CHAPTER 18 ~
CANNABIS AND LONGEVITY
This chapter covers the following sections:
v
A
history of Cannabis and longevity.
v
Hormones
continue to control our lives.
v
Science,
longevity and Cannabis.
v
Cannabis
and memory loss.
v
Cannabis
and end of life care.
Menopause is a phase of life, and is not ‘something
to be cured’, but rather something to be embraced, as the most natural part of
the human body’s life on this earth. It’s a perfectly natural transition
with some unpleasant symptoms, not unlike the menstrual cycle and pregnancy and
child birth itself. However, it only lasts for about twelve months. Then women
are considered post- menopausal. Men also suffer during menopause with the
decline in testosterone, and many men experience exactly the same symptoms as
women do. Depression, insomnia, sexual problems, fatigue, mood swings, memory
loss, weakness, bloating, digestive problems and weight gain are some of the
shared symptoms, and some men even experience night sweats and hot flushes as
well.
The only real difference is that the male menopause
is slower than in women, because men are able to continue producing
testosterone well into their 80’s. Unlike the ovaries, the testes do not run
out of testosterone, whereas with women, the body almost completely slows down
the production of certain hormones like oestrogen and progesterone from around
50 years old.
Conventional treatments involve hormone replacement
therapy. These are oestrogen and progesterone supplements, but sadly, like most
pharmaceutical drugs these also come with serious side-effects, which include
the increased risk of breast cancer and heart disease. [231] (Tavani et al, 2006)
In addition, the risk of dementia, Alzheimer’s,
stroke, blood clots, and gall stones also increase with the use of some of
these supplements. Before prohibition, sisters were using Cannabis for women’s
problems for thousands of years, from menstrual cycles to child birth,
menopause and emotional issues. The quest for natural alternatives to relieve
the symptoms of menopause without these dreaded side-effects is more urgent now
than ever before.
A mythological history of Cannabis and longevity…
From a young age I have often been referred to as “the ganja queen” by people I have helped to access Cannabis
medicine over the years. Please, however, let me introduce you to the true
Cannabis Goddess. Her name is Ma Gu, which literally means Hemp.
In ancient times, more than 5000 years ago, the Chinese, Japanese and Koreans
appointed an Asian guardian for Cannabis, and her name was Ma Gu. She became
known as The Hemp Goddess and The Immortal Hemp Maiden, and today we
continue to respect her as The Goddess of
Cannabis. Most of the mythological stories surrounding this goddess involve
her work with the poorest of the poor, healing the sick and cultivating the
natural world either as a goddess or a priestess.
Legend states that before she was immortalized she had freed thousands
of slaves who had worked for her evil father, and she taught them how to farm
sustainably. Her youth and beauty became symbols of the health and healing of
the entire universe, which she was believed to protect, and to this day, she is
regarded as the guardian of vitality throughout East Asia. We can see
throughout history that it was the Chinese who seemed most keen to preserve her
memory. This is displayed widely in Chinese art where she is famous for healing
with peaches and Cannabis.
She was known to serve tea with Cannabis for longevity, and this is how
she healed the symptoms of menopause, and became the symbolic protector of
women in Chinese mythology. To this day, her birthday is still celebrated on
the 6th day of the 6th lunar month.
Ma Gu was immortalized as a goddess possessing
the elixir of life… the goddess who healed with Cannabis. This is also the
first reference to Cannabis and the Feminine Divine, which embraces the
consciousness of the human companion plant. The Chinese have
always believed that Cannabis can protect us against demonic possession by
increasing the “second sight”, which
is a reference to the pineal gland, our third eye. The burning of hemp seeds
was associated with cleansing rituals, and it was the goddess Ma Gu to whom the
people were praying. This gives us a better idea of the value the Chinese
placed on Cannabis, by aligning it with the goddess of healing. Surely only a
highly valued goddess could be entrusted to care for our companion plant.
There is a very informative article titled Beliefs about Aging and Longevity in Ancient China by Joges Candra Ray [232] (Bennett, 2012), an Indian researcher, who
wrote about the fact that the ancient Soma ritual drink of importance was
Cannabis. I find this interesting, as this work dates back to 1936, which is exactly
the same year in which language specialist Sula Benet, confirmed that Kaneh-bosm, an ingredient in the
biblical Holy Anointing Oil mentioned in the book of Exodus, is Cannabis. Soma is also a plant, and is the name of the intoxicating and holy drink that the ancient people of India and surrounds believed could cure disease, and offer immortality. Cannabis was the active ingredient of this drink. According to ancient Chinese scripts it's all about rejuvenation, and it would be unfair if I fail to mention that in 2009, it was recorded that the world's oldest woman Fulla Nayak, 122 years old from India, smoked Cannabis everyday, and praised our human companion plant for her personal longevity.
