Research is showing how the cannabis plant is helpful for so many conditions – including depression, anxiety, epilepsy, cancer, schizophrenia, pain, inflammation, addiction, post traumatic stress disorder, autism, and autoimmune disease.
I present to you some paraphrases from an interesting book ‘The rebel’s apothecary’
Hemp seed oil vs CBD oil.
Heep seeds, hemp seed oil, and hemp milk (made from hemp seeds) are all rich in nutrients and fatty acids and are great for adding to food and skincare, but do not contain CBD or THC.
The seeds and stalk of the hemp plant are the arts used for food, fibre, and clothing – the CBD and THC are found in the flower.
THC and CBD may be the stars of the show when it comes to the cannabinoids, but there are hundreds of active compounds (cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids) in the cannabis plant, and all of them work together to make it the healing powerhouse that it is.
FUN FACT:
There are two sexes of cannabis – male and female.
- The larger flowers (or buds) and the resin needed to produce CBD oil and all other forms of cannabis medicine come from the female cannabis plant only.
- The male plants produce the pollen that pollinates females to create new seeds, bud males do not produce flowers themselves.
- The males are useful in the case of industrial hemp fibres (to make clothing, rope, and textiles) but not for medicine.
- Many cannabis growers focus on growing female plants only, and clone female plants in order to be sure their crop is all female.
- If a male pops up, it has to be removed immediately so it doesn’t pollinate the females.
- If pollinated the females will focus most of their energy on producing seeds rather than the coveted buds.
- Therefore the male plants have to be separated and discarded, so the unfertilized females can have the space to bloom to their fullest potential.
Discovering whether your cannabis plant is male or female is called sexing the plant, and it’s easy around 4-6 weeks old.
Males grow pollen sacs, and female plants sprout tiny white hairs called “stigma” and then they will begin to produce large buds with sticky resin.
THE MEDICINE INSIDE THE CANNABIS PLANT
The reason the cannabis buds are so precious is because of the hundreds of active chemical compounds within the cannabis plant that we can use for medicine.
These compounds include cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids, and all of them work together to provide us with the medicinal benefits that are still be discovered on a daily basis.
THC and CBD are both cannabinoids, and are the more prevalent and well-known compounds in the cannabis plant.
THC is famous for its intoxicating effects and it’s also known for having a deep reservoir of healing benefits, such as relief of pain, nausea, mood enhancement, and reducing inflammation.
CBD is quite the fad at the moment in loads of products – it’s THC’s non psychoactive sister molecule, and again the molecules inside the plant is very beneficial, to help soothe pain, anxiety and inflammation.
The whole cannabis plant is getting closer to legalization in many more places around the world.
MEET THE MEDICINAL MUSHROOMS
Medicinal mushrooms have been used for thousands of years as powerful healers to promote well-being and longevity.
These mushrooms can help strengthen your immune system, lower inflammation, prevent disease, sharpen your mind, give you more energy, calm your nervous system, help you sleep better at night and potentially even fight cancer.
Mycology – which means the study of fungi is very fascinating.
Mushrooms aren’t actually plants – they’re fungi and have their own fungi kingdom.
Mycelium is the roots underground that you may only see the mushroom pop out of the ground, the mycelium lives underground. They help clean the soil and decompose toxins and dead trees throughout the forest.
The fruiting body
The fruiting body of the mushroom contains medicinal compounds called beta-glucans, which are naturally occurring polysaccharides.
These are the compounds known for being able to modulate the immune system, they are responsible for many healing properties of the mushroom.
Medicinal mushrooms
- Balance the immune system
- Increasing energy and focus
- Calming the nervous system
- Soothing inflammation
- Providing antioxidants
- Exhibiting neuroprotective properties
- Stabilizing blood sugar
- Fighting cancer
Cooking mushrooms
It’s best to cook mushrooms as they have a tough cell called chitin that our digestive systems can’t break down, and in order to release the nutrients in the mushrooms they must be cooked well.
Types of medicinal mushrooms:
Chaga –
Often referred to as the ‘king’ of medicinal mushrooms.
- Balance the immune system
- Reduce inflammation
- High level of antioxidants
- Soothes digestion
- Stabilizes blood sugar levels
- Soothes skin
- Best overall wellness mushroom
- When extracted through hot water and alcohol it has best antiviral and antitumor properties.
