of antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications is also common in patients with an autism spectrum disorder, although most of those medications have not been approved for autistic children. Antidepressant usually fall under one of two categories:

SNRIs: Serotonin and noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors, also known as SNRIs, are used to treat major depression and associated mood disorders. They work by raising the levels of serotonin and norepinephrine, two neurotransmitters in the brain that play a key role in stabilizing mood.
SSRIs: Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, also referred to as SSRIs, are also used to treat depression and are one of the main antidepressants prescribed today. SSRIs work by blocking the absorption of serotonin in the brain to facilitate the sending and receiving of messages by brain cells which results in better and more stable mood. SSRIs tend to have fewer side effects than other antidepressants and are therefore a popular medication to treat patients suffering from depression.

Not only do these antidepressants have a substantial time lag to induce therapeutic response, meaning that several weeks of treatment are necessary to generate a positive response, but their overall efficacy also remains quite low with a third of patients not responding to the treatment itself. More worryingly though, they come with a long list of side effects which shouldn’t be ignored:

Low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia)
Nausea and vomiting
Constipation or diarrhoea
Weight loss
Low sodium
Skin issues such as rashes
Dry mouth
Excessive sweating
Muscle issues such as tremors
Low sex drive and sexual dysfunction
Insomnia
Migraines and headaches
Anxiety
Agitation and abnormal thinking

In children and teenagers, there also seems to be a link between antidepressants and suicidal thoughts.

According to a recent analysis of short-term placebo-controlled trials of antidepressants carried out in the US, including SSRIs, in children and teenagers, suffering from major depressive disorder, known as MDD, the average risk of suicide during the first few months of treatment was 4%, twice the risk of the placebo group which stood at 2%.

The second aspect to consider when looking at antidepressants is the fact that patients taking SNRIS or SSRIs can become addicted to them. This addiction is mainly linked to the physical dependence an individual may develop in regard to the drug, meaning that they may experience withdrawal symptoms such as headaches, nausea, vomiting and tremors if they were to suddenly stop taking the drug.

Atypical Antipsychotics

Unlike Typical Antipsychotics who were developed in the 1950s, Atypical Antipsychotics, also known as Second Generation Antipsychotic Drugs are new medications that were approved for use in the 1990s.

Drugs such as Risperdal or Abilify, that have been approved clinically for children with autism as they help children between 5 and 16 years old with irritability and also seem to improve other symptoms such as anxiety or mood swings.

In an eight-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of risperidone in 100 children aged between 5 and 17, McCracken et al showed improvements in the number of tantrums, aggressive episodes, and self-injurious behaviors in children with ASD treated with risperidone compared with those given placebo.

However, the side effects of Atypical Antipsychotics are not to be ignored and include severe weight gains due to increase appetite as well as risks of developing diabetes.

Insomnia Medication

Autistic patients suffering from insomnia or disturbed sleep may be prescribed medications such as Mirtazapine or Melatonin.

In a study, 26 children, adolescents and young adults between the ages of 4 and 24 were prescribed mirtazapine, an oral antidepressant that involve norepinephrine and serotonin in the transmission of nerve impulses.

Whilst Dr Poe and his colleagues found that mirtazapine was effective in improving insomnia, antidepressants have been associated with an increased risk of suicidal thoughts and self-harm in children, adolescents, and young adults.

CBD for Autism

Although people have been using herbal remedies for sleep, anxiety, or pain for centuries, it wasn’t until the last few years that hemp’s legal status changed to allow more users and additional studies.

Cannabidiol, the scientific name for CBD, on the other hand is a naturally occurring compound coming from the hemp plant. There is extensive research on the effectiveness of CBD oil when used to treat depression, anxiety, stress, insomnia or seizures

The main properties of CBD relating to autism are:

Calming: to help reduce aggressive outbursts in autistic children
Anti-Epileptic: to reduce epileptic fits and seizures for patients with autism and co-occurring seizures
Antidepressant: to fight anxiety and depression
Improved Sleep: to help fall asleep and sty asleep throughout the night
Antiemetic: to prevent nausea and vomiting, one of the side effects of autism medication
Analgesic: to reduce pain and inflammation from headaches and migraines, a known side effect of autism drugs

CBD Calming Properties

CBD is believed to interact with specific receptors, specifically the CB1R and CB2R.

