Best Strains of Cannabis for PTSD: Marijuana and Weed Strains Explored
Best Medical Marijuana Strains
You can check them out one by one below, or jump to the conclusion to see what we think. Whatever way you do it, I hope you are on the road to finding some relief from your PTSD
What is Post Traumatic Stress Disorder?
PTSD is a medical disorder that is triggered by a traumatic event. It affects the mind and the body. Individuals with PTSD may experience symptoms such as flashbacks, nightmares, or insomnia. They may also have difficulty sleeping, increased anxiety, or an emotional reaction to triggers. PTSD is classified as an anxiety disorder by medical professionals. It is one of the mental health conditions that has become more common over recent years in the United States
https://www.ptsd.va.gov/understand/common/common_adults.asp.
The American Psychiatric Association defines it as follows:
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a psychiatric disorder that may occur in people who have experienced or witnessed a traumatic event, series of events or set of circumstances.
https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/ptsd/what-is-ptsd
It used to be thought that the people who get PTSD were professionals whose jobs exposed them to harrowing scenes, such as military veterans, police officer, firefighters. But we also see it in victims of violence, sexual assault and abuse and those who have been in car accidents.
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms
- Intrusive thoughts or memories of the traumatic event
- Shying away from loved ones or places/activities that bring back memories of the incident
- startling easily, heightened alertness, this can lead to social anxiety
- feeling detached, depressed or guilty,
- severe anxiety and distress when reminded of the traumatic experience and
- nightmares/flashbacks of the experience.
- Sleep disturbances related to these anxiety symptoms.
- Suicidal thoughts
What Is The Standard Treatment For PTSD?
The standard treatment of PTSD if you were to go to your healthcare provider would be psychological therapies, particularly cognitive behavioral therapy or cognitive processing therapy, but also increasingly EMDR, which stands for “Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing,” Sometimes they may offer group therapy, though many people don’t want this.
PTSD patients will probably be offered medication in the form of a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) such as paroxetine or sertraline, but these medications will probably only be offered if you are unable or not wanting to have psychological therapy.
What If The Standard Treatments Don’t Work For You?
If you are suffering from PTSD, and you don’t find the standard treatments work, or for your own reasons don’t want to treat your symptoms this way?
This is where the humble cannabis plant comes in. No longer is it known as Durban Poison or ‘Green Crack’. In 2021, there was a clinical trial that showed great promise: Pilot Study of the Safety and Efficacy of Four Different Potencies of Smoked Marijuana in 76 Veterans With PTSD
https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02759185
However another study from 2021 showed no significant reduction in PTSD symptoms
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33730032/
PTSD symptoms cause stress and make it difficult for patients to perform daily tasks. There are now medical marijuana strains that can treat PTSD symptoms effectively. In this blog, we will discuss five of the best marijuana strains for treating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Despite this mixed review from clinical trials, the best way (I always think) is to try for yourself because anecdotal evidence suggests that cannabis is helpful for PTSD. Of course, make sure that you do not have medical conditions or are using prescription medications or street drugs that will create adverse effects with new or increased cannabis use. If you have a history of substance abuse or an addictive personality, unfortunately you will probably end up abusing cannabis and too much of anything is rarely good for your health.
Be sensible, be moderate, be informed.
How Can Cannabis Help?
It is known that medical cannabis can help with PTSD, anxiety, and other mental health problems. Cannabis’ main benefit is that it helps people feel less stressed and anxious by turning on the endocannabinoid system in the brain. This system controls how the body reacts to stress, happiness, and sickness.
A high from marijuana can also help with PTSD symptoms like insomnia, bad dreams, and flashbacks. Also, cannabis is a safe and natural way to treat PTSD instead of using traditional drugs. Different strains of marijuana can affect the brain in different ways, so patients can find the strain that works best for them. Medical cannabis has also been shown to help with chronic pain and improve health conditions like epilepsy and chronic nausea. So, people with certain mental health problems should think about trying medical marijuana treatment.
You should not try marijuana if you have a history of psychosis, schizophrenia or mania.
Indica Strains v Sativa strains
We have discussed the differences between indica-dominant strains and sativa dominant strains in another article. But it is thought that the best cannabis strains for anxiety in general may be indica-dominant, because indica strains are better for straight anxiety. A sativa strain typically has high thc content, while an indica has high cbd levels. This means a lower level of psychoactive effects with lower THC
Here are a list of some popular strains
Jack Herer:
A popular hybrid strain known for its uplifting effects. This strain is known for its balanced sativa-indica ratio and high-cannabidiol content. It’s a high-leyth marijuana strain for those looking for a heady, cerebral high.
Sour Diesel:
A powerful sativa-dominant marijuana strain with energizing and mood-boosting effects. This hybrid marijuana strain has large pistils densely packed with white hairs and red seeds common in cannabis strains of the same name. It has a strong aroma of earth and citrus with a tangy aftertaste that many medical marijuana patients love. Its THC levels can reach as high as 20%, making it a popular medical marijuana option for patients dealing with stress or anxiety.
