Cannabis For Postpartum Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

    CANNABIS FOR POSTPARTUM OBSESSIVE-COMPULSIVE DISORDER




Definition: If you're having recurrent disturbing or violent thoughts or images, you may have postpartum obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). These thoughts arise spontaneously in the first couple of weeks after giving birth. Most commonly, they center on harming your baby somehow, such as stabbing the baby with knives or putting the baby in the oven.

OCD sufferers see danger everywhere, leading them to wash their hands until they are raw or check their door locks incessantly. Some also perform ritualistic behaviors to protect themselves from having bad thoughts. They may hide the knives or avoid the kitchen in an effort to ward off thoughts of harming the baby. Some women may avoid basic care, refusing to bathe their baby out of fear of thoughts about death by drowning.   Unlike moms with postpartum psychosis (PPP) women with postpartum OCD are repulsed by these thoughts of harming their baby and know not to act on them.

Note: If you ever feel compelled to act on these thoughts, seek professional help immediately. You may have what's known as postpartum psychosis, a severe yet rare illness characterized by hallucinations, bizarre thinking, paranoia, mania, delusions, and suicidal impulses. PPOCD requires immediate medical intervention because of the increased risk of suicide for the mother and harm to the baby.

Medical Marijuana refers to the use of the plant cannabis and its extracts or constituents as herbal therapy as legislated in USA. There is controversy about the medical value of marijuana or cannabis and lot of opposition to their use. But there are many documented effects that are found beneficial in treatment of nausea and improvement of hunger in case of AIDS patients and patients undergoing chemotherapy and in treatment of glaucoma. More commonly it is believed to have analgesic properties but even this is disputed.

The controversy of medical marijuana is due to the fact that it is used in various forms like smoking or drinking the extracts for addictive recreational use and is legislated as illegal. Many countries have banned the use of cannabis in any form but the use in medical applications is permitted with various degrees of control and permission requirements. The medical use of cannabis is disputed all over the world.

The proper use of medical marijuana many patients are able to avoid the use of opiates and tranquillizers or sleeping pills and other antidepressant medicines. It is argued that unlike other diseases, long suffering due to depression and anxiety disorders makes the patient will wear down the patient like no other disease and will deteriorate the condition as he looses interest in all activities that make recovery possible. In such cases, the mood elevation made possible by marijuana has a positive effect as the patient begins to take interest in activities that help to slowly recover; the mood improvement acts as a catalyst in the path to recovery. Marijuana Medical Handbook mentions that the power of marijuana to eliminate depression is the main medical benefit of the banned substance.

Medical marijuana has been used in treatment in psychiatric conditions like anxiety, depression and mood disorders. These disorders affect the way an individual thinks and feels and acts and these acts are always negatively affected. The depression and anxiety disorders cause a deep feeling of sadness and result in loss of interest in even pleasurable activities. If this condition can not be improved up on by change of life style, exercise and diet or by counseling it is necessary to provide relief with medication from the debilitating symptoms.

Cannabis For Postpartum Anxiety

            CANNABIS FOR POSTPARTUM ANXIETY

Definition:If you're having recurrent feelings of intense worry or panic, you may have a postpartum anxiety disorder. Recent research has shown that about 10 percent of postpartum moms suffer from clinical anxiety.

Anxiety symptoms usually appear in the first two to three weeks after the birth of a baby, but may not reach a distressing level until several weeks later. There is some overlap between depression and anxiety, and some women have symptoms of both.

Symptoms of anxiety and panic may include:

• Extreme anxiety or irritability
• Restlessness and agitation
• Shortness of breath
• Chest pains or discomfort
• Sensation of choking or smothering
• Dizziness
• Tingling in hands or feet
• Trembling and shaking
• Sweating
• Faintness
• Hot or cold flashes
• Fear of dying, of going crazy, or of losing control

Some women with postpartum anxiety have recurrent fears about harm coming to their children, other loved ones, or themselves.

