4 Reasons Cannabis is the Worlds Best Super-Plant
Arguably the most misunderstood plant of the 21st century, cannabis went from being widely used and revered in both traditional medicine and western society, to the demon spawn of satan, out to addle the minds of youth everywhere.
Of course, as you know, or will come to in the near future, the narrative around the cannabis plant is shifting and here are just a few reasons why.
1. IT'S VERSATILE & SUSTAINABLE
Hemp is perhaps the most versatile of all varieties of the cannabis plant. Its flowers contain the compound CBD, its seeds are rich in nutrients and are used to create oil for food, its stalk is used to make anything from textiles to hemp bricks, while the leaf and trim can be used to make topical creams and oils.
And if you didn't know already, hemp is somewhat of an agricultural marvel. It grows fast and in almost any climate, with one of the lowest water consumption ratings of all crops. It is also known to improve soil quality by absorbing heavy metals and other impurities. Plus it is naturally robust making it resistant to most pests.
2. CANNABINOIDS & TERPENES
There are said to be more than 400 unique compounds in the cannabis plant, many of which interact with the various human biological systems. Modern research indicates that these compounds can be used both medically and therapeutically, with cannabinoid therapy emerging as treatment for a variety of illnesses such as epilepsy, Chron's disease and as a counter to the side effects chemo-therapy.
It was the study of the cannabinoid THC that led researchers to discover the human body's endocannabinoid system, which, according to some experts, is one of the most important biological discoveries of our time.
Similarly terpenes, which are the aromatic compounds found in cannabis and other plants, also have a range of therapeutic benefits. They determine not only the overall fragrance of the flower but its effects upon consumption.
3. IT’S AN ADAPTOGEN
The term Adaptogen was first used in the 1940’s as a way of describing the effect that certain medicinal herbs had on restoring the body’s natural state. Well known adaptogenic herbs such as ginseng, ashwagandha, holy basil, medicinal mushrooms and now, cannabis, have an inherent trait of moulding themselves to fit the body's needs. The goal of an adaptogen is always to bring the body back to a state of balance.
Considering chronic stress has been implicated in a number of negative health issues such as an increase in the production of cortisol, speeding up ageing and even changing the physical makeup of your DNA, adaptogenic substances can be useful to achieve balanced health.
4. IT’S A NUTRIENT DENSE FOOD SOURCE
That’s right, cannabis is a food, a vegetable no less, ideal for herbivores, carnivores, even vegans. It is a nutrient dense plant packed with all the usual superfood qualities, most prominently omega-3 fatty acids, and is also a good source of Vitamin E (and other tocopherols), zinc, magnesium, iron, liver enzymes, antioxidants, proteins and fibre. Additionally, if you juice the leaf, you’ll add into your diet a range of raw cannabinoids and terpenes. Woo!
And look, if all that hasn't managed to convince you that we need more accessibility to this super-plant, then you should definitely sign up to The Shift Editorial as we'll be talking more about cannabis (and other neat stuff) in the future.
- Be curious and keep an open mind.