CB1 receptors co-ordinate mood, emotion, appetite, and other functions, while CB2 receptors are responsible for controlling inflammation and pain. CBD stimulates these receptors and induces the body to release serotonin.

Serotonin, or 5-HT, is a neurotransmitter that carries signals from one neuron to the other. CBD increases the level of serotonin, which, in return, helps calm both the mind and body.

According a study from 2018 focused on “Cannabidiol based medical cannabis in children with autism”, where 60 children were given CBD and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) at a ratio of 20:1, behavioural outbreaks were much improved in 61% of patients, communication problems were much improved in 40% of patients and Disruptive behaviours were improved (i.e. reduced) by 29%.

CBD Can Prevent Seizures

CBD appears to have neuroprotective and anticonvulsant properties, meaning that it helps protect nerve cells against damage and helps prevent or reduce the severity of epileptic fits or seizures – something which could prove useful for autistic patients with co-occuring seizures.

Researchers believe that CBD can act on the ECS (the endocannabinoid system) as well as other brain signalling systems to provide benefits to those patients and early studies show promising results especially for patients suffering from MS (multiple sclerosis) or Epilepsy:

MS: When it comes to MS (multiple sclerosis), an oral spray called Sativex and consisting of CBD and THC has been proven to be an effective way to reduce muscle spasticity (muscle spasms) in patients. The study found that Sativex reduced spasms in 75% of patients with MS who were experiencing muscle spasticity and for which traditional medications were not working.
Epilepsy: When it comes to Epilepsy and according to the Epilepsy Society, medical cannabis has been proven to reduce the number of seizures in patients suffering from epilepsy. Three separate double-blind randomised controlled trials of pure CBD (CBD isolate) in children and young people with epilepsy have shown a reduction in the number of monthly seizures experienced by patients compared to those that received placebos. Additional studies have shown that it may also have an anti-epileptic effect in the epilepsies in general, not just in children and young adults.

CBD Can Reduce Anxiety & Depression

When it comes to autism, many patients will suffer from emotional and mental disturbances with symptoms such as mood swings, anxiety and depression.

There is evidence suggesting that CBD is a viable anxiolytic and has been recognized for its ability to alleviate stress, inflammation, and lingering anxiety.

But how? To understand the role CBD can play in reducing mental disturbances during your periods, it is important to understand the crucial role brain chemistry plays, especially in relation to the hippocampus and the amygdala.

Hippocampus: The hippocampus is a complex part of the brain that plays a major role in cognitive and emotional functions. There is increasing evidence showing that adult hippocampal neurogenesis – the process by which the hippocampus regenerates thanks to neural stem cells producing new neurons – helps reduce stress and anxiety by boosting the endocrine response. Put it simply, people with attenuated (reduced) hippocampal neurogenesis are more likely to develop anxiety-related behaviours.
Amygdala: The amygdala is a collection of cells near the base of the brain (there is one in each side of the brain) that is part of the brain’s limbic system. It is the area of the brain where emotions are given meaning and remembered. Research has shown that people who suffer from depression will experience a hyper-active amygdala.

CBD helps to ease the symptoms of anxiety, stress and depression by regulating the functions of the hippocampus and the amygdala, and therefore their effects on how our brain processes potentially anxiety ridden information or situations.

How does CBD help?

CBD has been proven to increase cerebral blood flow to areas of the brain associated with memory processing, specifically the hippocampus. The findings identify a potential mechanism for the use of CBD to treat disorders associated with altered memory processing, including Alzheimer’s disease, PTSD, and schizophrenia.

Put it simply, a single dose of cannabidiol (CBD) helped increase blood flow to the hippocampus, an important area of the brain associated with memory and emotion, which means that CBD has been proven by several scientists and medical professionals to help smooth the cognitive processes of this part of the brain.

According to Dr Michael Bloomfield from UCL: “Cannabidiol is one of the main constituents of cannabis and is gaining interest for its therapeutic potential. There is evidence that CBD may help reduce symptoms of psychosis and anxiety as well as improve memory function. Additionally, CBD changes how the brain processes emotional memories, which could help to explain its reputed therapeutic effects in PTSD and other psychiatric disorders.”

