A Woman’s Perspective on a THC-rich Cannabis Experience

This is general and not pertinent to just women, but I wanted to address this potential elephant in the room with regards to THC: many people seem to have concerns about the potential less-than-desirable effects of THC. Things I have heard range from being ‘extremely self-conscious’ to ‘paranoid’ to ‘lethargic’ once the ‘high’ wears off.

While clearly, the effects of THC in Cannabis are a very personal experience and it is clearly not for everyone, there may be ways to work with it that can reframe these effects.

Is being ‘self-conscious’ so wrong, if you are not in the mode of ‘self-criticism?’

While under the influence of THC, I have often felt like I am watching a movie of myself moving through the world. I think it is this sensation that might make some people feel uncomfortable.

In the philosophy of Yoga, Purusha and Prakriti, are the two aspects to all matter and creation:

Purusha is the soul, or pure consciousness. Prakriti is everything created - thoughts, memories, desires, even intelligence. One analogy likens it to the Clockmaker (Purusha) and the clock itself (Prakriti). I have also heard of Purusha referred to as the Witness and Prakriti as the ???

Sometimes in the liminal spaces of heightened awareness of Cannabis, I can touch into that ‘Witness’ role. Something beyond me is witnessing everything I do, say, think, and feel. It is a fine line, between being the ‘Witness’ and slipping into that which emanates from the Witness - Once you start judging the being that is you, you are no longer in the ‘Witness’ role of pure consciousness, or Purusha.

But to be able to dance in that space is something I often attribute to THC influence.

With regard to women specifically, there are a couple of things that come to mind:

Stoner-moms rule!

I have a couple of THC-loving friends who are mothers of young children and they themselves are ‘older’ moms, having had kids in their late 30’s, early 40’s. You might have heard the phrase that parenting is a ‘young person’s sport’ because energy and tolerance are two things that typically wane with age and you need them in spades for the ‘sport’ of parenting small children.

What both of these women have expressed to me is that cannabis has helped them to alter in just the right way that they are drawn into their ‘child-like’ mind which helps them relate to their small children’s sense of wonder and helps them to essentially be more engaged ‘play mates’ with their kids. If this isn’t a great benefit of cannabis, I don’t know what is!

To be. Right. Here.

One aspect of being child-like is being very present and ‘in the moment’ - being immersed in the sensory aspects of one’s moment , and these senses are very heightened with the effects of THC). How this translates for me personally into a spiritual practice is that I realize so many of the things that often occupy my mind throughout the day are menial, or beleaguered by anxious-thinking - or anything but the present: anticipating a future moment or consumed by thoughts of a past moment, when the most important thing is to be. Right. Here.

This is the crux of buddhist philosophy, what we are trained to strive for in meditation, to be present, to sense all, to absorb, to feel, to release.

Maybe not realistic nor even very functional to be constantly in this state of mind but cannabis can provide a reminder and support to the daily practices, can contribute to more presence and peace of mind in the big pictureOnly monks in secluded monasteries can meditate all day long and only people who stay in Never-never land can be stoned 24/7, you Peters Pans you.

Stoner Grandmas rule!

Another perspective, I draw in the example of my 81-year-old mother. She found herself, like many others, dealing with an unsettling amount of anxiety during the last few years from the stresses of dealing with the pandemic and for her, the disturbing path that politics are currently going in the United States. To the point of affecting her sleep, affecting her sense of physical wellness and affecting her state of emotional well-being.

And then she welcomes Cannabis into her world. She started using tincture to help her sleep and then eventually started to use it during the day ‘recreationally’ - i put this in quotes because it felt a alot more like a form of emotional support, rather than to giggle or to be playful. All of it really worked for her; helped her to relieve her anxiety and stay more in the moment, appreciating the little things, taking care of the big things and forgetting about the stupid things.

The side-effects? Because it is still stigmatized by people from her generation and local community, it is something she does privately, in the discretion of her home and not with her friends and is very discreet with most of her family members.

I have encountered many people who find it more enjoyable to do by themselves rather than in social setting or amongst a large crowd. I am someone who enjoys most of the ways cannabis can be used but I do have a personal preference to enjoy cannabis on my own, providing me with a mind space where I can more easily attune to the spiritually-enhancing benefits of it all.

To be or not to be?

As with other plant medicines and the spirits of our alchemist, gin, vodka, whiskey, you name it. . It is important to remind oneself how anything potentially pleasant, or even therapeutic, has a delicate balance which can easily have a polar effect desired and/or imbibe someone to misuse.

Too much imbibing of cannabis can often lead to lethargy, over-eating, or even mood disorders so it is important to use it moderately (again, each individual has their own interpretation of what that line is for them) and constructively, not destructively.