Scientists now understand that a cannabinoid molecule known as cannabidiol, or CBD, is responsible for many of cannabis’ anxiety-relieving effects.  CBD, like the more well-known cannabinoid THC, is one of over 100 such molecules found in the cannabis plant.  CBD has been shown to act on natural receptors that are found in our nervous system known as CB1 receptors.  Although they didn’t know why in 1860, the Ohio State Medical Committee noted that Indica strains of cannabis are most effective in treating anxiety.  This is because Indica strains contain higher levels of CBD than Sativa strains. It is important to remember that there are many ways to use cannabis as alternatives to smoking.  These include vaporization, tinctures, edible products, topical applications, teas, and raw plant extracts. - See more at: http://www.medicann.com/cannabis-and-pain-relief/anxiety/#sthash.ICCugYdl.dpuf

Medical Marijuana in treatment of anxiety disorder

Medical marijuana has been used in treatment in psychiatric conditions like anxiety, depression and mood disorders. These disorders affect the way an individual thinks and feels and acts and these acts are always negatively affected. The depression and anxiety disorders cause a deep feeling of sadness and result in loss of interest in even pleasurable activities. If this condition can not be improved up on by change of life style, exercise and diet or by counseling it is necessary to provide relief with medication from the debilitating symptoms.

Benefits of Medical Marijuana

The proper use of medical marijuana many patients are able to avoid the use of opiates and tranquillizers or sleeping pills and other antidepressant medicines. It is argued that unlike other diseases, long suffering due to depression and anxiety disorders makes the patient will wear down the patient like no other disease and will deteriorate the condition as he looses interest in all activities that make recovery possible. In such cases, the mood elevation made possible by marijuana has a positive effect as the patient begins to take interest in activities that help to slowly recover; the mood improvement acts as a catalyst in the path to recovery. Marijuana Medical Handbook mentions that the power of marijuana to eliminate depression is the main medical benefit of the banned substance.

Cannabis for Postpartum Depression

Two weeks ago today my husband and I welcomed our first baby into this crazy world. Jax Richard Epps will grow up knowing the truth about this miracle plant and will help us spread the good word one day. I apologize for my absence the past two weeks, thank you for your understanding.  Today's blog is in honor of Jax...


          CANNABIS FOR POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION



Definition: Postpartum depression (PPD), also called postnatal depression, is a form of clinical depression which can affect women, and less frequently men, after childbirth. Studies report prevalence rates among women from 5% to 25%, but methodological differences among the studies make the actual prevalence rate unclear. Among men, in particular new fathers, the incidence of postpartum depression has been estimated to be between 1.2% and 25.5%.

Thomas F. Denson, PhD, Professor of Psychology at the California State University at Long Beach, and Mitch Earleywine, PhD, Associate Professor of Psychology at the State University of New York at Albany, wrote the following in their Apr. 2006 study titled "Decreased Depression in Marijuana Users," published in Addictive Behaviors:

"Those who consume marijuana occasionally or even daily have lower levels of depressive symptoms than those who have never tried marijuana. Specifically, weekly users had less depressed mood, more positive affect, and fewer somatic complaints than non-users. Daily users reported less depressed mood and more positive affect than non-users.

George McMahon, author and medical marijuana patient in the US Federal Drug Administration's Investigational New Drug (IND) program, stated in his 2003 book Prescription Pot:

"People who have never struggled with a life threatening or disabling illness often do not comprehend how debilitating the resulting depression can be. Long days spent struggling with sickness can wear patients down, suppress their appetites and slowly destroy their wills to live. This psychological damage can result in physiological effects that may be the difference between living and dying.

The elevated mood associated with cannabis definitely affected my health in a positive manner. I was more engaged with life. I took walks and rode my bike, things I never considered doing before in my depressed state, even if I had been physically capable. I ate regular meals and I slept better at night. All of these individual factors contributed to a better overall sense of well-being."

Tod Mikuriya, MD, a former psychiatrist and medical coordinator, was quoted as stating the following in the 1997 book Marijuana Medical Handbook written by Dale Gieringer, Ed Rosenthal, and Gregory T. Carter:

"The power of cannabis to fight depression is perhaps its most important property."

 Frank Lucido, MD, a private practice physician, stated in his article "Implementation of the Compassionate Use Act in a Family Medical Practice: Seven Years Clinical Experience," available on his website (accessed June 11, 2012):

"With appropriate use of medical cannabis, many of these [cannabis-using] patients have been able to reduce or eliminate the use of opiates and other pain pills, ritalin, tranquilizers, sleeping pills, anti-depressants and other psychiatric medicines, as well as to substitute the use of medical cannabis as a harm reduction measure for specific problematic or abused substances with a much more serious risk profile (including alcohol, heroin/opiates, and cocaine)."

