Psychiatric

Depression is a debilitating condition that affects about 280 million people around the world. Subjecting patients to what has been described as an overwhelming emotional numbness, extreme sadness or all-consuming hopelessness, depression is a mental health condition that can affect a person’s emotional, physical and social wellbeing. In this article, we aim to explain the evidence available surrounding the application of medical cannabis in depression symptom management, including its short-term effects and potential benefits, as well as the risks associated with taking medical cannabis. 

CBD is a non-intoxicating cannabinoid derived from the cannabis sativa L. genus, often sourced from hemp cultivars (which are part of the same plant species) thanks to their high CBD and low THC content. It has gained significant attention in recent years for its potential wellness benefits, particularly in the treatment of anxiety, pain, and inflammation. It is also commonly taken as a complementary therapeutic option for the reduction of depression symptoms, alongside traditional treatment protocols.

The rise of CBD in recent years has sparked a wave of curiosity and enthusiasm for its therapeutic potential, and possible health benefits. However, as with any wellness trend, it’s important to separate the fact from the fiction. Because each of our bodies are unique, the way our appetites work, and the way CBD interacts with and affects our bodies, depend on the individual and this can vary significantly from person to person. 

We all have trouble sleeping from time to time. Restless nights are at least a semi-common occurrence for most people, but if you find yourself battling through weeks or months-long issues surrounding sleep, there may be more at play.

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.

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. 

Treatment for eating disorders is usually a lengthy process involving psychotherapy, nutritional advice, and in some cases, medication. But new research is pointing to the possibility of medicinal cannabis as a potential therapeutic option for individuals with eating disorders.

The cannabis plant is a horticultural marvel. Its oil can be used as a salad dressing, its seeds are packed with protein and healthy fats, and its fibres make for a much more sustainable and durable alternative to cotton. What’s more, its stems, leaves, and buds are packed with compounds known to have a range of potential medicinal properties.

Across the UK, around two and a half million people are affected by post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). According to the charity PTSD UK, around 20% of people who experience trauma will go on to have some form of PTSD. This equates to around 10% of the country’s overall population.

Sleep is an absolutely vital component of our mental and physical health. But the unfortunate truth is that many of us are simply not getting enough of it. While many of us experience the odd sleepless night due to the daily stresses of modern-day life, one too many cappuccinos at work, or an oppressively hot and muggy summer evening, an ongoing loss of sleep could be categorised as insomnia.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) affects around 1.2% of the UK population, with approximately 750,000 of us affected by the illness at any one time. This mental health condition can be challenging to live with, resulting in extreme anxiety and dread, intrusive thoughts and compulsive behaviours that feel necessary to keep these thoughts and anxieties at bay. The condition can be incredibly disruptive to one’s professional, personal and social life, with symptoms proving difficult and sometimes debilitating.

One of the most extreme anxiety disorders is post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This condition is extremely complicated and can be debilitating for those affected. Fortunately, there is a substantial and ever-growing body of evidence to suggest that medical cannabis, and specifically CBD, may be an effective complementary therapy option that could help in alleviating the symptoms of PTSD. 

Cannabidiol (CBD) is one of the most abundant cannabinoids in the cannabis plant. Lauded for its potential anti-inflammatory, anxiolytic and antioxidant effects, it has found great popularity around the world as a health supplement. While cannabis use is strictly regulated in the UK for the consumer market, the law states that CBD products are legal as long as they contain less than 0.2% of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) per dose or less than 1 mg per container. This ensures that users can enjoy the health benefits of medical cannabis without the psychoactive effects of THC.

Many of us know how it feels to endure a sleepless night. Heat and humidity, noisy neighbours, or the worries and stresses of daily life can all prevent us from finding the restful state needed for good quality sleep. Most of the time, this transient insomnia comes and goes as external conditions become more favourable. Over time, however, a prolonged lack of sleep may lead to chronic insomnia.

Insomnia is a poorly understood and debilitating condition where sufferers find it difficult to either fall asleep, stay asleep for long periods, or get good quality sleep in general. Although there are conventional pharmaceutical treatment options available, most come with some pretty heavy side effects. Patients in the UK are increasingly looking at medical cannabis as an effective complementary treatment option to reduce the symptoms of insomnia.

Sativa and Indica are the two main types of medical cannabis, and while they are essentially the same plant, they can have vastly different effects on the mind and body. With recent studies suggesting that the differences between the two may be more nuanced than the recreational cannabis market would have you believe, the question of “Do Sativa or Indica strains offer better sleep?” is becoming increasingly relevant.

Cannabidiol, otherwise referred to as CBD, is the second most prevalent cannabinoid that medical cannabis produces after THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), and the most dominant in hemp varieties. Over the past decade or so, CBD has become increasingly popular as a natural remedy for many health conditions, including insomnia.

We all have trouble sleeping from time to time. Restless nights are at least a semi-common occurrence for most people, but if you find yourself battling through weeks or months-long issues surrounding sleep, there may be more at play.

Certain mood disorders including depression and anxiety are on the list of conditions that can be treated with medicinal cannabis, as are a bunch of other physical and psychological issues. A medical cannabis card is an identifying document that verifies an individual’s permission to use medicinal cannabis obtained from a licensed clinic or doctor. In the UK, medical cannabis cards are issued by private clinics and are only available to those over the age of 18, who have been prescribed medical cannabis by a doctor.

With the rise of depression diagnoses over the past 3 years globally, and also specifically here in the UK, it should come as anything but a surprise that researchers and healthcare professionals alike are keenly interested in finding new ways to help manage depression.

