Natural treatments potent enough to alleviate symptoms of psychosis and schizophrenia (whether it is induced by an infectious illness or microbe of some kind, severe nutrient imbalance, or any other origin) are scarce. However, various reports have surfaced claiming cannabis can successfully treat symptoms of psychosis and schizophrenia; and for each of these reports, multiple others have surfaced cautioning of cannabis induced psychosis.
While these reports exist on polar opposite ends of the spectrum, the validity of both are well-founded. Cannabis holds the power to either induce or reduce symptoms of psychosis and schizophrenia, as it contains compounds enabling it to do both. The key to treating psychosis and schizophrenia with cannabis lies in identifying and using the specific compounds able to alleviate symptoms.
Cannabis Induced Psychosis
Cannabis has long been linked to psychosis, believed to both induce symptoms of psychosis as well as exacerbate preexisting symptoms of psychosis, most notably those of schizophrenia. Clinical documentation of the validity of this belief dates back to 1848, when French psychiatrist Jacques-Joseph Moreau de Tour began studying the effects of cannabis on the brain and body, with his interest particularly fixated on its ability to induce psychosis in users. To 
test his theory, Moreau used cannabis as an experimental psychotomimetic, a substance which mimics symptoms of psychosis, including but not limited to hallucinations, delusions and delirium. After observing behavioral changes similar to endogenous psychosis, or psychosis originating within rather than from external influences such as cannabis, Moreau concluded that THC worked as an excellent experimental psychotomimetic substance, indicating that the use, and definitely the abuse, of cannabis containing the psychoactive ingredient THC can initiate a symptom picture unparalleled to that of psychosis. Researchers who repeated the study in 2004 using more accurate measurements, scales and overall means of testing came to the same conclusion as Moreau.
Cannabidiol Reduces Symptoms and Progression of Schizophrenia and Psychotic Conditions by Enhancing Anandamide Signaling
Elevated levels of anandamide, a bioactive lipid that binds to cannabinoid receptors, in cerebrospinal fluid are linked to symptoms of psychosis and schizophrenia. More specifically, they are linked to the prognosis of schizophrenia and psychotic conditions, with the amount to which they are elevated determining the rate at which the psychosis will progress. When exploring anandamides role in the transitioning of schizophrenic patients from prodromal states of psychosis (early, initial stages proceeding full blown manifestation of psychotic symptoms) to advanced, final stages of psychosis, researchers measured anandamide levels in the cerebrospinal fluid and serum of subjects in initial prodromal states alongside individuals clinically deemed psychologically stable and healthy. On account of ensuring the most accurate results possible, high-performance liquid chromatograph/spectrometry was used for testing.
Schizophrenic patients displayed appreciably higher levels of anandamide compared to healthy test subjects. Schizophrenic patients who exhibited anandamide levels that were above average, yet were notably lower in comparison to other patients with schizophrenia and psychosis related conditions, were found to be at a greater risk for transitioning from initial prodromal states of psychosis to advanced states of psychosis. This may seem backwards, as the fact that elevated levels of anandamide are associated with schizophrenia, a fact which could easily lend to the false assumption that higher levels of anandamide correlate with higher levels of psychosis. On the contrary, the opposite holds true. Anandamidergic upregulation, or enhanced anandamide levels, in the initial prodromal stage of schizophrenia and psychotic conditions are a protective response of the endocannabinoid system activated early on, upon initial onset of symptoms of schizophrenia and psychosis.
That the cannabinoid Cannabidiol does not bind to cannabinoid receptors does not render it useless, especially in this case, considering its functioning in directly working to inhibit degradation of the endocannabinoid anandamide. Clearly, this is an exciting discovery for those afflicted with schizophrenia or conditions producing symptoms similar to schizophrenia, as it offers hope of a slower progression of the condition and the possibility of a living a longer, fuller life. In a study comparing the effectiveness of cannabidiol and amisulpride, a strong anti-psychotic, on schizophrenic symptoms, both medications performed successfully. However, the list of side effects of cannabidiol was significantly less in comparison to that of the prescription antipsychotic amisulpride. Essentially, not only did cannabidiol prove to be an effective treatment for reducing symptoms of schizophrenia and inhibiting progression of psychosis by greatly increasing anandamide serum levels, but it did so without simultaneously generating a cascade of more undesirable symptoms, as its use is not equipped with a stealthy list of side effects like amisulpride and other antipsychotic prescription drugs. In short, studies performed on human and animal test subjects using behavioral and neurochemical techniques indicate that the pharmacological profiles of cannabidiol and atypical antipsychotic drugs are strikingly similar.
Sources
- Zuardi, A., Crippa, J., Hallak, J., et. al(2006). Cannabidiol, A Cannabis Sativa Constituent, As An Antipsychotic Drug. Brazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research, 39(4), 421-29.
- Fergusson, D., Poulton, R., Smith, P., & Boden, J. (2006). Cannabis and psychosis. BMJ,332(7534), 172-175.
- Chemicals in Cannabis may help mentally ill. (2005, June 6). Retrieved October 22, 2014, from http://www.news-medical.net/news/2005/06/06/10716.aspx
- Chaturvedi, K. (2004). Cannabis as a psychotropic medication. The British Journal of Psychiatry, 185(78), 78-78
- Cannabis does not induce schizophrenia, Dutch scientists say. (2004, August 19). Retrieved October 20, 2014, from http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/12283.php
Schizophrenia cure depends on the variety of cannabis. (check GreenPassion.org). There may be derivatives that are more effective as well.
