CBD for PTSD: Everything You Need to Know

(via: MedicalNewsToday.com)

Cannabidiol (CBD) is one of the active compounds from the cannabis plant. It may help reduce and manage symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

According to Frontiers in Neuroscience, PTSD is a long-lasting mental health condition that people may develop after experiencing a traumatic event. Around 10% of people will experience PTSD at some point in their lives.

Some people may have trouble sleeping, relive the event repeatedly, and experience depression and anxiety.

Although there are several treatments for PTSD, there is increasing evidence that CBD may help people manage symptoms.

This article will discuss the research on CBD and PTSD, the best forms and strains of CBD, risks and side effects, and other alternative treatments.

Can CBD Treat PTSD?
A 2019 literature review on medical cannabis, synthetic cannabinoids, and PTSD found that CBD may be helpful. However, it concludes that scientists still need to carry out more research into its therapeutic uses, effectiveness, and safety.

Some research suggests that taking 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.

Aversive memory extinction is a therapy process in which a person, under the guidance of a therapist, experiences similar situations to those that led to their PTSD symptoms, without any of the traumatic stimuli.

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 notes that people with PTSD have a hyperactive amygdala, which may make symptoms worse. CBD may cause the hippocampus to grow and may reduce hyperactivity of the amygdala.

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