We know that Cannabis controls our hormones…
The
ovaries and testes are also part of the endocrine system, and we know that
Cannabis and our EC system play a controlling role in the activities of the
endocrine system. This is how Cannabis is able to offer relief for so many of
the symptoms of menopause because it rectifies hormonal imbalances. With
menopause comes a reduction in Cannabinoid receptors, and this is why Cannabis
is such a powerful healing tool as we age, because the chemicals in the plant
naturally stimulate the production of more endocannabinoids and more
Cannabinoid receptors. Cannabinoid deficiency contributes to some of the
symptoms of menopause, because oestrogen levels are linked to Endocannabinoid
levels, again, because of the controlling role of our EC system on our hormonal
structure. So, yes, most definitely we know that Cannabis can influence women’s
hormones and menopause because the main function of Cannabinoids is to restore
balance, even where there is only a slight imbalance. This is not only true for
women, but also for people of all genders, including trans-gender people. The
truth is that Cannabis not only restores balance to our bodies at cellular
level and stimulates the production of new brain cells but also plays an
important positive role in the ageing process as we approach the end of our
physical lives.
What
about hormones in old age?
The true fountain of youth is and always will be found
in our hormonal system, which we know is controlled by our EC system. Within
our hormonal system we have a number of youth-enhancing hormones to help us
achieve longevity. The Human Growth Hormone (HGH) is produced in the pituitary
gland, and this youth-enhancing hormone keeps our skin smooth and supple; it
increases our bone density while it repairs muscles and tissues. On top of this,
HGH also helps us to get rid of body fat, and it encourages us to exercise with
more ease. This is why you sometimes hear stories of athletes abusing the
synthetic version of the human growth hormone. The best way to manufacture your
own HGH is to sleep well and get a decent amount of exercise.
Try to avoid sugar because insulin tends to
suppress the release of HGH, so it is important to keep a stable blood sugar
level. This is why eating before bed is so bad for us because it causes an
insulin spike, which then blocks our absorption of HGH.
Another youth-enhancing hormone is
DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone) secreted by the adrenal glands, that are attached
to the top of our kidneys. Once
in the blood stream it is converted to DHEAS in the liver by gaining a sulfate
link to the hormone. This is another reason why Cannabis extracted with OV
coconut oil is so effective for seniors because it takes the medicine straight
to the liver where all the action takes place. DHEA is the most abundant sex
hormone in the body because it is the biological precursor to testosterone,
progesterone and oestrogen.
Both men and women need these hormones, especially
in older age, as they both naturally slow down in production. Testosterone
fuels sex drive in women, stabilises the mood and improves women’s ability to
build lean muscle mass, even in old age.
We know
from scientific studies, that women are far more responsive to the relieving effects
of Cannabinoids, when their oestrogen levels are at their highest. This means
that women who are menopausal and post-menopausal will require higher doses of
Cannabis than pre-menopausal women. In my experience, it is exactly the same
for men. This is because ageing brings about a certain reduction of Cannabinoid
receptors and Endocannabinoids, which can only be supplemented with Cannabis.
When the oestrogen levels drop after menopause, men and women have less ability
to respond to stress and to naturally elevate the mood. Through its regulatory role of our hormonal
system, Cannabis helps to regulate our emotional response, and offers relief
for anxiety and depression.
Cannabis
controls our hormonal system, and ensures that the correct hormones are secreted
and absorbed at the correct times in our lives. Everything relevant to women
must also apply to men. Many men are showing symptoms of menopause, and these
are attributed to lower levels of testosterone. [233] (Margolese et al, 2000) Hormones continue to control our lives after the
menopause is over, and we need to continue to maintain our Cannabinoid levels
to support our EC system in order to enjoy the ongoing life-giving benefits
throughout our golden years. [234] (Health,
2019)
Is sex over now?
