Sunday 10 August 2014

Marijuana for PTSD

PTSD is a condition that affects many veterans, especially those who see combat.  This is something that happens to many people, and it can be hard to live life. It triggers abuse, and this definitely has created a different state of mind for many. Fortunately, marijuana could be the answer, and for many people, it is. 

Cannabis and PTSD 

The thing with cannabis is that it can help with all kinds of trauma that people deal with. It’s important to understand that those who aren’t directly in combat may develop PTSD, and usually, there is a condition that’s under all of this, and people get triggered through this. There is a theory that recently came up that the deficiency of the endocannabinoids within the body might be the reason for this.



For those who don’t know, endocannabinoids are various compounds that our body is able to naturally produce. This is something that’s produced in the flowers of the cannabis plant, but they’re called Phyto cannabinoids. Now, for those who don't know, endocannabinoids are really good for mood regulation, and imbalances of this may be the reason for PTSD conditions, and also anxiety, depression, fear, and also sadness too.  There are many who struggle with PTSD, and who may use cannabis to help with mood regulation. 

Our body creates a fear response whenever we are in danger, and a desire to fight.  This, of course, causes various neurochemicals within the body to show up. For those with PTSD, these bouts of panic and fear can be triggering in very simple situations.  This can also be quite stressful, even after the danger is long gone.  This is something that some people with PTSD don’t have. They’re unable to fully extinguish the fear. 

While there are different systems that are involved in this, anandamide is one of the key parts of this, as this is the one that’s responsible for serotonin uptake. 

The serotonin imbalance that people go through is what causes depression, anxiety, nightmares, and the like.

When you supplement the body with the Phyto cannabinoids, it can help with reducing the fear response, and quell those PTSD episodes that happen. 

The Best Strains for the job 

The next thing to ask, is the ideal strain and the delivery methods for those that deal with PTSD. 

If your PTSD symptoms involve panic attacks, low THC strains and various delivery methods that offer faster times for the action to take place including smoking, vaping, and tinctures are the best way to do this.



If you have nightmares and struggle with sleep, including insomnia, something that’s high in THC, and faster delivery might be the best one to have before you go to bed.

Usually, those patients as well also suffer from different symptoms, and also might benefit from different varieties of formulas and methods of delivery too. For instance, the low-THC ones that you inhale might be good for those who have sudden panic attacks. Those higher in THC may want to look for these when they need to catch some Zs. 

If you’re taking this, always start off with the minimal, and then, figure out the right dosage. This is something that does vary, and you may need to take a few weeks to get to the ideal dosage that won’t make you feel tired, or even paranoid as well.  You can also cut back on this as the effects begin to diminish. 



Cannabis is a great tool for a variety of conditions, and for those who deal with PTSD and trauma, this could be a godsend for that condition and the problems too.