A New York University study concluded that PTSD sufferers have lower levels of the body compound “anandamide” than others. Commonly referred to as the “bliss molecule,” anandamide has been cited as the body’s natural anti-depressant. Not only have experts determined that THC works very similarly to the compound, but also that CBD can actually enhance and stimulate anandamide, proving more scientifically than ever the connection between cannabinoids and the improvement of PTSD symptoms.
One 2013 study showed the efficacy of cannabinoids interacting with the body’s endocannabinoid system to block the retrieval of traumatic memories. This effect was also beneficial in reducing PTSD patients’ anxiety levels.
The British Columbia Centre on Substance Use conducted a study in 2018 and found that 60 to 65 percent of the study’s participants with PTSD had a reduction in depressive symptoms and suicidal thoughts when administered cannabis for treatment.
Before the research community started exploring the way cannabis can help treat PTSD symptoms, many patients with the disorder discovered its benefits themselves. In fact, one study showed that nearly 65 percent of patients have used marijuana to combat their symptoms. That’s in comparison with just 41 percent of Americans without the condition who have reported using cannabis.
The Research Behind Cannabis and PTSD
So what has science uncovered about the inner workings of weed for PTSD? Quite a bit, considering how early the connection is in the research. Here’s a summary of the most profound studies that have been conducted thus far.
New Mexico was the first state in the U.S. to add PTSD to its list of qualifying conditions for medical marijuana. At the time, the state looked at over 80 psychiatric evaluations of patients who had applied and found those who consumed cannabis saw a 75 percent reduction in clinically measured PTSD symptoms.
Just this year, a Washington State University study was published by the Journal of Affective Disorders showing a positive connection between cannabis and PTSD symptoms. The research concluded that cannabis:
– Reduced the “severity of intrusions” and returning memories of the trauma by about 62 percent
– Reduced flashbacks by 51 percent
– Reduced irritability by 67 percent
– Reduced anxiety by 57 percent
Post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, is a prevalent condition that is most commonly associated with veterans. In fact, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs reports that 7 to 8 percent of all veterans suffer from PTSD symptoms. PTSD isn’t limited to war-related traumas, however, and as the medical community further explores the condition, it’s becoming more diagnosed in the general population.
Until recently, one of the only sources of relief for PTSD symptoms was helping patients deal with its unique triggers and mood effects through focused trauma psychotherapy sessions. Patients would be prescribed medications, such as antidepressants that come with their own side effects. Experts have even denounced their efficacy for successful treatment.
A shift towards “natural” treatments is growing in popularity in the PTSD community, with a focus on cannabis therapies. Not only are veterans and others who suffer from PTSD turning to cannabis more and more for its stress-relieving effects, but science is proving it may legitimately serve as a therapeutic source of healing.
How Does Cannabis Affect PTSD?
Cannabis’s various compounds all have unique effects on humans. These include cannabinoids, like CBD and THC, and terpenes, which are responsible for the aromatic scents that weed produces. These compounds interact with the body’s endocannabinoid system, a network of chemical messengers working to maintain “homeostasis,” or the overall feeling of well-being.
In doing so, the endocannabinoid system—and cannabinoids voluntarily entering your system—can affect a wide range of body functions. For PTSD, the most important functions are memory and mood. This is key because symptoms of PTSD arise from triggers that can cause the patient to relive their traumas. This recollection can cause an offset of other mood changes, destructive behaviors, and sleep problems.
by THE STORYSTUDIO
Veterans, Mental Health,
& Cannabis
Cannabis Use for PTSD Side Effects
Cannabis use among veterans and other PTSD patients is on the rise for good reason. Not only do the natural plant’s compounds seem to effectively target the areas of the brain responsible for triggering traumas, but its other benefits are also successful at addressing the condition’s side effects — like problems sleeping and specifically the nightmares that many veterans endure after combat. In fact, it’s said that nearly 52 percent of military veterans from the Vietnam War alone suffer from nightmares or terrors. Outside of vets, 71 to 96 percent of those with PTSD report nightmares as a symptom.
If you’ve ever smoked weed, you know it can be quite relaxing and sedating, especially at night. This common effect was also explored further with actual research, and what many weed consumers have felt anecdotally has been proved true. In one Canadian study, nabilone, a synthetic cannabinoid, was successful at reducing nightmares and decreasing their severity in 72 percent of those tested. Also, an abundance of study reviews show that PTSD patients and vets report a significant improvement in sleep quality as a reason they’ve begun self-medicating with cannabis.
Weed — An Old, Yet New-Age Treatment
Now more than ever, weed is being taken seriously as a treatment for conditions, including PTSD, that affect a wide range of the population. As legalization continues to spread across the United States, and while federal legalization is on the forefront, veterans and PTSD patients are finding solace in the old, yet new-age treatment. Cannabis is quickly becoming an effective and natural way to balance moods, improve sleep quality, and reduce anxiety in those who have the debilitating disorder.