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Anorexia Nervosa is classed as both an eating disorder and a mental health condition, and it can have devastating effects on a person’s overall health and wellbeing if left untreated. Recovery from anorexia is possible, but the path to recovery is different for each individual, and there are many different approaches to treatment. Since its legalisation in 2018, those who have been struggling to manage their symptoms with conventional approaches may be eligible for cannabis-based anorexia treatments.
Am I eligible?people in the UK have an eating disorder
of the UK’s population are thought to have Anorexia Nervosa.
reduction in anxiety reported with cannabis treatment in this online survey.
of UK adults surveyed would consider medical cannabis treatments.
Anxiety
Avoiding food
Avoiding social situations
Depression
Excessively exercising
Fatigue
If you are suffering from any of these symptoms, you may have Anorexia Nervosa. Please speak with your GP to find out more.
Talking therapies are usually the first line of treatment for people with anorexia in the UK, and medications can be prescribed alongside these to help manage anxiety or mood. Because comorbidity is high amongst those with anorexia, other medicines, such as bisphosphonate, may be prescribed to treat physical symptoms such as low bone strength.
Citalopram
Fluoxetine
Mirtazapine
Sertraline
Talking therapies
Whether you’re new to cannabis-based medicines, switching from another medical cannabis clinic, or self-medicating, we’ll put you back in control of your health.
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"Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder, which is associated with high rates of fatality and relapses. The condition is complex and often has associated anxiety symptoms. Medical cannabis can offer a safe option to address specific symptoms including stimulation of appetite, reduction of anxiety and improve sleep. These ‘minor’ wins can help to turn the tide towards recovery for the individual."
Psychiatry
Articles on Anorexia nervosa
12. 07. 2023
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.
12. 07. 2023
28. 02. 2024
As February draws to a close each year in the UK, Eating Disorder Awareness Week is held to shine a light on the prevalence of eating disorders, and raise awareness for the struggles they cause. As a UK based medical cannabis clinic, we felt it was important to honour this important topic, and discuss the emerging potential of medical cannabis in the treatment of various eating disorders.
28. 02. 2024
10. 08. 2023
While the vast majority of the people living in developed countries have a healthy relationship with food, 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.
10. 08. 2023
People with Anorexia Nervosa have very complicated relationships with food, and they take extra measures to keep their weight down. For most this is by avoiding eating or excessively exercising, and it is often accompanied by feeling an intense anxiety around the subject of food.
For some with anorexia, medical cannabis or cannabis-based treatments may be of benefit because of the cannabinoid contents they contain, and their potentials as an appetite stimulant, and a stress reliever.
However, because medical cannabis is not yet licensed in the UK, and is typically only prescribed by private medical cannabis clinics like Releaf, cannabis-based anorexia treatments are only considered when other conventional options have failed to meet the needs of the patient.
Medical cannabis contains two key components, or cannabinoids, called THC and CBD, that may be able to offer therapeutic value to those with anorexia. THC can bind to receptors in our brains, including those in the hypothalamus, which is responsible for controlling food intake. It’s believed that when THC interacts with these receptors, it can increase a person’s appetite, which may be useful for those who are recovering from anorexia.
The second key component, CBD, has demonstrated potential in combating the triggers of comorbid conditions such as anxiety and stress due to its ability to interact with, and boost, natural serotonin production.