These finding have been backed by double blind studies where on different occasions, separated by at least a week, each participant was given a 600mg of oral CBD or a placebo. The doses came in identical capsules, so participants did not know which one they were taking on which occasion.

Researchers measured blood flow to the hippocampus using ‘arterial spin labelling’ – an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) brain scanning technique which measures changes in the blood oxygen levels.

CBD significantly increased blood flow in the hippocampus, however CBD did not cause significant differences in blood flow in other regions of the medial temporal lobe (MTL), of which the hippocampus is a significant component.

In the prefrontal cortex, the area of the brain used for planning and decision making, CBD caused a significant increase in blood flow in the orbitofrontal cortex.

This supports the view that CBD has region-specific blood flow effects in the human brain, which would help with conditions such as depression, stress and anxiety.

CBD Can Improve Sleep

Autistic patients often suffer from disrupted sleep – which may or may not be linked to their anxiety. The good news is that tere is extensive research on the effectiveness of CBD oil when used to treat insomnia and improve sleep.

CBD works with the human body to increase calm, decrease stress, and lower anxiety levels. These responses indirectly improve your sleep. In the 1990s, researchers confirmed the body has an endocannabinoid system or ECS. Researchers have only found a link between the cannabinoids found in hemp with the ECS, making it an unusual reaction.

The ECS is a complex cell-signalling system consisting of endocannabinoids, cannabinoid receptors, and enzymes. Scientists believe it plays many roles, including maintaining balance in the body. When it comes to sleep, the ECS helps regulate sleep and sleep cycles. Also, relating to sleep, a potential function is boosting anandamide to reduce depression and anxiety.

The cannabinoid receptors interact with endocannabinoids and cannabinoids. The CB1 is located in the nervous system and brain. Additionally, the CB2 is found mostly in the immune system and most organs.

A recent surge in scientific publications has found preclinical and clinical evidence documenting value for CBD in some neuropsychiatric disorders, including epilepsy, anxiety, and schizophrenia. Evidence points toward a calming effect for CBD in the central nervous system.

In 2019, a large case series was published in the Permanente Journal about CBD’s calming effects on the central nervous system. The studies showed patients taking CBD saw lower anxiety levels, experienced less stress, and slept better at night. Additionally, most participants experienced no or few side effects.

CBD Combats the Side Effects of Autism Medication

Finally , CBD has proven to have both analgesic properties (relieves pain) and antiemetic (prevents nausea & vomiting) properties:

CBD Relieves Pain: According to Researchgate, a study published in November 2019 shows improvement of physical discomforts such as headaches and various signs of physical pain. According to Teitelbaum J, there have been multiple studies showing patients found relief of menstrual pain, back pain, spinal pain, joint pain (e.g. arthritis) or fibromyalgia pain. The results of a 2016 study indicate that medical cannabis may reduce the frequency of headaches and migraines. The study found that the frequency of headaches decreased from 10.4 to 4.6 headaches per month with the use of medical cannabis (of which CBD is a component). These positive effects were reported by 40% of patients with the most common effects reported being the prevention of headaches and the decreased frequency of headaches.
CBD Prevents Nausea: If autism medication makes your child feel nauseous, CBD may be able to help as it has been proven to have antiemetic properties, meaning it helps prevent vomiting. This discovery has been particularly useful for cancer patients for whom CBD has been proven to not only help them reduce the symptoms and side effects of cancer medication and treatments, such as pain, nausea and vomiting. A study showed that cancer patients who suffered from the various side effects of chemotherapy – including nausea and vomiting – experienced little relief from traditional anti-emetic treatments. Patients suffering from chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) were administered a one-to-one combination of CBD and THC via mouth spray. The results showed that chemotherapy-related nausea and vomiting symptoms were reduced in comparison to standard treatment alone.

CBD: The ‘Entourage Effect’

Now that you know how CBD can help you improve the quality of life of autistic patients, it is important to understand the concept of ‘entourage effect’.

