This article has been sponsored by our friends at Ice Head Shop, where you can find awesome products like their 44% CBD squidy black hash – which we love!
The health benefits of cannabis are well documented at this point. Whether it’s pain relief, combating depression or reducing inflammatory conditions, consuming cannabis as a medicine is a safe and effective treatment for many.
However, cannabis is a complex plant with hundreds of active compounds. And depending on the dose and ratios of these unique herbal compounds, cannabis can have a multitude of different effects on the human body and mind – much of these effects are yet to be fully researched.
Even if you don’t have any diagnosed medical condition, the appropriate use of cannabis and cannabinoids can still be a powerful addition to your health and wellness routine.
With that in mind, here are 7 ways that cannabis can enhance your health that you might not be aware of…
1. CBG, CBD and THC for muscle growth
Building muscle is great for overall health. Studies have shown that putting on muscle mass can help strengthen bones, improve balance, reduce the likelihood of falls, improve blood-sugar control, and improve sleep and mental health.
Interestingly, muscle growth has been found to be directly influenced by cannabinoid signaling. Most notably, the down-regulation of CB1 in human skeletal muscle has a positive association with muscle growth.
Down-regulated CB1 receptors become less responsive, which is one way resistance training induces muscle synthesis.
Other ways to down-regulate CB1 receptors in order to promote muscle growth may include chronic CB1 stimulation with THC (although this is not necessarily advisable as it may exert other negative effects on muscle growth) and the use of CBD as it can prevent binding to the CB1 receptor.
Additionally, the use of CBG has shown to activate α2-adrenoreceptors and block CB1 receptors. CBG also has appetite-stimulating effects and has been shown to reduce muscle wastage in neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s.
These effects could make the non-psychoactive phytocannabinoid CBG a useful tool for building muscle.
2. CBD/low-dose THC for meditation
Meditation is much-studied practice for reducing anxiety and stress, inflammation and chronic pain. However, it can also be a very challenging practice for many.
I’ve personally found that CBD is a great complementary therapy to mediation as it quietens the mind and allows one to more easily enter the meditative state.
By making it easier to enter this state, establishing a regular meditation practice becomes more achievable, resulting in more positive health effects over time.
Using low doses of THC can also help in a similar way, although too much may interfere with your meditation practice by stimulating the mind rather than calming it.
3. THC, CBD for blood sugar management
Chronically high blood sugar can lead to insulin resistance, obesity and diabetes. Insulin resistance is also a major factor in most modern chronic diseases, including heart disease, cancer, neurodegenerative disease, gout – you name it.
Remarkable, cannabis appears to offer some protection against insulin resistance, obesity and diabetes. This study found using cannabis is associated with lower fasting insulin levels, lower insulin resistance, and smaller waist circumferences.
Cannabis users are also less likely to be obese, and have lower body mass index (BMI) measurements — despite the fact that they seemed to take in more calories.
There’s also a growing body of evidence building that cannabis and cannabinoids directly help stabilise blood sugar levels.
It’s been found that the endocannabinoid system controls gut permeability and adipogenesis (formation of fat cells), which may help explain how cannabis leads to better insulin sensitivity and lower BMI.
4. Hemp seeds for hormone optimisation (magnesium, zinc, omega 3s)
What you eat has a huge influence on your health. And hemp seeds are one of the best sources of nutrition around.
What I love most about the nutritional makeup of hemp seeds is that they are a great source for both zinc and magnesium, which are essential nutrients for optimising hormones, especially testosterone.
Testosterone, which has been in sharp decline in men over recent decades, plays a very important role in the health of men, as well as a smaller role in the health of women.
Higher testosterone levels in men are associated with a number of health benefits, including muscle growth, bone strength, increased sex drive, improved memory, higher energy levels, enhanced cognition and risk taking.
Hemp seeds also contain a good amount of omega 3 fatty acids, which are essential to good health and can improve mood, eye health, brain development, heart health, inflammation, and much more.
Along with protein, fiber, and iron, hemp seeds are also a great source of a host of other vital nutrients, including thiamin, phosphorus, copper, manganese and vitamin E.
5. Boiling cannabis roots for inflammation, joint pain, gout
As we recently reported, cannabis roots have been found to have an anti-inflammatory effect (in mice, at least).
The roots of cannabis plants have been used to treat conditions like inflammation, joint pain, and gout for thousands of years across many cultures and other conditions. However, we’re only just starting to learn about the composition of cannabis root and its medical potential.
For example, in a study that found cannabis root extract reduced inflammation in mice with no negative side effects, researchers also discovered that the compound cannabissativine is the main component of the oil found in cannabis roots.
What’s more, this oil extract is water-soluble (aqueous), unlike the oil found in the flower of cannabis plants – where compounds including cannabinoids, terpenes and flavonoids are produced – which is only soluble in oil.
Many traditional medical uses of cannabis roots involve boiling them and creating a paste from the extract, which is applied topically to wounds and sore joints. Oral solutions were also used to assist childbirth and to treat infections.
6. THC for yoga, stretching, mindful movement
Low to moderate doses of THC have a unique ability to increase sensations and focus the mind. This makes it a very useful aid for stretching the body during a practice like yoga or mindful movement, which are great for reducing stress, anxiety and inflammation.
Not only does THC enhance your mind-body connection, it can also help loosen up your joints, relax your muscles, and quiet a racing mind. These all help keep you present, focused and flexible.
Too much THC probably won’t help you practice, however, and may even make it more difficult. Start slow and take it from there is my advice.
7. THC and CBD for breathing exercises
Breathing practices are another so-called ‘alternative’ therapy that is very effective at reducing stress, inflammation and improving mood and overall health. Studies have even shown breathing practices to enhance the immune system.
Similarly to yoga, low to moderate doses of THC can help you with breathing practices by increasing focus, presence and calming the mind – all of which make the practise that much easier.
Both THC and CBD are also known to relax and dilate blood vessels, allowing for greater blood circulation.
More importantly when it comes to breath, THC and CBD also dilate the bronchi and bronchioles in the lungs, which decreases resistance in the respiratory airway and increases airflow. Put simply, this can make breathing smoother, easier and more efficient.
This article has been sponsored by our friends at Ice Head Shop, where you can find awesome products like their 44% CBD squidy black hash – which we love!
