Humans as emotional beings go through various emotions of joy, happiness, stress, excitement and many more. We always associate emotions as a psychological thing. But, do you know that the emotions we feel are a complex play of the endocannabinoid system as well as hormones?

This article is an attempt to detail more about the endocannabinoid system, hormones and emotions and how a balance/ imbalance of these three affect the human body.

What is the Endocannabinoid system (ECS)?

The ECS is a self regulating system responsible for establishing and supporting our health. It regulates various physiological and cognitive processes including appetite, mood, fertility, pain, and memory. Its receptors are located throughout the body. Read more about how ECS works here.

The given image shows that the ECS has receptors CB1 and CB2, which are present in different areas of the body.


(Image source: CBDschool.com)

Hormones, Emotions and the Endocannabinoid System

Hormones are chemical messengers released by the body. These messengers relay messages to specific receptors in the body, which in turn triggers emotions. There are many receptors for hormones in the body including CB1 and CB2. Specific hormones act on the ECS receptors and trigger emotions. Detailed below are the actions of some of the hormones.

Acetylcholine - This hormone is produced by the neurons within the body and is the natural neurotransmitter of the nervous system. It’s job is to produce contraction of skeletal muscles and inhibit the contractions of the heart. This hormone affects the CB1 receptor and triggers the emotion of “I remember.”

Anandamide- Produced in the cell membranes, this hormone reduces hypertension, depression, fear and anxiety. It inhibits the movement of cancer cells and prevents metastasis without negative effects on the immune system. It acts on both CB1 and CB2 receptors and triggers the emotion of “I am at ease”.

Serotonin- This hormone is made in the digestive tract and the central nervous system. It is a neurotransmitter that helps in appetite regulation and bowel movements. This hormone acts on the CB2 receptor and triggers the emotion of “happiness”.

Epinephrine- Produced by adrenal glands the main job of this hormone is to create the fight or flight response. However, if the levels of epinephrine are high in the body it can raise blood pressure, heart rate, and also cause weight loss. This hormone also acts on the CB1 receptor and triggers the emotion of “fright”.

Oxytocin- This hormone is produced in the hypothalamus. Its main job is to stimulate uterine contraction during delivery and stop post-partum bleeding. Research says that lack of oxytocin can also be responsible for autism, eating disorders, social anxiety, schizophrenia and depression. It acts on the CB1 receptor and causes the emotion “I feel for you.”

These are just a few that have been detailed. Conditions like parkinson's, ADHD, autism, depression, insomnia, anxiety, schizophrenia and many more have also been linked to emotions and hormones. Well, it is obvious that our emotional condition not only determines our mental state but also the physical state.



How can this knowledge help us ?

Understanding the interplay of emotions, hormones, and illnesses can be a beacon of light for many (especially the layman). When we experience too many negative or stressful emotions, one need not panic. It helps us interpret that the negative emotion that we are facing is indicative of something not being right.

What is important is that we do not ignore our emotions when they linger for long especially the negative ones. It is best to deal with them and seek help at the right time.


Can Cannabis Help ?

The logical mind will question if cannabis can help treat any of the above-mentioned health problems. The answer is yes! Cannabis can help.

Depression, anxiety, insomnia, Parkinson's are some of the conditions where research has proven that Cannabis can make a difference and reduce the symptoms. Read more about how cannabis can help treat depression.

Conclusion

Unraveling the endocannabinoid system will help us interpret the changes in our body and mind and deal with it appropriately.

Always take Cannabis under guidance from a medical practitioner. For prescription, support from an Ayurvedic doctor and understanding more about Cannabis visit here.

Source : Vedi Herbals ; Shop : Infused Cannabis Products


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Many long time Cannabis tokers around the world have known that mixing Tobacco with Cannabis is a bad idea hence only smoke the herb in its purest available form. This habit of mixing Tobacco with Cannabis is more of a European thing and has become popular around the world thanks to the inclusion of Charas or Hashish in the smoking scene. Although Charas and Hash both can be smoked in their pure form, many prefer mixing it with some tobacco to make the joint burn smoothly or give the experience of fullness of smoke when smoked in a pipe(chillum). This habit of mixing tobacco makes us crave something to smoke even more. For many years I was mixing tobacco with cannabis and rolling my spliffs, justifying it for all the BS reasons possible. But the truth is that Tobacco is so addictive, however is legal, so there is less of a social stigma associated with it and since its easily available and priced nominally as compared to weed prices worldwide, most people mix it up, thinking its gonna make their stash last longer, however end up smoking way too much than one needs, if one was smoking it pure.