Reishi
This is the ‘queen’ of medicinal mushrooms
It’s nicknamed ‘mushroom of immortality’ because it’s widely known as the most powerful mushroom for longevity.
- Lowers stress
- Improves sleep quality
- Helps with seasonal allergies
- Balances the immune system
- Promote longevity
- Regulates blood sugar levels
- Promotes healthy liver function
- Can inhibit tumor growth
Lion’s Mane
This mushroom got its name by looking like a fuzzy lion’s mane.
This is the mushroom you need when you need thinking power and loads of concentration.
- Improves memory
- Enhances clarity, creativity and focus
- Neuro-protective properties
- Repairing of nerve damage or relief of nerve pain/neuropathy
- Improved cognitive function and brain health
- Improved mood
Cordyceps
Energy – stamina – adrenal support
If you need energy then get cordyceps into your diet, the boost it gives you is amazing.
Ways cordyceps can support you are:
- Enhances energy and reduces fatigue
- Improves endurance, stamina, and athletic performance
- Elevates sex drive
- Helps the body better cope with stress
- Boosts mood
- Provides high levels of antioxidants
Maitake
This mushroom is rich in antioxidants and beta-glucans, that helps support wellness.
- Immune system support
- Helps to balance blood sugar
- Can support weight loss
- Antitumor effects
- Supports healthy cholesterol levels
- Can lower blood pressure
- Anti-inflammatory and high in antioxidants
Shitake
Most commonly found in grocery stores and on menus in restaurants, it’s really the only medicinal mushroom you’ll see in stores and Asian’s know how great these are to bring out the rich umami flavour in savoury dishes.
- Immune system support
- Antiviral properties
- Antitumor properties
- Can lower blood pressure and cholesterol
- Supports healthy skin
- Anti-inflammatory
Turkey Tail
One powerful medicinal mushroom. Highly studied for its antitumor benefits.
When it comes to cancer the Turkey Tail has been shown to help chemotherapy and radiation become more effective for some patients, and is considered to be anti-inflammatory and immune system modulating.
- Immune system support
- Antitumor
- Antiviral
- Anti Inflammatory
- Can help fight infections
- Aids in digestion
- Adjunct to chemotherapy treatment
FOCUS
- When it comes to the brain, both cannabis and medicinal mushrooms have been shown to promote neurogenesis – the process by which new neurons are formed in the brain – and to have neuroprotective effects.
- Research has widely shown that the formation of new neurons (particularly in the brain’s hippocampus contributes to cognitive function, learning and memory.
- The process of neurogenesis becomes increasingly important as we age, to keep us sharp and focused. As it turns out cannabis and mushrooms can play a key role in keeping brain power in tip-top shape.
CANNABIS AND MEDICINAL MUSHROOMS FOR CANCER TREATMENT
This booked grabbed me when I heard a podcast interview about Jenny saying her dad had pancreatic cancer (same as my brother).
Her dad still is battling with cancer but the medicinal factors with these natural components help to keep him healthy during treatment – they SUPPORT him.
I wish more oncologists would open up to having these natural plants and mushrooms help to ease pain while going through treatments or in some cases use these as the treatment.
To help reduce nausea and pain when you are fighting this disease is all that the carers for their loved ones want to see, to see them not in pain!
Jenny’s dad Ray writes a nice piece in this book about his experience.
Of course I would never say what you should do with your journey or your loved ones journey, but this book really helps you to understand more about our natural sources to help us become healthy.
They not only help you stay well, but reduce your chances of becoming sick.
It’s not just for those on a cancer journey – I wanted to get this review out there to help people live a healthier life for longer.
I include medicinal mushrooms in my daily diet and which include cordyceps, lion’s mane, chaga, tulsi, and reishi.
I love the Four Sigmatic brand that is dual extracted with hot water and alcohol, making these mushrooms digestible and highly beneficial for my body. (I am a stockist of this product)
Help your health to the next level! Make medicinal mushrooms your ‘new normal’ and for those wanting more on cannabis availability in Australia check out the relevant legislation in your state.
Good luck with your journey and try out some medicinal mushrooms.
