What exactly is PTSD?
Soldiers returning home from tours of duty are often confronted with new issues revolving around mental health, often one or more from a collection of symptoms from a condition known as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This condition makes it extremely difficult for veterans to readjust to civilian life outside of the battlefield, where they were frequently confronted with highly stressful situations. Many symptoms fall within PTSD including vivid flashbacks to traumatic events, an avoidance of people or places where memories are triggered, anxiety, depression, irritability, detachment, trouble focusing, and nightmares/insomnia just to name a few. Symptoms caused by PTSD make it difficult for veterans to reintegrate into their communities and have long-lasting detrimental effects on mental wellbeing as well as their social and romantic relationships. In total, nearly 2.5 million veterans in the U.S. report symptoms related to PTSD and the V.A. has acknowledged that this is a major issue they’re seeking to treat. Fortunately, treatment for PTSD has seen major positive results with the use of Cannabidiol (CBD), and studies continue to pour in with evidence suggesting CBD can treat PTSD’s myriad symptoms.
CBD and PTSD-related Treatment
CBD has received ample attention because a great deal of people have claimed that it helps reduce anxiety, aids in more restful sleep, and alleviates many other symptoms that sufferers of PTSD experience. One veteran, a 17-year Special Forces Green Beret named Adam Smith explained that he often experienced insomnia, trouble concentrating on tasks, and contemplated suicide. Additionally, Smith complained of joint pains caused by injuries related to his tenure on-duty. However, upon starting a CBD regiment, Smith noticed that many of these symptoms were reduced. He was able to sleep much better and his joint pain attenuated after taking the CBD supplement after a couple of months.
The effects of supplemental CBD are being examined closely by scientists, but many other veterans have similar stories to Smith’s. CBD is non-psychoactive and doesn’t get you high, unlike its closely related cousin THC, but it has properties that a multitude of users claim reduce anxiety, lower stress, and aid with concentration. The World Health Organization has deemed CBD safe and no health-related problems have been linked to its use. Additionally, CBD can be consumed as an edible, added to food, or used as a topical cream such as Smith’s case for joint-pain relief.
CBD and The Brain
So how does CBD affect the brain? In general, CBD directly interacts with receptors in the brain that regulate CB2, dopamine, and serotonin. These receptors are responsible for giving us calmness, tranquility, and a general sense of well-being. Because of anxiety-inducing situations that veterans experience during their service, many of these receptors become deficient and make it extremely difficult for veterans to return to normal after their discharge. CBD actually does not increase serotonin or dopamine, but rather, it helps your body break down chemical barriers that make it difficult for these receptors to heal properly. Therefore, indirectly, CBD helps the body produce serotonin and dopamine through this natural healing process.
The medical community is intent on learning more about the effects of CBD in light of its purported benefits and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has especially taken note of its efficacy. Furthermore, veterans are turning to CBD and away from traditional prescriptions by doctors because the latter often helps only when users are taking pills each and every day. Oftentimes, symptoms can return for veterans who miss or are taken off of their prescribed medications. However, recent studies on PTSD have shown that this is not the case for CBD products. According to Dr. Emek Blair, Founder of Cellg8, their research has found that 67% of veterans who suffer from PTSD and tried a CBD regiment found a major reduction of their symptoms. That’s remarkable and signifies a causal link between CBD and alleviation. With CBD, the benefits accumulate over time and symptoms won’t return even if you miss a dose or two at a time.
CBD and the FDA
If Blair’s testimony isn’t enough, consider the recent study published by the Food and Drug Administration. Conducted by the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies, researchers found marked levels of improvement for veterans who used CBD. The placebo-controlled, double-blind study on CBD found that veterans reported major improvements in their symptoms by 11 percent more than the placebo. This suggests that CBD truly is contributing to the improvement of these symptoms beyond what the placebo can offer. This has led a vast majority of states to legalize CBD and medicinal THC for therapeutic uses related to symptoms caused by PTSD. Furthermore, the FDA is currently intent to review CBD and have it approved as a medical supplement in the very near future.
Is CBD Treatment Right For You?
It is still vital that veterans take a holistic approach to their treatment and consider other supplemental aids such as therapy and exercise as well. Overall, the benefits of CBD are hard to ignore and the veteran community has benefited greatly by this new and vital treatment option. With that being said, it’s important to consider learning more about trusted vendors for CBD because oftentimes, the purity, potency, and reliability often varies between them. The great thing about Green Planet CBD is that it checks the box for each of these considerations. Green Planet CBD products have undergone extensive 3rd -party lab testing, are 100% organic, and are made with USA-grown hemp. Green Planet also has a wide variety of CBD products that can treat specific symptoms, and they’re legal in all 50 states. If you or a loved one are struggling with PTSD-related symptoms, consider if CBD may be a viable option for you.