Its been a few months now since I quit Tobacco for good and life has been so different in all ways possible. From the time I wake up ... I noticed there was no craving to smoke like its been for so many years. Even switching to cleaner tobacco like American Spirit, Pueblo or Manitou ... may seem like a healthier option, however the nicotine cravings don't go away until you just stop mixing the two. So now, its just the pure herb in a glass pipe which helped me easily transition from being a heavy roller to an occasional toker allowing me to focus on more important things in life like staying healthy following a good diet and lifestyle.

I started cycling and within no time the focus quickly shifted from chasing hits and doobies to sweating it out and feeling more power in your being accomplishing more life enhancing goals. Any kind of physical activity which makes one sweat and exercise their complete body is the need of the hour. The feeling you get after a physical workout is beyond any other substance induced high. One can still toke Cannabis occasionally to relax and chill after a long day, taking power from a habit that has been draining us for many years. Cannabis doesn't have any harmful effect on the lungs and has been scientifically proven to actually increase lung expansion and breathing capacity while easing physical pain and calming things down at all levels of our being.



We tend to follow collective habitual patterns as we usually smoke socially in closed circles and groups and the habit is self perpetuating as long as we are hanging out in the same circles. Life is all about changes and once we make those shifts with our habits, we will start to notice how we've been foolishly wasting away a lot of precious herb, time and our health along the way. I've been intending to put this out there just as a reminder to any of you who are looking to make serious changes in your life by choosing differently. All we really have in this plane of existence is our physical being and we have the power and responsibility to improve the quality of our lives by simply choosing better options.

You don't really have to wait for your body to start showing you signs of discomfort and disease before you can make the switch to smoking pure herb. Just stop mixing the two and use a small glass pipe or any other pipe that's easy to clean and toke away just like old times when we held the smoke in for a bit, for a proper hit ! :D

References : Mixing Cannabis and Tobacco

Image Courtesy : Sensiseeds


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An interesting documentary film titled, "Have a Good Trip : Adventures in Psychedelics" is due to be aired on Netflix this May featuring many celebrities recalling their psychedelic explorations ... their hallucinogenic highs and lows ! :D

The film features trippy stories from A-list actors, comedians and musicians including Bill Kreutzmann, Adam Scott, Nick Offerman, Sarah Silverman, Ad-Rock, Rosie Perez, A$AP Rocky, Paul Scheer, Nick Kroll, Rob Cordry and many more.


“Mixing comedy with a thorough investigation of psychedelics, 'HAVE A GOOD TRIP' explores the pros, cons, science, history, future, pop cultural impact and cosmic possibilities of hallucinogens,” read a press release.

“The film tackles the big questions: Can psychedelics have a powerful role in treating depression, addiction, and helping us confront our own mortality? Are we all made of the same stuff? Is love really all we need? Can trees talk?”

The film was written and directed by Donick Cary and produced by Mike Rosenstein, Sunset Rose Pictures, and Sugarshack 2000.


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Your foolproof and definitive guide to buying online and mail order marijuana seeds. So easy, even a monkey could do it.

Possibly even a stoned monkey. Okay, so maybe not that, but this is your guide to buying weed seeds right, getting your crop growing in the best way possible, as soon as possible. To purchase marijuana seeds, you’re gonna need to know all The Who’s, How’s, When’s, Where’s and Why’s before you get started. The Who is easily the most important. Snagging a couple seeds that your cousin found in the bottom of a bag of dirt bud probably isn't the best way to go if you’re planning on having a nice crop. So make sure that you get your seeds from a reputable source.


Seeds are obviously the most important part of your future marijuana plants, because it all starts with them. Creating and properly collecting seeds, preferably feminized and carefully selected, takes time, effort, and a decent amount of science- which is why it’s best left to the professionals. When purchasing weed seeds for the first time, it’s better to spend a little bit more money in the beginning, than waste a lot in the end because your plants won’t produce.

