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CBD for PTSD

PTSD, although an increasingly common condition, continues to be misunderstood. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder is frequently associated with vets, however it impacts people from all walks of life for a variety of reasons. Any form of traumatic event including childhood neglect, sexual or physical abuse can result in PTSD.

Unfortunately the pharmaceutical medications available for PTSD often lead to a plethora of side effects including nausea, headaches, and lack of sex drive. The over-prescribing of these medications have fed into an opioid epidemic unlike this country has ever seen before. While there are a large variety of alternative treatments available it’s difficult to assess their effectiveness. CBD, or cannabidiol, a compound found in cannabis, has recently been discovered to be a highly effective treatment for PTSD and is increasingly being recommended by physicians.

Before we discuss the benefits of CBD, take a look at these alarming PTSD statistics:

  • Up to 8% of Americans suffer from PTSD. That’s 24.4 million people!

  • Up to 11% of vets returning from Afghanistan have it and 20% of troops who fought in Iraq

  • 70% of Americans experience at least one traumatic event in their lifetime

Living with PTSD is a nightmare. Night terrors to anxiety brought on simply from being in a crowd, you never know when it will strike. Living perpetually on the cusp of panic is pain staking and exhausting.

Recent studies show that CBD could be the answer. THC, the compound in marijuana that causes the high, has long been touted as a PTSD treatment. While it is effective, residents of many states can’t use it legally due to federal and state laws. CBD, grown from hemp, is legal in most states and easy to purchase and it won’t get you high.

Studies show that PTSD sufferers have low levels of anandamide. Anandamide is an endocannabinoid also known as the bliss molecule. CBD works to replace your anandamide levels which in turn helps treat PTSD. PTSD patients all have lower than normal levels of endocannabinoids, and higher CB1 receptor densities. Normally, the CB1 receptor deactivates any traumatic memories so you basically forget. An endocannabinoid deficiency, on the other hand, will cause chronic anxiety, impaired fear distinction, and other issues linked with PTSD. Cannabinoids act on the two receptors, CB1 and CB2, and helps them regain normal function.

People living with PTSD are in a constant state of fear. CBD helps to reduce learned fear. Unlike prescription medication, CBD gets to the root of the issue!

Studies involving treating PTSD with CBD have been promising. It seems to allow PTSD patients to manage the three primary symptoms, which are Hyperarousal, Avoidance & Numbing, and Re-experiencing. in a 2009-2011 study by Greer, Grob, and Halberstadt 80 patients were given marijuana for their PTSD resulting in a 75% reduction in symptoms.

Another study in Frontiers in Pharmacology showed that CBD was an effective treatment for specific phobias and PTSD. They gave rats 10mg of CBD and some time after consuming the CBD, they exhibited much less fear.

Pre-clinical evidence from a study by Blessing et al. in 2015 also stated that “CBD has considerable potential as a treatment for multiple anxiety orders,” including PTSD.

The most exciting aspect of CBD is its potential for long-term positive effects. The prescription medications available have short-term benefits and much longer-term side effects.

A truly enlightening review by Emrich et al. determined that cannabis has the potential to reduce the “strength or emotional impact of traumatic memory through synergistic mechanisms.” It’s easier for PTSD patients to rest. They feel less anxious, and less likely to suffer flashbacks. More importantly, these effects are not just temporary!

If nothing else, CBD will improve performance, increase energy and improve your level of self-confidence. CBD is ideal for daytime and nighttime use. It was even voted one of the best alternative treatments for anxiety and PTSD for 2017!

Shop our online store or come in and visit one of our stores where our knowledgeable, friendly staff can help you choose the best CBD product to treat your PTSD.

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