“In strict medical terms, marijuana is far safer than many of the foods we consume.” – a finding from the U.S. Department of Justice.
The automatic reaction to ‘throw some raw weed into my smoothie, please’, will likely be one of shock. Most reactions surrounding consuming the cannabis plant in its raw form echo the lack of awareness that when consumed as a raw food, and not heated, the nutritional benefits are outstanding.
The names of the cannabinoid acids are THCa and CBDa, once heated they degrade into a psychoactive form, this process is called decarboxylation. In this form, the body can only handle so much at a time. However, when you ingest raw THCa and CBDa, your body can eat very large amounts and uses its own metabolism to change the acids to nutrients. If heated the recommended dose limit is 10 mg or less, if not heated the recommended dose limit ranges from 1-2000mg, so it would seem to be much more effective and beneficial in all its nutritional properties.
The different types are Linalool (anti-inflammatory; anti-convulsant), pinene (neuroprotective), limonene (prevents gastrointestinal issues). The others are its Omega 3 & 6 fatty acids for which the body can’t produce on its own and it is responsible for maintaining the fatty acids needed for optimum brain health. Finally, the essential amino acids as well as its antioxidants which both help with cell structure and damage.
Cannabis is just one part of a nutritional area. According to William Courtney, MD., it is a ‘functional food’, providing benefits in excess of nutrition. Hemp milk and hemp seeds are perfectly balanced to provide valuable food material with a wide range of dietary value. In fact, there is a new term popping up, which is dietary cannabis.
Those culinary experts and raw food enthusiasts that study its properties can attest to cannabis as being the poster child for raw food. It is best blended or juiced, or even consumed in a salad. How to best juice your cannabis is to use a wheatgrass juicer as it is a product that is used to handling more fibrous foods. Soak the cannabis leaves for 5 minutes (not the buds!) in cold water in order for the plant’s pores to open up. You can always blend your juice with coconut water or other vegetables and fruits.
If you’re already stocked up on rosemary and thyme but need a little direction to spice up your herbs take cues from cannabis with this endocannabinoid system boosting, spice packed protein shake while creating a robust anti-inflammatory and stress reducing treat that tastes a bit like an extreme frozen chai.
Endocannabinoid System (ECS) Boosting Protein Shake:
Ingredients
Blend and serve.
(Recipe from Vogue, April 14, 2018)
(Recipe By: Alan Badiner, member of the International Cannabinoid Research Society in North Carolina, author "The Endocannabinoid Diet.")
As we prepare to celebrate Yom Kippur during this year’s High Holidays, we’ve decided to explore Cannabis and Judaism.
Of course, there’s the decorating, the candles, the music, the planning, the feasting and fasting, the family, the friends, the self-reflection, the resolutions. It is a time of renewal, spiritual awakening, community and giving, beginning with Rosh Hashanah and concluding ten days later with Yom Kippur, the holiest and most solemn day in the Jewish year. How does cannabis fit into this picture? Is cannabis an unorthodox tradition? To the contrary, according to Retired Orthodox Rabbi and Cannabis advocate Simcha Green, his wife Margie and son Elie, Co-Founder, Green Topicals.
For the religious, the High Holidays offer a chance to strengthen their faith and bond with community. So, what does this have to do with cannabis, you wonder? As religion pertains to the history of cannabis, its roots date back to the Bible, explained Margie Green. Evidence was established in 1936 by etymologist, Sula Benet, from the Institute of Anthropological Sciences in Warsaw. Benet discovered that the word for cannabis (once originally thought to be of Scythian origin) appears to have first been noted in the Semitic languages, such as Hebrew. In traditional Hebrew, it is known as kaneh or kannabus. The root kan in this construction means “reed” or “hemp,” while bosm means “aromatic.”
