Can Cannabis Help with Stress and Anxiety?

With thousands upon thousands of people dealing with various kinds of anxiety, and over 40 million different adults suffering from this, it’s definitely an ongoing almost epidemic for people. Children are suffering from this too. This is due to the brain registering different things as threats, whether real, physical, emotional, and whatnot. It creates a response within your sympathetic nervous system, which is what causes the fight or flight states in you, and it is used as a means of defense for people. 

Our brains used this for years to run away from danger, but the thing is, we’re not being chased by saber-toothed tigers anymore, but major changes in our work, relationships, even family and financial states play a role in stress and how it affects all of us. 

Symptoms 

There are different symptoms, but they usually are categorized by fear, worry, and you may feel different mental and physical responses. It does vary upon each person, and some people have a higher heart rate when they feel this, and others start to grind their teeth or breathe in a more shallow manner. 

There are other symptoms that go with this too, including the following:

• Gastrointestinal issues 

• Dizziness 

• Headaches 

• Appetite changes 

• Fatigue 

• Shakes 

• Urinating a lot 

• Pain in the chest 

• Insomnia or sleeping way too often 

In most cases, it makes you feel like you’re constantly on edge, and it’s not good for you. How cannabis helps Cannabis has been found to help with relaxation and stress, and it’s something that a lot of users say it helps them relax. In the journal of effective disorders that was published, it also found that it can actually help with pain, anxiety, stress, and depression. 

In this, they used some data form Strainprint, which was a medical marijuana app that journals the feelings. The users would track how they felt after different kinds of strains and the different levels of this. They then made sure everything was anonymous, identifying the efferent effects that medical cannabis products have on this. Personal information is uploaded, but everything’s still kept nice and private. 

It was found that with anxiety, it did a lot of good for people. About 93% of users were able to reduce their anxiety, and the symptoms were able to be fully exacerbated in some of the sessions. Stress was also another one that did markedly change. It was found that in users, it was reduced all the way down to about 93% as well, and it was something that was pretty quick to change. For depression, about 89% of people who had stress were able to exacerbate it, and there were noticeable symptom changes as well. 

Cannabis is something that you should definitely consider rot help with this, but it’s good to understand that if you do have this, you should also look at the underlying problems that come here. 

Research also showed that it helped reduce it, and only two puffs were needed in these studies too—not a ton. A little bit goes a long way with this, since two puffs offered better results, but if you did take two puffs, it did reduce it. More than two didn’t get rid of the symptoms any more than two did. If you do have stress though, you should try to take a bit of a higher dose to help. Some of the studies said that medical cannabis users who had stressed needed about two or more puffs to get a reduction in this.

Strains for Ethers-Danlos syndrome

Ehlers Danlos syndrome is basically a disorder of the connective tissue that impacts the blood, skin, and bones, and muscles. It can even impact the internal organs. Cannabis can help with this, and there are some strains that are good for mitigating the pain and other effects from this as well. For those who don’t know, Ehlers Danlos syndrome is basically one that’s diagnosed based on the family history. If you have a parent who has EDS, it’s more likely for you to get it. It also comes with certain symptoms such as the following: 

• Skin that’s fragile and does bruise easily. 

• Dislocation of the joints because of hypermobility 

• Hyperextensibility of the skin, so it can stretch easily 

• Increased risk for osteoporosis and hernias. 

Some of this is based on the collagen that’s produced, or the lack of it. A lack of collagen isn’t just for those who have delicate skin, but it can impact your bones and joints.

Those with EDS tend to have fragile levels of both, but Phyto cannabinoids can help with strengthening this, and it can prevent osteoporosis, which is a condition that impacts women quite a lot. This also is good for those who want to get off opioids, as that’s one of the most common things prescribed to those that are looking to get treatment for EDS. 

The best strains 

If you’re looking to use cannabis to help with EDS, this is definitely something that can help, especially if you deal with chronic pain. White widow is one of them. it’s got almost 23% THC in it, and it’s known for being a bit intoxicating, and relieves pain. it’s good for those who want a hybrid that’s balanced, but also is pretty dynamic. 

Sour diesel is another one that does come with a lot of THC in it, and it’s got an even higher concentration of this. This is great for users who are experienced, but for beginners it can be impactful, so be mindful of that before you begin. Hindu Kush is another one. It’s calming, and it relieves pain. it does contain about 20% THC in this, so the effects of this are quite strong and psychoactive. 

Cannatonic is another good one, as this is low in THC, but rich in CBD, so if you need something that relieves pain and inflammatory conditions, this is one of the best, and it’s considered one of the most popular for this. Jack Herer is another popular one for those who have EDS, as this can offer the powerful energy boost that people need. It’s very rich in THC, and it does offer a lot of great combinations that can be a winning combo for those who want something that’ll help them get through the day without being focused on the pain constantly. 