In some people, with menopause comes lower libido,
and often, due to child birth complications, many women in their thirties and
forties do experience painful intercourse. Unfortunately, pharmaceutical
solutions like oestrogen replacement therapy and even oestrogen vaginal creams
both carry the same risks with regard to breast cancer, and the added risk of
uterine cancer and dementia. Even progesterone creams carry serious risks; most
importantly progesterone is implicated in blood-clotting disorders, in the same
way as the contraceptive pill is. Progesterone creams can contribute to
headaches, blurred vision, fatigue, weight gain, breast tenderness, bloating,
mood swings and irritation to the application area. Again, you can see how the
side-effects of man-made drugs tend to resemble the symptoms they are designed
to alleviate.
Cannabis medicine is the most suitable natural alternative
because it definitely stimulates the sex drive, as well as helping with the
pain, and has certainly been helping women achieve orgasm for thousands of
years. [235] (Lynn et al, 2019)
Cannabis can offer sensual healing for men and women for many years before and
after the menopause has passed.
As a stimulant The
Cannabis Coconut Connection ® has become a popular lubricant for both the
vagina and the penis. All women have Cannabinoid receptors in the lining of the
vagina, and it is the same with the penis. Sex in itself is one of the greatest
pain-killers known. Even though this has always been a taboo topic, it is the
truth. With my own patients I encourage them to use Cannabis and sex for pain
relief, and many people have reported that on average, they are able to go
without their prescription pain-killers when they are sexually active. This
proves that our sex hormones interact with our pain receptors, and Cannabis can
enhance this healing, because it controls the secretion of our sex hormones.
Over the past twenty years I have noticed a lot more couples comprising older
women and younger men together with age-gaps of up to fifteen years, and
increasing in modern times.
The truth is that not all women lose their
sex-drive due to menopause, and the opposite is often the truth. Women who enjoy regular sex need to have a
great sex partner, or else they will easily become dissatisfied, and this also
happens to a lot of men as they age. There is no scientific evidence that human
beings must stop enjoying sex at a certain age, but there are many interesting
studies suggesting the importance of seniors maintaining a healthy sex life
long after menopause. For many people, as they go beyond the age of 50, they
become more conscious of what sex really means to them and the realisation that
it is much more than just penetration. Factors like the whole art of
lovemaking, embracing seduction and sensuality all play a big role, especially
when we realise that romance will always be the key to making a sexual partner
feel special. [236] (Nordqvis, 2013)
Science… Longevity and Cannabis….
Without doubt, Cannabis can offer healing that
contributes to achieving longevity, by rectifying imbalances in the body
because disease and illness are the result of imbalance in the body. Cannabis
can literally reward people with wellness that can last a lifetime. People can
be completely sure that Cannabis will never give them breast cancer or dementia,
or cause any of the other nasty side-effects associated with a lot of
conventional hormone replacement therapies.
The Elders have always known this connection
between Cannabis and longevity, and this connection is something desired by
most people, men and women alike; but only once they get to a certain
age. Mostly today people simply wish to stay young in terms of their
looks and physical appearances.
There’s no doubt that it is possible to preserve
our bodies and minds to live to ripe old ages without health problems; in other
words to pass on naturally of old age with the idea being, to die young at
heart... but as late as is possible.
Cannabis is a much more powerful antioxidant when
compared to Vitamins D, E and C. [237] (Hampson et al, 2000) We all know the role of ‘free radicals’ in the ageing
process. They quickly multiply and become uncontrollable in the absence of
antioxidants to flush them out of the body. Free radicals and oxidative stress
are the number-one cause of cancer development in our bodies. Free radicals
cause inflammation throughout the body, thus intensifying other conditions
commonly connected with the ageing process, such as arthritis. Cannabis is a
most powerful antioxidant, and this is why so many seniors are starting to
realise the abundant health benefits that Cannabis can offer.
Antioxidants can neutralize the unstable molecules
of the free radicals that cause aging, as well as skin cancer, and all kinds of
other degenerative conditions in the body as we grow older. The perfect natural
balance of Omega-6 and Omega-3 fatty acids found in the seeds of the Cannabis
plant was and still is seen as the perfect ingredient for healthy cell production
and good skin health.
This is why hemp was always part of the food chain
before world-wide prohibition in the 1930’s, and this is when we started seeing
an increase in cancers in our societies. [238] (Hampson,
1998) Dr Robert Melamede, former Chairman of the Department of Biology at the University of Colorado Springs,
believes that Cannabinoids can go beyond helping patients with cancer or
Multiple sclerosis and other serious conditions, but can also help slow down
the aging process and play a role in averting and healing most age-related
illnesses.
