Cannabigerolic Acid for ADHD
The collective pain of mental disorders.
Mental illness is widespread and debilitating. And there are underutilized solutions that we should be using on a daily basis. The remedies of plant medicine may lie beyond every stricture of modern science, yet they do exist and are the subject of extensive research.
Mental disorders affect 1 in every 10 people you meet in the world. These disorders are manifested in different forms, from mild anxiety to difficult-to-manage Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and PTSD. These mental disorders lead to a significant number of hospital visits and deaths in the world. About 14.3% of deaths recorded globally are from psycho-cognitive disorders.
If you haven’t been affected by mental illness, then you know someone who has.
ADHD is a common mental disorder affecting children (although it can be found in adults too). People who suffer from the disease can report the inability to pay attention/focus, hyperactivity and impulsivity. The prevalence of the diseases is estimated at 84% for children and 2.5% for adults. The onset of the condition is first identified in school children when it leads to disruption in the classroom and other problems at school. While the disorder can affect all ages, it is more common in boys than girls.
Mental disorders like ADHD require an intense level of care to manage. While some of these diseases are difficult to treat, scientists are discovering how the use of cannabinoids can assist in managing the symptoms and help prevent the chronic forms of the disease.
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CBGA as Drug-free ADHD Treatment
Treating mental disorders requires a great deal of research which can run into several years. Although there is a wealth of anecdotal evidence, only a limited body of research supports CBGA use for ADHD. So far, research has shown that the disease has a strong connection with GABA receptors. The key may lie in a better understanding of CBGA’s metabolism through the energy production of the cell, i.e-mitochondria.
These are part of the receptors where CBGA produces its therapeutic potentials. Read our article on CBGA targets.
It is pertinent to note that most mental disorders have a direct connection with GABA receptors, and that CBGA affects related receptors trillions of times per minute. These receptors are responsible for controlling several inhibitory signaling in the central nervous system. Upon activation, GABA receptors bring about neuronal hyperpolarization and inhibition of neuronal signaling.
The role of GABA receptors in ADHD cannot be overemphasized; information from research shows that low GABA levels are associated with ADHD. These low levels are usually accompanied by inattention, while high glutamate levels can bring about aggression or impulsivity.
The direct connection with GABA receptors is a good indicator that CBGA can play an active role here. The therapeutic effects of CBGA on ADHD have been utilized in controlling seizures, where researchers discovered CBGA possessed a better anticonvulsant activity than CBD. If explored, this may open new doors in mental health treatment.
ADHD Symptom Management
In addition to possibly treating ADHD through modulating GABA receptors, CBGA possesses a good anxiolytic property which allows people to rest and focus on tasks. Its sleep-inducing ability and antidepressant property may serve the purpose of assisting people with ADHD to get enough rest. By interacting with GABA receptors and other neurotransmitters, CBGA may trigger the release of feel-good hormones, which promote relaxation and focus.
CBGA can promote the generation of new brain cells via neurogenesis, which keeps the brain in good shape. A functional brain is more likely to pay attention. The fact that CBGA is also involved in promoting internal balance/homeostasis is a good sign. The antioxidant properties of CBGA can neutralize the harmful effects of free radicals and keep the body as balanced as possible. There are also anti-inflammatory properties that can promote healthy living.
Note that CBGA shows little to no interaction with CB1 and CB2 receptors but has been documented to act on other cannabinoids that promote healthy living.
A Way forward
We await more research and clinical trials to expose the possible use of CBGA for ADHD, PTSD and other mental conditions. This much is certain: CBGA poses intriguing prospects as a precursor compound for other cannabinoids. The unique metabolic functions of CBGA, especially when combined with other acidic cannabinoids, hold new promise for human health and a global society growing toward wholeness.
We all have the ability to look inside and make choices to better ourselves and others, to foster the growth of compassion.
If you struggle with someone, or you’re struggling yourself, I hope you know that there is a way out. Physician, heal thyself is a motto at life Research. I would add, give and it is given to you.
So if you know someone who’s suffering with mental illness, the kind that modern medicine seems to have no solid answer for, tell them about drug-free alternatives.
Chronic mental conditions like ADHD are so taxing on all of us as a society because there is no magic bullet. However there’s more than enough reason to believe that treatments like CBGA do work wonders, maybe not for everyone, but for some.
This is about the health of our global society, and realizing the wondrous truth that we have so much more to gain from Nature than we could ever imagine. Healing is just the beginning. Nature, even in her apparent polarity and chaos, conceals answers to even the most complex and painful problems.
