Before choosing Sativa or Indica strains for bipolar disorder, you must know if it is right to move towards marijuana to seek help in this medical condition.
Several studies have shown positive and negative effects of marijuana on various medical conditions, including symptoms of bipolar disorder.
No doubt, most medical patients turn for medical marijuana treatments.
And even medical marijuana is found to be somewhat helpful in various conditions from depression, sleeping problems, multiple sclerosis, stress, and anxiety to bipolar disorder.
Therefore, in this guide, you will know if marijuana is good for bipolar disorder, and if yes, then which strain to include in your treatment plan.
Contents
What Is A Bipolar Disorder?
Bipolar disorder is a mental health disorder characterized by extreme mood swings alternating between depression, lows, and high mania or hypomania.
In short, a Patient with bipolar disorder symptoms feels manic and depressive episodes.
At some point, the patient can feel extremely low and depressed not to do anything, while they can feel overactive and highly energetic the next time.
Extreme mood swings alternating between manic and depressive episodes affect the patient’s behavior, activity, sleep, judgment, and thinking capability.
At the same time, bipolar disorder or mood disorders can affect individuals differently.
For instance, one person can feel emotional symptoms while the other may not.
Therefore, the intensity of each mood and transition time can vary for each individual.
In the case of bipolar ii disorder, there may be more instability in the mood disorders.
The hypomanic and depressive episodes can occur with more extremism, which can be dangerous if combined with suicidal ideation.
Therefore, some extreme symptoms of bipolar disorder can also lead the person to have hallucinations and delusions.
Hallucination is the condition of perceiving something not present, while delusion is a false belief based on incorrect inference about external reality.
If not treated within time, bipolar disorder can also be fatal for suicidal thoughts in extreme cases.
However, to treat bipolar disorder, psychological counseling or psychotherapy is used along with medical marijuana treatments in some cases.
Does Cannabis Help With Bipolar Disorder?
Many people with bipolar disorder turn to medical marijuana treatments.
However, knowing if cannabis help with bipolar disorder, the scientific evidence is not clear yet.
Further, the anecdotal evidence from the people claims that cannabis can help manage their symptoms, while the scientific proof is yet not clear.
According to the study, around 2.8% of U.S adults had bipolar disorder last year, while around 4.4% of U.S adults experience bipolar disorder at some time in their lives.
As the cannabis plant has more than 500+ chemical compounds, THC and CBD are the two main known and popular ones.
Therefore, some patients opt for the CBD component to treat nausea, stress, and even a depression-like mental health condition, while others opt for high THC.
Also, many peer-reviewed studies have revolved around the THC compound of cannabis use, which has shown these positive effects and some negative ones, too.
So, in a nutshell, the relationship between cannabis and bipolar disorder remains controversial due to not having clear scientific evidence and study.
Positive Effects
A 2016 pilot investigation showed that people with bipolar disorder felt positive effects like less anger, less tension, less depression, and high energy levels within 4 hours of using cannabis.
Further, another study in 2010 reported that patients who used cannabis had improved attention, memory, and reasoning speed. However, this study is relatively older.
Overall, when it comes to the inducing effects, no one can neglect the positive side of marijuana.
However, at the same time, there have been some adverse effects, too, which should be considered as well.
Negative Effects
An older study in 2011 found that people with bipolar disorder have higher levels of psychotic symptoms.
While another study in 2015 found that people with bipolar disorder who were into cannabis use were less likely to get into remission than the people who did not.
Further, several studies feature in the 2017 systematic review from the ADAI (Alcohol And Drug Abuse Institute).
The report showed a link between cannabis and the following health issues:
- longer or worse manic episodes
- rapid cycling of manic episode to a depressive episode
- developing suicide ideation who were heavily into THC
- developing bipolar disorder at an earlier age
So, in the systematic review report of several studies, these adverse effects were found.
Therefore, contradicting the positive and negative effects of using marijuana on bipolar disorder, it remains unclear if it is the right way to treat it.
Bipolar Disorder And Medical Marijuana Treatments
As there is no clear evidence that marijuana can wholly be beneficial for bipolar patients, still, some doctors treat bipolar disorder with cannabis strains.
Cannabis use for anxiety, bipolar disorder, or manic symptoms can help manage them.
When it comes to the bipolar disorder medically reviewed medical cannabis, then the bipolar disorder research and cannabis use are still going on.
However, a psychological counselor and qualified doctor can prescribe medical cannabis for managing symptoms of bipolar disorder.