This is what Dr Melamede has to say:
“You can look at the harm caused
by free radicals as biological friction or biological rust and the EC system
minimizes the impact of that and directly acts as an antioxidant as well as
modifying the biochemistry in a way that minimizes the impacts,” said Melamede
outside court Thursday, likening endocannabinoids to humans like oil is to
cars. He said “if you don’t have lubrication in your car, your car breaks. In
the human body, the damage comes in the form of age-related diseases.”
“I’m saying what science has now
shown is that marijuana {Cannabis} and cannabinoids are effective anti-aging
agents which means that they are effective in minimizing the onset and the
severity of age-related illnesses which include cognitive dysfunction, things
like Alzheimer’s disease, cardiovascular disease, be it heart attacks, strokes,
or clogged arteries,” he said. [239](Newham, 2008)
The Risk of Premature Menopause
Premature menopause affects approximately 1% of
women before entering their 40’s because of genetics, illness or various
medical procedures like surgery. The medical truth is that, unless a woman has
had her ovaries surgically removed before puberty, she will experience the menopause,
but it is also true that not all women will experience menopausal symptoms in
the same way.
Women with fertility problems, for example women
who have tried for over a year or two to become pregnant, sometimes go into
premature menopause. Women who have never been pregnant often go into what is
called ‘early menopause’ between 5
and 10 years before the expected time of the late 40’s. Certain conditions like
lupus, hypothyroidism (inactive thyroid gland) or Grave’s disease can also lead
to early menopause, because the inflammation caused by these conditions can
cause damage to the ovaries.
Certain chemotherapy and radiation treatments can
also bring on premature menopause, so, honestly, Cannabis medicine is a great
option for young women dealing with cancer who still wish to have children. [240]
(Boekhout et al, 2006) It is a
scientific fact that a lot of women suffering from epilepsy will have
experienced more seizures around their period, and, unfortunately, these women
are more likely to have premature ovarian failure, which leads to premature
menopause. [241] (Klein et al, 2001) Scientists
now produce statistics that reveal that 14% of women with epilepsy will
definitely have premature menopause.
Underweight women are at risk, and women with a low
body mass index also often experience early menopause because these women with
low amounts of fat tissue also have less oestrogen in their bodies. [242]
(Szegda et al, 2017) To my mind, this
explains exactly why women put on weight in menopause; it’s the body’s natural
reaction to stay in the cycle, to delay menopause and promote longevity in
humans. Cannabis is a known appetite stimulant with connected control of
our hormonal system, and millions of women are benefiting from the healing effects
of Cannabis in terms of age-related medical conditions. [243] (University of Bonn, 2017)
One the biggest problems that most women experience
are hot-flushes, and the great thing about The
Cannabis Coconut Connection ® is that both plants possess anti-pyretic
properties, which means that this medicine can stimulate body cooling by
inducing perspiration. This is done through the control of Cannabis over our
hormonal system, which allows the medicine to control the hormones of the
hypothalamus, which is the part of the brain where sweating is induced.
This is why you can cool a fever patient down
simply by placing a wet cloth on the back of their neck because this is the
exact location of the hypothalamus. This is the part of the brain responsible
for the coordination of the autonomic nervous system and the release of many
important hormones.
This healing feature of Cannabis medicine can serve
us humans from birth when, as small babies, fever is a common problem, and
later in life there is always fever associated with illness, injury or
infection. Both Cannabis and coconut contain chemicals that control our body-cooling
hormones. The hormones from the hypothalamus send messages to the blood vessels
to dilate and send salts and fluids to the skin surface to start the process of
evaporation. Cannabis is a known
vasodilator, and besides controlling our hormones, can also offer body cooling
through its vasodilation properties. Human beings need a daily dose of
Cannabinoids for many benefits, not only for physical healing from common
ailments, but also for mental and spiritual health and growth.
Depression and menopause
Many menopausal women become depressed and are
prescribed SSRI drugs, which are all Prozac-based, and some women are even
prescribed anti-epileptic drugs with serious side-effects like weight-gain,
gastric stress and sexual dysfunction. Emotional symptoms experienced from the
menopause are caused by hormonal imbalances, and this is why Cannabis is a far
more suitable alternative, because it stimulates the pineal gland to increase
our uptake of Serotonin and Melatonin.
