CBD, also known as cannabidiol, is one of the most prevalent ingredients of cannabis (marijuana) and is the most essential component of medical marijuana. Marijuana, however, still considered a controlled substance by the federal government, unlike CBD.
CBD oil is extracted from the flower and buds of hemp plants, according to CBDoil.org. According to experts, CBD is legal because it is not intoxicating.
Hemp oil is different than CBD. According to cbdMD, hemp oil comes from cold-pressed hemp seeds, while CBD oil is made with CBD compounds from hemp plants’ stalks, leaves and flowers. Hemp plants and marijuana differ because of their THC level – marijuana has much more THC than hemp. THC is an active ingredient of marijuana that “creates pleasure and eliminates pain.”
Many companies have dressed CBD oil up in sour and sweet flavors, making the benefits of CBD oil that much more enjoyable. Here are the best CBD products to shop through right now.
Mixed flavors product details: The mixed flavor pack comes with 3 flavors (blue Raspberry, Strawberry, and Lime). This is a 30 piece pack for a total of 1500mg CBD per package.
Formula capsules: 30 pack bottles containing 50mg of Isolate CBD in each capsule, making a total of 1500mg of CBD in each bottle.
CBD Sugar Free CBD Gummies: Gummies are made with maltitol syrup instead of sugar or high-fructose corn syrup, and feature the potency of CBD you can only get from some of the world’s best hemp.
Sour CBD Gummies: Available in strengths of 300 mg, 750 mg, and 1500 mg per bottle. Mixed sour fruit flavors of Raspberry, Orange, Strawberry, and Tropical
CBD Gummies: Consists of “Full Spectrum Hemp Extract” includes CBD, CBN, CBG, CBC, and a smidgen of THC. Made with 27.5 mg of cannabinoids per gummy, including 25 mg CBD and 1 mg THC.
Tropical CBD Gummies: Consists of mixed flavors including Strawberry, Orange, Raspberry and Tropical fruit in every bottle.
GummiMI Store Gummies on Amazon. (Amazon)
GummiMi
GummiMI Store Gummies: Candy Gummy Bears with CBD Oil with gummies consisting of Vitamins B, E & Omega 3, 6, 9.
There has been a great deal of interest in the use of natural supplements, such as omega-3 fatty acids, herbal preparations, and vitamin and mineral supplements, in the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)—but do they really work?
The research is inconclusive, at best, about most of these supplements, but there is evidence to show they may help people with ADHD who have nutritional deficiencies.
This article will discuss nutritional supplements for ADHD, including what works, what doesn’t, and what we are still learning.
tatyana_tomsickova / Getty Images
Stimulant medication is the most supported treatment for ADHD. Over 70{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c} of children with ADHD respond to psychostimulant medications.
Still, there is interest in the use of supplements as complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) treatments for ADHD. These are treatments used instead of or in addition to traditional treatments.
Current Research
Current research does not support the use of supplements as a stand-alone alternative to medication and/or behavioral therapy for ADHD. But some supplements may help people who have vitamin or mineral deficiencies.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Omega-3 fatty acids are an essential nutrient that you must get from your diet since your body doesn’t produce them. Dietary sources include fatty fish like salmon and tuna, seeds such as flax and chia, and nuts such as walnuts.
Health Benefits
Research is inconclusive about the efficacy of omega-3 supplements in treating ADHD.
A 2018 systematic review (answering a research question by collecting and summarizing evidence) and meta-analysis (using statistical methods to summarize results) of eight studies involving a total of 628 participants indicated that children and adolescents with ADHD tend to have a deficiency in omega-3 fatty acids. The review suggests omega-3 supplements improve clinical symptoms and cognitive performance in children and adolescents with ADHD.
A 2017 systematic review of 25 randomized controlled trials (trials in which participants are randomly assigned into one of two groups) showed inconclusive results. It found about half of the studies reported some beneficial effects of omega-3 fatty acids on ADHD symptoms, but the other half of the studies reported negative results.
Numerous other studies and reviews have been conducted on the use of omega-3s in treating ADHD, but differences in the studies make them hard to compare. Results from these studies vary.
Overall, it is unclear if omega-3 supplementation is helpful for ADHD symptoms, but it may be worth looking into if the person has a deficiency. Omega-3 supplementation is known to be less effective than stimulant medication.
Possible Side Effects
Side effects of omega-3 supplements tend to be mild. They may include:
Unpleasant taste
Bad breath
Bad-smelling sweat
Headache
Gastrointestinal symptoms such as heartburn, nausea, and diarrhea
Omega-3 supplements may interact with medications that affect blood clotting.
People with seafood allergies should be cautious taking omega-3s as it is unclear if it is safe for them to take fish oil supplements.
Dosage and Preparation
According to some preliminary research, fish oil supplements may be more beneficial than docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).
Current evidence suggests supplementation with a dose of 1–2 grams of omega-3 daily with a substantial content of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) within the omega-3 formulation.
Check with your healthcare professional before taking omega-3 supplements or giving them to your child, especially if there is a blood clotting disorder or seafood allergy present.
Iron Supplements
Iron is used by the body to make hemoglobin in red blood cells. Hemoglobin transports oxygen to nourish your tissues. Dietary sources include meat (especially red meat), tuna, and dark leafy greens.
Health Benefits
A 2014 study found an association between iron deficiency and ADHD symptoms in children. The study did not conclude that iron deficiency causes ADHD, but suggests that it could lead to ADHD symptoms in relationship with genetics, environmental risk factors, absence of iron supplementation, and diet.
A 2013 study indicated that Iron deficiency increased the risk of psychiatric disorders, including ADHD.