It is said to be a “fragrant cane,” designated as kaneh-bosum (bosem, bosm). As well, it was written as part of the holy anointing oil – as evident from Exodus 30:22 -33. When prophet-shaman Moses goes to speak to the Lord, he goes into an enclosure called “the tent of the meeting” where he covers himself in (hemp) oil and places some of it in the incense altar. He then burns it and speaks to the Lord through a pillar of smoke over the incense altar.
THEN GOD SAID,
“I GIVE YOU EVERY SEED-BEARING
PLANT ON THE FACE OF THE WHOLE
EARTH, AND EVERY TREE THAT
HAS FRUIT IN IT.”
GENESIS 1:29-30
While smoking cannabis with psychoactive effects isn’t for everybody, strains and compounds with no psychoactive effects, in a variety of consumable forms, including topicals, is really for anybody with sore muscles, aches, pains and even certain skin conditions.
“You don’t have to get high to be a cannabis user,” echoes Elie Green, in an article in The Jewish News of Northern California, and the son of retired Orthodox Rabbi Simcha Green and the late, Margie Green, who had taken on the role of company spokespersons.
The couple, in their 70s, served together, as cannabis advocates. Among their activities, they ran workshops and counseled countless parents of sick children on the risks and benefits of medical marijuana uses and options; they also spoke at numerous retirement communities and served as passionate advocates spreading the word about the medicinal benefits of cannabis.
Their outreach has been attributed to ancient Jewish text, and Margie pointed out to me at least a dozen instances where the Bible mentions the healing properties of what she and her husband believe to be a marijuana plant.
I grew up in a time when it was taboo,” says the rabbi. “But when you see how many seniors, how many people [medical marijuana] has helped … it’s so impressive.
After our son introduced us to it, I went with him to a dispensary for the first time and I saw firsthand how clean it was, how well run, and I realized it was on the up-and-up.
In Jewish law, as I understand it, it’s a very simple question: Does the medicine have healing effects?And what are the risks of using the medicine? If the healing effects outweigh the risk of using the medicine, use the medicine. Not only use the medicine, but doctors are also required to prescribe you the medicine. That’s our legal and ethical responsibility to each other, to Jews, to anybody in pain. Of course, as Jews we are also required to follow the law of the land, Rabbi Green adds. But the law of the land is changing.
As Margie Green would say to parents struggling with kids with cancer when chemo alone was not working or was causing more harm than benefit, “Open up your mind to try cannabis. If you’re not happy you can go back to chemo, but give the kid an opportunity not to be sick. And, everybody, let’s get Washington to jump on the wagon!”
Evidence of medicinal cannabis use goes back thousands of years and spans cultures. On the Doc Green’s website, users have reported that topical cannabis products improve conditions ranging from eczema and other skin problems to repetitive stress injuries, migraines, fibromyalgia and more. Lavender, vanilla and unscented varieties are available for purchase at dispensaries throughout California; the company also ships directly to consumers who can provide proof of a prescription.
Our Condolences to the Green family and everyone touched by Margie's wisdom and passing.
In other words, there are many reasons why someone might want to add cannabis to their beauty and lifestyle products. The real question is: which ones appeal to you?
Before you jump into purchasing a beauty or lifestyle product that includes cannabis, you might want to ask yourself a few questions. Not all products are alike, and some might be better for you than others (or just better in general). Here are a few questions to consider as you start your purchasing process.
People use cannabis for so many different reasons. Depending on what you are using it for, you might want to try a different product. For example, if you are looking for a beauty and skin product with ingredients to boost your natural beauty and keep your skin healthy, you might look for something with hemp seed oil so you can take advantage of those fatty acids and vitamins.
On the other hand, if you are looking for relaxation or pain relief, you might want something that packs a little more power - like THC or CBD. Consumables with these chemicals are best if you want to get a full body effect from your cannabis. But to avoid any unpleasant highs, start low with dosing (around 2.5-5 mg’s) and slowly increase until you find the ideal dose for your needs.
