Marijuana meditation is quickly becoming one of many mental wellness practices paving the way towards promoting a new sense of enlightenment.
With a promising new focus surrounding mental well-being and mindfulness spreading throughout the world, it was only a matter of time before users, who weren’t already doing so, began to integrate marijuana into their overall health regimes.
The research surrounding the presumed benefits of medical marijuana is continuously growing, with many arguing for its therapeutic qualities on the body to receive more recognition and substantiation.
Today, we will be discussing how marijuana meditation could serve as practical and effective health promotion, the benefits of meditation, and suggestions for best methods to incorporate the two into practice.
Why Meditation Matters
We live in a time where constant cerebral stimulation is everywhere, be it through our professional work life, social interactions, or the facilitation of an increased dependency on technology via social media platforms, shared drives, streaming services, and the like.
The combination of all these factors can be incredibly mentally taxing.
Even when we’re trying to relax, it can be incredibly easy to become distracted by the glow of a screen or a sudden ping to indicate a new notification that draws us right back in.
Especially now, when a growing majority of our personal and professional lives is conducted primarily online, monitoring screen time and its impacts on mental health are especially paramount.
These various vices, or should we say de-vices, can contribute to an increased accumulation of negative thinking, overthinking, and developing several bad and dependent habits.
Over the course of prolonged exposure and time, we start to develop unhealthy patterns.
This line of thinking becomes cyclical, causing us to feel increased stress and, in some cases, anxiety and depression.
If left unaddressed, these negative mental feelings will begin to present through physical symptoms, as well, causing a decrease in the overall quality of your body and brain health.
In these instances, one of the most effective treatment methods is to attempt to calm your mind through natural methods such as meditation to promote a greater sense of mindfulness and wellness.
Meditation also helps develop necessary coping strategies to resort to should your mind start to feel overwhelmed with these negative emotions again.
With the sudden uptick in popularity surrounding this practice, it’s somewhat unsurprising that cannabis users had the idea to combine the therapeutic mental calm and clarity achieved through meditation with the perceived physical and mental effects of marijuana.
Still, does integrating cannabis into meditation practices serve any real benefit?
The Benefits of Marijuana & Meditation
The researched scientific evidence surrounding the potential benefits of incorporating marijuana into meditation is limited.
However, it is cited that, historically, marijuana was considered traditionally sacred in many regions, including Tibet, having many uses, including in Tantric Buddhism, which was developed in the Himalayas, to “facilitate meditation.”
With this in mind, below, we will outline some of the potential benefits of incorporating cannabis into meditative practices.
Marijuana May Help Ease Anxiety
Depending on the strain in question, some theoretical and anecdotal evidence supports that cannabis may help those suffering from varying anxiety levels.
According to a study in the Journal of Affective Disorders, scientists at Washington State University found that smoking cannabis can reduce self-reported levels of depression, anxiety and stress in the short term.
Of course, it’s vital to mention that the intent of this article is not to encourage or promote self-medication for mental illness. Long-term reduction of these symptoms after prolonged, frequent cannabis use is not as well documented.
Still, for short-term purposes, such as a meditation session, these effects could help calm the mind and promote a heightened feeling of mental and physical wellness.
These sensations can allow one to dedicate more concentration to getting into the right mindset to curb these negative feelings, even temporarily, to provide some relief.
Cannabis Can Reduce Pain
It doesn’t take a professional medical physician to understand that pain inhibits our ability to think.
As such, a heightened awareness of the pain we’re experiencing will understandably make it more difficult to settle into a meditative state.
Cannabis may serve as a helpful aid in allowing users to shift their thoughts away from the pain they’re feeling and allow them more free reign for accepting wandering ideas and promoting cerebral exploration.
Just as it has been used throughout history for its meditative qualities, marijuana was also used as a medicinal substance to treat pain. The growing catalogue of evidence to support this theory is continuously on the rise.
In fact, in some animal studies, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, known less formally as THC, has been shown to possess antinociceptive effects. In simpler terms, antinociceptive means that the THC could perhaps block the detection of a painful or injurious stimulus by sensory neurons in the body.
Additionally, according to evidence published in The British Journal of Psychiatry, cannabis and some of the cannabinoids present in its plant material serve as “effective antiemetics and analgesics,” meaning they can help with nausea and pain.
Best Practices for Combining Marijuana & Meditation
As we’ve covered throughout this article, the intent behind mixing meditation and marijuana is to help relax the body and mind into an ideal state that promotes focus, concentration and sets the stage for a productive and calming session.