FACT IS that plants serve better to treat or cure these diseases than pharmaceuticals. AND no side effects of a killed pancreas, liver damage, weight gain or early parkinsons.
What is the big deal with weed. I was an anxious person and only realized it after I quit smoking weed. It would calm me down yes, but when I stopped smoking I started to realize I was very anxious, I was very scared because I thought I had a mental disorder, had trouble sleeping, would feel unconfortable in normal situations, but never wanted to take pills that mess up the bodies chemistry. That happened until I started to read about buddhism and how they knew the biggest human capacity is ti change itself, took great effort, around 3-4 months of facing fears and anxiety only to realize it was all in what I let carve in to my reality. Thing is weed will never make you something you are not. It is just an altered state of consciousness due to the THC, it just, in an unorthodox way of speaking, forces you to live your thoughts making harder to get out of what you feel, for the good or the bad. Maybe thats why depending on the persons will and experiences can make a condition better or worse. The mistake in our society is to think we can cure mental illness with pills, it only makes it worse because it messes with body chemistry and makes you dependant. Mental illness is the result of multiple cognitive mistakes we make through our life and the predisposition we have like being a natural anxious person, etc. What we think is a result of all our experiences and how we are conditioned to think. We can always change the way we think, it just takes effort, nobody said it was easy, if it was, the world would be a better place. We all make decisions, even not doing anything and taking the easy way is our decision, it is also our decision to become prisoners of the past or pioneers of the future.
We all keep doing the same things without really knowing the reasons why those who decided to make the system work that way made that choice, maybe it was necesary in the past, but things change and we cant expect to solve problems thinking in the same way that caused it.
P.S. Real buddhism doesnt deal with superstition, meditating is the way to calm your mind, let go of useless concerns fear and be free. You are not your mind, you are the consciousness behind, the observer, the decision maker. Peace of mind is being present not regreting the past nor being anxious about the future.
Allan you’re very wise. Your the kind of person I wish I could have conversations to. Great observations
Quantify psychiatry in any reasonable way and i’ll begin to believe there is such a thing as “mental illness”. Misguided, misunderstood, poorly adapted to perceived norms and other weird behavior are judged to be sick. Who’s the judge? Who’s the jury? Who’s the executioner? Bingo. It’s the friendly neighborhood psychiatrist! He’s there to help you out of the dis ease with which you are currently burdened. This here pill ought to do it. If not, we’ve got plenty to try on, or we can just make one up for you. It’s all just rat poison anyway, just different packaging. Relax now, every thing’s going to be Oooo…Kaayy…
PAY NO ATTENTION TO THAT PLANT BEHIND THE CURTAIN!!
OOoo..KKaayyy……ooookkaaaaayyyy..
I was a pot head since I was 13 years old I had no choice but to quit because of probation and I have anxiety atacks all the time something that never happened to me before so weed help me out a lot.
Pseudo-science! Nobody, NOBODY can tell me that weed is helpful in the long run. I lived with a chronic user for 15 years, and he BECAME psychotic. THC reroutes the neural pathyways in the brain. After years of use, the old pathways are destroyed and without weed, the user becomes almost schizophrenic, psychotic. Even when he was using, he appeared sociopathic at times. I’m telling you, these so-called “new” studies are nothing more than paid endorsements by people with an agenda. It all comes down to money and marketing. You can’t solve your problems with drugs. People who say that cannabis is a “natural” medicine are full of it. There are thousands of medicinal plants that are harmful or deadly when used recreationally or irresponsibly. Foxglove is medicinal, too, but if you smoke it, you’ll DIE. Cocaine was used as a medicine, too. Look how that turned out in our society. Same with Heroin, Morphine, and all these pharmaceuticals. It’s just an excuse to justify getting high, and people need to stop this irresponsible nonsense and face that fact.
There is a very respectable doctor in Brazil that studied the effects of marijuana on teenagers and it’s quite shocking. People have to be more careful before making these kind of statements of marijuana being that wonderful cure for mental illness. As far as I’m concerned, smoking marijuana (or weed, whatever you want to call it) can and will do damages to your mental health starting with memory loss. I’m talking about smoking it not the cannabis oil.
HOW MY DAUGHTER ANXIETY WAS CURED WITH CANNABIS OIL
My daughter Nadia has been suffering from ANXIETY since childhood and we have tried many medications to treat this anxiety and we have spent a lot of money on different drugs but it was not helping at all and it was getting worse. we have tried everything including allopatic medicine but rather not working. This was really affecting the family and work. I saw a post on the internet about cannabis oil and its effective usage for curing anxiety, i was desperate to try anything to help my daughter to get well. We bought the cannabis oil by writing to nationalcancerinstitute@aol.com and we were instructed on how to use the cannabis oil for treating the anxiety. We started using this cannabis oil for treatment and began to see good result and improvement in her health status and after using the cannabis oil for the stipulated time, the doctor confirmed that my daughter’s anxiety was gone and she is permanently free from anxiety. Happiness has finally returned to the family.