Concussions and Cannabidiol or "CBD"

6/24/2018

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UNC-Greensboro's study does not match up with the US Government or Mayo Clinic

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College Football’s Marijuana Policies

Colleges nationally have very strict rules about the usage of Marijuana, as it pertains to sports. With that being said, studies have shown that marijuana is not a performance-enhancing drug and has no benefits to athletes healing or performance when it comes to sports. On the contrary, marijuana has been proven to depressurize the brain after concussions and heal the brain at a 50% faster rate, than if not prescribed. These days you do not need to smoke the medicine as it comes in many forms medicinally that will not be harmful to your lungs. On average, over 70% of NFL players are using medical cannabis as a source for healing, rather than being “stoned”.

“Cannabis has shown a wealth of potential in traumatic brain injury. Unique properties of the herb may help the brain repair itself after trauma, including trauma from a concussion. Overall, there are three main characteristics that make cannabis a promising treatment for concussions and other forms of head trauma.”

1.) Reduced Brain Inflammation
“A2014 study from Tel Aviv University found that microdoses ofpsychoactive THC reduced brain swelling in rodent models. The researchers write,
'Our results suggest that an ultralow dose of THC that lacks any psychotrophic activity protects the brain from neuroinflammation-induced cognitive damage and might be used as an effective drug for the treatment of neuroinflammatory conditions, including neurodegenerative diseases.'”

2. Neuroprotection
“Surprisingly, the US government also thinks that cannabis is a promising treatment for head injury. TheFeds currently hold a patent onnonpsychoactive CBD as a neuroprotective agent.
In thepatent application, they write,
“The cannabinoids [in cannabis] are found to have particular application as neuroprotectants, for example in limiting neurological damage following ischemic insults, such as stroke and trauma, or in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and HIV dementia.”

Further research from 2013 found that the EndoCannabinoid System (ECS) plays a crucial role in the brain’s ability to repair itself. The ECS is the pathway in which cannabis engages with the body. The study articulates that therapeuticcannabinoids may provide protection against nerve cell damage after acute injury.

3.) Post concussion syndrome
A2014 study found that patients with traumatic brain injury who had detectable levels of THC in their systems at the time of an accident were less likely to die from brain trauma.

Post-Concussion Syndrome (PCS) is a complex condition that sometimes follows a concussion. The symptoms of PCS can last for months after the initial brain injury.
According to theMayo Clinic, some of the symptoms include,

Headaches
Dizziness
Fatigue
Irritability
Anxiety
Insomnia
Loss of concentration and memory
Noise and light sensitivity

Unfortunately, PCS is also blamed for many persisting psychiatric problems after a concussion. Risks of depression and suicide increase after head trauma.Recent research has found that even one concussion may triple the long-term risk of suicide.
Cannabis therapies may be able to improve PCS symptoms. One2012 rodent study suggests that cannabinoid treatments may help improve memory and cognitive performance after stress-related neuropsychiatric conditions.
Additionalrodent studies have found that CBD is an extremely fast-acting antidepressant. Many conventional pharmaceutical options take up to 6 weeks to kick in. In this study, rodents under stress that were treated with CBD showed improvements just minutes after their first dose. CBD continued to work over time.

Personal Experience with Concussions

Having a nearly 400-pound man hit you in the top of the head is not fun, especially after getting thrown back in a LB the entire 4th quarter with a severe brain injury. Having experienced similar head injuries in the past, I had realized that this one was extremely serious when I was experiencing all of the heavy post-concussion symptoms (times ten after the paid collision by Coach John Fourcase, Former New Orleans Saints QB) whom I would love to see again to this day, as he is the epitome of what is wrong with the game of football). On the contrary, I learned so much from healing my brain in Fort Collins, Colorado that I was able to excel in so many other areas of life outside of the actual field. Learning all that I did about dealing with severe concussions and buffoons like Fourcade, I was able to create a business that helps young men through many obstacles. CBD or Hemp Oil, I used daily as a lotion and it subsided my anguish, while making my racing thoughts much clearer in order to write "football with passion", as the great Lee Beatty from Hirschi High School used to say. After dealing with 7 concussions since my sophomore year of high school (maybe earlier), enough was enough, and it was time to repair all what was lost. Do I still have minor glitches and everyday issues? Of course, but dealing with them head on with the proper treatment is and will always be conducive to healing myself and others afflicted by the mental anguish of post-concussion syndrome, which can increase suicide up to 3X with just one blow to the head. These products mostly are only legal to those above the age of 21, unless medically prescribed, so use caution at ALL times and seek medical advice with your own FACTS when you see your physician.