However, striking the right balance and determining how to ease into this practice may challenge some users. If this is the case, don’t worry. There are some things you can do to help make this process easier.
Stay Within Your Tolerance Range
Depending on if you’re using CBD or THC strains, cannabis is still a mind-altering substance. As such, users must remain within their tolerance levels to promote the best mixture of marijuana use and meditating.
Even still, micro-dosing seems to be the most beneficial dosing method for incorporating marijuana and meditation together. When taken in lower amounts, cannabis can still interact with the brain to produce its perceived soothing properties throughout the body.
At the same time, users are still conscious enough to conduct a productive practice. Put another way, when it comes to using marijuana while meditating, it’s better to take a less-is-more approach to reap the benefits of both experiences.
Select the Right Strain
Depending on the desired experience of the particular individual, strain selection can be an integral part of driving your specific marijuana and meditation experience.
However, more often than not, it comes down to the unique terpene profile within an individual cannabis strain.
For example, the terpene linalool is known to possess relaxing properties that can help reduce inflammation.
Additionally, some animal research indicates that linalool may help improve learning and restore cognitive and emotional function.
On the other hand, pinene, another terpene commonly found in cannabis, is considered to be what’s known as a bronchodilator, meaning it potentially helps open the lung airways to promote easier and clearer breathing.
The limonene terpene, one of the most prevalent within cannabis, is said to improve various functions within the body, including digestion, enhancing mood, and decreasing anxiety.
Create the Ideal Environment
Meditation is a practice that requires innate focus to reap the most benefits. With this in mind, it is essential to create an environment conducive to achieving these goals.
For optimal results and the most calming experience, it’s better to conduct your marijuana meditation in a setting that is free of any potential external distractions.You could play some soft, soothing music or perform your session outside to hear the calming sounds of nature while you meditate.
Doing so can help you focus on your breathing, allowing wandering thoughts in and out of your mind regarding how you fit into the cyclical function of the natural world.
Focus on how to interpret this sense of self and its relation to the grander scheme of existence. Feel your body become one with the earth, appreciate the moment and the interconnectedness of your inherent self and all other forms of life.
THC or CBD – Which is Better for Meditation?
In itself, meditation is a deeply personal act. It promotes introspection and allows users to become in tune with themselves and their inner thoughts.
Considering this concept, when discussing whether THC or CBD is better suited for ensuring a successful session, it ultimately comes down to the desired effects and needs of the individual.
This logic stems from the fact that every person reacts to cannabis differently.
The cannabinoids, terpenes, and other compounds present in marijuana also interact with the endocannabinoid system present in every individual body in various ways.
CBD does not supply any psychoactive effects and even inhibits some of the adverse effects of THC. In more colloquial terms, CBD will not get you high.
However, it still possesses properties that may help calm the body and help relinquish negative feelings of anxiety.
CBD also shows promise as a holistic treatment for various conditions, with some evidence supporting its ability to treat pain and inflammation.
Whatever your particular needs entail, Hooti Extracts has options available.
All tinctures come with a 1ml dropper for users to receive a precise go any time, anywhere they desire.
Tinctures are smoke-free and are easily dosed by administering a drop or two under the tongue. They can also be easily blended in with any beverage of your choosing so you can medicate with your morning cannabis coffee or evening smoothie.
Hooti Extract THC Tinctures also contain premium THC distillate suspended in top-quality MCT oil with naturally derived fruit flavours.
The CBD Tinctures contain only broad-spectrum CBD extract, premium MCT oil and natural fruit flavouring.
For users looking to experience a blend of both THC and CBD, Hooti Extracts also produces 1:1 Hybrid Tinctures containing the ideal combination of Delta-9 THC distillate, broad-spectrum CBD extract and the same delicious natural fruit flavours.
Marijuana Meditation – Center Yourself with Cannabis
Meditation is becoming a more widely utilized practice to help people channel mindfulness and promote stable, positive mental health.
Whether it is the execution of meditation in its simplest form or incorporating its values and practices into more physical activities, such as yoga, users are more than happy to share their thoughts on how moulding marijuana and meditation into one activity allows them to feel relaxed and centred.
Ultimately, how one wishes to conduct their session relies heavily on the desired effects and outcomes of the individual user. However, that innate personalization could be part of what makes this practice so restful and rejuvenating.
It allows users to get in touch with their inner selves and perform acts that facilitate wellness while catering to their specific needs.
With this in mind, we hope our tips provide some benefit and wish you the best of luck in your mindfulness and wellness journey.
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