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Best strains and terpenes for ADHD

Best strains and terpenes for ADHD

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For people with ADHD, cannabis has long been a source of relief and support. 

Despite the prevalence of ADHD diagnosis over the past 20 years, it is still a relatively poorly understood neurological disorder, and cannabis use was not looked on favorably. But recently, scientists have begun to explore cannabis as a form of medication, rather than comorbidity. 

The scientific evidence behind using medical marijuana for ADHD is still in the early stages, with most research in preclinical trials, meaning there isn’t yet human testing. However, this evidence is still useful, pointing you in the right direction to customize your cannabis experience to ensure a positive experience. 

To find the best kind of cannabis for you, focus on the cannabinoid and terpene profiles, rather than the strain names. 

Strains mentioned in this article:

How cannabis can help with ADHD

ADHD, attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder, is a neurodevelopmental disorder that often presents in inattentiveness, impulse problems, and overactivity. 1

Some 4.4% of American adults are diagnosed with ADHD, with 5.4% of men and 3.4% of women afflicted. It is most easily recognizable in men, potentially leading to underdiagnosis in women. Due to this gap, the real number of people living with ADHD is thought to be higher. 2  

Typical symptoms of ADHD include: 

  • Inability to relax
  • Restlessness
  • Lack of sleep
  • Mind-wandering/ lack of focus
  • Emotional instability

Additionally, people with ADHD also have high rates of comorbid anxiety and depression. 3

Can cannabis help with ADHD symptoms? 

As recently as 2021, researchers began exploring ADHD as a form of endocannabinoid deficiency. People with ADHD often have a hard time with executive function, the cognitive processes that govern our daily tasks and activities. A lack of dopamine production associated with completing tasks can make it challenging for people with ADHD to start tasks they know they need to.  

A 2021 study found that people with ADHD have lower levels of endocannabinoids that lead to dopamine and serotonin deficiencies. 4

The endocannabinoid system has a complex relationship with dopamine production and cannabis use is one way of supplementing cannabinoid levels. The authors noted that there is “ample neurochemical evidence” that  “unequivocally establishes specific phytocannabinoids increase anandamide concentrations, the endocannabinoids responsible for releasing dopamine.” 

More specifically, CBD has been postulated to increase anandamide (AEA) levels by occupying specific proteins, preventing them from transporting or breaking down AEA. 5

CBD and other phytocannabinoids have also been seen in laboratory studies to activate or block certain dopamine and serotonin pathways–some of the most important neurotransmitters in ADHD. 6

Additional studies on cannabis & ADHD

  • A 2016 online review of cannabis and ADHD posts found that 25% of posts contained mention of therapeutic effects of cannabis on ADHD symptoms while 8% reported worse symptoms. 7
  • There is a case report of a patient who used cannabis to treat severe ADHD and improve behavioral symptoms, reduce emotional instability, and improve sleep. 8
  • A 2017 study found that Sativex, a THC dominant nasal spray, had “nominally significant” improvements on hyperactivity and inattention. The authors noted the study “provides preliminary evidence supporting the self-medication theory of cannabis use in ADHD.” 9

None of this means cannabis is a magic cure for ADHD. In fact studies suggest that heavy, long term THC use can lead to neurodevelopmental issues, increasing the risk or symptoms of ADHD. People with ADHD are at a higher risk for substance abuse as well as cannabis use disorder and cannabis use should be carefully considered with a medical professional., 10 11

This doesn’t mean that cannabis can’t be helpful for people with ADHD, as it clearly can be, but rather that each individual has a complex relationship with the plant. This is an evolving area of research, and as of yet, there are no large-scale studies to examine the relationship between cannabis use and ADHD. (The pharmacological interaction between cannabis and ADHD meds is another subject entirely.)

How to choose cannabis for ADHD

Not all cannabis strains are created equal. There isn’t one “good strain” for ADHD- it’s a combination of the right cannabinoids, terpenes, and your personal preference. 

Forget what you know about strain names and let go of the indica/sativa debate. These are both poor markers of how a strain will affect you. Strain names aren’t regulated, so a grower can slap any label they want onto a strain, even with wildly different chemical profiles, and sativa and indica are nothing more than plant names with no indication as to the chemical profiles. 

The thing that matters most is the chemovar, and there are three types of chemovars: 

  • Type I: High THC
  • Type II: THC/ CBD
  • Type III: High CBD 

The best type of cannabis for ADHD is a type II or type III strain, depending on your personal comfortability with being high and your anxiety levels. 