Where to Buy

The “where” question relies pretty heavily on where you happen to be at, yourself. In weed friendly states and countries, you can sometimes pick up seeds from your local cannabis purveyor, or seed bank. Talking to the pros that handle the seeds themselves is usually a must for any beginner. Get to know your supplier as well as any strains they have for sale. These guys are the brains behind their seed operations, so they should be able to easily answer any questions you may have.

In countries and states where marijuana seeds aren’t exactly legal, there are generally a few loopholes in laws that can help you out. Order marijuana seeds online to avoid the risk of possession charges. Generally, seeds aren’t illegal to possess, as long as they aren’t in soil. This is excessively true in states and countries where hemp and hemp by products have been decriminalized. Should you get caught with some mail-order seeds, generally the worst case scenario is they won’t make it to you, as they are subject to being confiscated.

Why to Buy

Buying marijuana seeds online, either domestically or abroad has a few different advantages. Besides avoiding many legal implications, online marijuana seed banks generally have a slew of reviews and user ratings. These types of forums are massively useful when buying anything online and marijuana seeds are no exception.

Another added bonus of purchasing seeds online is that you can get hard to find and unique strains. The UK, The Netherlands, and Spain are common purveyors of the more popular strains. Because of this popularity, it’s not difficult to find a seed bank that is reputable and has satisfied customers. Most online retailers also have FAQ forums or online customer assistance should you run into trouble. No matter where you get your seeds, it’s highly unlikely that you’ll have a 100% success rate at all times, but more often than not, you should be getting what you’re paying for.

If you don’t plan on going the mail-order route to purchase marijuana seeds, keep in mind that certain modes of travel (like airplanes) aren’t always the best idea when carrying a pocket full of seeds. Crossing state lines can also get you into some trouble if you’re not careful about where you buy and how you transport. Be sure to brush up on any marijuana travel related laws before you bring home any souvenirs.


What to Buy

Choosing which seed to buy can be a pretty exciting, and equally overwhelming, experience. Any decent seed bank will offer many, many, different strains of marijuana seeds on their site. Feminized and autoflowering are also some weed seed buzzwords you need to be aware of.

Feminized

Unless you’re planning on doing some crossbreeding and have a pretty solid background in cannabis cultivation- feminized seeds are definitely the way to go. Choosing to buy feminized seeds can increase your expected yield by up to 50%. This is because, without feminization, seeds have roughly a 50/50 chance of producing a male plant. Male plants don't produce decent pot and should a male pollinate your lady plants, the pot your girls produce will be pretty crap too. Properly feminized seeds have close to a 99% chance of producing a female plant.

Autoflowering

Autoflowering seeds are great for beginners. No strict and costly light cycles are necessary, and the plants will flower on their own. Non-autoflowering strains will require strict light cycles during different stages of plant development in order to produce good foliage and fat buds. Autoflowering seeds will flower based upon plant age. A small downfall is that yield is generally low and plants are fairly small.

Sativa

These bad boys will be ENORMOUS. So plan on that. Sativas also take quite a bit more time to flower and vegetate. They require a very large amount of space and an equally large amount of water, food, light, and just about everything else. But, you definitely reap what you sow with Sativas, as their cones are generally larger and the high is much more cerebral.

Indica

Indica strains are generally a bit smaller than their Sativa sisters, but will still require quite a bit of growing room as well as intense light schedules. Many new growers will opt to start with an indica strain over a sativa purely based on the amount of space they have to grow.


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So finally it looks like things are heading in the right direction with more Plant based medicines and alternative healing modalities making their way into the mainstream culture of our society. It feels good to know that now there is more awareness of Cannabis being a medicinal plant, although its recreational use being more prevalent, it still is medicine for the sick and dying who could heal in a more holistic way, how nature intended it to be.

Here is an insightful post from our friends at Vedi Herbals about Cannabis and the Endocannabinoid System.

The Endocannabinoid System: How Cannabis works?

You have heard about the 11 major organ systems including the respiratory, muscular, skeleton, digestive and reproductive system. But have you heard about the Endocannabinoid System? Probably not, because it has only been discovered in the 1990s and scientists are still trying to understand the complete working of this system.

The Endocannabinoid System (ECS) has been found to be the most important physiological system involved in establishing and supporting our health. It plays a vital role in modulating the regulation of homeostasis of the human body, which encompasses the brain, reproductive, and immune system, to name a few. Let’s take a deep dive into the ECS and how Cannabis works here.

