CBD is one of the active compounds from the cannabis plant. It may help reduce and manage symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in both topical and edible forms, according to recent studies.
Although there are several treatments for PTSD, there is increasing evidence that CBD may help people manage symptoms: A 2019 literature review on medical cannabis, synthetic cannabinoids, and PTSD found that CBD may be helpful.
What is PTSD?
According to the American Psychiatric Association, Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a psychiatric disorder that may occur in people who have experienced or witnessed a traumatic event such as a natural disaster, a serious accident, a terrorist act, war/combat, or rape or who have been threatened with death, sexual violence or serious injury.
PTSD has been known by many names in the past, such as “shell shock” during the years of World War I and “combat fatigue” after World War II, but PTSD does not just happen to combat veterans. PTSD can occur in all people, of any ethnicity, nationality or culture, and at any age. PTSD affects approximately 3.5 percent of U.S. adults every year, and an estimated one in 11 people will be diagnosed with PTSD in their lifetime. Women are twice as likely as men to have PTSD. Three ethnic groups – U.S. Latinos, African Americans, and American Indians – are disproportionately affected and have higher rates of PTSD than non-Latino whites.
Veterans suffering from PTSD and other mental health issues face difficulty in adjusting to regular life and in many cases, end up on the street. Roughly 20% of veterans who fought in the Middle East are troubled by PTSD.
Military veterans suffer from lingering injuries and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and combat-related chronic pain, making their life extremely difficult. CBD can both facilitate the extinction of aversive memories and block their reconsolidation. Here's more on how CBD has become a growing alternative for treatments for PTSD.
CBD, PTSD & Anxiety
PTSD symptoms, as well as their severity, vary from person to person and it can take months, even years, for these symptoms to appear. When they do occur, symptoms include:
- Experiencing vivid and distressing flashbacks of the traumatic event
- Avoiding people, places, and experiences that remind them of the traumatic events
- Feeling anxious, jumpy, and irritated
- Feeling detached and estranged from others, including family and loved ones
- Difficulty focusing
- Insomnia and nightmares
CBD has shown it alleviates pain, diminishes inflammation, enhances moods, and has become an effective remedy for a variety of other ailments, both physical and mental. CBD can be an alternative for opioids for military veterans with PTSD and related depressive symptoms, especially since CBD has shown positive results for these symptoms.
Scientific Research
Research suggests that consuming CBD immediately after a traumatic event might make it more difficult for the brain to form the memories that may later develop and cause PTSD symptoms.
A 2016 study found evidence that drugs acting on the endocannabinoid system may reduce the symptoms that a person with PTSD experiences after a memory extinction procedure. This is because the endocannabinoid system, which includes CBD receptors, can affect anxiety and memory, two factors that play a significant role in PTSD.
A single dose of 600 mg (CBD) has shown it reduced anxiety. Evidence indicated that the CBD lessens anxiety best in subjects where stress had been caused before CBD administration. Meaning, CBD is ideal for those who get anxious from experiences, situations, or in random moments. Veterans currently suffering from PTSD who get random episodes of significant anxiety can get relief using CBD oils after each traumatic incident.
Researchers are still unclear why CBD works as a treatment for PTSD. However, according to Frontiers in Neuroscience, it is possible that CBD may affect the amygdala and the hippocampus in the brain. The article states that PTSD sufferers have a hyperactive amygdala, which may make symptoms worse. CBD may cause the hippocampus to grow and may reduce hyperactivity of the amygdala.
Best Forms of CBD for PTSD
So what is the best way to administer CBD for the best PTSD relief? Many studies have trialed multiple forms of CBD when testing the effectiveness of CBD to treat PTSD. Some researchers have used topical CBD, such as oils, and other studies have used edible CBD. Below are the top trialed methods and recommended products for treating post-traumatic stress disorder.
A 2019 study found that people with PTSD who took CBD orally alongside traditional counseling saw a reduction in their symptoms.
A 2016 study found that CBD oil applied to the skin effectively treated anxiety and sleeping problems in a child with PTSD.
A 2018 literature review suggests that a combination of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and CBD may help treat PTSD symptoms. All of our products contain less than .3% THC.
Last Words from Lost Range
At Lost Range, value all of our customers who have served and protected our country. Because of this, Lost Range has made a commitment to give all veterans 20% off products for life. To get your discount code, contact the team here and we'll shoot you over your custom code. Alternatively, if you know someone in need please reach out to us via Instagram DM, email or call 970.389.7588.
Are you a veteran using CBD? We would love to know about your experiences in the comments below.
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