In general, if you have something specific in mind for your cannabis product, do a little research on what types of cannabis products might be best for your needs. Then, when you do pick out that perfect product - you’ll know it is exactly what you wanted.
Another question to consider is whether your product contains any THC. THC is a highly psychoactive chemical that is largely responsible for the characteristic ‘high’ associated with cannabis. It is also more strictly regulated than other byproducts of cannabis. Before you use anything with THC, make sure it is legal to use in your area.
If this is a consumable product (or even something like lip balm that might get into your mouth), you need to understand that it may alter your experience in ways that may temporarily impact your functionality and make you feel high. If you do want to try out THC, start with a low dose and prepare for a big mental shift until you get used to its effects. Plan to be in a safe space where you don’t need to drive, and are around those you trust. It can be a disorienting experience - although often a very enjoyable one.
If THC is in a topical product, it will likely not impact your functionality or make you feel high — but in rare cases sensitive patients report feeling high from topicals with THC. And certain types of topicals, like patches or water soluble products may cause the average person to feel high.
If feeling high isn’t what you are looking for, opt for CBD or hemp-seed oil products instead.
The final, and perhaps most important question to ask yourself is whether the product has been tested for purity and potency. Most cannabis products in states with legal cannabis programs have to be tested by a third party lab to make sure they don’t contain any contaminants - and do contain the cannabis they advertise. But CBD and hemp products are not regulated in this way. Some studies show as high as 60% of these products are mislabeled and don’t contain the CBD they claim they do. And there is no one checking these products to ensure they aren’t tainted with pesticides, heavy metals or other contaminants.
That’s why buying CBD products from a trusted source is important, and the best way brands can build trust is by having their products tested by an independent lab. Do a little investigation before you buy. Many brands now offer copies of the lab tests for their products. This can offer you a little peace of mind that you are consuming a safe and accurately labeled product.
A good night’s sleep isn’t always an easy thing to come by. And as we age, getting high quality sleep can become even more difficult — especially for women. For some women, this means tossing and turning all night and yawning all day, which can have a serious impact on daily functioning and enjoyment of life. This has left some wondering whether options like cannabis might help improve sleep quality.
While researchers are still investigating the extent to which cannabis and its components, like CBD or THC, can be used to help improve sleep, anecdotal reports from patients, and some research does point in a hopeful direction, suggesting that cannabis can make a notable difference when it comes to getting sleep.
Curious about using cannabis for your own sleep? Read on to learn all about the science behind using cannabis for sleep, and how it might benefit women over 50.
Sleeplessness is a problem that can impact anyone, but it is an especially prominent issue for women over 50. Studies show that sleep issues escalate during perimenopause, the time leading up to menopause, with more than half of these women getting less than 7 hours of sleep at night. And unfortunately, these symptoms continue to linger after menopause is complete. Nearly 36% of postmenopausal women say they have trouble sleeping through the night. Postmenopausal women are also more likely to report difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep and feeling well rested than your average person.
So, why do women have so many more sleep issues at this time of life? Well, there are a few main reasons. For one thing, hormonal shifts can have a big impact on sleep — leading to insomnia for some women. These changes can also lead to other symptoms that can disrupt sleep.
Women at this age are also more likely to suffer from conditions like sleep apnea, fibromyalgia, anxiety, depression, or restless leg syndrome, all of which can really interfere with sleep. To add to this, conditions like heart failure, lung disease and psychiatric disorders increase with age, and the medications used to treat these conditions can also lead to insomnia.
The result is that women over 50 are at serious increased risk of not getting enough sleep. And sleep is simply too important to miss out on on a regular basis. But luckily, cannabis may be able to help!
The sleep issues that women over 50 face are real! But many women report that cannabis can help ease these problems and provide more restful nights. So how does cannabis pull off this insomnia defying feat? While scientists are still studying cannabis’ impact on sleep, and say that more research is needed to truly understand it, they do have some theories about why cannabis might help.