Cannabis infused Ayurvedic medicines are available for patients because of their therapeutic benefits. You can buy Cannabis medicine online at Vedi Herbals.

What is the Endocannabinoid System?

The Endocannabinoid System (ECS) is a biological system composed of 3 components- 1. Endocannabinoids, 2. Cannabinoid receptors and 3. The cellular machinery (enzymes that produce and breakdown endocannabinoids). ECS is responsible for regulating various physiological and cognitive processes including appetite, mood, fertility, pain, and memory.

Endocannabinoids are molecules produced by cells that bind to cannabinoid receptors, known as CB1 and CB2, found throughout the body. Stimulating these receptors results in various physiologic processes inside the cell.

To understand how Cannabis works and its benefits, it’s important to understand the ECS.




How and when Medical Cannabis Evolved?

Decades back while Cannabis was being studied, it’s main active compound THC was discovered. However, scientists then didn’t have any clue that the human body has special receptors for it.

Research work on rats in 1988 helped the discovery of the first cannabinoid receptor (CB1).
In 1993, a second cannabinoid receptor (CB2) was identified which was found to be distributed throughout the immune system and peripheral tissues of the body.

In 1995, researchers discovered that the two receptors, CB1 and CB2 were found not only in rats but in million other species including humans. However, scientists were confused about why humans would have receptors for a substance which was made by some plant. Was it possible that our bodies produced cannabinoids similar to THC?

As research advanced, this was proved true. From what we know yet, human bodies produce 80 endocannabinoids (i.e. cannabinoids produced by our body) and nearly 32 receptors to bind them. The cannabinoid receptors and endocannabinoids interact in the same way as lock and key and together comprise the ECS. When the cannabinoid "key” attaches to the receptor "lock”, activation occurs, resulting in the amazing effects on the brain and body.

The cannabinoids produced by Cannabis like CBD and THC (also known as “Phyto-cannabinoids” or “Exo-cannabinoids”) work similar to the cannabinoids produced by our body (Endo-cannabinoids) and act as keys for the receptor locks.

Why We Need Cannabis or Phyto-Cannabinoids?

With age and lifestyle, the endocannabinoid levels might change and can lead to various health problems including sleep disorders, inflammatory response, and Alzheimer’s.

Cannabis can play a vital role here. The most popular cannabinoids found in Cannabis are THC and CBD, with analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties. This external source can help promote homeostasis in our body and re-establish good health.




How does Cannabis Work?

They work in two ways, one by maintaining the ECS and secondly by complementing if there is a deficiency.

THC in Cannabis is responsible for the intoxicating effects of cannabis, as well as many of the medicinal properties. THC works by interacting with the ECS’s CB1 and CB2 receptors. By stimulating these receptors,THC can imitate the function of the endocannabinoids our bodies produce to regulate physiology and maintain health.

While CBD in Cannabis interacts with other nominal receptors with remarkable effects. For instance, CBD activates the receptor GPR55, which has been shown to assist in reducing pain and inflammation. CBD has been shown to decrease the activity of THC’s activity at CB receptors. Combining CBD and THC decreases the intoxicating and other side effects of THC, while enhancing some of THC’s benefits and hence they usually work best together.

If there is a cannabinoid deficiency in the body, administering Cannabis can help bring levels to normal. Low Cannabinoid levels trigger health issues like headaches, mood swings, irritability, etc. The optimum level of endocannabinoids maintains vital health functions and helps restore the balance within the body.

How are Cannabis and Ayurveda related?

Interestingly, Cannabis is a vital ingredient in more than 80 traditional Ayurvedic formulas. It has been used in Ayurveda for thousands of years in India, mainly to treat pain, insomnia, stress, and anxiety. Cannabis is regarded as one of the five essential plants in Vedas. Cannabis, also known as “Vijaya” means attaining victory over sufferings.

What is CBD and what is THC?

CBD and THC are two vital components, described as "sister molecules". CBD and THC have many similarities,yet distinct differences. Both have different roles to play, offer incredible health benefits, and relief to symptoms.

For some ailments, the intoxicating effects of THC are more beneficial while for others CBD is more appropriate. CBD is capable of blocking the effects of compounds such as THC. Consequently, it can balance the intoxicating effects of THC. Cannabis medicines are available in different proportions of CBD and THC for various health issues.



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