Can CBD Oil Relieve Symptoms of Down syndrome?

CBD can help people with Down syndrome, for example, impulsivity and seizures, sleeping issues, and gastrointestinal issues, including vomiting and abdominal pain.

Cannabinoids, a compound derived from hemp and cannabis plants, are widely appreciated for their medical and therapeutic effect on the body. Although the compound is not scientifically proven reliable for different health issues, much research back up the claims and the reviews from CBD users. Epidiolex is the only CBD drug legalized for medical use by the food and drug administration. It is used for treating two rare forms of epilepsy. Most of the research is carried out on mice and rats; therefore, there is a need for more research on human beings.

CBD: Oil What Is It?

Cannabidiol, commonly known as CBD, is the second known cannabinoid after THC. CBD is derived from hemp or cannabis plant. However, almost 50 states legalized the use of hemp-derived CBD, while a few approve the use of the cannabis plant. THC is the major marijuana compound that has a psychoactive effect; it gives the user a high feeling.

CBD is extracted from the plant by the use of chemicals or CO2. According to Rochfort et al. (2020), CO2 is the best extraction since it does not expose the compound to harsh chemicals which can contaminate and reduce the quality of the compound. The products are then combined with carrier oils such as coconut and hemp seed oil. The oils do not affect the effectiveness of the compound.

CBD Oil for Down syndrome

Down syndrome is a health condition where the body has extra chromosomes. Chromosomes are gene packages that determine the formation and the function of the baby's body when grown. The chromosomal abnormality's main cause is unknown, but a person with the condition exhibits behavioral impulsiveness, poor judgments, speech problems, and inattention. Recent studies show that CBD can help Down syndrome patients by targeting the symptoms.

CBD works but interacts with endocannabinoid receptors found in the body. The cannabinoid receptors are found in the central nervous system. They have different functions, including the immune system, appetite, and the senses. The cannabinoid receptors tend to have the same molecular structure as the cannabinoids in the cannabis plant and thus have a connection.

CBD binds the CB1 and CB2 receptors, enhancing the body's general well-being. THC interacts with the CB1 receptors alone and thus causing hallucinations. This is because the CB1 receptors play an important role in cognitive functioning and health. The CB1 receptors are found in the brain and the nerves, while CB2 is in the immune system and other organs.

Among the many signs, CBD can help people with Down syndrome, for example, impulsivity and seizures. Gray & Whalley (2020) noted that CBD drugs under epidiolex could treat two rare forms of seizures. Based on the research, many patients with epidiolex showed reduced seizures compared to those with a placebo. People with Down syndrome tend to be vulnerable to amyloid plaques linked to the cognitive deficit, and research shows that CBD can offer protection. However, many studies are carried out on rats; thus, there is a call for more research on humans to determine the effect of the compound.

Most patients with Down syndrome tend to have sleeping issues. This is among the things CBD would help and make it easy for people to deal with. According to Teitelbaum (2019), CBD can help improve sleep and prevent insomnia since the compound can relax the body and the mind. CBD mimics sleeping pills by targeting the causes of the sleep issue.

People with Down syndrome often suffer from gastrointestinal issues such as vomiting, diarrheal and abdominal pain. Based on the research carried out on the people, it is evident that CBD can help relived nausea and vomiting. Überall (2020) established that CBD could relieve pain, and thus when patients use cannabinoids therapy, they will have to ease the abdominal pain associated with gastrointestinal issues, including vomiting.

Possible Side Effects

Cannabinoids are a natural remedy that people have embraced due to the health benefits it offers the body, for example, pain relief improving sleep, and alleviating mental disorders. The reported side effects include dryness, mouth change in appetite, weight change, diarrheal and increased fatigue. However, not all people experience the same effect; therefore, it varies from one user to the other because people react differently to CBD. Lamb et al. (2016) established that CBD could be due to drowsiness mostly experienced by newbies and overdose.

Therefore, it is advisable to consult your doctor since CBD can react with other drugs. Also, it would help if you considered starting small low and gradually increasing the amount to meet your needs.

Why Do People React Differently To CBD?

Metabolism Rate

People have different metabolism rates. Therefore, a person with a high metabolism rate can feel the effect faster than people with a low metabolism rate. However, with the high metabolism, the effect will last for a short time.

Body Composition

The body composition can determine how you feel the effect. People with plus-size bodies tend to take long for effect to the surface since the compound covers a wide surface area. However, due to the fats, store the cannabinoid compound and thud you can benefit from it for a longer period. On the contrary, those with small body sizes experience the effect faster because but tend to take shorter periods in the body. Learn more about how to make cbg oil?

The Dosage and Concentration of CBD

CBD oil has different doses and a concentration. Those who use a highly concentrated   CBD oil have fast effects; similarly, when the dose is high, the effect is more and vice versa.

The Potency of CBD

The potency of CBD is the strength of the compound. The highly potent the compound, the more effect you get from it compared to the low one.

Conclusion

CBD is mixed with carrier oils such as hemp seed oil and coconut oil to give it the oil formulation. CBD is widely appreciated due to the health benefits it offers to the body. There is much research showing that CBD can relieve Down syndrome symptoms. This condition is due to extra chromosomes, which affect the growth and function of the baby. Among the symptoms exhibited by people with Down syndrome include impulsivity, attention, gastrointestinal problems such as bloating, abdominal pain, vomiting, and nausea. CBD helps by reducing symptoms such as seizures, pain, and sleep issues associated with Down syndrome.

References

Lamb, R., Rohrer, J. D., Lees, A. J., & Morris, H. R. (2016). Progressive Supranuclear Palsy And Corticobasal Degeneration: Pathophysiology And Treatment Options. Current Treatment Options In Neurology, 18(9), 1-18.

Überall, M. A. (2020). A Review Of Scientific Evidence For THC: CBD Oromucosal Spray (Nabiximols) In The Management Of Chronic Pain. Journal Of Pain Research, 13, 399.

Teitelbaum, J. (2019). A Hemp Oil, CBD, And Marijuana Primer: Powerful Pain, Insomnia, And Anxiety-Relieving Tools. Altern. Ther. Health Med, 25, 21-23.           

Gray, R. A., & Whalley, B. J. (2020). The Proposed Mechanisms Of Action Of CBD In Epilepsy. Epileptic Disorders, 22, S10-S15.

Rochfort, S., Isbel, A., Ezernieks, V., Elkins, A., Vincent, D., Deseo, M. A., & Spangenberg, G. C. (2020). Utilisation of design of experiments approach to optimize supercritical fluid extraction of medicinal cannabis. Scientific Reports, 10(1), 1-7.