CBD Oil

CBD, or Cannabidiol, is a type of cannabinoid and so is one of the many chemical compounds found in the cannabis or marijuana plant. CBD oil is made by adding the CBD extracted from cannabis plants to an oil like coconut or hemp seed oil. Cannabis is known for its recreational use and many individuals use cannabis for the sensation, or high, they feel following smoking or eating cannabis. This feeling is related to another cannabinoid, THC.  CBD does not give this effect but is known to affect the body in other ways.

There are studies showing that CBD can relieve pain, especially the pain related to conditions such as arthritis and multiple sclerosis, and these studies showed that CBD treatment was also associated with improved movement and sleep quality. Notably, the use of CBD oil was not associated with serious adverse effects or adverse effects related to withdrawing the CBD oil. Other research has shown that CBD can reduce spasms, anxiety and depression.

A small study looked at the effect of CBD oil on children with cerebral palsy who have complex problems with movement. Two groups of children were studied and both received CBD oil which also contained one of two very low concentrations of THC. All children had improved spasticity, dystonia (involuntary muscle contractions which affect movement or posture), sleep difficulties and they had reduced pain.

CBD oil is not yet an approved treatment for children with cerebral palsy. The study looking at the effect of CBD oil on children with cerebral palsy did record that two of the 25 children involved did have worsening of their seizures, two had behavioral changes and one child was sleepier during the treatment. This may have been related to the fact that the CBD oil used contained THC but more research is needed to ensure that CBD oil is safe for children.

If you are considering the use of CBD oil for your child with cerebral palsy, then please discuss this with your child’s pediatrician or neurologist. Treatment can interfere or affect other medications and certain doses can potentially be very harmful.

There are many studies on the use of CBD oil on children. If you are interested in reading the research a good place to start is with this article published in the Journal of Child Neurology. In order to determine whether or not CBD would be beneficial for your child, it is important to discuss its use with your child’s pediatrician.