CBD Oil, PTSD and Veterans
CBD also called cannabidiol is among over 60 compounds present in cannabis. CBD like the other constituents of marijuana belongs to a category of molecules known as cannabinoids. THC also known as tetrahydrocannabinol and CBD are much more highly concentrated in marijuana than the other compounds. THC is the main psychoactive compound in marijuana.
The levels of CBD and THC vary among different marijuana plants, because a plant can make only a particular amount of resin, and both of these compounds make up the resin content of the plant. Marijuana that is grown for entertainment purposes has been breed to contain higher THC levels than CBD. However, the use of special breeding techniques has made it possible to create marijuana now that has a high concentration of cannabis oil and low concentration of THC. These are the type of plants that make the CBD Oil that is legal in all 50 states of America.
Marijuana is used in different forms e.g. hash, flower, wax, oil and food products. The administration of these forms is also different e.g. topical application, ingestion and smoking. The same levels of marijuana will produce the same effects when smoked or vaporized. However, ingestion takes longer for the effects to set in.
CBD is Not Psychoactive
CBD unlike THC does not make users experience a high. This makes it an important component for medicinal purposes. Cannabis oil is not psychoactive since it affects pathways that are different from those acted upon by THC. THC acts on the CB1 receptors of the brain. These receptors cause the mind altering effects brought about by THC.
A 2011 review on drug safety shows that:
CBD has no effects on the psychological and psychomotor functions of the brain.
This means that CBD oil is safe even when taken in high doses.
Medical Benefits of CBD
Scientific and medical research have associated Cannabis oil with many health benefits.
These include:
- Antiemetic – reduces vomiting and nausea
- Anticonvulsant – suppresses seizures
- Anti-inflammatory – effective in dealing with inflammatory disorders
- Antipsychotic – effective in dealing with psychosis disorders
- Antioxidant – effective in dealing with neurodegenerative disorders
- Antidepressant – effective in dealing with depression and anxiety disorders
Unfortunately, the proof of these findings has been generated from animals and very few studies have been conducted on human patients. However, this has not stopped people from using cannabidiol for medicinal purposes and providing their own testimonials of the compound.
It has been found that many veterans are using marijuana to reduce and relieve the symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder, which has affected tens of thousands of war veterans. Several states have approved the use of medical grade CBD oil for use as a post traumatic stress disorder treatment.
Epidemiology
The use of Cannabis Oil has increased in the past decade. A study conducted in 2013 shows that 19.8 million individuals reported their use of CBD oil in the last month. The study also showed that 8.1 million people reported using cannabidiol on a daily basis. The main factors linked to the increased use of marijuana compounds include social anxiety disorders, relief from PTSD symptoms, seizures, chronic pain, and many other illnesses.
Cannabis Use among Veterans
No VA studies have been conducted on the use of marijuana or CBD Oil by the veteran population. However, by looking at the information on veterans with post traumatic stress disorder who use VA health care, the most diagnosed substance abuse disorder since 2009 has been that of cannabis.
A separate study shows that in 2014, up to 40,000 veterans diagnosed with PTSD and who in veteran health care were diagnosed to be suffering from cannabis use disorder. That is because these patients need a high CBD content with a low THC content, however, since the compound has been frowned upon and illegal until recently acquiring CBD has not been an easy task so people resort to marijuana use because it is so easy to obtain.
Neurobiology
Research has shown that the endocannabinoid system in humans plays a crucial role in post traumatic stress disorder. It has also been found that persons suffering from PTSD have much higher levels of CB1 receptors than those with healthy controls.
This means that individuals who use CBD oil, may have a reduction of post traumatic stress disorder symptoms.
Marijuana For Treating PTSD
Administration of cannabidiol has been seen to reduce anxiety in people suffering from clinical anxiety. This finding has increased tests on Cannabis oil treatments for persons suffering from social anxiety. With regards to THC, an experiment was conducted on 10 participants who had post traumatic stress disorder. The results from the test showed that THC was well tolerated and safe. It also proved that THC caused a reduction in hyperarousal symptoms.
Multiple research findings have proven that cannabidiol is effective in curing many medical conditions. However, marijuana has different levels of cannabis oil and not all marijuana plants have the same levels of CBD oil. Therefore, researchers are still developing strains of marijuana with high levels of cannabidiol to help suppress the mind altering effects of THC and bring out the health benefits of marijuana.
