CBD oil and other CBD products are popularly used for their generalized benefits to wellbeing. Furthermore, CBD can help people manage unwanted symptoms caused by physical and mental health conditions. With that said, Veterans may benefit substantially from CBD because research evidences its potential in helping treat PTSD, depression and anxiety.
Veterans, or people who have served in the military, oftentimes have experienced combat. Military missions frequently expose troops to traumatic and life-threatening experiences, devastation and violence. These types of events can lead to PTSD, as well as a number of other mental health conditions. Combat situations are not only mentally dangerous, but can also harm the physical body, and many Veterans suffer from chronic pain, injuries and muscle spasms. Unfortunately, these health conditions are often treated with “controlled” pharmaceutical medications, which studies suggest have prompted addictions and death due to over-prescribing and misuse.
This is where CBD comes into play. CBD oil is an all-natural compound derived from hemp (cannabis) plants. CBD is not addictive or psychoactive, and it may provide therapeutic benefits to the mental and physical. Here’s why CBD Oil may help Veterans cope with the aftermath of combat and other taxing military experiences.
Why Veterans Should Try CBD:
CBD for PTSD & Anxiety
Although more research is needed to confirm the effects of CBD for anxiety, however, pre-clinical studies highlight CBD’s prominent potential. According to a 2015 review, CBD may help anxiety by interacting with brain receptors that regulate fear, mood and anxiety-induced behaviors (such as the CB1 receptor and the serotonin 5-HT1A receptor)₂. A 2020 article baks this, having reviewed eight studies investigating CBD’s potential in anxiety disorder treatment. This article provided evidence to support that CBD may be effective when included in a therapy treatment plan for anxiety disorders and post-traumatic stress disorder. Studies have also revealed that CBD is most effective when administered soon after experiencing a stress trigger. This means that CBD is ideal for people who experience random episodes 0f anxiety, which is often seen in Veterans with PTSD.
CBD for Chronic Pain
Living with chronic pain is hard enough, especially when most treatments are composed of highly-addictive pain medications, thus establishing the opioid epidemic in America. Chronic pain in Veterans is extremely common: 1 in 5 Veterans report persistent pain, 1 in 10 report severe, persistent pain, and approximately 20 million veterans (over 50%) in the United States today are affected by this condition₃. CBD oil offers Veterans, and people in general, an alternative remedy for pain management that doesn’t include addictive pharmaceuticals. “CBD is emerging as a promising pharmaceutical agent to treat pain, inflammation, seizures, and anxiety without the psychoactive effects of THC”₁. Although more research is needed, animal studies have evidenced that CBD exerts its pain-relieving effects by acting on the endocannabinoid, inflammatory, and pain-sensing systems.
Work Cited
1.Boyaji, Shafik. “CBD for Chronic Pain: The Science Doesn’t Match the Marketing.” Harvard Health Blog, 20 Sept. 2020, www.health.harvard.edu/blog/cbd-for-chronic-pain-the-science-doesnt-match-the-marketing-2020092321003.
2.“Can CBD Oil Help with Anxiety & PTSD In Veterans?” Edited by VA.org, VA.org, 24 July 2020, va.org/can-cbd-oil-help-with-anxiety-ptsd-in-veterans/.
3.Monaghan, Elizabeth Michaelson. “5 Facts You May Not Know about Vets and Chronic Pain.” Practical Pain Management, Apr. 2018, www.practicalpainmanagement.com/patient/resources/understanding-pain/5-facts-you-may-not-know-about-vets-chronic-pain.
