A New Perspective: Considering Cannabis Smoke as a Hormetic Tool
Our immaculate, biological systems have the uncanny ability to not only recover when put through stress, but to also activate defense systems strengthening us against the assailant in the future.
This is evident in how our muscles respond to being torn from exercise by becoming bigger and stronger, with increased ability when recovered. These mechanics are also displayed when our immune system downloads information during a viral infection to create defenses against a future attack. Another example is the autophagy (damaged cell death) that occurs 72 hours into fasting. This adaptive response of cells and organisms to moderate stress is known as hormesis, or hormetic stress. Acute intentional stress therapies implemented to trigger hormesis are gaining popularity. (1)
One example is the heat stress caused by raising the body temperature with sauna. This stress produces heat shock proteins (HSP). These HSP protect against chronic diseases by repairing damaged proteins. The proteins help to destroy corrupted cells promoting cancer prevention. HSP also protect against cellular stress and boosts the immune system.
Dropping the temperature with a cold shower or ice bath is an another beneficial shock to the system. Although there isn’t much research on cryotherapy yet the benefits are popping up in new studies. Benefits like lowered inflammation, increased metabolism, improved circulation boosted immunity, and decreased depression.(2)
The mechanism of hormesis has been used in ancient medicine and is still used today in both alternative and conventional disciplines. Many pharmaceutical drugs and therapies also function by chemical hormesis.
These cues are also expressed in the plant kingdom. If a limb is bruised, without being severed, it grows back a stronger protective tissue to replace the injury. If a limb is severed, two may sprout in its place . Plant stress training is used by cannabis botanists to strengthen plant limbs and increase production.(3)
Studies show cannabis smoke has properties that actively prevent cancer, whereas cigarette smoke only has cancer promoting properties.(4) But what if cannabis smoking, and the holistic smoking that our ancestors practiced is also a form of hormetic stress? Could research be missing benefits of cannabis smoke via hormetic stress? I’m just saying…
Some of the carcinogenic chemicals found in cigarette smoke are also found in cannabis smoke, or any smoke in general. Even still cannabis smokers do not suffer the same ill fate as cigarette smokers. Yes there are carcinogens in smoke, but the chronic health issues associated with smoking are a modern phenomenon.
Indigenous peoples have used smoke inhalation of various plants ritualistically and medicinally for millennia. When Europeans first came upon these people they were considered among the healthiest on the planet. Their holistic modalities were adopted and studied. Because of this smoking was first considered beneficial to health.(5)
The 1880s saw the creation of the modern cigarette press machine and a new hybrid variety of tobacco bred for commercial production with higher nicotine levels.
Between then and the 1950s we saw this rise in smoking associated illness such as lung cancer, emphysema and the like.
Conventional medicine puts everything under a microscope and isolates things for study individually. A chemical can be identified as toxic at first, but as research continues, they may later identify the body’s reaction. The reaction could very well be an adaptive healing mechanism, rendering the so-called toxic element, a medicine. Remember, snake venom is used to create the antidote. A 16th century Swiss chemist and physician named Paracelsus wrote: “All things are poison and nothing is without poison, only the dose permits something not to be poisonous.”
I pose the question as food for thought and research, smoking is definitely not for everyone. There are many factors (environmental and otherwise) that contribute to our ancestors great health, and likewise to the ill health of today.
Now put that in your pipe and smoke it!
Oskii Chevanier is a consultant and educator who works with his clients to offer holistic options for health and wellness. He is the creator of 11 HyHolistic LLC. This entity combines four generations of Jamaican agriculture and holistic medicine with over twenty five years of cannabis experience.
2 6 cold shower benefits to consider | UCLA Health
3 Low Stress vs High Stress Training | Fast Buds
4 Cannabis and tobacco smoke are not equally carcinogenic - PMC
