The Wellness Benefits of Cannabis and a Healthy Lifestyle

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When discussing cannabis the main topic has been focused around medical cannabis for chronic illnesses and treatment. But what about the benefits of cannabis for your lifestyle and wellness?

There are other benefits of cannabis that need to be talked about which impacts the greater community and not just those with medical illnesses… we need to acknowledge that, the benefits of cannabis can lead to a healthy lifestyle for everyone.

The holistic nature of cannabis is the key to your overall wellness.

But what is wellness? Wellness is simply overall health on all basic levels such as mental, emotional, behavioral, physical and spiritual health.

In this article, we will take a look at how the benefits of Cannabis can impact you in various aspects of your life.

“Extending patience, promoting gentleness and forgiveness, inspiring creativity, improving the appetite and enjoyment of food, making jokes funnier and sex more satisfying, enhancing our sense of play and wonder, and countless other ways of making us both healthier and happier.”

Steve DeAngelo, Author of the Cannabis Manifesto

Wellness Benefits of Cannabis

wellness benefits of cannabis

Cannabis and those Happy Chemicals

Did you know that the effects of Cannabis on the body are similar to when you exercise?

Do you know that feeling after a long run, hard exercise session? It’s a sense of well-being, happy relief? Well, it is the same happy feeling when Cannabis is ingested.

Popular belief for years was that that ‘HIGH’ was due to a release of endorphins ONLY. However, a study done by researchers at Germany’s University of Heidelberg uncovered that, that high experienced often by runners (hence it is called ‘runner’s high’) is associated to endocannabinoids not just endorphins.

The high-intensity exercise increases the blood levels of both β-endorphin (an opioid) and anandamide (an endocannabinoid).

The endocannabinoid system is the same system Cannabis taps into in the body which is the reason you feel a similar ‘HIGH’ and sense of well-being to running long distance or a hard workout.

So by using cannabis, you can tap into that system your body naturally does through the exercise to give you a great, calming sense of well-being.

In fact, a few types of exercise mediums combined the two in one for a heightened experience.

Yoga

Cannabis and yoga are a particular combination seen often, for instance, there are now studios in certain cities such as San Francisco that offers a semi-weekly “ganja yoga” class.

The reason for combining yoga and cannabis is to increase relaxation, create a deeper spiritual awareness, intensify the ‘bliss’ and enhance the inner self-reflection that one cycles through when practising yoga. 

Pilates

Another trend on the rise with cannabis and exercise is ‘ganja pilates’. The reason for this increasing trend is due to cannabis effects of the body, especially after exercise.

Pilates is a very intensive workout that can take its toll on your body especially when you frequently work out.

Mixing cannabis before and/or after a pilates workout can help with muscle relaxation, reduces muscle tension, decreases the risk of muscle spasms and allows for greater focus.

Cannabis for Spirituality

Did you know Cannabis has a spiritual nature? In some countries, it is ingrained in their beliefs and for others, it is part of their daily meditation.

The India God Shiva is probably the most notable when it comes to the discussion of cannabis and spiritual or emotional wellness.

Cannabis has been popular in India since around  2000 to 1400 B.C. According to The Vedas, cannabis was one of five sacred plants. The Vedas call cannabis a source of happiness, joy-giver, liberator that was compassionately given to humans to help us attain delight and lose fear.

cannabis yoga and meditation.jpg

Meditation

Mixing both cannabis and meditation is seen most evident throughout South Asia in some of the most popular spiritual sectors such as Buddhists, Naths, Shaivites and Goddess Worshippers.

Cannabis is also seen in Tibetan Buddhism, Hinduism, Taoism, Sufism and various other religious groups throughout the world.

The consensus around this combination is the belief that cannabis helps slow the mind and enter the state of ‘profound stillness’ while heightening awareness.

Modern Users

Aside from religious groups and beliefs many modern-day users too find it aids their spiritual connection and meditating routines. It helps them center themselves during stressful times and provide clarity and peace.

Cannabis can truly impact your well-being by bringing you closer to your spiritual side and provide you with a heightened feeling of peace and connection to yourself.

Cannabis for Relaxation

Cannabis widely recognised for providing a relaxing experience for most. It actually can help people on many different levels to relax and rest to help increase their self-well being and value of life.

Let me explain…

Emotional health

It’s no secret that cannabis is known to uplift one’s spirit and bring a smile to the face but is there a biological reason for this?

A study published in the journal of European Neuropsychopharmacology found cannabis to be a vital role in emotional health concluding,

“Cannabis is an essential aspect of appropriate social interactions and interpersonal relationships.”

Mental health

The study titled Anandamide: mediating protection and recovery from stress” briefly discussed stress and anxiety provided definitive proof that cannabinoids specifically those in anandamide (which is found in THC) help maintain a positive spectrum of mental health to an individual.

This is a breakthrough for those suffering from mental health symptoms such as anxiety and stress, as it can help balance their body and relax their mind.

Behavioural health

While cannabis is known to help some people maintain behavioural health that results from stress and anxiety disorders, new studies are finding cannabis may actually be the key to preventing more extreme behavioural illness as one ages.

The study The influence of cannabinoids on generic traits of neurodegeneration which appeared in the March 2014 British Journal of Pharmacology found that daily use of cannabis likely prevents Alzheimer’s and Dementia.

What happens is the cannabinoids,

  • reduces inflammation
  • protects cells from oxidative damage
  • promote cell health on a number of levels.

The studies also found cannabis to be likely to prevent Parkinsons and Huntington’s disease as well.

Cannabis Help Your Brain

Balancing the Body Using Cannabis

Cannabinoids are essential to the human body, they help prevent the DNA from damage which can actually slow down the aging process. In fact many people may be suffering from a cannabinoid deficiency which can result in numerous illnesses or diseases.

Dr. Michele Ross is a major advocate of this belief and what she refers to as endocannabinoid homeostasis.

You are probably asking what’s that? Let me explain…

Endocannabinoids are part of both the human body and brain chemistry which play a vital role in overall health, they aid in,

  • appetite
  • anxiety control
  • emotional control
  • blood pressure
  • motor coordination

…just to name a few! In fact, depletion of cannabinoids levels may be the root cause for numerous health issues.

So you can see how Cannabis can have a major benefit in balancing your body as a whole and improving your wellness and lifestyle overall.

Cannabis and Relationships

When you have an illness whether it be pain, appetite-related or stress/anxiety disorders Cannabis may not only help improve your life but help improve the lives of those around you.

When we are happier we behave better, treat others better and that is why we have seen an uprising in medical cannabis use among parents.

For example, the Beverly Hills Cannabis Mom Club are making headlines for their advocacy of ‘weed makes me a better mom’ check out a brief clip of them below.

Vape Featured in the video: Volcano, Storz & Bickle
Volcano

Clarifying the Benefits of Cannabis

By now you must be in awe at the amazing benefits Cannabis can have on your health and lifestyle, right?

Well, how a plant like Marijuana is capable of doing all these amazing things to the human body is simple.

Endocannabinoids

See, endocannabinoids are part of the human and brain chemistry which play a vital role in overall health, they aid in appetite, anxiety control, emotional control, blood pressure and motor coordination, to name a few. In fact, depletion of cannabinoids levels may be the root cause for numerous health issues.

It leaves us questioning how this miraculous plant, grown from the ground and providing people with such high self- wellness and better health, has been banned from our lives for so long?

Our goal is to promote a modern cannabis-infused lifestyle at Greendorphin and we want to hear from you how Cannabis impacts your life.

Let us know which cannabis for wellness method will you most likely try.

Tell us in the comments below!

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