While many people with ADHD report tolerating THC well, anxiety is a common comorbidity to ADHD, making the presence of CBD important for a positive experience. CBD can have mood-stabilizing effects 12 while THC has a biphasic effect, which means it produces different effects in different doses. A high dose of THC can be more distracting than focusing. 13

Many people who are self-medicating with cannabis may be consuming too much. A micro-dose of cannabis every few hours may provide the benefits you’re seeking without distracting you by being high. 14

Your delivery method is also important. While smoking is best for quick absorption, an oral delivery method such as tinctures is more beneficial for day-to-day maintenance. 

Best terpenes for ADHD

Common terpenes in cannabis

Linalool

For focus, mood-boosting, and relaxation

  • Linalool acts as a depressant on the central nervous system which can have a calming effect on an overactive nervous system. 15
  • Linalool was found to improve learning and memory in a preclinical rodent study, as well as prevent “learning and spatial memory deficits.” It also has well-tracked anti-anxiety and antidepressant effects. 16

Pinene

For focus, mood-boosting, and sleep

  • Alpha-pinene slows the breakdown of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter responsible for memory, attention and learning. 17
  • Daily use of pinene led to increased attention spans, enhanced secondary memory performance and a marked improvement in cognition and mood in a 2019 review of pinene studies. The authors also noted pinene is a historical sleep aid. 18

Limonene

For focus, mood-boosting, and relaxation 

  • Limonene, the main ingredient in lemon essential oil, showed a strong ability to improve memory in a preclinical in vitro study. It also increased dopamine concentration. 19
  • A 2021 review of studies found a “considerable number of studies” showing Limonene has mood stabilizing and anti-depressant effects. 20

Beta-caryophyllene

For relaxation

  • Beta-caryophyllene has been shown in preclinical studies to have anti-anxiety and antidepressant effects, two common comorbidities with ADHD. 21

If you aren’t able to get the terpene profile of your weed, you can also complement your cannabis use with essential oils. Essential oils are rich with terpenes which can act synergistically with cannabis and provide targeted benefits. Just make sure your oils are food-grade and safe for consumption. 

Best weed strains for ADHD

Best strains for focus 

Reach for type III strains with high concentrations of linalool, pinene, and limonene when you need to get down to business. A CBD-heavy strain keeps you from getting too high to focus while the terpenes can boost memory and retention. Marijuana strains with this profile include Canna-Tsu and Ringo’s Gift.

Best strains for relaxing 

If you need help quieting your mind, look for a type II strain with high concentrations of linalool, pinene, or limonene. Strains with this profile include ACDC and Cannatonic

Best strains for mood-boosting effects 

When you need a little help to have a good day, reach for a type II strain with linalool, limonene, or beta-caryophyllene. Euphoria-inducing THC is balanced by CBD to avoid anxiety while the terpenes provide anti-depressive effects. Weed strains with this chemical profile include Gelato and Harmony Rose.

