Published on 12, July, 2020
Hey guys!
I have a lovely, but demanding 3.5 year old daughter who was diagnosed with ASC over a year ago.
Now she is getting older, her symptoms, temper and sleeplessness is becoming worse (terrible threes?)
I'm a big believer in alternative therapies and regularly use CBD oil on myself and Personal training clients.
We've tried everything under the sun for her ongoing sleeping issues: Magnesium liquid, Vitamin D spray, Melatonin, oats, Lavender oil and Homeopathy, but nothing works!
We've literally never had an entire week of her sleeping through the night, since her birth.
Wife and I are at the end of our tethers!
We've now started using CBD from a company called the Original Alternative (formerly CBD brothers), who where kind enough to give me a sample bottle of their Purple Edition Formula, which is a Sativa/ Indica blend, and only 0.021% THC.
See: Purple Edition
Three weeks in and we've noticed minor improvements to her mood/ anxiety, however her sleep has not improved and she will be awake 2-5 hours every night!
We have been adviced that we can increase the dosage to two pumps per day in her drink (currently only having one per day), but I'm now wondering if its the Sativa in the blend which can be slightly stimulating (versus Indica).
Anyone had any experience (positive or negative) using CBD please?
Any ideas/ products would be appreciated! :-)
Hi, Papa. I’m sorry for your daughter. I wish she hadn’t suffered from bad sleep. I can tell you from my experience that THC is really good for better sleep. It all began when my brother passed away, and I was diagnosed with anxiety, so my doctor prescribed THC. Tbh, I was surprised until I found this article https://www.kirklandreporter.com/blog/weed-gummies-5-reasons-why-everyone-needs-a-little-thc-in-their-life/. It turned out that thc can cure not only anxiety but bad sleep too. So you can try it. Anyway, I think it would be better to ask your doctor about this. Hope I’ve helped you. Best wishes
It seems that my moral dilemma has only become stronger after this topic. I took CBD a few years ago to ease my recovery from a sports injury. It is a great thing for me. I stopped using it as soon as I stopped seeing the need for pain relief. Although, a recent article on Fit Health Ways makes me think about resuming the oil. This time it should help my anxiety. But giving CBD to my son...? How much moral controversy does CBD cause! I'd let my son choose when he was at least 14 years old.
CBD Gummies with melatonin train your brain to sleep better. Melatonin is a naturally occurring hormone released during sleep that helps to regulate many functions in your body. Whether it's helping to prevent sleep paralysis or easing depression and anxiety, CBD has been shown to positively affect several physiological systems in the body. Additionally, many people experience an improvement in mood or energy upon taking CBD. I give this to my kids, and they are sleeping very well. Also, I am using it, and I am very delighted with its effect.CBD sleeping gums
I respectfully disagree with some of your points. I really don’t feel that you can equate parents trying to find ways to help alleviate the anxiety of their children as abuse. I have suffered with lifelong anxiety related to my autism which, as a young person, resulted in OCD and then a decade long eating disorder that very nearly killed me. I am now medicated for my anxiety and I am very grateful for it as it has improved my quality of life dramatically. I know other adult individuals with ASD have also found medication helpful - Temple Gardin for one speaks openly about taking sertraline. Whilst I can very much understand your concern about alternative therapies and administering supplements without consultation with a doctor, I don’t see any problem with trying new therapies under the guidance of medical professionals where other support has failed and where this is done with the consent of the child.
At risk of upsetting many people posting here: Do not medicate your child.
Seriously, alternative therapies don't work. If they did they'd be called medicine. So don't abuse your child.
Learn how to manage her behaviour, and teach her how to manage it. It's going to be an essential life skill for her anyway, unless you're planning on drugging her for the next few decades.
We have discovered cbd gummies, mentioned positively by parents of pda’ ers like my son. They are delicious! And whilst the earth hasnt moved, we can definitely see a difference in my 11year old pda’er - first time ever we really think something is lowering anxiety, even just slightly. Very hard to know dosage though as not enough research, I would like to increase the dose but am wary as there is so little info out there. But so far it’s great.
Graham , that’s excellent ! You are very kind to reply so quickly - I’ll put an order in ! Thanks and have a good day.
Hello M.o.a.m,
I buy the oolong tea from here: https://www.imperialteas.co.uk/deer-valley-gabalong-oolong
There is a paper about oolong tea here: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnut.2019.00027/full
I get about 45 cups per 100gm. I drink it out of a cup, rather than a mug.
A small study with children was published about a year ago: https://pureportal.coventry.ac.uk/en/publications/a-double-blind-placebo-controlled-randomised-designed-gaba-tea-st
GABA in tea can’t pass the blood barrier, so some of the science is suspect. I have found it useful.
