How does cannabis work in the brain and why does it work so well to reduce stress and anxiety?
Do you feel stressed, tired or depressed? You are not alone. We will explore some of the ways that marijuana can improve your quality of life. 1. Your endocannabinoid system is the largest neurotransmitter system in your body and controls other neurotransmitters, including serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine, and GABA. Traditional medications for depression target serotonin, treatments for anxiety target GABA, and treatments for ADHD target dopamine. Most of us suffer from anxiety, depression and lack of concentration. Why take 3 drugs when cannabis can treat the root cause?
2. The endocannabinoid system helps you forget. If you have PTSD or depression, you can’t forget the things that caused the tragedy or shut down the criticism in your head that tells you that you are better. This is because you have an endocannabinoid deficiency. Consuming cannabis restores the function of the endocannabinoid system and helps you release it.
3. If you have chronic pain, you may be depressed. Instead of getting an opioid and a Prozac prescription, why not use a drug to treat both symptoms? Indica strains of cannabis are good for pain, while sativa strains are good for fighting fatigue and improving mood. A patient suffering from depression can benefit greatly from using a hybrid that contains both indica and sativa strains.
4. What is better for mental health, THC or CBD? In some patients, THC can worsen anxiety or even trigger psychotic episodes, especially when taken in large doses, in stressful situations, or in a patient with schizophrenia. Using products with at least a 1:1 CBD/THC ratio can prevent unwanted side effects. For some patients, avoiding THC altogether and using products with hemp oil or CBD works for them.
5. Mental health treatment with cannabis is not only cannabinoids, such as THC or CBD. Terpenes such as linalool, limonene, and beta-caryophyllene also have medicinal benefits, such as reducing anxiety. Look for whole plant products rather than CBD or THC isolates to get the mental health benefits of cannabis.
6. Worried about the psychoactive effects of cannabis…meaning my kids or boss can’t find out I’m high? A low dose of THC, such as 2.5 mg of THC, is a great alternative to Xanax. It is an effective drug for reducing stress or anxiety, but not so much that you feel depressed. Finally, by eating your THC instead of smoking it, you won’t smell, and no one will know your secret.