Sources

  1. Magnus W, Nazir S, Anilkumar AC, et al. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. [Updated 2021 Aug 20]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK441838/
  2. Kessler RC, Berglund P, Chiu WT, et al. The US National Comorbidity Survey Replication (NCS-R): design and field procedures. Int J Methods Psychiatr Res. 2004;13(2):69-92. doi:10.1002/mpr.167
  3. D’Agati E, Curatolo P, Mazzone L. Comorbidity between ADHD and anxiety disorders across the lifespan. Int J Psychiatry Clin Pract. 2019 Nov;23(4):238-244. doi: 10.1080/13651501.2019.1628277. Epub 2019 Jun 24. PMID: 31232613.
  4. David A Dawson, Clare P Persad. Targeting the Endocannabinoid System in the Treatment of ADHD. Genet Mol Med. 2021; 3(1): 1-7.
  5. Elmes MW, Kaczocha M, Berger WT, et al. Fatty acid-binding proteins (FABPs) are intracellular carriers for Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). J Biol Chem. 2015;290(14):8711-8721. doi:10.1074/jbc.M114.618447
  6. Mlost J, Bryk M, Starowicz K. Cannabidiol for Pain Treatment: Focus on Pharmacology and Mechanism of Action. Int J Mol Sci. 2020;21(22):8870. Published 2020 Nov 23. doi:10.3390/ijms21228870
  7. John T. Mitchell ,Maggie M. Sweitzer,Angela M. Tunno,Scott H. Kollins,F. Joseph McClernon Published: May 26, 2016 https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0156614
  8. Hupli A, M, M: Medical Cannabis for Adult Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: Sociological Patient Case Report of Cannabinoid Therapeutics in Finland. Med Cannabis Cannabinoids 2018;1:112-118. doi: 10.1159/000495307
  9. Cooper, Williams, Seegobin, Tye, Kuntsi, Asherson, Cannabinoids in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: A randomised-controlled trial, European Neuropsychopharmacology, Volume 27, Issue 8,2017,Pages 795-808,ISSN 0924-977X, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.euroneuro.2017.05.005.
  10. MacDonald, B., Sadek, J. Naturalistic exploratory study of the associations of substance use on ADHD outcomes and function. BMC Psychiatry 21, 251 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-021-03263-6
  11. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5568505/pdf/nihms893124.pdf
  12. Khan, R., Naveed, S., Mian, N. et al. The therapeutic role of Cannabidiol in mental health: a systematic review. J Cannabis Res 2, 2 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1186/s42238-019-0012-y
  13. Calabrese EJ, Rubio-Casillas A. Biphasic effects of THC in memory and cognition. Eur J Clin Invest. 2018 May;48(5):e12920. doi: 10.1111/eci.12920. Epub 2018 Apr 2. PMID: 29574698.
  14. MacCallum CA, Russo EB. Practical considerations in medical cannabis administration and dosing. Eur J Intern Med. 2018;49:12-19. doi:10.1016/j.ejim.2018.01.004
  15. Leal-Cardoso JH, da Silva-Alves KS, Ferreira-da-Silva FW, dos Santos-Nascimento T, Joca HC, de Macedo FH, de Albuquerque-Neto PM, Magalhães PJ, Lahlou S, Cruz JS, Barbosa R. Linalool blocks excitability in peripheral nerves and voltage-dependent Na+ current in dissociated dorsal root ganglia neurons. Eur J Pharmacol. 2010 Oct 25;645(1-3):86-93. doi: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2010.07.014. Epub 2010 Jul 22. PMID: 20655301.
  16. Weston-Green, K., Clunas, H., & Jimenez Naranjo, C. (2021). A Review of the Potential Use of Pinene and Linalool as Terpene-Based Medicines for Brain Health: Discovering Novel Therapeutics in the Flavours and Fragrances of Cannabis. Frontiers in psychiatry, 12, 583211. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2021.583211
  17. Dohi S, Terasaki M, Makino M. Acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity and chemical composition of commercial essential oils. J Agric Food Chem. 2009 May 27;57(10):4313-8. doi: 10.1021/jf804013j. Epub 2009 Apr 9. PMID: 19358605.
  18. Salehi, B., Upadhyay, S., Erdogan Orhan, I., Kumar Jugran, A., L D Jayaweera, S., A Dias, D., Sharopov, F., Taheri, Y., Martins, N., Baghalpour, N., Cho, W. C., & Sharifi-Rad, J. (2019). Therapeutic Potential of α- and β-Pinene: A Miracle Gift of Nature. Biomolecules, 9(11), 738. https://doi.org/10.3390/biom9110738
  19. Zhou W, Fukumoto S, Yokogoshi H. Components of lemon essential oil attenuate dementia induced by scopolamine. Nutr Neurosci. 2009 Apr;12(2):57-64. doi: 10.1179/147683009X388832. PMID: 19356307.
  20. Eddin, L. B., Jha, N. K., Meeran, M., Kesari, K. K., Beiram, R., & Ojha, S. (2021). Neuroprotective Potential of Limonene and Limonene Containing Natural Products. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland), 26(15), 4535. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26154535
  21. Bahi A, Al Mansouri S, Al Memari E, Al Ameri M, Nurulain SM, Ojha S. β-Caryophyllene, a CB2 receptor agonist produces multiple behavioral changes relevant to anxiety and depression in mice. Physiol Behav. 2014 Aug;135:119-24. doi: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2014.06.003. Epub 2014 Jun 13. PMID: 24930711.
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Conversation

  1. Clearly written and researched by a normie. ADHD folks are often helped more by the high THC strains. CBD can increase our anxiety. (Remember they give us amphetamines for focus).

  2. I do enjoy Linalool. It helps with calming anxiety. For the ADHD, Terpinolene is the clear winner for me. I see it discussed in user forums but not cited in studies.

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