This is possible because of the regulatory role of
Cannabis and our EC system in our hormonal system. This is why Cannabis is able
to strip away layers upon layers of stress, and is a known mood enhancer. It is
no secret that Cannabis makes everyone feel better, and this is the main reason
why we are seeing so many women turning to Cannabis for relief in coping with
the aging process, because Cannabis controls the hormones that affect our mood.
Pain and inflammation
In Chapter Seven we studied the mechanisms by which
Cannabis can offer us pain relief. Cannabis can offer us so much more than pain
relief through its control of how our hormones work throughout our life-cycle. Many
women who experience pain are also experiencing hormonal changes, and we know
that during the menopause oestrogen levels drop, along with progesterone and
testosterone. Our entire hormonal system is linked, so when oestrogen levels
drop, so does the production of the thyroid hormones and the thyroid hormones
control muscle and nerve action.
It is a proven fact that many women who use hormone
replacement therapy or oral contraceptives are more likely to experience spinal
and joint pain. [244] (Brynhildsen et al,
1998) So oestrogen is definitely not a no-risk spring-exuding youth chemical, and
is more likely to add fuel to an already painful flame.
Why does our memory fail us?
One of the greatest scare tactics involving
Cannabis use is loss of memory; so how do we explain this short-term memory
loss in some people? However, not everyone experiences this lapse of memory
when using Cannabis. Numerous scientific studies on this subject have revealed
that it is now accepted by physicians and psychiatrists that the short-term
memory loss is most definitely only short-lived, and will pass within a few
minutes in most people. [245] (Crean et
al, 2012) Just as there are no deaths ever recorded from taking whole
herbal Cannabis, there is no proof of anyone ever permanently losing their
memory from using Cannabis.
The truth is that Cannabis does help us to forget
certain memories, because if you think of the millions of thoughts rushing
through our brains then surely there must some kind of a filter system? I believe
that Cannabis helps us to recycle unwanted thoughts and memories, especially
the bad stuff we don’t even want to remember; for example all the negative
images we have to endure on social media platforms or on the late-night news.
When THC interacts with our GABAergic neurons in the hippocampus region of our
brains, it acts as an inhibitor of the Cannabinoid receptors on these brain
cells that affect our memory.
This Cannabis-induced inhibition of the GABAergic
brain cells can, in some people, lead to changes in memory concerning painful
emotions and memories, which doctors refer to as aversive memories and fear. This
means that bad memories are specifically targeted by Cannabis to be shifted
into our brains recycle bin. You can analyse studies by Jimok Kim and Bradley Alger
in the journal Nature Neuroscience where
these professors confirm that the GABAergic synapses do express Cannabinoid
receptors.
Cannabis- induced inhibition and subsequent reduction
in Endocannabinoid levels are precisely what allows selective modifications of
aversive memories in the hippocampal networks of the brain which controls our
memory centre. [246] (Nature Neuroscience, 2010)
“We
propose that Endocannabinoids facilitate extinction of aversive memories
through their selective inhibitory effects on local inhibitory networks in the
amygdala.” ~ Giovanni Marsiacano
The
memory study by Giovanni Marsiacano and fellow scientists (Marsiacana et al. Nature 2002) investigated the Cannabinoid receptors expressed in the basolateral
amygdala complex, which is a region of the brain that scientists know controls
the elimination of these aversive memories. [247] (Marsicano, 2002)
One of the most common side-effects of pharmaceutical
drugs is memory loss
Certain pharmaceutical drugs are known to cause
memory loss, as well as other intellectual and perception problems. Most of
these drugs start with “anti”; for example, antihistamines, antidepressants,
antibiotics, antipsychotics, anti-hypertensives, anti-epileptics,
anti-cholesterol, anti-inflammatories, antispasmodics; even sleeping tablets
and other sedative-hypnotics available.
The problem is that all these other drugs affect
our basolateral
amygdala complex, and this is what leads to symptoms resembling dementia
like confusion, blurred vision, hallucinations, delirium and indeed memory
loss. Acetylcholine is the main neurotransmitter concerned with memory and
learning function. There is a natural decline in Acetylcholine production that
is normal with old age, and this is why seniors are more at risk of memory
loss.
It is not only prescription drugs that cause memory
loss; a lot of over-the-counter medicines will do the same, because they block
the important neurotransmitter known as Acetylcholine, which is primarily
concerned with our memory. Some names you can relate to are Advil (pain and
insomnia), Benadryl – Diphenhydramine generic (for allergies), Nytol
(insomnia), Sominex (insomnia), Tylenol (pain and insomnia) and even good old
Zantac which we use for acid reflux.
