It may be conceivable that everyone has a phobia; some are small while others can be crippling. Remember Ron Weasley and his phobia of spiders? While some people are only slightly fazed by their phobias, which are defined as irrational fears, others are significantly impacted by them, going as far as to avoid doing certain things or going to specific places because of them.
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, nearly 19 million individuals in the United States have a phobia, making phobias a common mental disorder in the nation. Some evidence indicates that the use of marijuana could benefit those struggling with these intense fears.
Evidence gathered in the last six years shows that cannabis compounds, or cannabis in general, may be used to help individuals with specific phobias. A study conducted by the University of Michigan discovered that THC, which is a cannabis compound, may alleviate the anxiety of patients with phobia. In the study, which was reported in the “Neuropsychology” journal, researchers cited the discovery that THC helped some patients with phobias to not only work through their fears but also overcome them.
The study involved nearly 30 participants and utilized a skin conductance response recording and a simultaneous Pavlovian fear extinction paradigm during the study. The researchers dosed patients using dronabinol, which is a synthetic version of THC. They noted that over time individuals who were under the influence of THC exhibited less fear.
Study results provided evidence suggesting that extinction learning of phobias through pharmacological enhancement was achievable in humans through the use of cannabinoid system modulators. The authors of the study concluded that this called for more clinical research and testing to be conducted.
A separate 2017 study demonstrated that CBD, another cannabis compound may possess therapeutic benefits that help deal with certain phobias. The study, published in the “Frontiers of Pharmacology,” was led by University of Birmingham’s Chenchen Song. The study used rats as tests subjects and administered 10mg CBD injections to the rats.
Researchers observed that these injections decreased the fear memory in the rodents. While rats aren’t privy to human fears such as flying or heights, Song notes that the marijuana component they administered made the rodents less afraid of being eaten alive by predators. CBD has also proven effective in helping treat PTSD.
From the above, it is feasible that individuals who have phobias may use medical cannabis to help alleviate their fears. Phobias are currently managed by using tranquilizers and antidepressants, which may do more harm than good.
Many cannabis-related entities have opted to focus on lifestyle products. For example, The Alkaline Water Company Inc. (NASDAQ: WTER) (CSE: WTER) has become famous for its trace mineral-rich alkaline water as well as its topicals and edibles infused with cannabidiol.
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