Being a cannabis user for the last 40 years of my life, I have learned to dance that line with grace, occasionally stumbling and maybe fallen a couple time. Only to get up stronger and always realizing the importance of healthy relationships, which is a constant and ever-changing choreography in our time here on mother earth.

Cannabis, Sex and Women’s Roar

There is a plethora of historical and anecdotal data regarding the positive effects that cannabis can have with regard to female sexual senstivity and sexual libido. Though science has yet to catch up in terms of empirical studies that prove a correlation, the word on the street is there is a strong connection between cannabis and the enhanced experience with sexual mood and sensations.

Of the scientific studies, many had to do with interviewing large groups of women cannabis users with regard specifically to the effects cannabis had on their sexuality and the results were fairly overwhelmingly indicative of a strong correlation between enhanced sexual effects and cannabis use. There is also an ongoing body of research regarding the healing aspects of a healthy sexual response - that the chemical response to orgasm can trigger beneficial mechanisms.

THE KEY BENEFITS OF ORGASMS

Improved cardiovascular health

Enhanced sleep cycle, Prolactin and Ocxytocin release

Pain reduction, Endorphins and Corticosteroids release

Improved Immunity, DHEA release

Reduced risk of prostate cancer

Improved mood and emotional health, dopamine and oxytocin release

Enhanced brain stimulation from increased blood flow

Strengthening of the pelvic floor

Yogabis !!!

And as someone who has taught yoga for the last twenty years and have been practicing for over 30 years and as someone who is ‘THC-positive’, I have found being slightly altered often helps me to really ‘be’ in my body in a much more profound way. When I bring that to the Mat, it facilitates a deepening of my practice that I have found to be very beneficial, both as a practitioner and as a teacher. Keep in mind, my personal yoga practice preference is to have a gentle and slow practice while altered, being attentive to my breathing, rather than a fast-paced and rigorous practice that is focused on strengthening and toning. Go surf you sillies.

For many people, Indica-dominant cannabis tends to be more body-centered and Sativa-dominant cannabis tends to be more cerebral so one might bear that in mind when seeking to experiment where sex or yoga is concerned but there are no written-in-stone rules regarding how cannabis effects each individual so it is all about experimenting.

Just as with any relationship, whether it be with a person, or a substance, we must find our comfort zone and nurture the aspects that bring out the best in us and hopefully have fun in the process.

With this mind, I always give Synergy Wellness the big nod, because of their unrivaled variety of hybrid CBD/THC strains, because they use specific varieties for their formulations and because they create a variety of ratios and potencies. I especially appreciate this in a marketplace which seems to favor increasingly stronger-potency THC strains, which in my opinion is way stronger than necessary. Call me old-fashioned but I prefer to get heightened rather than obliterated.

Sources:

• https://www.everydayhealth.com/sexual-health-pictures/orgasms-for-a-better-life-the-surprising-benefits-of-sexual-pleasure.aspx

• https://www.health.com/sex/benefits-of-orgasm

• https://www.avantgynecology.com/2020/06/17/learn-about-the-health-impacts-of-orgasms/

• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6522945/

Getting High on Running

How Exercise Can Help Body and Brain

by Dan Reich

You’ve probably heard of a “runner’s high.” If you run, you’ve hopefully experienced it. Until recently, it was believed to be caused by an increase in endorphins…proteins produced by the human body that can block brain receptors that relay pain or stress signals to the brain. But more recent research indicates that endocannabinoids are actually responsible for the calming, gently euphoric sensation. With spring gathering momentum, the warmer temperatures may be inspiring us to get outside for some running, biking or hiking. You may find that in addition to the more obvious health benefits exercise provides, supporting the ECS and contributing to the balance resulting in all aspects of the body working in concert is a subtle benefit but no less important.

David Linden, Ph.D., a professor of neuroscience at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, has researched the phenomenon of runner’s high and the mechanics of how it works, demonstrating that exercise raises the levels of endocannibanoids in the bloodstream. He also was aware that endorphins are unable to cross the blood-brain barrier to bind with receptors in the brain. Since endocannabinoids have no such issue in reaching the brain, they are able to provide short-term psychoactive effects such as reduced anxiety and feelings of calm.

Dr. Linden is quick to mention other benefits, such as growth of new blood vessels in the brain and even the creation of new brain cells, that can improve brain performance and slow cognitive decline. As he puts it, “Exercise has a dramatic antidepressive effect. It blunts the brain’s response to physical and emotional stress.” He goes on to say, “Voluntary exercise is the single best thing one can do to slow the cognitive decline that accompanies normal aging.”

“Voluntary exercise is the single best thing one can do to slow the cognitive decline that accompanies normal aging”

David Linden, PhD

Professor of Neuroscience,

Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

Another study from Wayne State University has also focused on the “runner’s high” phenomenon and the role of the endocannabinoid system. After observing activities from swimming and weightlifting to more relaxing pursuits, they found that moderate levels of exercise intensity, such as cycling or running, were more effective than lower-intensity exercise, such as walking at slow speeds or low incline – when it comes to raising endocannabinoid levels. It appears that keeping your heart rate elevated – 70% and 80% of age-adjusted maximum heart rate – for at least 30 minutes maximized the benefits.

Another key finding was that acute exercise consistently boosted endocannabinoid levels across studies. The effects were most consistent for a chemical messenger known as anandamide – the so-called “bliss molecule,” named for ananda, the Sanskrit word for “joy.” It was the first endocannabinoid to be isolated, leading to the discovery of the endocannabinoid system.

It turns out that as beneficial as moderately strenuous exercise is for our bodies, there’s growing evidence that it might be equally if not more beneficial for our brains. A cannabinoid’s purpose is to help maintain balance in the brain and body – a process called “homeostasis.” The natural chemical boost from this process leads to exercise’s positive effect on both brain and body.

Many people include cannabis as part of their physical practice, the effects of both THC and CBD help promote focus and energetic stimulus, not only runners but rowers and walkers feel the benefits. Maintaining focus in therapeutic exercise, yoga and meditation can all be enhanced with cannabinoid support.

Do yourself and your endocannabinoid system a favor and take on 30 minutes of running, cycling or brisk walking, in addition to enjoying your favorite cannabis product. They’ll both keep those endocannabinoids flowing.

The Balance of Life

Spring has arrived, the daffodils are out in force while early cherry blossoms have transformed the bare-branched winter trees. The return of the sun at the Vernal Equinox has been celebrated with rituals for fertility, growth and balance for thousands of years . Many of our Easter traditions predate Christianity, most obviously, the Easter Sunday Egg Hunt, where children search in the garden for chocolate eggs left by the Easter Bunny.

Our modern day Easter Egg Hunt derives from the ancient festival of Ostara, the Celtic fertility goddess who took the form of a magical rabbit and her gift of eggs, a tasty symbol of fertility.

The change of the seasons reflects our planetary balance, the coming of Spring represents this with the regeneration of growth after winter.

Every living entity on Earth echoes the intrinsic patterns and cycles of our environment and is subject to the same laws.

We see this in our own physiology, where fertility, growth and balance are central to our best health. We get busy with Spring-cleaning with the desire to rid ourselves of clutter and cobwebs and make a fresh start .

Similarly the traditional fasting associated with both Lent and Ramadan gives our bodies the chance to reset through cleansing and correcting systemic imbalances.

We know that maintaining a healthy balance is what works for our physical and mental health, folkloric aphorisms; “All things in moderation” and “All work and no play make Jack a dull boy” are embedded deep in our cultural consciousness.

In this article my focus is on balance, particularly in reference to diet and supporting our endocannabinoid system (ECS).

Our focus at Synergy is to provide cannabinoids for health and well being and we are acutely aware that supporting the endocannabinoid system (ECS) is essential for best results. Homeostasis is the scientific term for correct balance in a living organism and medical science has revealed that the ECS is the essential balance mechanism.

To maintain the ECS we need a variety of nutrients, one of the more important are essential fatty acids omega 3 and omega 6, which are found to be the basic building blocks for endocannabinoids. These fatty acids are called ‘essential’ because they are not made in the body and must derive from our diet. For thousands of years the human diet had a balanced 1:1 intake of omegas 6 to 3, but the advent of industrialisation and processed foods and oils has drastically altered our intake to 20:1. Processed foods and fried foods are culprits in over-saturating our modern diet with omega 6, while healthier sources of the omega 6 fatty acid are found in eggs, turkey and vegetable oils. Making sure we have enough omega-3 is the contrary concern, sources are wide; oily fish, flax, hemp and chia seeds, meat, eggs and dairy.diet.

Cannabis provides once again, Hemp seed oil contains both omega 6 and 3 in a ratio of 3:1 (omega 6: omega 3) Hemp seed oil has a pleasant nutty flavor and works deliciously in salad dressings and baked goods and smoothies. And perhaps the easier way to ensure a good balance of omegas 6 and 3 is to avoid the excess intake of omega 6 from processed and fried foods. Maybe not so easy , so introducing hemp seed oil to your diet is a sound hedge against nutrient deficiencies.

By taking care to maintain our ECS we create a functioning environment for the cannabinoids to act upon and support our health and immunity. Our ability to bring balance to our bodies is remarkably simple, by eating well, exercising well, and sleeping well, we give ourselves the best chance for our ECS to provide a strong foundation to keep us in optimal health.