Source: cbdamericanshaman.com
Autism affects one in every 68 children in the United States, and it’s been the root issue of a number of debates about what it is and why it happens to certain people. While discourse can sometimes lead to a greater understanding of a particular disorder, there are other times when it only heightens the fear and confusion. CBD oil is known to help the brain function better, on a number of different levels. Recent research seems to suggest that it may be able to help those with autism as well.
How CBD helps the brain and the extent of its powers still aren’t known (so don’t believe anyone who tells you otherwise.) But what is known is that autism is a neurological disorder that affects a number of key social processes and general cognition. See why CBD may be a part of autism treatment plans sooner rather than later.
The Cause of Autism
No one really knows why autism is caused. It’s been linked to everything from genetic mutations to pesticides, but correlation is definitely not causation. Treating an unknown disorder with prescription drugs is especially difficult, which is just one of the reasons why it’s common for parents to feel like they’re alone in a controversial sea filled with nothing but assumptions and guesses. Autism is screened for and diagnosed based on social cues or abnormal motor behavior from a child. Another ambiguity that may differ from doctor to doctor.
Yo GABA GABA
GABA isn’t a children’s group in the case of autism, but a neurotransmitter that helps you process all kinds of stimuli, from sound to light. In the case of a person with autism, their GABA seems to be too low. It’s why they react differently than other children when surrounded with crowds, bright lights, or loud (or even not that loud) noises.
And CBD may be able to affect the levels of GABA, making it a promising candidate for further studies. One lab in Stanford is already seeing results with genetically modified mice. After treating the mice with CBD, they started seeing social behavior on par with their unmodified counterparts.
Autism and Epilepsy
Up to 30% of people with autism also suffer from epilepsy, which has been one of the biggest reasons why public perception of cannabis has started to take a turn. It’s been incredibly effective at reducing the rates and severity of seizures, particularly in the case of childhood epilepsy. Of course, it may not be as simple as suggesting CBD oil for epileptics with autism.
Some people worry that the seizures of people with autism are far more powerful than they seem though. Some people hypothesize that it’s a cause and effect of the worst order: the seizures come before the autism and actually cause the neurological rewiring. Now to be clear, that is a guess. But if this guess is correct, then there’s really not much that can be done in terms of CBD. However, if it’s the autism that comes first due to naughty neurotransmitters, then it’s still possible that CBD can help.
What to Think
It’s easy to get caught up in the latest research when you’re searching for a little bit of hope. But we’re still in the preliminary stages of answering whether or not CBD can even help, let alone answering how exactly it should be used. But there are a few things that you can take from this article.
The more we learn, the more it seems as though CBD is really the great equalizer. It seems to balance your body out, regardless of where the problem is located. If that sounds too good to be true, it’s because it is! CBD isn’t the cure for everything that’s wrong with society! But this does seem to be the general way it functions: as a way to introduce some much needed balance into a world with too many extremes.
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