Medical Cannabis for PTSD
What Is PTSD?
Feeling afraid during or after a traumatic situation is perfectly normal. The “fight-or-flight” response your body has during and after scary situations serves to help protect you from harm. And although we all experience a range of reactions after trauma, most people recover from the symptoms naturally. On the other hand, some continue to experience feelings of stress or fear even when we’re not in danger. This is what we call PTSD.
Did you know that PTSD affects one out of every 10 Canadians at some point in their lives?
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is classified as a psychiatric condition linked to surviving or witnessing a traumatic life event. The condition can cause agitation, impaired concentration, memory problems, flashbacks, insomnia, and nightmares.
Most people who go through traumatic events may have short-term difficulty with adjusting and coping, but the good news is that PTSD is a treatable condition. Depending on the road one takes, medical cannabis has the potential to treat PTSD.
Many patients have started exploring other methods in addition to traditional prescription medication to manage their conditions. At the moment, medical cannabis is starting to look like one of the best alternative ways of managing PTSD.
Relationship Between Medical Cannabis and PTSD
There is a plethora of existing evidence for the positive relationship between the use of medical cannabis and PTSD. A lot of testimonials come from patient’s reports of success and how medical cannabis reduced symptoms of their PTSD. A recent study, published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology indicated that PTSD might increase the risk of depressive episodes among Canadians who do not use cannabis.
Certain compounds of the cannabis plant, including the well-known tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) are structurally similar to the human endogenous cannabinoids, and even though our bodies do not produce THC or CBD, they can interact with the endocannabinoid system and influence a variety of biological processes.
According to brain imaging research, patients with PTSD have an abundance of cannabinoid receptors but not enough endogenous cannabinoids to lock into them. This might mean that supplementing the body with plant-based cannabinoids like THC and CBD could help certain brain processes function normally.
How Medical Cannabis Can Help Treat PTSD?
By improving the endocannabinoid system’s facilitation of essential functions like memory consolidation and retrieval, CBD and THC might be able to help treat people suffering from PTSD. CB1 and CB2 receptors, located throughout the core system, might be activated by the use of THC and CBD, which in turn, could prompt the system to produce neurotransmitters that assist with promoting memory, pleasure and happiness.
To put it simply, CBD and THC might be able to prevent the retrieval of traumatic memories and nightmares while also assisting PTSD sufferers with attaining emotional wellbeing.
Studies have suggested that PTSD patients may have lower levels of anandamide, a natural endocannabinoid molecule that promotes feelings of joy and happiness. Anandamide promotes serotonin activity and lowers feelings of stress and depression, and since CBD and anandamide have similar chemical and structural properties, CBD might be a natural replacement for anandamide.
How to Get Medical Cannabis for PTSD in Canada
PTSD is a serious condition that can reduce one’s quality of life after surviving or witnessing a traumatic event. Cannabinoids like CBD and THC can help empower the body’s endocannabinoid system and promote better sleep, prevent traumatic memories from coming back and allow you to regain hold of your life again. We can help you get there.
Canadian Cannabis Clinics offer in-depth consultations through our team of healthcare practitioners and medical cannabis educators who will help guide you on your journey back to Better Days.
Choose to have your appointment in one of our clinics or through our convenient virtual appointment service and speak to our team about how medical cannabis can help manage your PTSD.
We also help many veterans suffering from PTSD and have a special veterans program that provides additional one-to-one support and guidance. To learn more, visit our Veterans page.
Virtual Appointment
Appointment is online through a secure and private video call.
Clinic Appointment
Appointment is in one of our clinics across Canada.