Dear Graham,
This is very interesting ! I think we need some of your special tea ! I just did a search and similar named tea came up on Amazon. Is it tea leaves ? Could you recommend a seller ? Would love to try ! Thanks in advance
My daughter was prescribed this in October, leaflet says not for under 18 as it is an off label use as it is licensed in uk for treatment of adults, it is to cover the company many medications are prescribed in the same way like antidepressants for pain and urinary problems beta blockers being prescribed for migraine. If your child has been prescribed it then I recommend trying.
A recent study has shown that children with what is termed ‘severe autism’ suffer from what is called ‘epileptiform abnormalities’ or EEG abnormalities.
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10803-019-03908-2
This may be why some children respond positively to CBD oil. My father - who has Parkinsons - found the CBD oil from Original Alternative to be the most efficacious.
I drink a cup of GABA fortified oolong tea everyday and have found this has enabled me to greatly reduce the dosage of my anti-depressants.
I do not have any medical qualifications, just passing on information.
P.S. Homeopathy never works - it is pseudoscience at its most flimsy.
As an update, we have now taken our girl off 5-htp which caused quite a strong withdrawal symptoms (irritability, less sleep) as our Doctor recommended Melatonin instead.
We have now been prescribed Melatonin, but the bottle says not to use under 18 years old, so we're holding off that for now till I research its safety!
This is a great article all about weighted blankets and gives a really good review and range of prices. Please note these can be used for both children and adults:
https://www.standard.co.uk/shopping/esbest/home-garden/bedroom/best-weighted-blankets-a3912931.html
Best wishes
Melatonin is Not legal in the UK!!! That's why you have to order them online melatonin is classified a medication in the UK and only way to get it is from a doctor and depending what area you live in some gp's can't even prescribe it must be peadiatrics. I know the product says serotonin but I would check with a doctor first. But since these appear to be sold over the counter in UK maybe they skate round the law due to different chemical composition
I made the mistake of buying some online they were fantastic my daughter sleeps 3 hours on a good night and when taking these she did 8-10 but I got in alot of trouble so would not recommend
We toyed with the idea of weighted blankets, but they're so expensive!
Where did you source one from please?
The thing with Melatonin is that is helps with Getting your little one to sleep, but does not keep them asleep.
We tried Melatonin Gummies sold by Yumi (see: https://www.yuminutrition.com/collections/products), but it seems they have now disontinued them for some reason, but have a similar product with 5-htp included, which I'm not sure is suitable.
See new ones: www.yuminutrition.com/.../sleep-gummies
They where only 1mg per gummie, which is a good starting dosage. Usually prescriptions start at 2mg.
Might be worth a go!
It is not licenced in UK I just got in big trouble ordering it only a paediatrician can give it. Even gp can't give it I have been living on 3 hours sleep a night for 6 years and no one will help so I brought some online and it worked but I have been reported to gp and they are considering call social services on me for it
Have you tried a weighted blanket? For some children it is like a magic wand and is highly recommended by practitioners and sleep therapists.
After spending years of sleepless nights I found the simplest of things really really effective.... you will think me mad when you click the link but it works for my little chap who is is now 6 but was at about the same age as your daughter when I first tried it recommended by a fellow parent with an autistic child: It is a baby lullaby toy but with a difference in that it has a heart beat which really soothes instantly a restless child, the rhythm of the beat brings the child down gently and aids sleep.
Also I use a children's mindfulness CD found (fantastic!) on amazon by searching childrens mindfulness CD.... this is excellent and really does work at relaxing and aiding sleep. On his worst days this really works, I just switch it on wait for the words to start and then say goodnight with no fuss.
Link for the lullaby sheep: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B011CCMOTE/ref=asc_df_B011CCMOTE58373703/?tag=googshopuk-21&creative=22146&creativeASIN=B011CCMOTE&linkCode=df0&hvadid=223350381256&hvpos=1o2&hvnetw=g&hvrand=407880475553327430&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9045691&hvtargid=pla-381100786532
Link for the CD: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bedtime-Meditations-for-Kids/dp/B002SQF8J2/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1549478591&sr=8-6&keywords=mindfulness+cd+for+children
Worth trying toddler yoga to teach relaxed breathing in the day which will aid sleep too.
Best wishes xx
If you search online..that's your best bet.
I have no personal experience of it.
hi there,
sorry I don't know anything about the cbd oil but my daughter was diagnosed at 3 with severe autism and I have been looking into melatonin to help her sleep for a while now but don't know how to go about it ? do you know if I can buy it from the chemist or would need a prescription from her gp she sees lots of specialists but they have never recommended it.