By TruthOnPot.com on May 14, 2013
PTSD sufferers say that marijuana can help.Image source
The findings show that individuals with PTSD possess higher levels of CB1 receptors and lower levels of anandamide – a cannabinoid similar to THC that is naturally produced by the human body.
Higher concentrations of CB1 receptors were identified in parts of the brain linked to anxiety and fear, both of which are common symptoms of PTSD.
Lead investigator Dr. Alexander Neumeister explained the role of the endocannabinoid system to Fox News.
“About 8 years ago, the first animal study was published showing that everybody has endogenous cannabinoids, or endocannabinoids, in the brain – meaning this substance is in the brain of every person,” said Neumeister. “Animal studies have suggested that increasing cannabinoids in the brain helps them to forget painful events and form new memories, so they start to learn to digest what they went through and get over it. We thought this may be relevant to PTSD.”
According to Neumeister, the brain acts to increase the number of cannabinoid receptors when anandamide levels are too low. “This helps the brain utilize the remaining endocannabinoids,” Neumeister stated in a press release.
Anecdotal evidence of marijuana’s effectiveness as a treatment for PTSD is what led his research team to believe that CB1 receptors may play a therapeutic role in the disorder.
In fact, Neumeister says that sufferers of PTSD often find smoking marijuana to be more effective than traditional medications such as anti-depressants.
“There’s not a single pharmacological treatment out there that has been developed specifically for PTSD,” states Neumeister.
“That’s a problem. There’s a consensus among clinicians that existing pharmaceutical treatments such as antidepressants simply do not work.”
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