Can Marijuana Help Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Patients?

Marijuana is getting popular as an effective treatment for various mental health conditions. It’s incredible cannabinoids help in relaxing the mind, boosting mood, and improving focus. Researchers have found cannabis can help in alleviating symptoms of anxiety, depression, PTSD, ADHD, Alzheimer’s disease, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). The herb works by interacting with the body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS). 

There’s a wide range of marijuana strains with different levels of THC and CBD available. To alleviate your symptoms altogether, you should select the right strains.

What’s OCD?

Obsessive-compulsive disorder, OCD, involves irrational thoughts and obsessions, which can lead to repetitive behaviors. These obsessions may interfere with the patient’s ability to perform daily activities.

Patients often try to ignore obsessions but fail, thus increasing stress and anxiety. The brain continues to produce obsessions and negative thoughts. OCD usually centers around specific fears. For example, a fear of getting health problems from germs. To get off the fear, the patient may wash hands several times a day.

Some of the common symptoms of OCD are;

• Negative beliefs about the honesty of partner
• Focusing regularly on breathing, blinking, etc.
• Worrying about getting hurt by others
• Beliefs that several colors are good or bad
• Unwanted thoughts about religious and aggression subjects.
• Avoiding situations that can lead to obsessions, such as shaking hands with others

Treating OCD Using Medical Marijuana

Treating OCD may take years, depending on the severity of the condition. For some patients, medications can help in managing anxiety and depression associated with OCD. While you can use various antidepressants, but they can cause a wide range of unpleasant side-effects.

Medical marijuana can offer the same benefits as prescription medications without any side-effects. Recent studies have found that cannabis can help in relieving pain and reducing anxiety. While it doesn’t work just as SSRI medications, it produces serotonin in the brain. But, it does increase the levels of anandamide, a neurotransmitter that involves controlling thought processes, motivation, and movement.

Clinical studies have confirmed that CBD can help in reducing anxiety and alleviating nausea. CBD is a non-psychoactive compound present in the marijuana plant. It provides health benefits without causing any high effects.

Here are the other ways medical marijuana can help patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder-

• Soothing headaches- Relieving headaches and promoting relaxation and wellness
• Promoting sleep- Cannabinoids can help in relieving symptoms of insomnia
• Addressing agitation & restlessness- Marijuana makes you feel calm and relaxed

Marijuana interacts with the body’s endocannabinoid system, thus regulating various bodily functions. These are—appetite, sleep, mood, and memory. 

Additionally, medical researchers have found that marijuana can help in curbing the unwanted side-effects of OCD medications such as SSRIs. These include-

• Nausea
• Weight Loss
• Headaches
• Abdominal Cramps
• Seizures

Top Strains For OCD Patients

At the medical dispensaries, you can find a wide range of strains with varying THC and CBD levels. It’s important to note that different people have different effects of cannabinoids. Some like smoking high CBD strains for alleviating symptoms of OCD while others choose high THC strains.

So, to get the exact effects you are looking for, you need to select the right strains. You can experiment with different strains to see how your body responds to cannabinoids. It’s good to talk to a certified MMJ doctor in your city and discuss your condition. The doctor will suggest you the right strains for alleviating your symptoms completely.

Here’s a list of top strains that work for OCD patients;

• Cherry Pie
• Charlotte’s Web
• Cannatonic
• Harlequin
• Cherry Kola
• White Rhino
• Critical Kush
• Querkle
• Sour OG
• Grandaddy Purple

Different Medical Marijuana Consumption Methods

Like different strains provide different effects; trying different methods of delivering cannabinoids to the body is a great way to receive the required benefits.

Listed below are the top cannabis consumption methods for OCD patients;

Smoking

It’s the most common method of consuming marijuana. People use bongs, joints, and pipes for smoking cannabis. Each of these delivers different effects and can vary the number of cannabinoids delivered to the body.

Vaporization

This method is usually chosen by consumers who don’t like smoking and are more health-conscious. Vaporizers heat the cannabinoids (THC, CBD, etc.) to the point that is enough to extract cannabinoids, but it’s low for producing harmful toxins that are released during combustion. It helps in reducing odor and health risks.

Tinctures

Tinctures are liquid-based cannabis extracts that can help you have complete control over the dosage. You can experience the fast-acting effects without any health risks associated with smoking. Usually, a few drops of the tincture are placed under the tongue, which is absorbed in the stomach.

Edibles

Eating or drinking cannabis enables you to deliver cannabinoids in the bloodstream. Edibles are cannabis-infused foods, which provide health benefits. Usually, edibles take longer to produce their effects than other consumption methods.

Topicals

Topicals are applied directly to the skin for getting localized relief. They are useful in providing immediate relief from pain, muscle aches, or soreness.

So, these are different methods of consuming cannabis for alleviating OCD. Probably, the best method is to use marijuana like a vegetable. Add a few fresh marijuana leaves to your favorite smoothie or combine with foods for receiving the best effects.

Covering it up—Obsessive-compulsive disorder involves negative thoughts and obsessions, which may affect one’s daily life. Researchers have found that cannabinoids present in marijuana can help in treating OCD by interacting with the body’s endocannabinoid system. There’s a wide range of strains with different levels of cannabinoids available, and you should choose the right strain to receive the required benefits. Also, select the right marijuana consumption method from smoking, vaping, topicals, tinctures, and edibles.

Are you looking to get legal access to medical cannabis? Talk to a licensed doctor to get a medical marijuana card online today.