Cannabis can be used to treat both physical and mental health. In more recent times, those suffering from bipolar disorder have turned to cannabis to help treat the condition.
Whether you’re looking for an uplifting sativa or you want to buy indica weed online, here’s the lowdown on which may work best for you.
What is Bipolar Disorder?
Bipolar disorder is a condition that involves periods of depression followed by heightened mania and mood.
Those who suffer from the condition often experience shifts in emotions and mood over the course of days and weeks. In many instances, these swings can be very disruptive to a person’s well-being.
There are several types of bipolar disorder, including unipolar disorder, bipolar 1 and 2, and cyclothymia. Traditional treatments for the conditions include lithium salts, antipsychotics, antidepressants, anticonvulsants, and benzodiazepines.
Due to inconvenient side effects, many people have begun to turn to cannabis as a potential treatment to help alleviate the sharp mood swings.
Using Cannabis to Treat Bipolar Disorder: Indica or Sativa?
Cannabis has a unique two-pronged approach that can benefit those with bipolar disorder. Some strains have the ability to lift mood and bring patients out of a depressive episode, while others can induce a more relaxed high to calm them down.
Indica cannabis is known to be effective at bringing someone into deeper body awareness and placing them in a more relaxed state. Indica strains may therefore be most helpful at bringing patients down from a more manic state that’s too intense.
On the other end of the spectrum, sativa strains are often more widely associated with inducing a euphoric, cerebral high. Those who find themselves in a depressive slump may find a strong sativa to be very effective at pulling them out of it and levelling out their mood.
You Buy Indica Weed Online but Is the Indica and Sativa Labelling Accurate?
One point worth mentioning is that the indica and sativa labelling of modern cannabis strains isn’t always accurate. Due to decades of interbreeding, the effects of strains labelled as either sativa or indica are rarely 100 percent accurate.
Unless the strains are landrace strains — those that are naturally occurring — then you should never take the labelling at face value. If you buy indica weed online, there are several options for solid landrace strains, with Hindu Kush being a prime example of a classic indica.
THC vs CBD for Bipolar Disorder
Aside from deciding between indica or sativa, you should also consider the ratio of CBD to THC present in the strain you choose.
Upon investigating which is more beneficial, researchers in one study found that patients were more likely to experience adverse moods after consuming high amounts of THC. Those who consumed a high-CBD form of cannabis in the study tended to experience more balancing effects.
In certain more extreme cases, THC can induce anxiety and paranoia. With its distinct lack of psychoactive effects, CBD is often the preferred choice due to its more relaxing effects.
Cannabis and Bipolar Disorder: The Science
A study found that bipolar patients using cannabis are less likely to feel mentally impaired than those who don’t use it. The researchers didn’t find any evidence of adverse effects on thinking and memory, and they did report that many patients experienced much-improved moods.
In another study, researchers found that cannabis helped patients to have a more positive outlook on life, an important factor for anyone suffering from bipolar disorder.
While the scientific community may not be in full agreement around how effective medicinal cannabis is in the treatment of bipolar disorder, many of the studies do show real benefits.
