Smoking cannabis which has previously been shown to damage mental health, now according to a new study may be useful in relieving the symptoms of severe mental illnesses such as bipolar disorder.
The drug has in the past been linked to an increased risk of developing such conditions, but a team from the
Smoking cannabis which has previously been shown to damage mental health, now according to a new study may be useful in relieving the symptoms of severe mental illnesses such as bipolar disorder.
say chemicals found in cannabis could be used to relieve the symptoms of those very same illnesses.
The Newcastle researchers had anecdotal reports from people with mental illnesses which suggested cannabis could alleviate symptoms, and the scientists have been trying to find ways of harnessing the beneficial aspects of the drug without exposing people to the harmful ones.
The team reviewed research carried out into the properties of cannabis and they found evidence that two chemicals in cannabis could aid people with mental illness; THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (cannabidiol).
THC helps give the 'high' associated with cannabis use, while CBD has been found to have calming properties.
The team say combined together they could help people with bi-polar disorder avoid the manic highs and depressed lows of their condition.
But they warned smoking the drug had been shown to cause long-term damage to mental health, and to increase the risk of mental illness in those who were already genetically susceptible.
They feel trials should now be carried out to see if the combination of chemicals does help people.
They are hoping to use a mouth spray created by multiple sclerosis containing THC and CBD, which has been licensed for use for pain relief in Canada, as soon as it is licensed in the UK.
The company is already involved in research looking at whether cannabinoids can relive pain symptoms for people with diseases such as multiple sclerosis.