Pennywise is another good one. It’s very effective, and it comes with the 1:1 ratio of the THC to CBD in most cases, and it doesn’t have too much to be too potent. Finally, you’ve got northern lights, which is popular, and it’s very indica heavy, helping to relax, induce relief, and also help you feel less pain. 

These are all super popular strains to use in order to tret the pain that’s associated with EDS, and it’s something that a lot of users like to use. The best way to find a strain that ultimately doe s the work for you is one that comes with a combo of both indica, along with sativa, and when you experiment, you can find the one that’s best for the symptoms at hand, and there are a lot of great benefits that come with this too.

Should you use Marijuana and ADHD Medication together

ADHD and marijuana may be something you’re curious about. ADHD is a disorder that starts within childhood, beginning with hyperactivity and behavior which is impulsive. While there are many symptoms to help people who have this, some people don’t like those because of the side effects that come with this, including the medications. It’s also why some people are looking to alternative treatments, including cannabis. 

Cannabis and marijuana is a subject that is a bit complicated, with more and more research needing to be done to really figure out the verdict on this. This is because ADHD meds can be very stimulating, and create side effects which are quite serious, including more arousal, insomnia, and the like. With more people curious about the safety and efficacy of the medications, especially in those which are younger, medications may also impact your brain, including memory and learning. Marijuana is something that has a bit of a stimulatory impact on the body due to the THC that’s in there, and it can make you either euphoric, or calmed as well, and there is also CBD, which isn’t intoxicating.

 

Should those with ADHD Use It? 

Right now, there is no evidence that says marijuana helps with this condition, but there is some evidence in the preliminary stage that shows that cannabinoids that are in this can help adults that deal with ADHD. Cannabis is good for those pleasant emotions you might feel, albeit that does vary between people. 

As for the benefits, there is the dopamine which comes with this, being a huge neurotransmitter in the game, and it is a big part of rewarding various behaviors.  ADHD is something that has a much larger concentration of these transporters of dopamine within the brain, but the transporters do remove this as well to quickly for it to cause major effects, which is why those with ADHD need to stimulate this, so that they have more dopamine, since they burn through it too quickly. 

Marijuana to cope with this is something that is up for debate. While it can boost your dopamine receptors, and improve happiness, and helps you stop relying on activities that are super stimulating, it also can improve the symptoms of ADHD in certain people, and also reduce the dependency for these drugs too. 

There are some drawbacks that come with this. 

THC may have harmful consequences for the long-term on a brain that has ADHD , especially during those early developmental periods. It can impact your executive functions, including solving problems, learning, and memory. Based on a study of those with ADHD that used marijuana, it was found that they were worse on their ability to make decisions on tests than those who weren’t able to, and those who had very pronounced effects were children of course. 

Of course, there is also the fact that if you use other drugs and marijuana, it basically hyper stimulates the reward receptors in the brain, and for those with ADHD it ca be amplified, since they’re already getting stimulants in their prescription meds that change the dopamine levels. The pattern of the use of medication, where the dopamine gets elevated, does lead to dependencies and addiction as well. 

It is something that those who have ADHD should look at since there is always of course the chance that with this, it can play a major problem in this. But right now, while there isn’t some concrete evidence, hopefully we can learn more about this as well, and the ultimate effects of this as well for you too.

Hyperemesis Syndrome

 

If you’ve ever heard of someone vomiting after they consume cannabis, you may wonder why that is. This is something that’s hard to truly understand, and this odd condition is someone that has cyclic vomiting which is caused by too much cannabis. 

Even if you’re not really familiar with this, you may wonder how something that’s used to help with nausea and vomiting is making you sick. It’s not totally clear, but it’s something that’s increased greatly in many ways. There is another type of vomiting that also comes with this, and it’s a little bit different from cannabis vomiting syndrome, which we’ll look at here. 

What is It? 

This is basically vomiting that’s cyclical that’s triggered through long-term cannabis use that’s excessive, categorized by a ton of nausea, vomiting, along with pain in your abdomen. This is because of a lot of cannabis being used for over a year or sometimes more. It usually involves using hot water to bathe and offer relief from the symptoms. While it’s not clear how many are affected by this, it’s something that can happen to a small variety of different cannabis users. 

CVS and CHS 

Cannabinoid hyperemesis is a type of condition that usually is cyclic, and it does have similar symptoms to cyclic vomiting. Cyclic vomiting is something that’s gastrointestinal, and it involves severe vomiting, with more recurring episodes that don’t have a cause. It also has other symptoms which include the following: 

• Repeated vomiting episodes 

• Diarrhea 

• Extreme nausea 

• Abdominal pain

CVS is usually hard to diagnose because there’s no test that tells you someone has it. It’s something that’s usually ruled out with tests, and right now, there isn’t a cure. 

