What is CBD
CBD,
or Cannabidiol is one of many active cannabinoids found in Cannabis.
Unlike the main psychoactive substance in cannabis, THC, CBD does not
get you high or stoned. Researchers have recently been finding that CBD
may have many beneficial uses. It is thought that CBD could be helpful
in a wide range of conditions and disorders, among the possible benefits
CBD is currently thought to be useful for are:
- Fighting cancerous cells
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Psychosis
- PTSD
- Insomnia
- Diabetes
- Epilepsy
- Antibiotic resistant infections
- Arthritis
- Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
- Alcoholism
- Chronic pain
- Psoriasis
- Digestion
Why didn't we know about CBD before now?
You
may even wonder why cannabis was made illegal in the first place when,
compared to drugs such as alcohol, it is relatively harmless. The
reasons for this stem back to the 1930’s and the end of alcohol
prohibition. Cannabis wasn’t made illegal in the United States after
scientific research concluded that use of it was harmful to its
citizen’s, it became illegal due to a racist and paranoid propaganda
campaign by one Harry J Anslinger who was worried that after the end of
alcohol prohibition he would be out of a job.
Anslingers’ campaign used hysterical soundbites to terrify the public and manipulate federal employees to militate against the ‘devil weed.’ Among some of the problems and outcomes which Anslinger set out to associate with cannabis are (in his own words!):
“Marijuana is an addictive drug which produces in its user’s insanity, criminality, and death.”
“Marihuana leads to pacifism and communist brainwashing”
“You smoke a joint and you’re likely to kill your brother.”
“Marijuana is the most violence-causing drug in the history of mankind.”
Anslingers’ campaign used hysterical soundbites to terrify the public and manipulate federal employees to militate against the ‘devil weed.’ Among some of the problems and outcomes which Anslinger set out to associate with cannabis are (in his own words!):
“Marijuana is an addictive drug which produces in its user’s insanity, criminality, and death.”
“Marihuana leads to pacifism and communist brainwashing”
“You smoke a joint and you’re likely to kill your brother.”
“Marijuana is the most violence-causing drug in the history of mankind.”
Harry Anslinger
Political Cronyism
Of
course, these days, most people would know these opinions to be the
wild inaccurate nonsense they are, but due to the sake of political
expediency and politicians wanting to play to the popular vote rather
dealing with established facts, cannabis use and research into its
chemical make-up has been mostly prohibited for almost a century.
Coupled with this is the fact that the drug war is big business for many
federal agencies, who hoover up tax dollars to continue fighting a
failed campaign. Private prisons are full of inmates who were prosecuted
for narcotic related activity. These same prisons also have approved
suppliers and products which inmates must use exclusively for their
supplies and if you can get your product on that list, you can make a
killing.
When politicians rely on big business for campaign donations and those big businesses are in the business of building and running prisons, selling products and services into prisons, or making pharmaceuticals, it is unlikely they are going to make decisions based on science and common sense. So, for the last almost ninety years there has been a compound available that could have had a profoundly beneficial effect for people suffering with mental illness, many types of cancer, Multiple Sclerosis and epilepsy and we didn't know about it. And it’s all down to one very unpleasant, racist individual, who was prepared to sacrifice truth in the name of career advancement.
So there we have a potted (excuse the pun!) history of why cannabis became illegal but over the last few years, with a slightly more enlightened society, the use of medical marijuana becoming more common and with a number of U.S. states decriminalizing the use of cannabis, things have started to change.
When politicians rely on big business for campaign donations and those big businesses are in the business of building and running prisons, selling products and services into prisons, or making pharmaceuticals, it is unlikely they are going to make decisions based on science and common sense. So, for the last almost ninety years there has been a compound available that could have had a profoundly beneficial effect for people suffering with mental illness, many types of cancer, Multiple Sclerosis and epilepsy and we didn't know about it. And it’s all down to one very unpleasant, racist individual, who was prepared to sacrifice truth in the name of career advancement.
So there we have a potted (excuse the pun!) history of why cannabis became illegal but over the last few years, with a slightly more enlightened society, the use of medical marijuana becoming more common and with a number of U.S. states decriminalizing the use of cannabis, things have started to change.
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| Don't confuse CBD hemp oil with hemp oil.....they are different products |
Depression and SSRI's
Of
the many unintended consequences of criminalization of cannabis, one
has been to remove virtually all traces of CBD from commercially
available cannabis. This has been due to the growers selecting seeds
that produce plants with a higher THC content in order for users to get
as stoned as they possibly can. The plants with a higher THC content
also had gradually less and less CBD over the years. CBD is thought to
be a possible natural antidote for some of the more unpleasant effects of THC, such as paranoia and psychosis.
More recently, licenses to study the possible benefits of CBD have been granted more and more regularly and now there is a race on to exploit the many and varied potential uses of this compound and no area offers more hope than the field of mental illness. There are many treatments available for people who suffer from depression. Some benefit from CBT (Cognitive Behaviour Therapy) but for others who are prescribed SSRI antidepressants, the effects can often be unpleasant.
The beginning few weeks of SSRI use can be particularly unpleasant, as the effects such drugs have on the body and the mind are unpredictable. Suicidal thoughts and feelings are common in the initial phase of taking SSRI’s and unfortunately the incidence of people taking their own lives in this phase is a regular occurrence. Other side effects such as sweating, panic attacks and extremely lucid nightmares are not uncommon. SSRI’s have also been a factor in countless mass shootings, especially in the United States. Withdrawal effects can also be highly unpleasant. I myself took SSRI antidepressants for six months, five years ago. Against my doctors’ advice, I stopped the course suddenly. Luckily for me, I didn’t suffer from a sudden dip in my mood, however, for three months after I ceased the medication I had what felt like huge bolts of electricity suddenly passing through my body at irregular intervals every day.
