Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder is a real and devastating disease. It can destroy an individual's mental health. Those with PTSD struggle to come to terms with a traumatic event that they have experienced.
Individuals who suffer from PTSD are often desperate for any sort of treatment. They seek anything that can help them overcome their experience and recover. Thankfully PTSD is treatable and a healthy life can be achieved.
A variety of treatments are available that can help people who are suffering. One supplement with a ton of potential is CBD oil.
What is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder?
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder is caused by a traumatic experience. This may include abuse, violence, an attack, a sexual assault, or worse.
According to the DSM IV, PTSD is characterized by intrusive flashbacks of the event in question. It can also include dreams about the traumatic experience. It can present as a fear or belief that the event in question is constantly recurring. It is distress or anxiety associated with the event. It can also look like negative reactions when exposed to reminders about the event.
PTSD is tragically common. An estimated 7-8% of the population suffer from the disorder. It is particularly acute among members of the military. Some studies estimate it affects anywhere from 20-30% of all military members.
How Could CBD Help?
CBD works by impacting the functioning of your body's Endocannabinoid System. All of us have an Endocannabinoid System, which works to keep your body in a state of homeostasis.
The Endocannabinoid System is a relatively recent discovery. Raphael Mechoulam published proof of its existence only in 1992. As such, it is still being researched to determine what it can and cannot do.
It is clear that your Endocannabinoid System plays a role in anxiety and stress.
Ample evidence shows that CBD can impact your body's Endocannabinoid System. CBD alters the binding of your body's internally-produced cannabinoids. It makes the impact of these cannabinoids stronger and last longer.
There have been some studies that demonstrate CBD's potential ability to help with anxiety. For example:
A small study of individuals with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder found that self-reported anxiety and OCD symptoms decreased after individuals took CBD.
In one study those who took CBD reported lower anxiety scores than people in a placebo group. This showed CBD's potential to help reduce performance anxiety.
Multiple studies have shown that CBD may have the ability to reduce social anxiety.
Specific Studies on CBD and PTSD
While more research is needed before definitive claims could be made, there is evidence of CBD's potential to help with PTSD.
For example, in 2019, a small case series study was conducted. The study examined 11 people with PTSD and administered CBD to them. The study found that ten individuals reported a decrease in their PTSD symptoms.
As noted by other websites, anecdotal reports from individuals with PTSD have also found that people who take CBD reported a decrease in anxiety symptoms and other problematic symptoms of PTSD.
How to Take CBD for PTSD
If you are going to try CBD for PTSD, any form of it should work. This is because CBD is, at its core, the same, regardless of if it is taken in a tincture, gummy, vaping juice, or any other method.
The chief difference in terms of method of consumption are how fast the substance will be absorbed by your body. CBD edibles will need to digest and will take longer to get into the bloodstream. CBD taken sublingually, under the tongue, will reach the blood stream much faster.
Additional CBD Research That is Needed
CBD gummies are not, as of yet, a medically approved treatment for PTSD. While existing evidence is optimistic, more research on PTSD and CBD is needed.
One study has been conducted that specifically ties CBD to the ability to improve PTSD symptoms. Other studies have found that PTSD may be able to help reduce anxiety.
Additional research should:
- Be larger than already existing research and conducted with hundreds or thousands of patients. These individuals should be from a diverse mixture of backgrounds and suffer from numerous types of PTSD in order to get a broad grasp of what types of PTSD CBD may be more or less effective at treating.
- Be conducted with a control group, meaning a group of people who were given a placebo. This can help determine if people truly are feeling the benefits of CBD, or are responding to a placebo effect.
- Be replicated numerous times by independent researchers.
Conclusion
So, should you take CBD? That decision is entirely up to you.
While medical claims cannot be made about the effectiveness of CBD to treat PTSD, many studies have found it to help address a variety of ailments.
Other reports, including those from the World Health Organization, have noted that CBD is safe with few and mild side effects. It is also free of abuse potential, and generally well-tolerated in humans.
You should consult with your doctor before taking CBD, as there is the potential for negative drug interactions. Furthermore, your doctor may be more in tune with research that is available about CBD.
Want to find out more about CBD's potential to help with PTSD? Contact Eden's Herbals at support@edensherbals.com