The entourage effect is the theory that while each botanical compound has a unique role or benefit, its behaviour may change when the presence of another compound is present.

For example, it would be more effective and quicker to produce a play with a team of actors rather than one actor playing all the parts. When each actor has a specific role to focus on, they can learn their lines and direction and support their fellow actors. But one actor alone will take a lot longer to learn all the lines for the various parts they have to play.

This is similar to the entourage effect. Essentially, everyone knows their role, but their performance can be enhanced by comradery.

But how is this applied to CBD?

CBD Entourage

We know that CBD products stimulate the endocannabinoid system and make it work more efficiently. But different CBD products affect the ECS differently, depending on their formulation. As previously, discussed there are 3 types of CBD formulation:

Full-spectrum: No additional extraction, contains all the natural ingredients of the hemp plant, including CBD, THC, terpenes and flavonoids.
Broad-spectrum: All traces of THC are removed from the oil. Every other ingredient remains.
CBD Isolate: The oil only contains CBD, everything else is removed.

One of the above formulations has been proven to give better results in reducing pain, inflammation and many other symptoms. Which one of these formulations do you think stimulates the ECS best?

Would it be the most natural substance (full-spectrum), the one with any psychoactive ingredients (broad-spectrum) or the purest form of CBD (isolate)?

According to the entourage effect, it is the full-spectrum CBD because it keeps all the natural components of the hemp plant, which include:

Cannabinoids and Terpenes

The theory of the entourage effect was first introduced by Dr Ethan B. Russo. He thinks that cannabinoids such as CBD and THC work with terpenes (aromatic component) to produce a “synergy.”

In his study “Taming THC: Potential cannabis synergy and phytocannabinoid-terpenoid entourage effects” (2010) Dr Ethan B Russo suggests:

The terpene pinene, which gives the scent of pine, may help counteract compromised memory caused by THC.
CBD and terpene limonene, which gives a citrus scent, might work together to alleviate anxiety.
A combination of CBD and terpene caryophyllene, offering a pepper smell, may be beneficial in the treatment of addiction.

The possibility of “synergy” of endless but have not yet been categorically proven. For more information read his other study “The Case for the Entourage Effect and Conventional Breeding of Clinical Cannabis: No “Strain, No Gain” published in 2019.

Omega-3, Antioxidants and Nutrients

In addition to CBD, THC and terpenes, full-spectrum CBD oil also contains Omega-3, which is vital to the ECS. Omega-3 is used to maintain the receptor CB1, which regulate pain and memory.

It also aids the absorption of external cannabinoids, as well as making endocannabinoids internally.

Other nutrients and antioxidants have also been discovered in full-spectrum CBD oil, for example, Vitamin E. Vitamin E is a fat-soluble compound that can prevent cataract formation, postpone the appearance of wrinkles and grey hair, boosts the immune system and reduces inflammation.

As you can see CBD oil when first extracted from the hemp plant has a huge list of ingredients. All of them seem to play a part in helping our bodies. We may not know exactly what they all do. But as time passes and research continues, we can learn more.

Is CBD Legal in the UK?

CBD oil, like any other natural remedy, has been used throughout the ages for its medicinal properties. It was evidenced to have been used in ancient societies with the first recorded case in 2727 B.C in China. It was used to treat anything from poor memory and malaria to gout. It has since been used throughout the world to treat various ailments from anxiety to insomnia and menstrual pains.

Throughout the 1940s, there was extensive research into isolating the CBD compound from the other 100+ compounds found within the marijuana plant, due to its lack of psychoactive effects.

It wasn’t until the 1970’s when the US legally recognised the medicinal worth of CBD oil, and it was decriminalised in Oregon. There was a large emphasis on the clear distinction between the CBD compound and the THC compound within the marijuana plant.

The UK followed suit in 2016, making it legal to buy CBD oil to help treat a multitude of health issues, including but not limited to:

Depression and anxiety disorders (PTSD, OCD, panic disorder or substance/addiction disorders)
Chronic pain and inflammation
Epilepsy
Heart issues
Helps to reduce blood pressure and oxidative stress
Diabetes
Fight bacteria
Insomnia and sleep related issues
Helps with symptoms of schizophrenia,
Skin conditions (psoriasis/eczema)
Alzheimer’s disease

In a study conducted by the Centre for Medical Cannabis, their results showed that one in six adults in the UK had tried CBD oil, proving that it is one of the fastest-growing, contemporary, well-being products on the market.

