Most people experience at least one traumatic event or situation during their lifetime, but about 20 percent of trauma survivors experience long-lasting effects that can have a profound impact on just about every aspect of daily life.
Post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, can affect anyone who’s lived through – or even witnessed – traumatic events such as natural disasters, accidents, or violence.
Because PTSD affects people in different ways and symptoms vary widely, treating this common mental health condition can be challenging. Treatments for PTSD can include therapy, lifestyle changes, and various medications for common symptoms such as anxiety, depression, and insomnia.
But a growing number of people with PTSD are finding relief with cannabis, which works naturally to relieve many of the symptoms of PTSD. And now, Ohio residents with a medical marijuana card can purchase a variety of new cannabis products for various health conditions, including PTSD, from Ohio’s many legal cannabis dispensaries.
What is PTSD?
Although PTSD is often associated with veterans returning from combat zones, it can affect anyone, even children, and it’s more common in women than in men. And while it often develops after a traumatic event like an earthquake, an assault, or a severe accident, it can also arise after being in a traumatic situation for a more extended period of time.
People who live with domestic violence may experience PTSD afterward, and so can people who have spent long periods in hospitals, especially in intensive care. PTSD can also affect people who have experienced the loss of a loved one,
parents of children who face a severe illness, and women who have complications during labor and delivery.
PTSD was once classified as an anxiety disorder, but it’s now considered a separate mental health condition. But anxiety can be a symptom of PTSD, along withmany others including:
- Nightmares
- Flashbacks to the traumatic incident or situation
- Sudden outbursts of anger or violence
- Hypervigilance and always being on edge
- Insomnia
- Depression
- Avoidance of situations that raise reminders of trauma
PTSD can impact an individual’s ability to work, maintain relationships, or manage daily life. Psychotherapy and a variety of medications can help to control or reduce symptoms, but many people are finding that cannabis can relieve multiple PTSD symptoms without the side effects of common medications.
Cannabis: Natural Relief for PTSD
Cannabis is an ancient plant used in societies worldwide for relaxation and relief from stress. Now, a growing body of research is revealing how the many compounds and terpenes in cannabis work with the body’s endocannabinoid system, or ECS, to activate pathways in the brain that are responsible for managing mood, regulating pain signaling, and many other processes that maintain homeostasis, or balance.
The endocannabinoid system is a large network of cell receptors found in the body and brain tissues. These receptors respond both to natural cannabinoid chemicals produced by the body and to the very similar compounds in the cannabis plant. Cannabis contains more than a hundred different compounds capable of activating ECS cell receptors, including THC, the compound that causes the well-known cannabis "high", and CBD. This non-psychoactive compound supports many of the body’s subsystems for better health.
Because THC, CBD, and other compounds and terpenes activate responses in pathways related to mood and arousal, cannabis may help to relieve the anxiety, agitation, and insomnia that often accompany PTSD.
The 5 Best Cannabis Products for Anxiety in Ohio
Marijuana has been legal for medical purposes in Ohio since 2016 under the state’s Medical Marijuana Control Program, which also oversees certifying physicians to recommend medical marijuana to those with qualifying medical conditions, including PTSD.
Here are five of the best options for relieving the anxiety, insomnia and other symptoms associated with PTSD:
Key Lime Chem Flower from Cresco
Cresco’s Key Lime Chem Flower is an indica strain derived from cannabis favorites Chem #4 and Stardawg. Key Lime Chem has a THC content of 0.38 percent along with 23.17 percent THCA, a non-psychoactive precursor to THC, and a terpene profile that includes Terpinolene, Beta Caryophyllene, and Limonene for a heady feeling of calm and relaxation.
Relax 2:1 Blueberry Minis from Wonder Wonder’s
Relax Blueberry Minis delivers 1 mg of THC and 2 mg of CBD in each blueberry flavored lozenge. Relax Blueberry Minis offer convenient, controlled dosing of this hybrid strain for serenity, relaxation, and relief from anxiety.
Rocket Fuel Flower from Cresco
Cresco’s Rocket Fuel flower is a hybrid cross between the well-known strains Jet Fuel OG and Face Off OG Bx1. With 22.18 percent THCA, 0.36 percent THC, and a trace (0.04 percent) of CBDA, a precursor of CBD that can relieve inflammation and pain, Rocket Fuel may help to ease the pain, stress, and depression that can accompany PTSD.
5:1 Chill Drops from 1906
Cresco’s 5:1 Chill Drops are a high-CBD blend of cannabis and other botanicals designed to promote relaxation and calm. Each Chill Drop contains 25 mg of CBD and 5 mg THC in convenient, rapid-acting pill form to relieve anxiety and stress.
Midnight CBN Blueberry Gummies from Camino
Camino’s Midnight Blueberry Gummies combine 5 mg THC with 1 mg of CBN, a mildly psychoactive cannabis compound that may help with insomnia. Along with juicy blueberry flavor, Midnight Blueberry Gummies contain relaxing terpenes and chamomile and lavender extract for a calming, soothing effect.
Get a Medical Marijuana Card Online
It’s easy to get your medical marijuana document with the online Telehealth service HelloMD. Register, pay, and receive an online medical consultation with a licensed practitioner and purchase medical cannabis today. You don’t pay unless you’re approved!