There are many reports of large research studies
proving that seniors who use certain over-the-counter medicines like Benadryl
are at a far greater risk of developing dementia and Alzheimer’s, with memory
loss being noticeable within 60 days. [248] (Sunil Swarmi PhD, 2018) You can
only imagine how, after a life-time of consuming these drugs, their side-effects
slowly eat away at our memory. Sometimes it is simply too late, and the damage
is too great.
This is why we need to teach young people the truth
about Cannabis and longevity from a young age. We must not wait until we are
old and sick before we start to realise the importance of the benefits of
inviting Cannabis into our lives. A life time of taking pharmaceuticals lands
you up with a serious Cannabinoid deficiency, which fundamentally means
wrinkles and old-age diseases. [249] (Alban,
2018)
The eyes don’t have to be
the first to go…
There are studies underway where researchers are
revealing the role of Cannabis in the ageing process particularly eye-ageing.
In Chapter Eleven we learnt that there are more Cannabinoid receptors in our
eye-balls than in the occipital visual cortex of the brain. This is one of the
reasons that I test my own medicine on my own eye-balls, not only for safety,
but mostly for potency and purity. All of these studies reveal that, after just
six weeks of receiving Cannabis, improvements noticed included improved vision,
reduction of retinal inflammation and levels of amyloid beta accumulation and
reduction in retinal macrophage population (macrophages are immune cells that
cause inflammation).
These are interesting studies because they reveal
that Cannabis medicine is proving to help prevent age-related macular
degeneration (AMD), which is the most common cause of blindness in the elderly.
AMD is associated with both amyloid beta accumulation and inflammation, and
numerous studies are verifying that Cannabis continues to benefit both of these
conditions. [250] (Thomas Schwitzer et al,
2006) [251] (United Patients.com, 2017)
Cannabis can even assist us in the end of life
transition…
While Cannabis has already saved millions of lives
in medical miracles over the years, it is also the most effective and safest
medicinal option in palliative care. Patients suffering from symptoms of
incurable conditions benefit immensely in respect of treating nausea, vomiting,
headaches, pain, fatigue, insomnia, lack of appetite, constipation and
diarrhoea, muscle wastage, anxiety, depression and bed-sores. Most of the time
doctors will prescribe a different drug for each of these symptoms, where
Cannabis will take care of all of them as a comprehensive treatment with no
side-effects or organ damage.
With palliative care comes end-of-life care, and
this is where Cannabis serves as an adjuvant medication. This means that it
offers treatment firstly to suppress any secondary tumour formations, and
secondly to boost the immune system from the harsh effects of chemotherapy and
other radiation treatments. Terminally ill patients and people at the end of
their natural lives need care that is designed to make them as comfortable, and
as clear-minded as possible. Today, end-of-life care generally consists of pain
killers and more pain killers, which only make people more nauseous and more
depressed and confused.
On a spiritual level Cannabis can help us to deal
with our questions and fears about death and transcending to the afterlife. It
is the psychoactive effects of THC that can induce feelings of elation and
relaxation in certain people, whereas in others who have heavy hearts it can
bring about feelings of paranoia and fear. Death is never easy, because we
really don’t know much about it, but one thing is for certain, death is always
going to be part of life. This is why it is so important to address our
spiritual health while we live. It is the psychedelic properties of Cannabis
that can help us to achieve such enlightment.
THC can take us to levels of consciousness we are
not able to reach without psychedelics, and it is also true that Cannabis is
not the only plant that can offer end-of-life assistance; for example, many
people use magic mushrooms, mescaline from the San Pedro plant, and even
ayahuasca and iboga, the most psychedelic plant known to man, for this same
purpose of crossing over, as humans have been doing for spiritual rituals for
thousands of years.
Cannabis takes us from one level of consciousness
to a higher level of consciousness and closer to enlightment or spiritual
illumination. I believe that all psychedelic plants were created to bring
humans into closer communion with our creator. This is why we have receptors in
our brains for these substances, proving that ancient plants are the solution
to so many of our modern-day problems. Cannabis takes care of us physically in
terms of the health of our body and brain, but in my work I have had the
opportunity to observe how Cannabis is the plant catalyst to spirituality, and
the very mechanism to attaining all things beyond this physical realm. THC can
teach us to overcome our fear of death while we still live, by enhancing our
visions of death-like experiences, and even our own deaths.
