Does CBD affect PTSD?

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Photo by: txking/ shutterstock

Cannabis continues to amaze the medical field with its remarkable range of uses. Medical marijuana is well known for being used in treatments for stress, arthritis, seizures, and even cancer. And the list continues to grow as we learn more and more about this plant.

Recently, there have been findings that CBD, the main non-psychoactive cannabinoid, can help in treatments of PTSD. It is tough to gather actual published research on CBD and PTSD together, but there is enough out there to show that CBD could greatly benefit those suffering from PTSD.

What Is PTSD?

PTSD, which stands for post-traumatic stress disorder, is a very common mental health issue that is usually brought on by experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event such as a death, a car accident, combat, abuse, or even assault. The symptoms of PTSD include reliving the event continuously in your head, avoiding situations that trigger bad memories or anxiety attacks, experiencing extreme depression, and being anxious and irritable without any control.  The combination of these symptoms can cause serious stress in the body and mind.

While PTSD is commonly associated with military veterans, one of the most common causes of PTSD is actually domestic violence. In the past, PTSD has been overlooked and simply treated with either counseling or medications. Prescriptions like sertraline, paroxetine, fluoxetine, and even benzodiazepines are used to treat patients with PTSD.

These are all very serious medications that each has a long list of side-effects. Luckily, we now know of a certain medical plant that has the potential to drastically help those suffering from PTSD without any known side-effects: cannabidiol (CBD).

What Is CBD?

CBD, otherwise known as cannabidiol, is the second-most-abundant cannabinoid found in the marijuana plant. Unlike THC, CBD is a non-psychoactive cannabinoid and does not provide any sort of “high” effect. With the industrial growth of medical marijuana, CBD and PTSD have been found to affect one another. That is in additions to the wide range of medical benefits CBD has been associated with.

Nowadays, CBD is used by patients around the world to help treat anxiety, depression, stress, arthritis, seizures, and even diabetes. Though there is already a variety of uses for CBD, we are constantly learning more and more. All humans have an endocannabinoid system with hundreds of receptors throughout our bodies. The endocannabinoid system demonstrates that our bodies are meant to ingest certain cannabinoids, like CBD.

When we ingest CBD, it combines with both CB1 and CB2 receptors that are scattered throughout our bodies and even in our brains. When cannabinoids combine with certain receptors, there are different reactions. That is why CBD has such a wide range of medical possibilities.

How Can CBD Help with PTSD?

CBD has the ability to help treat the three main symptoms of PTSD; re-experiencing, avoidance of triggers, and hyperarousal. When our endocannabinoid system is activated by CBD and THC, it releases neurotransmitters, which cause a variety of different effects on our nervous system. CBD has been found to help increase the feeling of pleasure and alter certain memory processes. Patients suffering from PTSD would benefit greatly from having a natural and safe mood enhancer like CBD. By increasing the sensation of pleasure, the symptoms of PTSD, like stress and depression, are made far less severe.

The use of CBD is also perfect for helping with other symptoms of PTSD, such as insomnia, loss of appetite, and even irritability. CBD is well known for being a phenomenal natural sleep aid without any side-effects. Many cancer patients use CBD to help with insomnia and depression and to increase their appetite. CBD can have the same effect on those suffering from PTSD.

One common effect that cannabis can have is minor short-term memory loss.

While some may think this is a bad thing, it just might be perfect for those suffering from PTSD. CBD has been found to help block the retrieval of traumatic events. Helping patients to not constantly relive the event will, in turn, help to reduce anxiety, irritability, and even avoidance of triggers. If administered to patients immediately after a traumatic event, they may be able to prevent the development of the symptoms of PTSD with CBD.

Top Three CBD Products Available for Symptoms of PTSD

There is a wide range of CBD products on the market today, so it’s tough to know which ones are the most effective. Tinctures, capsules, and concentrates are the most potent and effective products with CBD for PTSD symptoms on the market. Tinctures are a form of CBD sublingual that are absorbed through your saliva glands, allowing them to enter your bloodstream much quicker.

D-Stress CBD Capsules

CBD and PTSD have a complicated relationship. D-Stress CBD Capsules, produced by Every Day Optimal CBD, offers an unparallel product produced with stress, anxiety, and PTSD in mind. As the endocannabinoid system is important in regulating the response our body has to stress, CBD has been popularized for it's potential as a novel stress-reducing drug.

D-Stress CBD Capsules offer a balance of CBD oil as well as added vitamins and nutrients to keep your health and stress in equilibrium. These include calcium, magnesium, and l-theanine, to name a few.

CBD Gum

In addition to highly bioavailable CBD for PTSD symptoms, a cool mint flavor and quick long-lasting effects set this chewable favorite apart. Produced by Every Day Optimal CBD, each piece of CBD gum offers a sugar-free, lab-tested escape from symptoms of anxiety, stress, and PTSD. The fast-acting, long-lasting effects of this delight have been described as a "sublingual administration masterpiece," with patients and customers by the dozens finding the relief they have been seeking.

CBD Tinctures

There are two types of tinctures with CBD for PTSD symptoms: isolate and full-spectrum. Isolate tinctures are made with a pure CBD extract. Full-spectrum tinctures are made with a full plant extract, which contains a wide range of cannabinoids. Both are potent and effective products, but full-spectrum products tend to be more effective, due to the entourage effect.

Every Day Optimal is a market-leading producer of hemp-based CBD tinctures. Their line of CBD tinctures ranges from 300mg to 4,000mg of high potency, lab-tested CBD oil. The use of CBD for PTSD symptoms is still a new phenomenon, yet the sure-fire relief offered by Every Day Optimal CBD Tincture have elevated their tinctures to become a premium product with an affordable price.

 

Every Day Optimal CBD Products are crafted with clean, pure hemp grown free of THC, heavy metals, pesticides, and contaminants. Every Day Optimal CBD is a proud partner of Leafbuyer.com


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Justice Council is a freelance writer, CBD specialist, and cannabis enthusiast located in Denver, Colorado. His wide range of experience as a budtender, delivery driver, and CBD sales rep has given him a unique look into this new world of cannabis. Throughout his career in the industry, Justice has written many pieces on culture, economics, product knowledge, and career opportunities within the cannabis space. He takes pride in being part of a truly pioneering industry.