Medical cannabis for military veterans suffering from PTSD скачать в хорошем качестве

Medical cannabis for military veterans suffering from PTSD

Medical Marijuana as a PTSD treatment for military veterans. https://availcannabis.com/veterans-as... While SSRIs have been in use for many decades for depression and have shown to help many PTSD sufferers, medical marijuana for PTSD is a relatively recent idea. Due to its long history of illegality, studies of cannabis’s effectiveness as a PTSD treatment have been few. Nonetheless, recent studies have been conducted and medical weed is showing a great deal of promise. In one Canadian study, people with post-traumatic stress disorder who did not use cannabis had a high likelihood of experiencing major depressive episodes and high incidences of “suicidal ideation”—having thoughts of suicide, with or without a plan to carry it out. What is remarkable in the study, though, is the comparison with those with PTSD who did use cannabis. The non-cannabis consumers had seven times higher likelihood of major depressive episodes, and they were 4.7 times more likely to have suicidal thoughts. While there are other serious symptoms that come along with PTSD, these two are arguably the most concerning. Of all symptoms, these are the ones that are most likely to prove fatal. Though the study did not show a definitive causal link between cannabis use and decreased incidences of depression or suicidal thoughts, the strong correlation makes it worth considering if you have PTSD, particularly if you’ve had major depressive episodes or thoughts of suicide. HOW DOES CANNABIS HELP WITH PTSD? The cannabis plant contains at least 113 active chemical compounds known collectively as cannabinoids. Of those, the best known and most studied are tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)—the compound recreational users know for the high it produces—and cannabidiol (CBD), a non-psychoactive cannabinoid best known for its pain-relieving and anti-anxiety properties. An interesting fact about cannabinoids is that they are not unique to the cannabis plant. Our own bodies, in fact, produce their own versions of these compounds, known as endocannabinoids. We all have our own built-in cannabinoid receptors that are stimulated by our endocannabinoids, and they also respond to “exogenous” cannabinoids from medical marijuana. Interestingly, people suffering with PTSD have been found to have significantly lower levels of some endocannabinoids, especially one known as anandamide. Anandamide is a sort of natural antidepressant that is also known to impair memory. While memory impairment can be seen as a negative, for those with PTSD who repeatedly “relive” painful memories, this is a significant benefit. Another benefit of cannabis for many is that it is known to inhibit dreaming. As nightmares are a very common symptom of PTSD, this can be very helpful in allowing patients to sleep through the night without being awakened by terrifying dreams. Cannabis as a medical treatment, for PTSD as well as a variety of other ailments, is still relatively new. Studies are ongoing, but have been promising thus far. As of now, it is best seen as an adjunct to traditional prescription medications. It can provide additional relief when those meds aren’t quite enough and for some it can even help to reduce some of the side effects of prescription drugs.