Northern Lights:
An indica-dominant strain, it’s known for its high levels of THC—a psychoactive compound in marijuana that can impact the body and mind—and its relaxing effects. Those who suffer from anxiety or stress may find that this strain provides a sense of calm and euphoria, making it a popular choice.
Girl Scout Cookies:
This sativa-dominant strain is best known for its high levels of THC and its uplifting effects. It can help to relieve symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression, making it a popular option for those suffering from these conditions.
But What Are The 7 Best Strains For PTSD?
When we trawl for opinions on the best strains for PTSD, we get lots of them, and these opinions are often contradictory. But here are the ones that top the poll most of the time.
Blue Dream
Blue Dream cannabis strain is a popular and known to create a euphoric feeling. It’s a hybrid strain, which means that it was made by crossing a sativa strain with an indica strain. The THC ratio is high in Blue Dream, which can make people feel happy and calm. Some people with PTSD may find that Blue Dream helps relieve symptoms like anxiety and depression that can come with the disorder. The high with Blue Dream is more because of the balance of chemical compounds.
Cannatonic
Cannatonic is a hybrid strain that combines high levels of THC with high levels of CBD. The high levels of THC provide an intense high and the high levels of CBD provide users with the feeling of being anxiety-free and more relaxed. This strain has been known to help patients with PTSD and other related anxiety disorders because it offers them a calm, euphoric high without causing any side effects.
White Widow
This hybrid strain has a high CBD content and is known for its calming effects. It’s popular among medical marijuana users with PTSD due to its relaxing effect and ability to relieve symptoms of anxiety, pain, and stress. It’s also been found to treat symptoms of nausea, insomnia, and seizures.
Dry mouth and red eyes are the most common side effects. Other common side effects include dizziness, difficulty sleeping, fatigue, and increased appetite. CBD White Widow: It is widely available in the U.S. and Canada, making it a popular choice for medical marijuana users with PTSD. .
Granddaddy Purple:
An indica-dominant strain known for its calming and pain-relieving effects. This hybrid marijuana strain is known for its euphoric effects, clear mind, and relaxing body high. It has potent THC levels of 20-25%, making it an ideal medical marijuana strain for patients dealing with stress or anxiety.
Harlequin:
Harlequin is a sativa-dominant hybrid strain that can provide relief from symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It has higher CBD (cannabidiol) and low levels of THC, making it ideal for patients who want to avoid the high feeling produced by cannabis.
Harlequin has a pleasant, fruity aroma and taste that can help reduce stress and anxiety. This strain is known to produce feelings of relaxation and happiness. It can help patients cope with symptoms of PTSD, such as chronic traumatic stress disorder (CTSD) or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), by providing a sense of calmness and well-being.
Harlequin is a good choice for patients looking for strains with medical benefits without the high.
OG Kush:
OG Kush is a hybrid strain that can relieve anxiety and help PTSD sufferers relax. It’s high in THC and has sativa-dominant characteristics, meaning it’s good for treating symptoms such as stress and insomnia. This strain is known for its thick resin coat, which gives it a strong smell and taste. It’s best for beginners due to its high content of CBD. Users say it can be used to treat symptoms such as headaches and insomnia, making it a popular choice among medical marijuana patients.
Gorilla Glue:
Gorilla Glue is a popular strain that provides an uplifting and calming effect. It has been known to help relieve anxiety, stress, and depression. It’s a great option to give relief and this strain aids pain relief. It has a mild sedative effect, making it perfect for night time use. Gorilla Glue is a hybrid strain with strong aroma and flavor profile of diesel and chocolate.
The strain’s potent effects make it popular among medical marijuana patients looking for stress relief, medical marijuana patients looking for pain relief, medical marijuana patients looking for medical marijuana strains that are high in the cannabinoids tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD), or medical marijuana patients searching for strains high in the cannabinoids THC and CBC.
Its pleasant high makes it popular among medical marijuana patients looking for strains high in THC and CBC as a euphoric high or strains high in CBD as a mood-enhancer.
Conclusion
What are the best strains for PTSD?
Results from clinical trials about the benefit of medical marijuana for PTSD are mixed. Despite that, there are anecdotal reports that marijuana use can be helpful in some people. There is firmer evidence that CBD oil with low or no THC —so that it has no major psychoactive effects—is good for anxiety and sleep.
Once you have ruled out any medical or mental health conditions that will probably get worse with marijuana use (like psychosis, schizophrenia or bipolar mania) then the best thing might be for you to try it. Lots of people are clear that cannabis products are an effective treatment for anxiety and PTSD.
I hope you can use this guide to find specific strains that are likely to be helpful to you, especially if you’ve suffered for a long time.
If you have no experience with marijuana, you might want to try CBD products (that is with little or no THC) to avoid the ‘high’ at first.
However, if you have used it before, you may be seeking that high and find that’s what helps you most.
You will know which treatment options are best for you — though it might take a little exploration. That’s okay though. It’s better to take time to get it right and find the best strains for PTSD treatment that suit your biology best.