It is difficult to evaluate this type of Cannabis
healing, other than taking the patient’s own reports into account. Most of the
time, patients simply pass on, and their families wonder whether they were in
pain. Most patients and their families and carers report that Cannabis medicine
is very valuable in assisting with the emotional and physical trauma associated
with terminal illness and imminent death. In addition, it is not uncommon for
patients to gain such incredible healing from Cannabis that they are able to be
discharged from hospice and go home and do things for themselves like bathing
and housework. This sense of independence allows them to pass in peace at home.
Many terminal patients have confessed that this is their ultimate dying wish,
and it is the pleasure of our human companion plant to grant this wish.
Looking to the future…
We know that with old age comes the natural
deterioration of cells, tissues, organs, memory and brain function. However, we
also know that in Cannabis we have a plant confidante which can offer us new
brain cells, bodily and hormonal balance, cellular suicide of mutant cells,
metabolic control, as well as pain relief, and can also guarantee us a good
night’s sleep. All of this makes Cannabis the perfect supplement to reverse
age-related body and brain deterioration. We know that Cannabis helps us to
increase our uptake of vitamin D, which is crucial to preventing conditions
like Alzheimer’s and dementia, as well as cancer.
We should realise that our lifestyles might quite
literally be killing us. If you consider how our ancient relatives lived longer
and less stressful lives, then we can agree that for the majority of people,
their actual jobs are the number-one source of stress and illness.
There are even serious studies suggesting that ‘sitting is the new smoking’, and these
studies prove that sitting for too long, meaning up to six hours at a time
continuously, can lead to early death. [252] (Mayo Clinic, 2018)
It’s far deeper than whether we are getting enough
exercise or sunshine. The ageing process is concerned with changes in our
muscle mass and strength, which starts to decline after around thirty years of
age, regardless of how much time we spent in the gym. Muscle weakness is one of
the biggest causes of falls in older people.
As we age, our muscles waste away, and our
metabolism slows down. This combination of realities leads to unhealthy weight-gain,
which, in turn, causes other medical problems. Cannabis can control and
regulate all of these problems, including muscle wastage. This has been proven
over and over in the treatment of cancer and HIV/AIDS patients over the past
thirty years.
Human longevity is strongly associated with healthy
sleep patterns, and we know now how Cannabis makes us sleep better. If you
think about it, there isn’t really a single problem that lack of sleep does not
make worse. The side-effects of missing out on sleep are irritability,
cognitive impairment, decrease in sense of accuracy, memory lapse or in some
cases total loss of memory. Lack of sleep can also lead to decreased
creativity, increased stress levels, headaches, aches and pains, increased
heart rate and high blood pressure. Lack of sleep will take its toll on the
immune system which could easily become suppressed. The well documented
triumphs of Cannabis medicine are the reason why senior citizens are becoming
the fastest growing segment of Cannabis consumers and eventually the secret
will be out that Cannabis truly can offer humans longevity.
We must never regret growing old because truly it
is a privilege denied to so many. There is a fine line between slowing down the
often unpleasantness of growing older, while at the same time enjoying the
wisdom and greater certainty and confidence that often show up around the same
time. The good news is that the menopause lasts for only around twelve months
after your last cycle, and then you are in the ‘post menopause phase’.
Research reveals that in 1998 there were 477
million post-menopausal women in the world (guaranteed to be a gross
underestimation), and, according to these studies, in 2025 this figure will be
1.1 billion…wow that is something…1.1 billion blissfully happy women.
It is known that women do grow more radical with
age, so we should not be surprised that one day an emerging legion of grey-haired
women may quietly take over the Earth and restore the matriarchal system of the
Feminine Divine. This is because, as women grow and mature, they call upon the
stronger forces of sacred feminine wisdom, as they vibrate with the creative
forces of their own stories.
In seeking natural remedies like the Cannabis Coconut Connection® we are
looking to replace our confusion, our embarrassment and all of our collective
symptoms that women have to endure, with a more light-hearted approach to the
most natural part of being alive, where a woman can still retain her dignity,
pride and clarity of mind and soul. [253] (Menopause
Mosaic, 2015)
CITATIONS FOR CHAPTER 18 CANNABIS AND LONGEVITY
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