In contrast, cannabinoid hyperemesis is a bit more progressive than normal CVS. This is something that happens when you use cannabis for the long term. It includes the following: 

• A ton of nausea

• Too many vomiting episodes 

• Bathing in hot water 

• Too much abdominal pain 

The biggest difference is the exposure t too much cannabis, and the hot water bathing that does offer relief specifically for this one.  It’s mostly caused by cannabis, so that’s the main factor. There are different tests that can be done, but there is nothing that does definitively show whether or not you have it. Most of the time, there are certain factors which go into this, and they include: 

• Cyclic vomiting and nausea 

• The symptoms go away when you don’t use cannabis 

• Hot baths are a way to relieve symptoms 

• It is male prevalent 

• It’s something that involve cannabis use weekly 

The thing is, because there is no specific test, it does get misdiagnosed as CVS in most cases. And sometimes there is some confusion between both, since they’re not properly diagnosed. 

Treatments 

There are certain treatments that are used for those that do use this. Sometimes, the only cure for the long term is cutting cannabis. While that’s not necessarily possible, it can be done, or just limit the usage. 

Showers and hot baths work. In severe cases, if you have dehydration, and you may need to use IV fluids. Capsaicin cream is something that also helps with soothing the body, and it can help. Finally, you are to avoid narcotics because these medications can only make it worse.

Although rare, it’s something to be mindful of, especially in the treatment of your problems, and it’s good to know what the symptoms are, and understand that there is a difference between these certain conditions and their factors.

All about Dab Pens

If you’re someone who likes dabs, or concentrates of cannabis that aren’t specified, then you’ll definitely want to consider a dab pen. They’re so much easier than a dab rig, and they offer a whole lot of portability, and not too much maintenance, and it lasts for years. 

What it Is and how do They Work 

Dab pens are basically vaporizers, especially for a person to concentrate the cannabis to one place, and also to have this. Dabbing is definitely potent, but a lot of people like to use them in order to relax.

This is something that takes out the glass pipe, the blow torch, and also the nail, making it just a simple little device that you blow into, in order to heat up the elements, inhale this, and then, put this directly into the lung area. They are definitely much newer than other products, and they still require a bit of maintenance to ensure that it works, but they also are pretty easy to use, and they function quite well.

How they work is similar to basically regular vapes.  Inside these is the atomizer, which is a big chamber that lets you put the badder, the wax, shatter, or whatever concentrate that you want. You can use a battery to heat this, which you charge up. 

Once this gets turned on, you simply inhale to get this.  They’re pretty easy, they just require you to have to put it in there, make sure it’s not overloaded, and then, as long as it’s charged, you turn this on, or just inhale in order to get the cannabinoids that you want to get.

The pros and Cons of this 

Dab pens are usually the alternative to dabbing, and it takes out a ton of the equipment elements of this, which is a huge advantage for those who don’t want to bring all of that with them or are unable to bring a blowtorch and a glass pipe with them.

But they do require you to have upkeep on the regular in order for them to work, and usually, you have to clean them in order to work. However, they offer flexibility and aren't much easier than a dab rig.  Of course, when comparing this to dab rigs, this pen is definitely strong, so you’ll get the same experience, even with the fewer equipment.

They’re also a bit more discreet because you can take vapes practically anywhere, and usually, unless someone can see the contents or you tell them about it, they won't know that you’re dabbing cannabis in the pen.

One thing to keep in mind though, is that it’s strong.  They are usually much stronger than the regular medical cannabis that’s out there and are usually used recreationally by people. However, there are those that’ll use this in order to get the high THC benefits that are in there.

These extracts do have some super high levels of cannabinoids with them, not just THC, but the other parts too. That means, if you’re not experienced with cannabis, or have never used a dab before, you might want to consider using something a little bit easier for you to get the cannabinoids that you want to.

They’re portable, great for consuming concentrated amounts of medical cannabis, and the like, and they usually are easy to use. Once the basics have been found and understood, they are great for offering a very powerful option for your tools, and also are great to use for whatever types of cannabis concentration that’s there, making this better for you.

Cannabis to Relax Muscles

Weed, or marijuana, is basically a natural muscle relaxant, and it does target different areas of the body. However, it works a little bit differently, and it differs from the typical muscle relaxers that the doctor prescribes to you. We’ll go over why that is here. 

Cannabis to Relax Muscles 

Muscle relaxants are something that people get prescribed to ease the tension, helps with cramps and spasms, and also improves the spasticity of the body, so that it doesn't happen as often. It also might help with stiffness and pain within the muscles.  Before we knew that cannabis could work to relax muscles, there were a lot of muscle relaxants that were prescribed by doctors to help with this. 

