Traumatic brain injuries can change a person’s life forever. These types of injuries may leave the body vulnerable to other serious adverse medical events. In this guide we’ll explain what a traumatic brain injury is, how the endocannabinoid system comes into play and what the potential benefits of CBD for traumatic brain injury recovery are.

What is a Traumatic Brain Injury?

A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is when normal functions in the brain are disrupted following a hit to the head. Concussions are mild forms of TBI. Temporary cell dysfunction in the brain is typical following a concussion. Harder blows to the head can cause tissue bruising, tearing or bleeding. These situations can become emergent and life threatening.

When brain cells are damaged, it can be widespread in multiple areas of the brain or concentrated to one specific area. In cases of widespread damage, the brain may be able to move back and forth inside the skull causing additional bleeding and/or swelling in the brain. Inflammation in the brain can increase the damage and may pose more serious complications.

Some instances of TBI do allow a person to achieve a full recovery, but more serious TBI cases may result in permanent damage that may reduce quality of life and cause additional health conditions such as depression, PTSD, irritability or cognitive function deficiencies. Sensory and some behavioral issues may also arise.

Treatment of TBI depends on the severity of the injury and the overall health of the patient. Minor TBIs are often resolved from over-the-counter options that would be used for common headaches and a lot of rest. More severe instances of TBI may require surgery, physical therapy, speech therapy and a list of medications to limit potential additional damage, such as fluid buildup in the brain. Millions of people around the world die from TBI each year.

The Role of the Endocannabinoid System in Healing from TBI

The endocannabinoid system produces cannabinoids naturally. It also helps the central and peripheral nervous systems regulate themselves. CB1 and CB2 receptors are found throughout the body. Cannabinoids are able to bind to these receptors to help correct deficiencies, imbalances and other issues in the body.

The immune system is also helped by the endocannabinoid system. In autoimmune diseases, the immune system may attack itself which causes the body to be unable to fight off bad bacteria and be more resistant to germs, toxins and other illness-causing factors.

Now, why does proper endocannabinoid system regulation matter when it comes to TBI? Well, CBD is a known anti-inflammatory and neuroprotectant. As CBD enters the body, it can attach to necessary receptors to aid the body in sending the appropriate signals to potentially correct an issue. Inflammation is very common in cases of TBI. Neuroinflammation can become serious and cerebrovascular breakdowns can occur. Serious cases of TBI may result in random seizures and other disturbances. CBD is an anti-convulsant as well (CBD has over 2-dozen therapeutically beneficial properties), so it may be able to help prevent seizures associated with TBI as it helps the endocannabinoid system calm the brain. In a lot of cases, you can obtain natural strains of CBD that haven’t been combined with chemicals from a host of dispensaries, but you could get yourself a Lazarus coupon from CBD Insider to save money if you’re interested in purchasing some.

The endocannabinoid system can’t always produce the cannabinoids the body needs to heal itself, so introducing cannabinoids from an outside source (such as CBD or cannabinoids from cannabis) may provide what the body needs.

Some scientific evidence suggests that the endocannabinoid system in relation to pathogenic events may have a part in compensatory repair mechanisms triggering them to work properly.

annabinoid System

Potential Benefit of Adding CBD to your Treatment Regimen

Several properties of CBD may help improve recovery for those with TBI. Thoughts may become clearer. Cognitive function as a whole may improve. Brain swelling may decrease. Agitation/frustration may decrease. Anxiety and/or PTSD may subside. Sleep may become attainable.

One of the jobs of CBD is to help the mind and body relax. Its calming effects may reduce the experience of confusion in those with TBI, similarly to the way it may help those with aging brains to have clearer thoughts and improved cognitive function.

As a neuroprotectant, CBD may be able to help prevent further damage to nerves in the brain and may help repair damaged nerves. Nerves are finicky as they either heal or they don’t. There really isn’t a way to force a nerve to heal, sometimes they do, sometimes they just don’t heal.

TBI may cause additional disruptions in the body, such as difficulty sleeping if the brain is unable to tell itself to shut down for rest. Full spectrum CBD products may help – especially those that include plant-derived terpenes to potentially boost their effectiveness. Plant-based terpenes have accepted therapeutic benefits and are found in thousands of plants, herbs, trees and flowers.

By adding CBD to your daily treatment regimen, you may be able to improve your recovery efforts and may be able to experience a more normal response to situations in life. Responses may not be as delayed. Memories may be clearer. Confusing words or being able to form proper sentences may return. Coordination and mobility may improve as it’s the brain’s job to tell the body when and how to move in response to signals. Inflammation reduction is very important as it helps keep the brain firing as it should and reduces stress on the organ itself.

Suggested CBD Delivery Methods

There are several types of CBD products that may be ideal for those with TBI. Tinctures are quite convenient and are very easy to use. They are made from cannabis plants, and if they’re high quality cannabis plants, they are most likely derived from ILGM’s famous cannabis seeds. The liquid is held under the tongue for a full minute and is then swallowed. While under the tongue, the body starts absorbing the CBD sublingually so it can get to work a little faster. If a sudden onset of symptoms occurs, it may be one of the better options to settle those symptoms down.

CBD capsules are ideal for those that are new to CBD and don’t want to smoke any form of CBD. Capsules require digestion, so changes to symptoms may not be noticed for an hour or so. Capsules are in measured doses and may help provide relief for a few hours.

CBD edibles are becoming more popular. One of the benefits of cannabis edibles is that you can ingest a larger dose safely and may be able to experience some relief for multiple hours. They also can be fun to make as many people like to bake their own goods to which they can add CBD. While most people think of pot brownies when thinking of edibles, there is a wide range of ways to make edibles and there even cookbooks out there for people who want to try something new. Edibles can be made by adding something like cbd isolate powder into a recipe. Higher doses of CBD may provide relief for 8-hours or more.

Another fast-acting option is CBD vape. Seek out full spectrum CBD vape products as isolates don’t tend to be very efficient. Full spectrum means whole plant – it’s not just extracting CBD and leaving the rest of the hemp plant behind. More information can be found at the following link if you find your vape pen not working.

Besides vaping, dabbing is another option for CBD intake. You can use a conventional dab or an electric dad rig for extracting the concentrate for inhaling. These are more accessible, and easily portable devices for dabbing. If you are interested in purchasing an electric dab rig or any other accessories for that matter, you can visit online portals like, the dab lab.

Closing Thoughts

There are varying degrees of TBI and not all cases are permanent. Traditional treatments may be harsh on the body and some serious side effects could occur. Implementing CBD into your daily regimen may help those side effects become less noticeable, may stop them or may even become a replacement for some medications. It is important to discuss using CBD with your neurologist or treating physician first to ensure that there won’t be an interaction with your other medications. CBD isn’t likely to cause interactions though. While your doctor may not be able to suggest a specific dose, start small and increase very slowly to determine what your individual ideal dose is.

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