Every year, 1.7 million people in the United States suffer from traumatic brain injury (TBI), one of the significant causes of mortality among teenagers. Concussions from falls, vehicle accidents, and violent sports like football are common causes of TBI. Many people who survive head traumas suffer from long-term neurological and behavioral difficulties, learning and memory issues, post-traumatic seizures, and a shorter life expectancy.
Unfortunately, TBI therapy is restricted, with just a few pharmacological alternatives available. There is, however, optimism on the horizon, owing to scientific study and numerous personal experiences from medicinal cannabis users.
Many patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) use cannabis to relieve their symptoms, according to our clinical experience at a specialised brain injury clinic. While this patient population frequently inquires about the evidence for utilising cannabis for neurosensory, neurocognitive, and neuropsychiatric sequelae following a head injury, most health practitioners are unaware of this data. Given Canada’s recent legalisation of recreational cannabis, inquiries and recommendations about cannabis usage after a TBI are anticipated to increase.
What is the power of CBD?
CBD is such a flexible medication that it is referred to as a “promiscuous molecule” since it provides various advantages via many paths. It works well against cerebral ischemia, a condition in which there isn’t enough blood flow to the brain. In animal models of TBI and stroke, it has also been demonstrated to decrease brain damage and enhance recovery. The CBD Vape Oil is great to try since it does not create intoxication effects like THC and does not result in tolerance.
How do traumatic injuries happen?
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) occurs when an item strikes the head violently or pierces the skull and penetrates brain tissue. Although cannabis is a leading cause of mortality, disability, and long-term cognitive impairment, an early study has been conducted to see whether cannabis and its components might help mitigate the worst of its consequences.
The evidence for cannabis usage in mental illnesses with or without TBI is reviewed in this article. Overall, we discovered that there is minimal evidence supporting cannabis usage among TBI patients, and that patients are often unaware of the established advantages and varied consequences of cannabis use. We believe that our article can serve as a springboard for further research into the effects of cannabis usage in TBI patients, and that it can help physicians provide better advice to their patients.
Most of what we know about how cannabis impacts TBI comes from observational or preclinical studies thus far. Cannabinoids such as anandamide and 2-Aranchidonoylglycerol (2-AG), as well as some plant and synthetic variants, may have neuroprotective benefits following brain damage, according to data from test-tube and animal research.
Cannabis and trauma of brain
Plant cannabinoids can supplement and imitate endocannabinoids, which are cannabinoids produced naturally by mammals. They are part of the endocannabinoid system (ECS), which controls inflammation, neuroplasticity, and blood supply to the brain, all of which are essential in TBI.
The ECS has a self-protection system, according to the manufacturer. It will activate in response to a traumatic event such as a TBI or a stroke. When the brain is injured, endocannabinoid levels rise, activating cannabinoid receptors to begin the healing process. THC and CBD are cannabinoids that activate the same receptors and have comparable therapeutic properties.
Conclusion
After a three-month follow-up, the researchers discovered that patients who got the medication had 21% better neurologic results than those in the placebo group on the Glasgow outcome scale. They also discovered that individuals who were given dexanabinol had considerably improved intracranial pressure and cerebral perfusion regulation, as well as a tendency to recover better and quicker than those who were not.
However, while the findings of these research show promise for using cannabis to minimise TBI damage and speed recovery, further clinical trials are needed before any conclusions can be drawn.
