As mental health becomes a growing concern in America, it’s good to see the science behind cannabis and its positive effects on so many mental health issues. Medical marijuana contains active ingredients like THC, CBD, CBN, and over 20 flavonoids, which you can read more about in Robert Bergman’s article, The Active Ingredients Of Medical Marijuana. These elements of cannabis can help release endorphins, increase serotonin, and improve cognitive ability. Here are some mental health issues medical marijuana has been shown to help and why.
Depression & Anxiety
Cases of anxiety and depression are on the rise, especially amidst the current pandemic. Some common reasons are large workloads, cramped schedules, and relationship issues. When these stressors come together, it can be a lot for the brain to handle all the time. That’s where medical marijuana’s endorphin effects come in. When endorphins are released in the brain, it helps to make you feel good about yourself. By clearing your mind of worries, you can alleviate symptoms of depression and anxiety.
PTSD
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) stems from a traumatic experience in the past that has had a significant impact on a person’s brain. This will cause the person to relive the trauma over and over, even after a long period of time. Treating PTSD often involves increasing serotonin levels. Serotonin is also known as the brain’s “happy” chemical because it contributes to feelings of happiness and well-being. Cannabis has the ability to generate serotonin in the brain. This effect can help to rid you of common PTSD effects like insomnia and nightmares.
Epilepsy & Seizures
Cannabis can also help with brain health by invigorating its electrical activity. This has an anti-seizure effect on patients that suffer from epilepsy. Epilepsy is a chronic disorder that causes unprovoked, recurrent seizures. By invigorating the electric activity in the brain, cannabis is able to combat the sudden surges of electrical activity caused by a seizure. Seizure patients can get these benefits from the CBD in medical marijuana. CBD is not psychoactive and can provide invaluable symptom alleviation to epilepsy patients.
There are a variety of benefits that people can receive from responsible medical marijuana use, and mental health is a big part of that. From less stress to higher levels of happiness and well-being, there are so many positive side effects to this medicinal plant. If you suffer from depression, anxiety, PTSD, or epileptic seizures, looking into medical marijuana might be a good choice for you.
*Canna Business Services is not a licensed medical professional and any information should not be misconstrued as medical advice. Please consult your doctor before pursuing medical marijuana as a treatment option.