Figures also show that the rates of people using CBD oil were higher amongst the under 55 age range. Also, figures were higher amongst females, with 62% of them using CBD to treat anxiety related issues.

How to Take CBD for Autism?

There are a few ways to take CBD for autism. Choosing a method is often a personal preference. The most common are tinctures, gummies and capsules.

CBD Tinctures

CBD oil is the most common way of getting your daily dose of CBD to help you manage the symptoms of autism or reduce the side effects of autism medication.

However, whilst this is the most popular way to consume CBD, CBD oil often has a more earthy, nutty, woody or grass-like taste which is down to the fact the product is natural, safe, and non-toxic.

You can use CBD oil in different manners.

You can either place a few drops under the tongue and hold it there for 30 to 60 seconds. This way of consuming CBD – called sub-lingual. This is one of the best ways to get it absorbed into the bloodstream as this method allows CBD to completely bypass the digestive system and liver metabolism, so the compounds can avoid being broken down by enzymes and reach the bloodstream more quickly. This offers the quickest relief with an onset of 20 minutes or less.

For those who feel the earthy or grassy taste of CBD is too strong, another option is to mix it with a food or a drink to mask the taste. However, be aware that when you digest CBD, it will not provide immediate relief and you may need to wait 30 to 60 minutes for it to start working.

CBD Capsules

If the earthy and grassy taste of CBD oil or its sharp and bitter aftertaste is not for you, you may want to choose CBD capsules to experience all the benefits of CBD without any of the nasty taste or additives that gummies may contain (such as sugar).

CBD capsules are filled with a precise dose of CBD (usually between 10mg and 50mg of CBD per capsule). You can take one or two capsules, once or twice daily with a full glass of water. The CBD usually comes from full-spectrum (<0.01% THC) ground hemp and is rich in cannabinoids and terpenes. However, seeing as CBD capsules go through the digestive system, they take about an hour or so to work.

Choosing capsules is a great way to get your CBD intake and it’s incredibly travel friendly, the ideal solution for those who are always on the go.

CBD Gummies

For consumers who aren’t comfortable using the sublingual drops or those who struggle to swallow capsules, the CBD-infused chewy candies are a yummy way to consume the hemp extract.

Using CBD gummies is also an easy and accurate way of measuring that you are getting the right amount of CBD as each gummy will provide you with an exact dose of CBD (from 10mg to 50mg).

Unlike CBD oil which acts within 20-30 minutes as it gets absorbed into the blood stream, the onset for CBD gummies is about an hour as edibles need to go through the digestive system.

Finally, remember that gummies tend to contain additional ingredients – including sugar and additives. So whilst gummies are a convenient way to get your daily intake of CBD to treat your pain, eating 3-5 gummies each day could have a negative impact on your overall sugar intake! This isn’t always ideal and for that reason, we would always recommend going for CBD oil or CBD capsules whenever possible.

How Much CBD Should You Consume?

CBD doesn’t have one-size-fits-all dosing and calculating a proper dosage of CBD can be tough as our bodies react to it differently.

CBD Dosage Table

We would first recommend using the above CBD dosage table to determine how much CBD you should consume on a daily basis.

The four major factors affecting your CBD dosage are:

Your weight
The condition being treated (i.e. depression, chronic pain etc)
The severity of your condition
The concentration of CBD oil

Most brands recommend customers start with the lowest dose and increase until they find the right serving size that fits their needs. The most common starting amount is between 10mg and 25mg. For anxiety and depression, the dose can vary from 20mg to 50mg or more.

As a rule of thumb, a person weighting between 10.5 and 17 stones (approximately 150 and 240 lbs) may need between 20mg and 40mg of CBD per day depending on the severity of their symptoms.

When using CBD for the first time, we would always recommend starting with one or two drops of the 3% or 6% CBD oil placed under the tongue (sublingual) and holding it there for at least 30 seconds so it can absorb into the bloodstream.

