The list of things cannabis is good for just keeps on growing.
Modern research implies that the plant is good for those with pain, sleep problems, autoimmune issues, and more! And given cannabis hasn’t even been legal for North Americans to study and enjoy for all that long… this is likely just the tip of the iceberg.
But could there be a larger, overarching trend we’re missing? What if all the good stuff we know about cannabis — all the individual data points — had just one thing in common?
They very well might. Some experts believe cannabis is actually an adaptogenic substance that helps our bodies adapt and overcome whatever life throws our way. All the other things we know and love about cannabis could actually be coming to us via increased adaptation to our environment!
In this article, we’ll be taking a closer look at this interesting concept. We’ll also mention some natural adaptogens that could help you adapt to your ideal life better than ever before.
- What Are Adaptogens?
- Is Cannabis an Adaptogen?
- Cannabis vs. Stress Hormones
- Cannabis for PTS/PTSD
- Cannabis for Sleep
- Other Natural Adaptogens
What Are Adaptogens?
According to one study, adaptogens were initially defined as ‘substances that enhance the “state of non-specific resistance” in stress.’
Though the definition may have broadened a little, we think this version still provides a good snapshot of what adaptogens actually do: they help our bodies resist, or overcome, stress. Because they reduce stress, adaptogens have come to be associated with increased strength, endurance, mental clarity, and more.
Adaptogens have been around for a while…as long as we’ve been, perhaps. Early tribes and cultures likely stumbled upon the adaptogenic effects of various plants through trial and error, eventually coming to form an understanding of what plant was good for what. The Indigenous tribes of Canada prized a plant called roseroot (Rhodiola Rosea) for its adaptogenic qualities; today, modern studies are confirming what these cultures seemed to know all along.
Is Cannabis an Adaptogen?
So, is cannabis an adaptogen? It’s not officially defined as one — yet — but it does meet all the requirements. Many people who use cannabis describe reductions in their stress levels, and this often leads to ‘downstream’ benefits like sharper focus and increased energy.
Botanical experts agree. “Cannabinoids regulate the cannabinoid system, and the cannabinoid system is a master regulating system of [all other] systems,” explains ethnobotanist Chris Kilham to Sensi Magazine. “That implies all the balancing and harmonizing activities of an adaptogen.”
There’s one more quality of adaptogens we haven’t talked about yet: immune system regulation. “If the immune system is overactive — for instance with allergies — adaptogens help re-regulate the immune response, decreasing overactivity,” herbalist David Winston tells Goop.
Any of this sound familiar? If not, feel free to take a look back at our immune system article. This type of immunoregulation is one of the things cannabis does! While cannabis and hemp may not be viewed as adaptogens yet…it’s probably only a matter of time before official consensus catches up to the facts.
Cannabis vs. Stress
Speaking of facts, cannabis and the compounds it contains have been correlated with reduced stress levels since the 1970s.
And one stress hormone, in particular, has been especially troubling: cortisol. Cortisol is produced by our bodies in “fight-or-flight” type situations, making it useful when we’re actually in danger. The problems begin when cortisol decides to stick around when it’s not needed. Chronically high cortisol levels have been tied to everything from weight gain to chronic inflammation. Chronically high cortisol also makes it hard to access the quick bursts of energy that occasionally high cortisol provides. Paradoxical, but true.
But cannabis could help. A 1976 study found THC halved the high cortisol levels associated with hypoglycemia; more recent research has mostly confirmed these findings. And it doesn’t take a trip through the literature to experience cannabis’s de-stressing qualities for yourself.
Other metrics point to cannabis’s ability to reduce stress, too. Below are just a few of them.
Cannabis for PTS / PTSD
PTS is marked by overly engrained fear-based memories. Could cannabis help? Anecdotally speaking, veterans and other groups prone to PTS say that it can. Some studies show that cannabis’s CBD component may actually reduce the formation of these fear-based memories, literally ‘rewiring’ the brain towards positivity. Amazing, right?
What if PTS was a failure to move past, well, the past, and adapt to new situations? If one views the condition that way… suddenly the idea that adaptogens like cannabis could help all starts to make sense.
Cannabis for Sleep
Of all the reported benefits of medical marijuana, its link to deep, restorative sleep is among the best. Users report falling asleep more easily and waking up more refreshed. And though cannabis seems great for sleep, many strains don’t tend to make you drowsy during the daytime.
This is yet another component of cannabis’s ability to reduce stress — one that might build on itself over time. If you have less stress, you’ll sleep better… and if you sleep better, you’ll wake up having even less stress! This type of effect may not be an official characteristic of adaptogens, but perhaps it should be.
Other Natural Adaptogens
Another one of nature’s paradoxes? One of the best ways to stay healthy and stress-free is to intentionally expose yourself to stress every once in a while.
Things like intense exercise, or cold showers are examples of ‘good stress.’ Science calls them hormetic stressors. Depending on how you look at it, magic mushrooms and other psychedelics could be considered a specific type of adaptogen, too. They may trigger just enough momentary stress to broaden one’s consciousness, promote introspection, and reduce stress in the long run.
So… here’s to living life above the rising tide of stress and struggle. If you’re ready to rise above, just know that nature has given us different forms of help. Cannabis and other adaptogenic plants included!