CBD is one of over 100 cannabinoids with roots in both cannabis and hemp plants. Advocates in the health and wellness industries advocate for mass extraction of CBD oil from these plants in order to distribute the product as a natural organic remedy to improve the livelihoods of people living with debilitating conditions.
Hemp-derived CBD oil, in particular, promotes healthy living in a number of ways. There are oils that provide users a boost of energy as well as ones that promote a state of calmness and mental alertness. There are also oils that can heal bodily injuries or harm, which can go a long way towards improving both the physical and mental well being of people living with serious medical complications.
One of the ongoing questions about CBD’s capabilities relates to concussions and, specifically, if there’s a way to treat concussion-like symptoms using CBD products. That’s what we’re going to look into with this article.
Symptoms of a Concussion
First and foremost, what exactly are the symptoms that point to a concussion? The CDC has a list of guidelines for identifying concussions in young children and teenagers, which all revolve around painful trauma to the brain. Among the most common symptoms are:
- Appearing dazed or stunned
- Loss of consciousness
- Headaches or intense pressure in the head
- Nausea or vomiting
- Dizziness
- Blurred vision
- Trouble with light or noise
A more detailed guide is also available describing how concussions affect adults. The symptoms for a concussion in an adult are almost identical to the symptoms in young children so the methods of treatment are very similar.
It’s important for the victim of a concussion as well as any friends or loved ones in their lives to recognize the serious symptoms of the condition as soon as possible. Left untreated, concussions can cause long-lasting conditions that diminish the overall quality of one’s life.
How to Cure a Concussion Fast
Always contact your primary doctor if you think you’ve had a concussion. Your doctor will be able to diagnose the severity of the injury, and he or she can prescribe the correct method of treatment to help you fully recover from the concussion.
At the same time, there’s a list of guidelines on how to speed up concussion recovery, and many of the suggestions are at-home remedies you can do yourself. From spending less time staring at electronic screens to minimizing movement of your head or neck, you can help coach your body through its own healing process to accelerate the recovery.
Lots of rest is also key. The brain has suffered significant injury from a concussion, and rest is what enables the brain and the body to reset themselves to their pre-injury levels.
Side Effects of Concussions
In addition to the pain and short-term effects of a concussion, there are many long-term repercussions that will likely impact people who sustain such injuries.
The University of Utah Public Health Department states that most concussion symptoms will pass on their own in a few weeks time. However, up to 20% of people will experience side effects of a concussion for up to 6 weeks after the injury. These side effects include:
- Memory problems
- Irritability
- Trouble sleeping
- Sensitivity to light and noise
- Depression
Any one of these side effects or a combination of multiple conditions makes it more difficult for people to recover from concussion injuries. Depression, in particular, is prone to extend the trauma associated with the injury as feelings of physical and mental pain reduce a person’s overall outlook on life. For people with ongoing depression, CBD oil can actually improve the brain’s response to how the body feels, reducing feelings of depression in patients.
Treatment for Post Concussion Syndrome
When post-concussion syndrome afflicts patients, medical advisors recommend those people contact their doctors as soon as possible. Symptoms that last up to 6 weeks or beyond are signs of structural damage to the brain that can inhibit both the mind and the body’s ability to recover from the concussion injury.
The Mayo Clinic states that older people are more likely to experience long-term post-concussion syndrome due to the fact that their bodies are frailer than younger people. Similarly, the Mayo Clinic says that, while there’s no conclusive explanation, women tend to experience post-concussion symptoms more commonly than men.
CBD and Concussions
To help reduce the potential for post-concussion syndrome, researchers have tested CBD’s ability to improve the recovery from a concussion. Studies have already shown that CBD’s therapeutic benefits show promising potential in treating neurodegenerative disorders and other nerve disruptions in the brain, suggesting a rudimentary framework for treating concussion symptoms as well.
In research about concussions, doctors suggest that post-concussion syndrome is indicative of structural damage to the brain, or disruption of the messaging system in the nerves that connect to the brain itself.
CBD has the potential to improve those conditions, particularly disruption to the nerves that impact speech and messaging. When ingested into the body, CBD enters the endocannabinoid system, which connects to nerve receptors in the body. Injuries like concussions disrupt those nerves and increase their sensitivity, which transmits signals of pain to the brain.
CBD blocks those receptors from sending pain signals to the brain, allowing the body to remain in a state of homeostasis. This enables both the body and the mind to recover from any extenuating injuries so that they can return to a healthy state of well-being.
Clinical trials testing CBD’s effectiveness in mice with concussion-like symptoms have already shown promising results. Human trials are underway that researchers are optimistic will point to new therapies to combat post-concussion syndrome and improve thousands of innocent lives.
Final Thoughts
Make no mistake about it; a concussion is a very serious injury and should always be treated with the utmost care. If you’ve suffered from a concussion, you know exactly how painful it can be and that recovery requires time and care to reach the other side.
Contact your primary doctor to get the recommended treatment for a concussion, and ask your physician about their opinion on using CBD for a Concussion to combat the symptoms. Many medical practitioners have recommended CBD to their patients to treat a number of underlying conditions, and your doctor may suggest CBD as a viable treatment for your symptoms.