Cannabis interacts with the human body primarily through a system known as the endocannabinoid system. This key system in the human body is tasked with keeping many of our bodily functions in balance, or homeostasis. From pain, to hunger, to inflammation, to mood, to memory, this system influences, stimulates and maintains balance for some of the most important aspects of our physical life. And one important function that is regulated by the endocannabinoid system is sleep.
This system is made up of many receptors in the body, such as CB1 and CB2 receptors, which are activated by natural chemicals in the body called endocannabinoids. When the endocannabinoids stimulate the receptors, it triggers the system's many different effects. But interestingly, the cannabinoids in the cannabis plant are also able to stimulate these receptors. So when someone takes cannabis, they are able to activate the endocannabinoid system and its many functions.
With sleep, we know that activating CB1 receptors usually induces sleep. To add to this, it can also cause changes in the stability and length of non-rapid eye movement sleep, which is very important in getting quality rest. So, researchers believe that cannabis’ ability to stimulate CB1 is primarily responsible for its impact on sleep. To learn what that impact is, we will have to look at the clinical research on humans using cannabis for sleep.
Cannabis has a long history as a sleep aid. In fact, it’s been used for its sedative qualities since ancient times. But in modern times, people also report sleep inducing properties from this age-old remedy. One survey of 1,000 recreational cannabis users found that cannabis was being used as a sleep aid by 74% of them, and 84% of those using it this way reported that it was helping them get better sleep. 83% also said that with cannabis, they were able to reduce or stop taking other sleep aids.
When it comes to clinical research on cannabis and sleep, the science isn’t quite where researchers would like it to be. We don’t have particularly high quality data yet, still, there is some research that suggests cannabis can help with sleep.
For example, one study looked at the impact THC had on sleep. The scientists studied healthy insomniacs over six weeks, and found that those using THC took significantly less time to fall asleep. They also found that participants given THC woke up less during the night.
Still, some research suggests that cannabis’ impact on sleep might vary based on factors like the dose or strain. One study found that lower doses of cannabis decreased the time it took to fall asleep, but higher doses actually increased it — suggesting that more isn’t always better when it comes to using cannabis for sleep.
Another study found that cannabis strain may play a role in how cannabis affects our sleep. This study looked at preferences between different varieties of cannabis, for those using cannabis for sleep. They found that those using cannabis to prevent nightmares usually preferred sativa strains of cannabis. On the other hand, those who were trying to use cannabis to fall asleep more quickly prefered strains that were high in CBD. So it is highly possible that different types of cannabis — with different chemical profiles — may be suited to different sleep applications. And some strains may not be very helpful at all.
A review of previous sleep studies on cannabis also found that CBD might be helpful for REM sleep behaviour disorder — a condition where people physically act out their dreams, and that it could prevent excessive daytime sleepiness.
Unfortunately, not all the research suggests benefits for sleep. One survey found that cannabis users were more likely to have sleep disturbances than those who didn’t use cannabis. Still, it’s not clear in this study if the cannabis was causing the sleep disturbances, or the sleep disturbances were motivating the cannabis use.
Still, despite this, reviews on cannabis and sleep are generally optimistic about cannabis as a sleep aid. The National Academy of Sciences meta-review on cannabis from 2017, for example, found moderate evidence that cannabis could help with short-term sleep outcomes for patients with conditions like fibromyalgia, sleep apnea, chronic pain, or multiple sclerosis. Another 2017 review, from the University of Pennsylvania, concurred with this conclusion, and also found that cannabis may help reduce or prevent the nightmares associated with PTSD.
Most researchers on cannabis and sleep warn that more research — particularly double-blind clinical trials — is needed to come to strong conclusions about cannabis’ impact on sleep. Still the evidence that we have is hopeful that cannabis can help. For those who are curious about whether it will help them, there is only one way to find out. Talk to your doctor, and try it out for yourself.
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