A new study by UCL in the UK has found that cannabis compounds hold promise as treatments for
post-traumatic stress disorder but has highlighted the difficulties with obtaining sufficient evidence.
Cannabis is already an approved treatment for PTSD in US states which permit medicinal cannabis use. In the UK, however, although medicinal cannabis was legalized in September 2008, there have been major practical problems with its implementation, and it's thought that fewer than 100 patients have actually benefited
[2].
UCL researchers found that significant numbers of PTSD patients - it's a condition thought to affect 1% of the UK population - already self-medicate, some with prescriptions obtained from the US. However, few previous studies have been undertaken, due to legal restrictions, and researchers found that the quality of the evidence in those previous studies was poor. With insufficient clinical evidence, the UCL team concluded that they were unable to make any recommendations about its use for PTSD in the UK
[1].
Nevertheless, the study reports that
cannabinoids appear to be effective in treating PTSD in a number of different ways, and importantly, the study, published in the journal Dual Diagnosis, calls for further research to be undertaken, citing a significant clinical need
[1].
How Does Cannabis Treat PTSD?It is known that the body's own endocannabinoid system plays a role in memory consolidation and retrieval
[3]. By activating receptors in this system, cannabinoid compounds from cannabis could prevent the retrieval of
traumatic memories or create neurotransmitters which promote happiness and wellbeing
[4].
The studies looked at by UCL researchers do show evidence that cannabinoids appear to help reduce nightmares and help healthy sleep in PTSD sufferers, as well as influencing how the brain accesses the underlying memories
[1].
Two Options: THC or CBDResearchers note concerns that cannabinoid use may be dangerous for people with a history of psychosis
[5]. Since previous studies mostly focused on veterans, a population which reports high levels of hallucinations
[6], it is likely to be important moving forwards to focus on
CBD as a potential solution. THC is the psychoactive compound in cannabis, and its use is intensely restricted in the UK.
CBD, the non-psychoactive compound which can be extracted from hemp, is more widely accepted.Studies have shown that people suffering from PTSD have significantly lower than normal levels of anandamide
[7], a natural endocannabinoid which has a role to play in
depression and memory.
It appears that CBD can act as a natural booster for anandamide, offering a potential route towards PTSD treatment which would eliminate the concerns which tend to mask possible treatment with THC.
Furthermore, UCL researchers acknowledge that treatment with cannabinoids could well be a clinically safer option than current pharmaceutical treatments for PTSD. As the report says,
"the use of cannabinoids may be more effective and with less risk of addiction in comparison to alternatives such as benzodiazepines or opiate-based medications, thereby providing a safer therapeutic alternative."Potentially good news indeed for PTSD suffers in the UK, whose treatment options are lagging behind those of their US counterparts.
Article sources[1] tandfonline.com
[2] t
heguardian.com
[3] ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
[4] healthcareinamerica.us
[5] insights.ovid.com
[6]cambridge.org
[7] sciencedaily.com
If you take "medicine" to lessen the severity you just self perpetuate the misery, fear your triggers, and demand that society change to suit your needs so you don't get triggered. You are hiding from the symptoms, you never get them to stop that way.
Most of the people I know that claim to have PTSD are just saying that to get either pity, or free money, or are just feeble.
I have had guns in my face, seen people blown away, drown three times, been stuck up a cliff thirty feet from the top, a hundred feet from the bottom for hours, (no, joe biden wasn't talking about me) pulled people off of others whom they were beating to death, only to face the ass whooping myself, dealt with people trying to stab me, my kid almost dying (two emergency surgeries) poor kid still aint right. Ive had bears stalk me, cougars, bobcats, I could go on and on..... (used to work in the bars, shit work!! and go hiking by myself all the time to pick edible mushrooms and prospect for gold)
Most of the people I see personally that claim PTSD don't have half of the stories to tell that I do, either dealing with violence, the death of others next to you, or the near death of yourself. You just have to decide if you still really want to enjoy life, or live in a balled up bundle of fear. You have to wake up every day loving the day no matter what happens. You cannot live in fear. Even if you have some weed to smoke to lessen it.
I guess real life isn't for everybody.
P.S. I am not against people smoking weed, it just should never be to hide from mental issues.
And who the fuck hallucinates when they smoke weed? WTF??????
The studies looked at by UCL researchers do show evidence that cannabinoids appear to help reduce nightmares and help healthy sleep in PTSD sufferers, as well as influencing how the brain accesses the underlying memories [1].
Yeah, you smoke weed, you don't remember your dreams, it makes you tired, and short circuits short term memories while you are baked.
They needed a study to find that out? They could've just smoke a big ass hooter of Jaeger.
It also helps with appetite, makes your mucous membranes and salivary glands dry out, and makes Monty Python hilarious.
You are welcome scientists.