A concussion is a potentially dangerous traumatic
brain injury that’s very difficult to diagnose and often more difficult to
treat. As doctors continue struggling to
find ways to help patients who have suffered a recent blow to the head, new
research is coming out to demonstrate how the hemp plant may be able to provide
relief to concussion patients.
In order to understand how CBD
might be able to help with a mild concussion, it’s important to grasp exactly
what a concussion is and how it affects the brain. CBD, the main cannabinoid found in the hemp plant,
boasts extremely unique chemical properties that might give the brain exactly
what it needs in order to heal while potentially reversing the damage caused by
the injury.
What
is a Concussion?
Classified as a type of traumatic brain injury that
typically occurs due to a blow to the head.
This can happen when a person falls to the ground, gets punched or gets
into a car accident that causes their head to jolt suddenly. A concussion results from the brain rocking
back and forth within the skull. This
action can damage brain cells while causing sudden, drastic changes in
neurotransmitters in the brain.
The brain is vulnerable to concussions because its
tissue is extremely soft and surrounded by spinal fluid. While the skull is there to protect the brain,
sudden blows to the head cause the brain inside the skull to move around
against the skull’s wall.
Concussions are often linked to sports due to the fact
that these physical activities can put the player at risk of falling or getting
hit in the head. The CDC
recently determined that between 2001 and 2009, almost 175,000 people below the
age of 19 were treated for a concussion due to a sports-related injury.
What
are the Signs of a Concussion?
If you’ve recently experienced a blow to the head,
it’s very important that you watch out for the symptoms that are associated
with a concussion. Symptoms include
dizziness, confusion, slurred speech, headache pain, blurred vision, light
sensitivity, vomiting, ringing in ears, behavioral changes, difficulties with
balance and difficulty concentrating.
Now, if any of these symptoms occur following a head
injury, seek medical attention immediately.
In fact, it is strongly recommended that you seek medical attention
immediately following a head injury regardless of whether or not you’re
experiencing any symptoms. That’s
because of the fact that many people don’t experience concussion symptoms until
days or even weeks after the head injury has occurred.
The reason why these symptoms occur is because the
brain controls behavior, many nervous system functions and cognition. Damaging brain cells can lead to impairment
in these areas.
How
is a Concussion Diagnosed?
A concussion cannot be seen on a scan, making it
difficult to diagnose. But, if you’ve
recently injured your head, your doctor will diagnose a concussion based on the
symptoms that you are experiencing. Your
doctor will likely ask you a series of questions in order to test your brain
function. He or she may decide to order
an MRI or CT scan to make sure that your brain is not bleeding.
How
is a Concussion Treated?
Typically, a concussion is treated based on its
severity. If the doctor suspects that
the brain injury is severe, he or she may ask you to stay in a hospital so that
they can observe any symptoms as they unfold.
This will help them determine whether or not you need further medical
treatment.
The problem is that there really aren’t any treatments
solely intended for treating a concussion.
It’s widely believed that once brain damage has occurred, it’s not
possible to reverse. However, because
concussions can cause headache pain as the head recovers, the doctor will
likely prescribe a pain-relieving medication that’s determined based on the
severity of the pain.
Now
Comes the Question: What Can CBD Do?
New research suggests that CBD might be able to help
with a concussion. CBD has been widely
studied over the last few years for its various potential therapeutic
benefits. It’s believed that CBD can
help with a wide range of health issues because of the way in which it supports
the body’s endocannabinoid system that’s in charge of regulating processes
throughout the body such as immune function and neurological function.
CBD is a compound that’s extracted from the hemp plant
and turned into an oil that can be used for therapeutic purposes. It’s legal in the United States and does not
require a prescription, although you should absolutely tell your doctor if you
intend to use it to treat a mild concussion.
What
the Research Says
Research
suggests that CBD has neuroprotective properties. In other words, it may be capable of
protecting the neurons in the brain from damage. This has to do with the fact that the
endocannabinoid system attaches the cannabinoid to cannabinoid receptors that
exist in the brain. CBD may also be able
to stimulate neurogenesis, a process in which neurons regenerate as they become
damaged with age or injury.
Because of CBD’s potential neuroprotective properties,
the cannabinoid is believed by many medical experts to have the potential to
treat epilepsy. The FDA has actually
approved a drug containing CBD for epileptic children. CBD may also have the ability to treat
symptoms of dementia because of the way in which it improves the health of the
neurological system.
CBD
has also been studied for its effects on the pain that results from a traumatic
brain injury.
Researchers found that patients who experienced a concussion experienced
relief from this type of headache pain after being given CBD.
Another study found that CBD
may be able to treat inflammation in the brain, allowing the neuropathways to
heal after an injury.
If a concussion causes inflammation in the brain that manifests itself
in the form of many symptoms, CBD might be able to reduce the swelling that
damages the neurons after an injury.
How
to Use CBD to Try to Treat a Mild Concussion
If you’re healing from a mild concussion and wish to
use CBD as a form of treatment, speak with your doctor as he or she can help
you decide how to take it properly for the most positive results. Remember that in order to try to successfully
treat a concussion with CBD, you must invest in a high-quality product that is
as potent as possible. Look for a
product that’s made by a company that’s respected within the CBD community.
A trustworthy CBD company will provide you with
third-party lab results on their website so that you can verify that the
product is high in quality. Look through
these lab results to ensure that the product has a high enough concentration of
CBD to provide you with its many potential benefits. Also, make sure that the product isn’t
watered down by filler ingredients as that will decrease its effectiveness.
Look for a CBD product that is consumed internally
such as a CBD vape oil, oral tincture or edible. We suggest taking it once a day, starting
with a low dose and increasing it as needed. Before doing all this though, make
sure to consult with your doctor first.
CBD:
A Promising Treatment for Mild Concussions
With so many amazing studies showing the potential
benefits that CBD has on the neurological system, it’s possible that this cannabinoid
could hold the key to treating traumatic brain injuries.
Leave a Reply