Diagnoses of clinical depression are at an all-time high here in the UK. The COVID-19 pandemic brought with it a sharp hike in rates of both depression and anxiety – and while that period is, thankfully, slowly passing, life is still fraught with many challenges and uncertainties.

Since the 2020 pandemic, global rates of clinical depression diagnoses have risen dramatically, with more than an estimated 280 million people worldwide now suffering from depression. The same has been seen here in the UK, and in early 2021 more than 21% of adults living in the UK experienced some form of depression. That is more than double the pre-pandemic rate of 10%.

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 treatment options available. One of those options may include taking medical cannabis as part of your therapeutic plan.

In the past decade, we have all witnessed the meteoric rise of CBD (cannabidiol). From a little-known and poorly understood cannabinoid to one of the most popular therapeutic supplements worldwide, CBD has quickly become a household name. With its potential to help with a range of conditions including anxiety, inflammation, and gastrointestinal issues, it's little wonder so many people are turning to CBD for relief.

In this article, we will dive deep into what the current science has to say about the potential of CBD as an aid for those looking to drop the pounds, and any possible side effects that should be taken into account when considering CBD for weight loss.

Eating disorders (ED) are among the most common mental illnesses, and some of the most debilitating, with an estimated 1.25 to 3.4 million people affected in the United Kingdom alone. Eating disorders most often develop during adolescence, although there are cases where people as old as seventy and as young as six years old have been diagnosed.

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.

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder – or PTSD – is an anxiety disorder and complex psychological condition brought on by a distressing and traumatic event. Those diagnosed with PTSD often experience generalised underlying anxiety, flashbacks, panic attacks, and nightmares.

Living with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can be a nightmarish existence for sufferers, and often is. While every individual’s experience is unique, the symptoms of this condition can be far-ranging and have a profound impact on daily life.

Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is an often misunderstood and misrepresented mental health condition characterised by symptoms such as extreme anxiety, obsessive intrusive thoughts, and compulsive behaviours. This condition can affect people of all ages and genders, and can have been seen in children as young as six.

Hemp oil is a safe dietary and wellness supplement, and you won’t feel any psychoactive effects from taking it. It contains a wide range of secondary cannabinoids and terpenes, with some hemp oils offering up to 18% CBD (cannabidiol). Hemp seed oil, on the other hand, is extracted from only the seeds of the hemp plant. It may contain trace amounts of CBD, but at such minuscule levels that it has no therapeutic effect. Hemp oil, specifically full-spectrum hemp oil containing CBD, holds promise as a safe and potential dietary additive for reducing anxiety symptoms.

Anxiety disorders and the impact sleep can and does have on them are well-documented. While there are many conventional methods available for addressing these issues, evidence is mounting that Cannabidiol (CBD) could be an effective partner in helping reduce the symptoms of anxiety disorders and improving sleep quality.

While you may have not heard of terpenes, you have definitely experienced the impact they have on the world around us. Terpenes are natural compounds that are produced by a massive range of plants (and some animals), cannabis included. They are what give cannabis its distinctive aroma and flavour, but recent research into the exact role they play shows that they may also have an impact on the medicinal qualities of each specific strain.

Anxiety issues are the most commonly diagnosed mental health issues in the UK. Each week, one in six of us will be battling through some form of anxiety. And while anxious feelings are a healthy part of the human condition, there is a difference between the occasional worry and serious angst.

CBD, or cannabidiol, is just one of over a hundred cannabinoids that have so far been identified in the cannabis plant. Unlike its more famous relative, Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), CBD does not produce any intoxicating effects – and its potential application as a natural medicinal option for a wide range of conditions, including anxiety, is gaining acceptance.

CBD (a non-intoxicating cannabinoid found in both hemp and cannabis), has quickly become a popular natural therapeutic option for anxiety sufferers worldwide. Despite the need for further research into the cannabinoid before making any definitive statements regarding its effectiveness in reducing anxiety, the available data suggests that CBD may provide relief for a broad range of anxiety-related issues. 

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. 

Anxiety-related issues are the most commonly diagnosed mental health issues in the United Kingdom, and the statistics show that they are on the rise. On any given day, 6% of the UK population will deal with anxious feelings that can be overwhelming and, for some, the symptoms can be debilitating.

Categorised as a complex panic disorder, Agoraphobia is an often misunderstood and misrepresented anxiety condition. While it is most commonly thought of as a fear of open spaces, it actually encompasses much more. One natural remedy growing in popularity among those suffering from agoraphobia is Cannabidiol, more commonly referred to by its abbreviation - CBD.

Cannabis strains are split into three main categories: Sativa, Indica, and hybrids (which are a combination of the two), with each particular strain offering its own unique set of effects. And while the current science is pointing towards the fact that cannabis effects may be far more nuanced than the simple Indica/Sativa split, most Sativa cultivars do seem to provide more cerebral stimulation, uplifting energy, and clarity than Indica dominant options. Or at least, that’s what hundreds of years' worth of anecdotal evidence points to, anyway. 

According to the latest statistics, around 1 in 6 adults in the UK suffer from a mental health condition, with a reported 3.25 million individuals accessing NHS mental health or autism services in 2021/2022. Although the study of how cannabinoids affect mental health is still in its early stages, there are a few promising findings that show cannabinoids may be effective in the treatment of anxiety symptoms. This is particularly true for CBD, as its non-intoxicating effects mean it has a lower risk of causing any negative mental health effects.