A 2012 meta-analysis found that people with ADHD tended to have lower iron levels than participants without ADHD. With these results in mind, people with ADHD may wish to be tested for iron deficiency.
Get Advice Before Starting Iron Supplements
Do not start taking iron supplements without first talking to your healthcare professional to see if it is necessary and safe. If a person is not deficient in iron, too much iron can cause significant problems.
Possible Side Effects
Too much iron can be dangerous or even fatal, especially for children.
Side effects of iron supplements can include:
Upset stomach
Constipation
Nausea
Abdominal pain
Vomiting
Fainting
High doses of iron may decrease zinc absorption. Iron supplements can interact with other medications and supplements, as well. Consult with your healthcare provider or pharmacist about possible interactions.
Dosage and Preparation
The dosage for iron supplements depends on factors such as age, sex, how deficient the person is, and other considerations.
The maximum amount of iron daily from all sources, including food and supplements, is:
Birth to 13 years: 40 milligrams
14 years and over: 45 milligrams
Vitamins and Minerals
Vitamins and minerals are essential nutrients that you need to get from your diet for the proper functioning of your body. Vitamins are produced by plants or animals, while minerals come from soil and water and then are incorporated into plants and animals that we eat.
Health Benefits
Vitamins have not been conclusively shown to directly affect ADHD, but they can correct deficiencies that may be associated with ADHD symptoms.
A small study of 20 participants found deficiencies in magnesium, zinc, and copper in children with ADHD. The study found that magnesium and zinc deficiencies correlated with hyperactivity, inattention, and impulsivity. This correlation was not found with copper deficiencies.
A 2018 study indicated the possibility that low levels of certain vitamins may contribute to ADHD symptoms. The researchers suggested it may be beneficial for people with ADHD to be checked for deficiencies.
Possible Side Effects
Two of the commonly studied supplements for ADHD are magnesium and zinc.
Side effects of magnesium supplements include:
Diarrhea
Nausea
Abdominal cramping
Very high doses of magnesium may cause magnesium toxicity, which is serious and can be fatal.
Too much zinc can cause side effects such as:
Nausea
Vomiting
Loss of appetite
Stomach cramps
Diarrhea
Headaches
Both magnesium and zinc can interact with other medications and supplements. Consult your healthcare professional and pharmacist before use.
Dosage and Preparation
How much magnesium, zinc, or other vitamin and mineral supplements to take is highly variable depending on the person.
Talk to your healthcare provider to determine if you or your child needs vitamin or mineral supplements, and what dosage to take.
Melatonin
Melatonin is a hormone secreted primarily by the pineal gland (located deep in the brain). It regulates your sleep-wake cycles.
Health Benefits
People with ADHD commonly experience problems with sleep.
The medications used to treat ADHD can also affect sleep.
Melatonin taken by children and adults with primary sleep disorders has been shown to:
Decrease sleep latency (how long it takes to fall asleep)
Increase total sleep time
Improve sleep quality
While melatonin hasn’t been shown to improve ADHD symptoms directly, it can help people with ADHD improve their sleep.
Possible Side Effects
Melatonin is considered safe for short-term use, but there are no studies to determine safety for long-term use. No significant side effects of melatonin use in children have been reported.
Side effects of melatonin are uncommon but can include:
Drowsiness
Headache
Dizziness
Nausea
Dosage and Preparation
Typically, 3–6 milligrams (depending on the child’s weight) of melatonin is taken about a half an hour before bedtime.
Supplements That Have Not Been Proven Safe or Effective
There is insufficient evidence on the safety and efficacy of these supplements to support their use in the treatment of ADHD:
Pycnogenol (extract of French maritime pine bark)
Ginkgo biloba
Saint-John’s-wort
What to Look For
So many CAM treatments are suggested for ADHD that it can be hard to separate fact from fiction.
Have clinical trials been conducted to prove this treatment works?
Is information about this treatment available from a trusted source?
Is there a respected national organization of people who practice this therapy?
Does the person administering the treatment need a state license?
Does my health insurance cover this treatment? (Insurance carriers usually won’t cover unproven treatments)
CHADD suggests some red flags to look for that indicate the treatment is suspicious and should be avoided, including if:
They claim that the treatment works for everyone with ADHD, even though no single treatment is effective for everyone.
There is a lack of credible research and studies and only anecdotal evidence (derived from stories people tell).
No directions are given for using it properly or the contents are not listed on medication containers
There is no information about side effects.
They claim that the product is natural without acknowledging that “natural” does not necessarily mean safe.
There are bold claims such as the treatment is “a secret formula,” “astonishing,” “miraculous,” “an amazing breakthrough” or a “cure.”
You learn about it through infomercials or a book an author is trying to sell.
The “medication” comes by mail order instead of through a healthcare professional.
They claim that doctors unfairly talk down the treatment or won’t tell the public about it.
Summary
Stimulant medications are the treatment most supported by evidence in the treatment of ADHD, but other treatments are sometimes suggested. While dietary supplements may not help ADHD symptoms on their own, they can help manage deficiencies that affect ADHD symptoms.
Before starting any treatment for ADHD, talk to your healthcare professional. It is important to determine if there are any deficiencies in you or your child before treating with supplements.
A Word From Verywell
Living with ADHD can be challenging, so it is natural to look for ways to address its symptoms. But be aware that supplements are not without risks for side effects, toxic overload, or interactions with other medications. Because a product is “natural” does not mean it is safe. Be sure to discuss any supplements with your healthcare professional before taking them.
/GettyImages-1312756371-f2fd2bafcab14f6b824432cec90b3d91.jpg "Natural Supplements For ADHD: Benefits and Side Effects")