Cannabis’ potential as a psychiatric treatment has been receiving increased attention recently. Global cannabis regulations have also begun to relax, providing more opportunities for you to research the therapeutic uses of cannabis.
Many people use medicinal cannabis as an alternative medicine to reduce pain symptoms. Still, others see the psychrotrophic plant as a possible treatment for psychological conditions such as depression.
While many people have some ideas regarding the potential health benefits of cannabis, few know about the plant’s therapeutic impacts on humans.
Understandably so, because studies on the plant’s therapeutic effects, particularly on mental health conditions, have been scant in the past years.
According to this site, cannabidiol (CBD), an active compound found incannabis, may positively impact mental health-related issues, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and anxiety symptoms.
Cannabis, Cannabinoids, and Cannabidiol
Cannabis plants can produce 300 non-cannabinoids and between 80 and 100 cannabinoid compounds.
The two primary cannabinoid chemicals in cannabis plants are delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). While THC engenders psychoactive effects that make people “high,” CBD may moderate and control THC-induced psychological outcomes.
For instance, some people think CBD may reduce adverse psychological side effects related to THC, like anxiety.
Research from Frontiers in Immunology indicates that CBD has purportedantianxiety, antipsychotic, and neuroprotective properties. The study further suggests that the nonpsychoactive compound has potential use for specific health issues, such as:
- Depression
- Bipolar disorder
- Sleep disorder
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Schizophrenia
CBD is a viable molecule that may have positive medical consequences in the future.
CBD’s safety is one of the factors that make it a promising treatment. There were no indications of lethal cannabinoid overdoses, and side effects were negligible.
Still, cannabis studies on CBD’s potential applications in treating other mental health issues are ongoing.
Potential Uses of Cannabis in Psychotherapy
The following sections detail the possible uses of cannabis in treating various psychiatric conditions.
Reduce Anxiety Symptoms
One simulated public speaking test showed that CBD may help reduce anxiety. The experiment’s volunteers who took CBD exhibited lower anxiety levels and negative self-assessment scores than those who received a placebo.
Manage Depression Outcomes
One study indicated that cannabis users experienced reduced depression. The participants who reported using CBD-dominant products showed significantly lower depression results than those that did not.
Moreover, cannabis users reported moderate pain, superior sleep, and quality of life relative to the control group. These outcomes may be due to the interrelated nature of positive health signs with depression.
Furthermore, the researchers made the following observations regarding depressive symptoms:
- Initiation of medicinal cannabis use correlates with a significant reduction
- Sustained use correlates with a modest reduction
- Individuals who did not use cannabis showed no alteration in symptom expression
The observations above indicate a consistent antidepressant effect of medicinal cannabis.
Assist in PTSD Therapy
Treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms is one of the pertinent research areas for CBD application.
A 2019 study assessing the clinical benefits of CBD among adults with PTSD indicated that oral CBD administration may help reduce PTSD symptoms.
Moreover, some patients who used CBD reported relief from frequent PTSD-related nightmares.
Military personnel returning from conflict zones who used marijuana (parts of the cannabis plant) reported significant progress in managing and treating PTSD.
Consequently, veterans and their therapists have asked for further research and an easing of government restrictions on cannabis.
Help Treat Sleep Disorders
Sleep disorders, also known as sleep-wake disorders, affect the timing, quality, and quantity of sleep, causing daytime distress. These conditions entail REM sleep behavior disorder, sleep apnea, daytime dysfunction, and insomnia.
Studies suggest that using CBD may help treat these sleeping disorders.
As per a 2017 research review, CBD may have therapeutic effects on insomnia. The survey also indicates that synthetic cannabinoids, such as nabilone and dronabinol, may help treat sleep apnea temporarily.
Additionally, individuals with REM sleep behavior disorder, chronic daytime sleepiness, and PTSD-related nightmares may benefit from CBD use.
A 2019 study links CBD to lower anxiety and better sleep scores among patients with sleep problems or anxiety issues.
Final Statement
Experts have conducted numerous studies showing many potential advantages and medical uses of CBD in treating psychiatric disorders. However, CBD research is still in its formative stages.
Some CBD studies even produced mixed outcomes in some of their trials. Many research authors note that more controlled studies are necessary to produce more accurate results.
People are wary of CBD because of misconceptions about its relationship to medical marijuana.
However, the World Health Organization (WHO) recognizes CBD as having no impacts that could lead to potential abuse or dependence.
Most CBD products are also available to buy online. Making direct purchases from the CBD brand’s official website is advisable.
You can search for independent lab reports that reveal the total cannabinoid content and absence of contaminants such as pesticides, bacteria, and heavy metals.
References
1. Therapeutic Effects of Cannabis and Cannabinoids
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK425767/
2. Can Marijuana Ease Mental Health Conditions?
https://www.apa.org/monitor/2018/12/marijuana
3. Cannabinoids
https://adf.org.au/drug-facts/cannabinoids/
4. Translational Investigation of the Therapeutic Potential of Cannabidiol (CBD): Toward a New Age
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2018.02009/full
5. Antidepressant and Anxiolytic Effects of Medicinal Cannabis Use in an Observational Trial
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2021.729800/full
6. Cannabidiol in the Treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: A Case Series
https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/acm.2018.0437
7. Medical marijuana
https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/medical-marijuana-2018011513085
8. What are Sleep Disorders?
https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/sleep-disorders/what-are-sleep-disorders
9. Cannabis, Cannabinoids, and Sleep: a Review of the Literature
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11920-017-0775-9
10. Cannabidiol in Anxiety and Sleep: A Large Case Series
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6326553/
11. Cannabidiol (CBD): What We Know and What We Don’t
https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/cannabidiol-cbd-what-we-know-and-what-we-dont-2018082414476
