OUTDOORS
MINDFULNESS IN THE GREAT OUTDOORS: HARNESS THE POWER OF MEDITATION WITH NATURE & CANNABIS
THE USUAL
BY BEN OWENS One of the fastest-growing trends since 2012, mindfulness has more than tripled in popularity in recent years as populations move towards a heightened sense of personal awareness.1 This mindful state primarily relies on the practice of meditation, a regular examination of one’s self, as a way of working through the ups and downs of our daily lives.2 Regular meditation has been shown to offer a variety of benefits, such as helping to ease pain and anxiety.1,3 Cannabis and nature have also been known to offer a variety of similar benefits. This article will explore how the benefits of meditation can be influenced and enhanced with the incorporation of cannabis and nature. Since 1970, meditation has been shown to induce what is known as the “relaxation response.”4 This involuntary response causes a reduction in the sympathetic nervous system. Additionally, meditation has been shown to offer a variety of shortterm benefits including helping to lower blood pressure and improve circulation, lower heart rate, reduce anxiety, improve feelings of well-being, and even help reduce pain.1,3,4,5,6,7 Conventional pain-modulation treatments involve the prescription of powerful painkillers, particularly opioids, that are used to engage opioid receptors in the brain. These medications often carry serious risks, especially for chronic users, who are at an increased risk of abuse, addiction, and overdoses. Studies show that alternative pain relief therapies can offer similar benefits without the risks.3,5,6,7 Meditation is one such alternative therapy. The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health released a study that found that patients who meditated during placebo administration had “significantly lower pain intensity and unpleasantness ratings compared to those who did not meditate.”3 The findings further suggest that meditation induces pain mitigation independent of opioid neurotransmitters, suggesting that meditation can also be used synergistically with conventional opioid treatments.
The natural world forces us to acknowledge the elements of the world. At its core, the goal of meditation is to be more aware of both our own being as well as its interaction with the world around us. As we reach a greater state of personal awareness, our awareness projects outwards, tuning to the sounds, smells, sights, and sensations inside and around us. Many find it easier to achieve this heightened state when in nature as it is both free of materialistic controls and distractions as well as being an innate reminder of the present moment and all that characterizes it.8,9 How can cannabis help with meditation? Cannabis has been used in meditation and mindfulness practices dating back to early Buddhism.11 Cannabis was used to help facilitate meditation in the Himalayas, and early archeological evidence suggests that Central Asian invaders brought with them traditions of using cannabis vapors for ritualistic and euphoric purposes.11 According to Ed Rosenthal, some consumers are seeking out strains that are high in CBN, often as a result of extended curing periods, as they tend to offer a more introspective effect, great for meditating and inner vision.12 If you’ve never tried meditation, it may be helpful to keep it simple. Set a timer for 10-15 minutes and spend that time focused on one particular aspect, such as breathing. Try spending that time outdoors and in nature if possible. Titrating your particular meditation routine may take some time, trial and error, but doing so can provide a multitude of benefits to help improve pain relief and enhance your quality of life. 47