Taking it first thing in the morning on an empty stomach to see how your body reacts to it is also recommended. If you are not seeing any major benefits with a single drop, increase your intake by a single drop every 2 or 3 days until finding the right balance to treat your personal symptoms.

Finally, as CBD remains a novel food, it is worth noting that the Food Standards Agency (FSA) recommends that healthy adults do not take more than 70mg a day, unless advised by a medical professional.

How Many CBD Oil Drops?

Whilst it may be confusing at the beginning, it’s incredibly simple to work out how many drops of CBD oil you need to take depending on your daily requirements and the strength of the product you bought.

Most bottles of CBD oil contain 10ml of product and come in strengths ranging from 300mg to 2,400mg – also known as 3% and 24% CBD oils. This simply means that in a 1ml drop of the 300mg bottle, you will have 30mg of CBD, whilst the same 1ml of the 2,400mg bottle will give you 8 times that amount for a total of 240mg of CBD.

So assuming you need to hit 25mg of CBD per day with, you will need:

CBD / Bottle*	CBD / Drop	# Drops
500mg	1.25mg	20 drops
1000mg	2.5mg	10 drops
1800mg	4.5mg	5.5 drops
2400mg	6.0mg	4 drops

*Based on 10ml bottles

Assuming you are using the 500mg CBD oil for a daily dose of 25mg, you will need to take approximately 20 drops per day (25mg divided by 1.25mg per drop). You could break this down throughout the day by taking:

8 drops first thing in the morning on an empty stomach
6 drops early afternoon
6 drops at night before going to bed

If however you bought the 2400mg CBD oil for a daily dose of 25mg, you would only need to take 4 drops per day (25mg divided by 6mg per drop), which you could also spread across the day – 2 in the morning, one in the afternoon and one in the evening.

As with everything, start with a small amount of CBD oil daily to make sure there’s no reaction, then increase slowly by a drop every 1-2 days until finding the right balance.

What to Expect When Taking CBD?

First-time users may experience relief immediately, as CBD is brand new to your ECS. However, this does depend on the ailment you are trying to improve. For example, one dose of CBD could relieve pain, reduce anxiety and reduce nausea but it wouldn’t stop seizures, cure your depression or diabetes.

If it took you a long time to get the symptom then the same will be said for reducing, preventing or eliminating it.

Immediate Relief (After 24 hours a noticeable difference is seen):

Pain, Inflammation, Migraines, Nausea, Anxiety, Arthritis, Epilepsy, Glaucoma, Stress, Insomnia, Multiple Sclerosis, PTSD, Rheumatism and Motion Sickness.

Short Term Relief (Noticeable between 2-14 days):

Acne, Inflammation, ADD/ADHD, Anxiety, Arthritis, Epilepsy, Depression, Stress, Insomnia, Multiple Sclerosis, PTSD, Rheumatism, Endocrine Disorders, Obesity, OCD, Spinal Cord Injury and Rheumatism.

Long Term Relief (Noticeable between 2+ weeks):

ALS, Addiction, Alzheimer’s Disease, Asthma, Atherosclerosis, Autism, Bipolar Disorder, Cancer, Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Depression, Diabetes, Endocrine Disorders, Fatty Liver Disease, Fibromyalgia, Heart Disease, Huntington´s Disease, Kidney Disease, Metabolic Syndrome, Mood Disorders, Neurodegeneration, Obesity, Parkinson´s Disease, Prion Disease, Schizophrenia and Traumatic Brain Injury.

As you can see from the above, symptoms which occur quickly can be improved in the same short time frame. Progressive illnesses and their more severe side effects require longer exposure to CBD before a real difference can be seen.

This is just a general guide, and it’s important to note that every single person will react differently to CBD as no one person has the same biology and lifestyle.

What are the Side Effects of CBD?

Most people do not experience any side effects when taking CBD as this is a natural product. However, as with everything, some people may experience mild side-effects from the hemp extract, including:

Diarrhoea
Changes in appetite and weight
Nausea
Fatigue
Irritability
Drowsiness (a good thing to fall asleep!)

