OCD and cannabis
Numerous scientific evidences point towards the role of the endocannabinoid system (ECS) in modulating different symptoms. However, scientists are still examining how cannabis can work for obsessive-compulsive disorder and its symptoms. This article focuses on the effects of cannabis on OCD. Let’s begin by reviewing what OCD is.
What is OCD?
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is transcendently described by recurring intrusive thoughts and monotonous behaviors in a way that they become very tedious, upsetting, or lead to an impairment to regular activities. Individuals with OCD can likewise encounter severe feelings of anxiety, which fuels the pattern of obsession and compulsive behavior.
Medicines do exist to battle the impacts of OCD; however, the specific treatment given will rely upon how seriously the disorder influences the patient’s life. Most commonly, OCD patients will experience some mental treatment to help manage the symptoms.
Nonetheless, it can take a while for these medicines to get intense. The medication can likewise bring about unusual symptoms, including a sleeping disorder, dizziness, cerebral pains, distorted vision, and even suicidal thoughts. Therefore, there is an enthusiasm for creating novel medicines for OCD.
According to a recent review, in similar regions of the brain and central nervous system that have been impacted by OCD, you can likewise discover CB1 cannabinoid receptors. CB1R is the significant receptor of the ECS, which means it can be induced that its availability implies that there will also be ECS movement in that area.
Cannabis for OCD
For certain patients, medical cannabis for OCD might be useful similarly as it has been for other symptoms. Rather than THC, cannabis produces a compound called cannabidiol (CBD), which provides a wide array of medical effects such as reducing anxiety.
Nonetheless, cannabis for OCD may not be suitable for every patient. The levels of anxiety vary from one patient to another. Each OCD patient has unique experiences that ignite their anxiety and prompts compulsive behavior. Since everybody encounters the disorder unexpectedly, their manifestations may respond distinctively to cannabis.
Cannabis and OCD Symptoms
Individuals with OCD experience numerous symptoms that can be treated with medical marijuana. Some of these symptoms include;
- Impulsive behavior
- Consistent behavior and thoughts
- Anxiety and Depression
- Stress and tension
- Social isolation
- Nausea
- Restlessness and Insomnia
- Weight loss
- Abdominal cramps and Headaches
Bottom line
The effectiveness of cannabis compounds for treating side effects of OCD is more than a hypothesis in the medical community. A 2015 neurotherapeutics study by Esther Blessing and Maria Steenkamp, provides a lot of hope for OCD sufferers. Different studies such as Boshuisen et al. (2002), Bystritsky et al. (2001), Osuch et al. (2001), and Schneider et al. (1999) also give hope that cannabis can work effectively for OCD.
Since they influence the brain’s limbic section, the side effects from disorders like OCD, epilepsy, dementia, and ADHD can mostly be relieved by consuming CBD supplementation. CBD additionally expands production signaling while repressing the breakdown of anandamide. Anandamide works as an antidepressant, and it can enhance mood, reduce stress, and increase happiness.