There are many people in the United States who get diagnosed with PTSD every year. Yes, there are medications that a doctor can put you on but, what if you could use an alternative such as CBD. CBD may help eliminate anxiety, flashbacks, depression, improve sleep, and help with stress from PTSD.
I know your sitting there thinking what is CBD? CBD is a compound that is found in marijuana and hemp plant. It is not impairing, which means you do not get “high” from it. It can be taken from any hemp or non-hemp plant with no more than 0.3% of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). In 2018 congress passed a law legalizing CBD as long as it comes from a hemp plant.
Anyone with PTSD does not mean they are a war veteran. It could be someone that went through something traumatic in their life, they were abused, went through a disaster, etc. There have been recent studies that show Cannabis sativa was very beneficial in PTSD symptoms such as stopping nightmares, prevent the formation of fearful memories, reduce anxiety, reduce depression symptoms, and helps with insomnia.
As for a recommended dose. You want to start off with a small amount and work your way up. You place a few drops under your tongue, hold for 30 seconds, and swallow. It would be a good idea to keep a journal so you can keep track of what you’re doing, how it affects you, as well as the dosage you are taking.
In a small 2018 study in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 11 people with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) received CBD along with routine psychiatric care for eight weeks in an outpatient psychiatric clinic. Ten of the 11 experienced a decrease in their PTSD symptoms. CBD was generally well tolerated, the researchers write. CBD will give you that little bit of decreased relief you need.
Multiple studies have shown that using different forms of CBD is an effective way to treat PTSD. Some of the studies use topical CBD and other studies use edible CBD, such as gummies. Some studies looking at the different forms of CBD found the following information:
- CBD capsules: A 2019 study trusted Source found that people with PTSD who took CBD capsules alongside traditional counseling saw a reduction in their symptoms.
- CBD oil: A 2016 study trusted Source found that CBD oil applied to the skin effectively treated anxiety and sleeping problems in a child with PTSD.
- CBD with THC: A 2018 literature trusted Source review suggests that a combination of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and CBD may help treat PTSD symptoms.
Administration of oral CBD in addition to routine psychiatric care was associated with PTSD symptom reduction in adults with PTSD. CBD also offered relief in several patients who reported frequent nightmares as a symptom of their PTSD. Additional clinical investigation, including double-blind, placebo-controlled trials, would be necessary to further substantiate the response to CBD that was observed in this study.
References
https://www.cdc.gov/marijuana/featured-topics/CBD.html
https://dailycbd.com/en/best-cbd/ptsd/
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/cbd-for-ptsd#which-form-in-best
https://www.laurasmercantile.com/full-spectrum-cbd-oil-benefits/full-spectrum-cbd-ptsd/