The best way to decrease adverse reactions is to simply lower your daily intake of CBD, or if taking CBD oil under the tongue, to mix it with your food and drink as it will be processed by the digestive system – which means slower absorption. The downside of mixing it with your food is a decreased bioavailability so CBD may not work as well for you.

How To Choose Quality CBD?

As with anything you ingest, the source and quality of your CBD products are important. We would always recommend looking at five main aspects before choosing your CBD product.

CBD Oil from Organic Hemp

Hemp can be grown in just the same way as any other plant – mass-produced and using pesticides and GMOs for the greatest profit, or grown organically with care and attention to provide a fantastic end product.

The best CBD is produced from organic hemp that has benefited from plenty of rain during the growing process. While hemp can physically be grown in many countries, it grows best when the temperature is in the low twenties Celsius. Therefore, the location of the hemp farm is important to ensure the optimum environmental factors are accommodated.

And seeing as cannabis plants can be stressed out by the weather, resulting in a higher THC content (above 0.2%), it’s important to ensure that your CBD oil comes from organic hemp which has been grown in the right part of the world.

Less Than 0.2% THC

Cannabis flowers and extracts usually contain two cannabinoids known as THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (cannabidiol). Yet the exact percentage of each can vary greatly, depending on the plant variety and the growing technique used.

THC is the main psychoactive compound in cannabis that produces the high sensation, while CBD has been associated with health benefits.

The EU common agricultural policy states that cannabis plant can be grown for industrial uses, provided their THC content does not exceed 0.2 %. That’s in the plant, not in the CBD product you buy.

So when buying CBD oil from a shop or online retailer, be sure to check that their products contain less than 0.2% THC.

Clean Extraction Method

Once the hemp is grown and harvested, the CBD needs to be extracted from the plant. There are several methods for doing this, including the use of carbon dioxide (CO2). This produces the cleanest and purest CBD extract but can be expensive to do as the machinery required is not cheap.

Alternative methods include using solvents such as ethanol or plant oils (eg olive oil) to extract the CBD.

This can lead to less-pure CBD extract, as small amounts of solvent or oil can remain, although most companies using this type of extraction method will usually test their CBD extracts to ensure they are solvent free and safe to consume.

Tested by Independent Labs

Another thing we would recommend checking is whether or not your CBD oil has contaminants. That’s because cannabis plants readily absorb heavy metals, pesticides, and other potentially harmful chemicals that may be in the soil or water.

To ensure your CBD oil is free of those harmful chemicals, it should be tested frequently while the hemp is growing, and finished products should also be tested, using validated methods.

The extract should be tested and certified by a third-party laboratory to confirm the quality of the CBD. Organic CBD should be GMO-free, pesticide-free, and as pure as possible. In the UK and EU, CBD must register THC content of 0.2% or lower.

Most reputable companies selling CBD oil in the UK publish their lab results on their website. Below are a few examples of companies that play the transparency card with their customer and share their lab results for each batch of CBD they produce:

Blessed CBD
Provacan
Hempura
Endoca
Naturecan CBD
Medterra
Love CBD

Strength to Match your Needs

Finally, the CBD level within any product should be of a suitable strength to match your needs. Every person is different and their body will respond in a slightly different way, so the level may partially be down to personal preference.

However, higher concentrations might be more suitable for treating different ailments to lower concentrations, and it is wise to check the level of CBD in every product you use.

As a rule of thumb, people looking to use CBD for sleep, anxiety, digestion, relaxation or stress might take between 10mg and 25mg of CBD daily and use the lowest strength (300mg to 600mg), whilst those using CBD as a pain relief for conditions such as severe arthritis, back pain or migraines may want to take 30mg to 50mg of CBD per day and use higher concentration products (1200mg to 2400mg).

So remember that CBD oil comes in different concentration and that this will impact how many drops you need to take – for example Blessed 500mg CBD oil (5%) contains 1.25mg of CBD per drop, whilst their 1800mg CBD oil (18%) contains 4.5mg of CBD per drop.

Top 5 CBD Oils for Autism

With over 150 CBD brands on the market, it can be difficult to choose the right CBD product. This is why the CBD Unboxed team has tried and tested most CBD products and brands available in the UK market and assessed them across 6 key areas: