Over the course of the last few decades Eastern modalities have entered into western culture. With our further deep dive into the Endocannabinoid system recently and our focus on health and wellness here at Texas Star. We found a want to cover cannabis usage with some of the eastern modalities that we utilize personally. Today we’ll be covering meditation, its benefits, how it interacts with the ECS, and why cannabis consumption pre or post meditation can help enhance the effects of your meditation practice. Since were all about the research and science here. Lets start with a brief overview of the current research on meditation and the ECS. First a brief description of what the ECS is involved in. The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is involved in regulating various physiological processes, including mood, stress response, and pain perception.
- Meditation has been shown to positively influence the ECS by reducing stress and promoting relaxation, which may lead to an overall improvement in well-being.
- Research suggests that the practice of meditation can increase the production of endocannabinoids, such as anandamide, which are known as "bliss molecules" due to their mood-enhancing properties.
- Studies have also found that meditation can reduce the activity of the enzyme FAAH, which breaks down anandamide, leading to increased levels of this endocannabinoid in the body.
- The combination of meditation and the ECS has potential implications for mental health, stress management, and overall wellness.
- Stress Reduction: Both meditation and cannabis have been independently linked to stress reduction. When used together, they may offer synergistic effects, potentially leading to deeper relaxation and decreased stress levels.
- Enhanced Focus: Meditation is known for its ability to improve focus and attention. Some research suggests that certain strains of cannabis, particularly those high in CBD and low in THC, may complement meditation by promoting a calm mental state without impairing cognitive function.
- Pain Management: Both meditation and cannabis have shown promise in managing chronic pain. Combining the two may provide a multi-faceted approach to pain relief, addressing both the physical and psychological aspects of pain perception.
- Mindfulness Enhancement: Cannabis has been reported to enhance sensory experiences, which could potentially deepen the meditative experience by increasing sensory awareness and mindfulness.
- Anxiety and Depression: Preliminary research suggests that the combination of meditation and certain cannabinoids, such as CBD, may have anxiolytic and antidepressant effects. However, more studies are needed to understand the full scope of these effects.
- Sleep Improvement: Both meditation and cannabis have been associated with improved sleep quality. When used together, they may help individuals achieve a more relaxed state conducive to better sleep.
It's important to note that individual responses to meditation and cannabis can vary, and the effects of combining cannabis with meditation may differ depending on factors such as consumption method, terpenes, cannabinoid dosage, and personal physiology. As with any complementary approach, it's advisable to consult with a healthcare professional before combining meditation with cannabis, especially if you have any underlying health conditions or are taking medications.
Now that, the basics are out on the table so to speak. Lets dive into cannabis and contemplation. If you’ve been a consumer for a while, you’ve most likely heard the age old adage of cannabis increases creativity. Now this can be true, but the same is true of laziness and cannabis consumption. So to pair your mediation with cannabis consumption to further improve the effects of meditation. The individual must know what cannabis consumption methods, dosing, and terpenes effect them in what ways. For the mass majority of people meditation is utilized to clear the mind of clutter and focus on on particular thought process. Or is utilized to relax the mind and body prior to doing an activity. These are similar but very different goals.
In example if you’re going for focusing on a particular thought process, I would recommend avoiding terpenes such as linalool; but if you’re going for a relaxation only goal look for terpenes such as linalool. If your plan is to relax the mind and body prior to activity, maybe look for a citrus or carophyllene centered terpene and consumer after your meditation practice. Meditation and cannabis together can help with productivity, sleep patterns, anxiety, depression, general mental clarity. However, you should pair your consumption with your mediation based on the intention and goal of your mediation practice.
The truth of the matter for almost all holistic modalities is…. You as the individual not only need to know your body but your mental state to better asses how the drugs that are cannabinoids and terpenes will help you reach the intention behind your meditative practice. For this reason, we highly recommend you keep a consumption journal with as much information as you can transcribe in it. The last and possibly most important point on integrating cannabis into your meditation practice is. Cannabis Sativa within Ayurvedic and Traditional Chinese medicine has what is known as a dulling effect and should not become a consistent part of your practice due to this. To elaborate cannabis can become a crutch to accessing a state of the mind that is free of the ego. Thus dampening the spirituality aspects of existing in a moment free of the ego. As always consume responsibly and do your own research to reach your own conclusions. We’re simply here to help spark the idea and allow you as the consumer to make more informed decisions behind your health and wellness products and practice journey.