Users of SSRI’s often ended up hooked on their medication for years suffering with the side effects and often feeling no benefit whatsoever. Many report that rather than feeling happier, they just feel removed from their immediate environment and all of their emotions feel subdued.
More recently, licenses to study the possible benefits of CBD have been granted more and more regularly and now there is a race on to exploit the many and varied potential uses of this compound and no area offers more hope than the field of mental illness. There are many treatments available for people who suffer from depression. Some benefit from CBT (Cognitive Behaviour Therapy) but for others who are prescribed SSRI antidepressants, the effects can often be unpleasant.
The beginning few weeks of SSRI use can be particularly unpleasant, as the effects such drugs have on the body and the mind are unpredictable. Suicidal thoughts and feelings are common in the initial phase of taking SSRI’s and unfortunately the incidence of people taking their own lives in this phase is a regular occurrence. Other side effects such as sweating, panic attacks and extremely lucid nightmares are not uncommon. SSRI’s have also been a factor in countless mass shootings, especially in the United States. Withdrawal effects can also be highly unpleasant. I myself took SSRI antidepressants for six months, five years ago. Against my doctors’ advice, I stopped the course suddenly. Luckily for me, I didn’t suffer from a sudden dip in my mood, however, for three months after I ceased the medication I had what felt like huge bolts of electricity suddenly passing through my body at irregular intervals every day.
Users of SSRI’s often ended up hooked on their medication for years suffering with the side effects and often feeling no benefit whatsoever. Many report that rather than feeling happier, they just feel removed from their immediate environment and all of their emotions feel subdued.
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CBD Oil, SSRI's and Serotonin Syndrome
*Serotonin Syndrome
Below is a list of indicators of serotonin syndrome. Although the syndrome is not common, it should be noted that one of the ways that CBD is thought to work for depression is by increasing the production of serotonin. As SSRI's also increase serotonin production, SSRI users should under no circumstances start taking CBD oil at the same time as their SSRI. Do not stop taking your SSRI's and substitute it with CBD oil. If you are interested in the possibilities of CBD oil and are currently using SSRI's see your medical practioner first before making any change to your prescription schedule.
The following information comes from NHS England website, it is republished under the UK Open Government Licence (OGL) for public sector information.
Serotonin syndrome occurs when the levels of a chemical in your brain called serotonin become too high. It's usually triggered when you take an SSRI in combination with another medication (or substance) that also raises serotonin levels, such as another antidepressant or St John’s wort.
Symptoms of serotonin syndrome can include:
Symptoms of severe serotonin syndrome include:
Below is a list of indicators of serotonin syndrome. Although the syndrome is not common, it should be noted that one of the ways that CBD is thought to work for depression is by increasing the production of serotonin. As SSRI's also increase serotonin production, SSRI users should under no circumstances start taking CBD oil at the same time as their SSRI. Do not stop taking your SSRI's and substitute it with CBD oil. If you are interested in the possibilities of CBD oil and are currently using SSRI's see your medical practioner first before making any change to your prescription schedule.
The following information comes from NHS England website, it is republished under the UK Open Government Licence (OGL) for public sector information.
Serotonin syndrome
Serotonin syndrome is an uncommon, but potentially serious, set of side effects linked to SSRIs.Serotonin syndrome occurs when the levels of a chemical in your brain called serotonin become too high. It's usually triggered when you take an SSRI in combination with another medication (or substance) that also raises serotonin levels, such as another antidepressant or St John’s wort.
Symptoms of serotonin syndrome can include:
- confusion
- agitation
- muscle twitching
- sweating
- shivering
- diarrhoea
Symptoms of severe serotonin syndrome include:
- a very high temperature (fever)
- seizures (fits)
- irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia)
- loss of consciousness
CBD is widely available
and comes in an oil based form. It is taken mostly taken either as a
small drop under the tongue or through a vaping pen. My experience of
taking CBD was via a vaping pen. The onset of effects were extremely
swift, I went from disturbed sleep to sleeping for a full night without
waking once. I also noticed an uplift in mood, although luckily these
days, I’m not suffering depression. Hopefully, I won’t relapse in the
future but it’s good to know that should I suffer once more, there is a
natural remedy at hand that could help bring quick relief.
It’s just a shame that our newfound knowledge of CBD was not known years before. It could possibly have helped so many people, including myself, fight back against a horribly debilitating condition.
It’s just a shame that our newfound knowledge of CBD was not known years before. It could possibly have helped so many people, including myself, fight back against a horribly debilitating condition.
Links
- SSRI Stories | Antidepressant Nightmares
SSRI Stories is a collection of over 5,000 stories that have appeared in the media (newspapers, TV, scientific journals)
- Dark Money | OpenSecrets
Dark Money Groups spend millions influencing our elections without reporting where the money came from. Learn more about their growing influence.
- Cannabidiol for neurodegenerative disorders: important new clinical applications for this phytocanna
Cannabidiol for neurodegenerative disorders: important new clinical applications for this phytocannabinoid? Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2013 Feb;75(2):323-33. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2125.2012.04341.x. Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't; Review
- Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) - Side effects - NHS Choices
The side effects of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)
