Medical Cannabis for Mental Health

Medical Cannabis for Mental Health

Anxiety is one of the most common conditions treated with cannabis-based medicines in the UK*. However, these alternative treatments can also improve conditions such as PTSD, depression, eating disorders and OCD when applied appropriately. As a CQC-regulated clinic, our team of expert doctors are well-versed in the importance of mental health and wellbeing, and are here to give personalised care and support to each individual.

Am I eligible?

Mental Health

For those facing challenges with conditions like anxiety, PTSD, depression, or insomnia, conventional medicines may not be having the desired clinical outcomes, cannabis-based products for medicinal use (CBPMs) offer an alternative path for patients who have found traditional treatments ineffective. While not everyone will be eligible for medical cannabis treatment, our specialist doctors are here to engage in personalised consultations, exploring the potential benefits of this alternative.

How Can Cannabis-Based Treatments Help?

Our clinicians are experts in prescribing our alternative medicines for mental health patients, and your condition must be treated under clinical supervision. Cannabinoids can interact with your brain’s serotonin production, which is responsible for balancing and stabilising mood, and have been shown to alter anxiety and fear responses. THC, the other major component in cannabis, can also be therapeutically applied to help treat or manage secondary symptoms of depression, like poor sleep and low appetite.

1/3

Of those in the UK’s largest medical cannabis study were treating anxiety in 2021.

8 million

million people have an anxiety disorder, and 18% experience anxiety at work.

58%

of patients reported a reduction in anxiety and stress following medical cannabis use

50%

reduction in depression scores noted in large-scale study after 3 months of CBPM treatment

Articles on Mental health

12. 07. 2023

Medical cannabis for depression explained

With rates of depression in the UK steadily rising, and only boosted by the recent pandemic, finding treatment solutions can be a daunting task. Now more than ever, it is important to understand all the potential symptom-reducing options available. One of those options may include adding medicinal cannabis as part of your therapeutic plan.

06. 07. 2023

How medical cannabis may help reduce anxiety

Anxiety disorders come in many forms, and they all share one thing in common. That is, they are on the rise. With one in six adults in the United Kingdom now diagnosed with some form of anxiety, the need for additional treatment options has never been more pronounced. Below, we will look at what anxiety is exactly, how it can affect you, and the possible ways medical cannabis may be able to help. 

12. 07. 2023

The potential medical cannabis holds for eating disorder treatment

The vast majority of the global population has a healthy relationship with food, but the scourge of eating disorders is on the rise, with millions worldwide facing anorexia, bulimia, and other disordered eating behaviours. In the UK alone, current estimates suggest that around 1.25 million people are affected by some type of eating disorder. 

What our patients say about us

  • Peter's Story: Opioids vs. medical cannabis for chronic pain — A paradigm shift

    Like so many people in the UK looking for alternative treatments for chronic nerve pain, Peter wasn’t aware that medical cannabis had been available in the UK on prescription since 2018. For years, he suffered with trigeminal neuralgia, an excruciating nerve condition, until a chance encounter that led him to Releaf’s doors, where he connected with doctors who understood the complexity of his condition. Read more

    Condition Psychiatric

    Subscriber 6 months

  • Georgia's Story: From Misdiagnosis to Managing ADHD

    Misdiagnosed with anxiety and depression in her early teens, Georgia spent years on medications that she never felt quite addressed the root of her struggles. Read more

    Condition Psychiatric

    Subscriber 8 months

  • Daisy’s Story: Prejudice, professionalism, and PTSD

    As human beings, it's part of our intrinsic, instinctual nature to learn from those around us, and to use the experiences others have had to help guide or inform our own. And in the world of medical cannabis, this is no different. Read more

    Condition Psychiatric

    Subscriber 9 months

  • Maruis’s Story: Stability and Relief with Medical Cannabis Treatment

    Maruis’s story is one of trauma, struggle, and resilience in the face of seemingly relentless health challenges. Diagnosed with PTSD, anxiety, and depression, along with osteoarthritis, he faced exhausting day-to-day battles, such as bouts of vivid night terrors and debilitating, life-limiting side effects from an exhaustive list of prescription drugs. Read more

    Condition Psychiatric

    Subscriber 6 months

  • Ollie's story: ADHD solutions for a father of three

    Ollie is a 38-year-old father of three whose diagnosis with ADHD came only a year ago, sparking a profound reflection on the coping mechanisms he had adopted throughout his youth—most notably, his battle with alcoholism that led to a life-altering arrest for drink-driving at the age of 25 Read more

    Condition Psychiatric

    Subscriber 4 months

  • Hannah’s story: From pharmaceutical panic to plant-based positivity

    At Releaf, we recognise just how much courage it takes to break free from social and societal norms and begin to advocate for your own healing. Read more

    Condition Psychiatric

    Subscriber 9 months

  • Thomas’ Story: Allowing himself the space to relax through the fog of anxiety

    Most of us love nothing more than a bit of rest and relaxation. That feeling of letting everything go, and just being in the moment. But for 36-year-old Thomas, finding the mental space to relax can be a bit of an issue. Read more

    Condition Psychiatric

    Subscriber 5 months

  • Ben’s story: Freedom from pharmaceuticals with medical cannabis

    Ben had been battling anxiety and depression for nearly two decades when, seven years ago, he was also diagnosed with fibromyalgia. Despite years of being prescribed pharmaceutical treatment options like SSRIs and opioids, he still felt weighed down by their side effects. Read more

    Condition Psychiatric

    Subscriber 3 months

  • Lauren’s Story: Freedom from anxiety and arrest

    For far too many patients in the UK, finding legal treatment options that are effective and without the burden of heavy side effects can be difficult. To add to the struggle, navigating the complex healthcare and legal systems can often leave patients feeling lost and alone. Read more

    Condition Psychiatric

    Subscriber 7 months

  • Brandon's Comeback: influencer boxing and his fight against chronic anxiety

    Brandon is a 27-year-old who has faced the challenges of anxiety, autism, Asperger's syndrome, and ADHD throughout his life. For many years, he felt isolated, and his conditions often prevented him from engaging in social circles and made him a target for bullying. Read more

    Condition Psychiatric

    Subscriber 6 months

  • You’ll be Supported By an Expert Medical Team

    There is now good real world evidence that medical cannabis provides excellent mood uplifting effects as well as reducing the crippling effects of anxiety. When prescribed in a controlled manner in a clinical setting such as here at Releaf, patients have a clinical touch point with a Consultant so that, should their mental health deteriorate whilst in receipt of a prescription, their condition may be expertly managed without undue delay.

    Dr. Tang discussing medical cannabis treatment options in a professional setting
    Dr David Tang

    Clinical Director

    Common symptoms of psychiatric conditions

    Anhedonia

    Confusion

    Excessive worrying

    Fatigue

    Hallucinations

    Insomnia

    Irritability

    Loss of appetite

    Obsessive thoughts

    Panic attacks

    Social withdrawal

    Traumatic flashbacks

    It's important to note that these symptoms are general and may not be exclusive to any specific psychiatric condition. Consulting with a healthcare professional is crucial for accurate diagnosis and tailored treatment plans based on individual needs.

    Common psychiatric conditions
    If you’re looking for an alternative to conventional medicine, cannabis-based treatments could be the answer to restore your quality of life.
    Am I eligible?