But this is a bit different, because it can have some possible effects as a result of this, but THC and the like are also natural muscle relaxers too. How does that work? Well, it’s due to THC working to reduce the spasticity of the muscles, and CBD offering the anti-inflammatory results that help with reducing the signals that are a result of these spasms. This is because a lot of times, it can directly help with the body, targeting these receptors within the ECS. 

The cool thing about this, is that you can try out different kinds of ratios for both of these to figure out the right balance. You may find them in a 1:1 ratio, where there are equal amounts, 1:3 where there is more CBD than THC, and sometimes 2:1, since some people may want the THC benefits instead. 

The cool thing about this, is that no matter HOW you take THC, you’re going to be able to get the effects of this.

The best way to take this, is via:

• Smoking 

• Vapes 

• Tinctures 

• Creams 

• Edibles 

The minor Cannabinoids and their part. 

While we talk a lot about THC, and CBD, there are other parts of this that are worth mentioning. One of the best is cannabinol, and cannabigerol, which also works to help with inflammation and pain. CBN is better for sleeping, while CBG is one that’s great for inflammation, and pain of the muscles. The problem with these compounds is that while they both do work, they are much lower in the types of concentration that you’re getting, especially when compared to both CBD and THC in most cases.

Some also might have more CBG and CBN added to them as well, and that can be something that you can also consider. Another thing to consider when you’re figuring out the types of cannabis to consume, there are other compounds, including flavonoids and terpenes, which are great for relaxing the body, and they come with different effects. 

The cool thing for instance, is that terpenes can help with reducing spasticity, and also the antioxidants within this do help with the inflammation of the muscles.

While both of these are great for the relief, the range of this does matter. For instance, if you have dried cannabis flower, you’re getting the full extent of these effects.

On the flip side, an extract of CBD and THC is only going to contain that, and it’ll be missing a variety of the compounds that some people look for when they’re choosing cannabis.

Regardless of what you choose, there are a lot of different ways to improve cannabis, and there are a lot of benefits that cannabis has with relaxing muscles, so if you want to use this to naturally relax the muscles, this is a good way to do so.

Cannabis and Anorexia

Cannabis is something that works for many things, and anorexia is one of them. about 9% of the population of the world have some kind of eating disorder, with the conditions being twice as likely in women versus men. This does cause people to die, but it can also cause self-harm, substance abuse, and mood problems as well. Anorexia is something that comes from a bad view, almost distorted, of your body, to the degrees that those who suffer do avoid eating and will exercise in an excessive manner to help with losing weight. As cannabis starts to get more and more prevalent, some studies have said using this herb to help with this, can it though? 

How marijuana works with Anorexia 

There are some who have used cannabis as a kind of treatment. Some countries have started to legalize this for other problems, including those experiencing cancer treatments to help with eating. With more and more dealing with weight loss as a result of different conditions, including AIDs and whatnot, hunger is another part of this. 

The psychological condition is something which can be impulsive, and it’s important to understand that cannabis can impact the ECS to help with anorexia, which is something that’s fascinated researchers from the moment they’ve started to work with cannabis. The ECS is something that’s worked with this system for years, and it works as the “universal regulator” within the body, and these molecules show up in the bones, brain cells, skin cells, your immune system, and other locations. It’s also a natural appetite regulator, and it’s something that helps with cravings, motivation for eating, food preferences, and also eating patterns. 

This helps us with hunger, motivating us to consume different substances, and this is something that also is seen in some people who use cannabis and then experience the “munchies” which is of course a rabid hunger that comes from THC binding to your CB1 receptors within the endocannabinoid systems. 

This also does impact the way the appetite is driven. There are more and more studies that are ongoing to see if cannabinoids are stimulating agents of your appetite. These compounds can also be a means to “hack” the ECS, but anorexia is much more than just appetite issues, and there are different systems that play a role in this, with more and more people exploring these systems, and how the ECS doe splay a part in this. 

Research is constantly looking at the components of the ECS. While there are two receptors, endocannabinoids, and enzymes that play a role in it, there is also the “expanded ECS” which is comprised of different receptors, with more and more studies exploring the system in terms of eating disorders, and it’s a modulatory part of your brain. 

THC does bind specifically to your CB1 receptors, and it’s something that influences the metabolism and appetite. According to a double-blind placebo study, it was found that those who used it had better metabolic rates, and an increase in ghrelin and insulin, helping to track the symptoms of this. 

It was found from this that dronabinol works the best in the context of the treatment of anorexia, but right now, more research is to be warranted with this. It’s important to note as well that there are a lot of people who do benefit from all of this, and it was discovered that, with the way things were, a lot of them definitely can get the full gamut of benefits from the ECS on your treatment of anorexia, and also the benefits that come along too.