by Chane Leigh
PTSD can have far-reaching effects on health, functionality as well as on quality of living, which is why having access to effective treatment is so important. If you are living with PTSD or are living with someone who has PTSD, you would have first-hand experience with how challenging it can be getting through life on a daily basis- especially in such an already-stressful world. Let’s have a quick look at PTSD and then have a look at which cannabis strains would be best for you.
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental condition that is developed following a traumatic event and can cause difficulty in adjusting to and coping with life after the event. When an individual is experiencing a traumatic event, the body releases stress-related hormones to boost your energy in preparation for the fight or flight response. Many people recover from traumatic events naturally but when they do not, they get stuck in fight or flight mode. Fortunately, cannabis can help those with PTSD by reducing symptoms. In short, cannabis is able to help those with PTSD by binding to the body’s endocannabinoid system receptors which play a key role in maintaining harmony in the body.
When deciding on what cannabis to purchase it is important to seek out the correct cannabinoid profile in order to get the best for your money. PTSD patients should look for full-spectrum products. Purchasing the cannabis bud (the flower) will be optimal because it allows you to benefit from the terpenes and all the cannabinoids. Full-spectrum means you can tap into the benefits of the entourage effect. When you purchase isolated cannabis products you lose out on certain cannabinoids and terpenes due to the extraction process involved in making the products. Your cannabis chosen for consumption will need to contain at least tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) in order to receive optimum relief. THC is intoxicating but is a vital component for pain management alongside CBD. If you do not want to be intoxicated by THC, look for strains that are low in THC and higher in CBD but the strain should still contain both. CBD and THC will assist PTSD management by targeting symptoms such as pain, appetite stimulation, and reducing inflammation. THC will boost your mood and CBD will help with improving sleep, reducing nausea as well as alleviating stress and anxiety.
Terpenes are responsible for the scent and contribute to the color of the cannabis plant, but they also each contribute their own benefits. So, when considering cannabis for your chronic pain, it is important to consider cannabis with terpenes. Again, full-spectrum products will be ideal since it will contain all cannabis compounds. Here is a quick overview of the major terpenes and some of their effects that can benefit PTSD sufferers.
| Name | Scent | Benefits |
| Myrcene | Musky and Earthy | Reduces inflammation and chronic pain. |
| Limonene | Citrus | Improves overall mood as well as alleviates stress and anxiety. |
| Linalool | Floral and Spicy | Reduces inflammation and relieves depression. |
| Caryophyllene | Spicy and Peppery | Reduces inflammation as well as alleviating stress and anxiety. |
| Pinene | Pinewood | Acts as an anti-inflammatory and boosts memory. |
| Humulene | Spicy, Woody, and Earthy | Acts as an anti-inflammatory, alleviates pain, and is antibacterial. |
The following strains are recommended based on the fact that they offer full-spectrum benefits thanks to the holistic compound contents which need to include CBD and its derivatives, THC and its derivatives as well as contains the terpenes myrcene, limonene, caryophyllene but most importantly linalool. When picking strains for PTSD, it is important to remember that while THC content is important for the best benefits, one should avoid too much THC potency as it would increase anxiety instead of decreasing it.
As cannabis legalization is progressing around the world, many cannabis users are looking at whether or not growing their own plants at home is right for them. Some questions to consider before growing marijuana inside your home include the following: Do I have the space? Can I replicate the right environment for cultivation? Can I…
The US Senate has proposed a bill that could potentially legalize cannabis on the federal level. Researchers have discovered the exact origins of the cannabis plant thanks to genetic sequencing. And the US Surgeon General supports keeping cannabis offenders out of jail. Video Transcript: Senate lawmakers propose legislation that would federally legalize cannabis And a…
Cannabis legalization has become widespread across the United States. Many states have adopted medical cannabis laws, and several allow recreational cannabis. It is easy to get frustrated by the negative opinions of anti-cannabis activists and supporters. After all, much of what they argue is based on misinformation. This information was abundantly plastered into the public’s…
Have you recently given up smoking substances that contain nicotine? Well, you may have noticed that it’s really hard to stop because of your nicotine dependence. When you feel as though you need nicotine and can’t go without it, you are being held hostage by nicotine dependence. Fortunately, cannabidiol (CBD) was suggested to help reduce…
Did you know? Washington State, one of the states with the longest-running recreational cannabis marketplaces in the United States, still has policies in place that prevent Washington residents from growing cannabis at home. So… what gives? When anyone over 21 years of age can legally grow cannabis at home in so many other states, why…
A new study hypothesized that “frequent and dependent cannabis use in youth would be associated with Intelligence Quotient (IQ) decline”. However, one…
On January 27, 2018, the cannabis industry bid a solemn farewell to one of its most notable lobbyists – Dennis Robert Peron….
Many of you may have seen the widespread social media postings in support of Sha’Carri Richardson. This world-class athlete failed a drug…