To treat mood cycles or manic episodes, powerful drugs and electroshock therapy were used in the past.
These unethical treatment methods damage the body’s organs and lead to harmful effects on the body and mental health later on.
It is why some bipolar patients turn to medical marijuana to seek help.
A medical marijuana dispensary may already have marijuana strains that are helpful in severe depression and health conditions like stress, mood swings, and unusually irritable mood swings.
You need a medical marijuana card to access that.
However, keep in mind that you must need to consult a doctor for severe depression or any severe case.
Indica Or Sativa Better For Bipolar Disorder
Medical marijuana has two varieties – Indica and Sativa strains.
The doctors might have a treatment plan with both strains or separately.
However, Sativa is usually known for its stimulating effects and for managing mood swings.
Therefore, it can be effective for people with bipolar disorder when they feel low or when the person may experience emotional symptoms of depression or rapid alleviation of energy.
On the other hand, Indica is known for its calming, relaxing, and soothing experience, alleviating anxiety and relieving insomnia.
Indica can be effective when the rapid cycling of mood is going towards the inflated sense or hypomanic episodes and when the person wants to calm down.
It is how the Indica and Sativa cannabis strains can be effective for the diagnosed cases of bipolar disorder.
However, before choosing the best marijuana strains or natural remedies, you need to consult the doctor first and seek professional help.
There are adverse effects of marijuana, too, and positive effects, which you should not ignore.
Note: if you seek help from the marijuana for your medical condition, you are solely responsible for the outcomes.
5 Best Cannabis Strains For Managing Symptoms Of Bipolar Disorder [Sativa + Indica]
Let’s have a look at the marijuana strains which can be effective for the bipolar disorder symptoms:
Maui Wowie – Almost Pure Sativa For Managing Bipolar Symptoms
Maui Wowie strain originates from the Hawaiian island of Maui.
It is a classic Sativa dominant hybrid that relieves stress, anxiety, and bipolar disorder symptoms.
Some people have also reported that it helps focus and creative thinking, while some have reported energy bursts when inhaled.
For the taste and scent, this Sativa beauty gives the perfect experience of the Hawaiian islands.
Therefore, it can quickly boost mood during a depressive episode when one starts losing pleasure or feeling rapid swings to calm your mind down.
Blue Dream – One Of The Best Medical Marijuana
A cross between blueberry and original haze, Blue Dream is one of the high THC strains with around 20% THC to make you feel happy and relaxed.
Medical marijuana patients often refer to it to alleviate anxiety and relieve insomnia and depression-like health conditions.
The taste of this weed is also delicious, giving you hints of berries.
Cannatonic – Mostly CBD Strain
Cannatonic is a cross of MK Ultra and G13 Haze, one of the best medical marijuana strains on the market.
The strain fetches CBD at around 9% and gives you an uplifting and powerfully relaxing high, which you can use to manage your mood swings.
Marijuana users claim Cannatonic to be helpful in symptoms of pain, muscle spasms, and anxiety.
Blueberry Headband – Perfect Hybrid Strain
Blueberry Headband is a cross of Headband with Blueberry.
The flavor and aroma of this strain lie towards sweet, blueberry flavor, and sweet side while the effects of this strain are euphoric rush which makes you relaxed at the end.
Thanks to the medium 15% THC, you will not be couch-locked unless you are too sensitive to THC.
Medical marijuana patients choose this beauty to relax chronic stress and anxiety symptoms.
Durban Poison – Highly Powerful Strain
Durban Poison is one of the most potent strains to uplift the mood.
This award-winner strain is known for its unique citrus flavor and an earthy smell.
With around 20% THC, get ready to feel the intense euphoria that will make you feel energized and boosted up.
Hence, you can keep this beauty for the days when you are feeling low and want a savior strain to uplift you.
Further, some people have also reported creativity and staying productive. It is an excellent choice to get your work done and an energizing ride of euphoria.
Remember that it is a potent strain and should be used if you can tolerate high THC.
Conclusion
I would recommend you always seek professional help first from a doctor.
Because although there are several marijuana strains available to help manage the bipolar symptoms, you can even buy them from the best seed banks.
But you need to get yourself checked by the doctors, too. Ideally, that should be the priority.
However, till here, you know that there is no clear evidence that marijuana can surely help you with your medical condition though some healthcare professionals prescribe medical marijuana.
If a doctor treats you with medical marijuana and gives a prescription, then you can go to get yourself the weed treatment.
