The cannabis industry is booming, and with it come a variety of cannabis-based products. From marijuana cigarettes to THC-infused chocolates, there's something for everyone who wants to experience the benefits of this controversial plant.
Many people choose to consume cannabis through smoking, but this is not the only option. From joints and bongs to high quality bubblers and edibles, retailers like Daily High Club say that each method has its own advantages. Cannabis is often thought of as a recreational drug, but the plant has a long history of use in medicine. In recent years, there has been a resurgence of interest in the therapeutic potential of cannabis, and researchers are beginning to uncover the many benefits of this versatile plant. Although the plant is often vilified, there are many good reasons to consider using it instead of or in addition to conventional medications.
While much remains to be learned about cannabis and its effects, here are some of the most promising potential benefits of cannabis that you might not be aware of.
Decreases Anxiety and Depression Symptoms
The first benefit that you might not be aware of is that cannabis has been shown to decrease levels of anxiety and depression. One study found that those who consumed CBD before public speaking showed decreased levels of social anxiety.
Another study is investigating the link between depression and cannabis, and the results show that people who suffer from depression actually have lowered endocannabinoid levels, and consuming cannabis manages to balance this out.
Eases Pain
The next benefit of cannabis, which is probably the most widely known, is that cannabis is effective at easing pain, specifically chronic pain. This is actually one of the main reasons why cannabis is recommended for medical purposes.
It’s thought that THC provides temporary relief from pain by interacting with the body’s cannabinoid receptors, either by interacting with pain receptors, or blocking the signal, therefore reducing the perception of pain.
Helps with Inflammation
Pain and inflammation are not the same thing, and inflammation typically causes pain. This happens when tissues press against nerve endings due to swelling, which then sends signals to the brain. One of the most common causes of inflammation is arthritis, and marijuana seems effective at providing relief from it.
This is because marijuana has natural anti-inflammatory properties which eases the experience of pain due to arthritis.
Helps with Weight Loss
When many people think of cannabis users, they’re often associated with the idea of eating a lot of food. This is actually pretty accurate, since cannabis is known to give some users “the munchies”. However, research has shown that cannabis users actually have a lower BMI (Body Mass Index) than most people.
The reason this is thought to be the case is because of how cannabis is able to regulate insulin production. Excess insulin production has been linked to weight gain, so if cannabis is able to regulate the production of insulin, weight loss occurs.
Increases Sleep Quality
A benefit that not many people are aware of is the fact that cannabis can actually increase your sleep quality, and research is beginning to show this. Many people around the world suffer from poor sleep quality, specifically 70% of American adults, or 1 in 3 people. Poor sleep quality can be caused by a variety of things, such as a noisy neighbourhood, anxiety, depression, pain, and more.
Since cannabis is effective at reducing the symptoms of depression and anxiety, and works well at reducing pain, those issues aren’t a factor, which results in increased sleep quality.
Increases Appetite
This is probably something that many people are aware of, but cannabis actually increases your appetite, which might not sound like a benefit, unless you are suffering from a condition that causes a loss of appetite.
A few of these conditions include diabetes, an underactive thyroid, asthma, irritable bowel syndrome, chronic kidney or liver disease, and more. Cannabis is thought to increase your appetite by interacting with the CB1 receptors of the brain which are responsible for ingestive behaviours and stimulating appetite.
Seizure Regulation
Another relatively unknown benefit of cannabis is that it is able to regulate seizures, though not all seizures. Only those caused by two rare forms of epilepsy: Dravet syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome.
It’s thought that cannabinoids bind to the CB1 and CB2 receptors in the brain, which are responsible for many things, including glutamate, a neurotransmitter that excites the central nervous system, being released. The cannabinoids then inhibit this neurotransmitter, which then results in less seizures.
