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.