Bill Zimmerman, PhD, former President of Americans for Medical Rights (AMR), stated in his 1998 book Is Marijuana the Right Medicine For You?:

"Some patients have found the mood altering effects of marijuana to be helpful for treating mood disorders such as anxiety, depression and bipolar (manic-depressive) illness. Using marijuana to treat mood disorders was described in medical writings in the 19th and early 20th centuries...

The mental component of the pre-menstrual syndrome (PMS) often causes psychological problems and is now technically classified as an atypical (not typical) depression. Many women report benefit from using marijuana to improve the symptoms of PMS."

Cannabis health risk myths & realities

Cannabis health risk myths & realities

The essential questions are whether the active ingredient in marijuana, a cannabinoid (chemical compound) known as THC, has any medicinal value; whether the risks associated with its use outweigh the benefits; and whether THC answers a need not currently met by any other medications on the market. In the course of that debate, several health risks are often cited:


Marijuana overdose 

There is no existing evidence of anyone dying of a marijuana overdose, but this doesn't preclude the possibility of experiencing adverse or unpleasant effects when it is consumed in large amounts. For comparison's sake, alcohol overdoses claim approximately 5,000 casualties per year.This is often cited as a reason that marijuana is safer than other drugs, like alcohol.

Memory

Marijuana does impair short-term memory, but only during intoxication. THC has been shown to have a negative effect on memory at times.

Addiction

The DEA's general opposition to marijuana is comprised of 1) that whatever medical value it has is already fulfilled by other, equally effective drugs on the market, and 2) that marijuana is highly addictive. 

Both points can be turned upside down: There is already an abundance of drugs that do the same job as products already on the market, and they receive approval anyway. This seems to run contrary to the DEA's first argument. And even a cursory look at many of the Schedule II opiates and amphetamines shows that high addiction potential is not a basis for legal classification of drugs. The point is that marijuana is not physically addictive, and even if it was, the DEA would appear to be quite hypocritical arguing this point.

The immune system 

If smoked marijuana were to inhibit the activity of T-lymphocytes in the blood, it would compromise the body's ability to fight infection. This would put some people at the mercy of opportunistic infections and diseases, notably those who have immunosuppressive conditions like HIV or lymphoma. However, the data does not support this. What it does support -- barely -- is the compromised immunity of the lungs due to the smoke from marijuana.




Read more: http://www.askmen.com/sports/health/20_mens_health.html#ixzz2YSUCpPAP

Breast Milk contains cannabinoids

BREAST MILK CONTAINS CANNABINOIDS THAT ARE ESSENTIAL FOR LIFE


It is apparent that endocannabinoids, chemical compounds produced in the body that are similar to the psychoactive ingredients in marijuana, act as a catalyst for early embryonic development and development thereafter into maturity. The same compounds have also been found at incredibly high concentrations in maternal breast milk, suggesting that cannabinoids are more important to our successful growth than was ever thought before.

The discovery of endocannabinoid production in human breast milk is certainly another nail in the coffin for those who subscribe to the theory that marijuana belongs in the same category as other class-1 narcotics. The occurrence and role of cannabinoids in breast milk has been the subject of multiple studies, and it is the belief of researchers that cannabinoids play an integral role in how babies learn to latch onto their mother’s nipple for sustenance.

It is theorized that, since cannabinoid activity has already been proven to be linked with appetite stimulation in adults, cannabinoids in breast milk are what first stimulate a nursing baby’s appetite. Cannabinoids, combined with other nutrients in breast milk, also provide the newborn with protection from viruses, bacteria, and cancer causing factors. This means that cannabinoids are quite literally essential in the development of infants.

These types of findings make the continued prohibition of marijuana seem utterly ludicrous. Cannabinoids are an integral part of our development and well-being from the time we are in our mother’s wombs, throughout the entirety of our lives. Their presence in a mother’s breast milk jump starts the newborn’s appetite for the first time (this process can be seen in a different scenario when adults smoke marijuana and get the munchies). The health benefits that cannabinoids offer can be seen time and time again; whether it’s in the developing nervous system of an unborn child, the breast milk of a nursing mother, or even in a chemistry of a simple plant.