There is some debate about cannabinoids (which we will refer to as 'hemp' for the purposes of this article) and shilajit – admittedly in the slightly more obscure corners of the internet (think subreddits about supplements and nootropics).
Some think shilajit is superior to CBD. Some think CBD is better as a daily supplement. They hold these opinions based on their own personal experience. Some people have only tried one or the other, and therefore hold somewhat biased views. Some have tried them separately and have decided which works best for them.
And some have tried them together. We'll be amplifying and dissecting these opinions and experiences with some open mind critique.
There are currently no official clinical trials for the concurrent use of cannabinoids with shilajit, but that won't stop us exploring and expanding on the first hand experiences of the good people of the internet. We can rely on the theoretical aspects, as well as the empirical and phenomenological (the experience from the perspective of an individual) knowledge gained by others.
So let's have some fun!
Sure, some of us may have snuck behind the bike sheds to pass a bong around and got the giggles and the munchies, but this is only the psychoactive effects of the most commonly known chemical compound in cannabis, THC. But, the hemp plant has a whole spectrum of different chemical compounds which all have their own set of effects and health benefits.
Different strains of cannabis have different chemical components and different parts of the plant can be used to a serve certain purpose. For example, 'stoners' would only be interested in the female flower that are heavy in THC (of course in most places this is the illegal kind), whereas the whole plant (with a minimal THC %) would be used to make hemp oils, isolates and extracts for topical and cosmetic uses, whereas the hemp leaf and flowers would be used for tea and to make fabrics and materials and almost anything else you could imagine.
So just in case you didn't know, here are the main cannabis chemical compounds:
- Cannabidiol (CBD)
- Cannabigerol (CBG)
- Cannabinol (CBN)
- Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)
Full spectrum hemp has a multitude of practical uses and health benefits. Different chemicals found in hemp are therapeutically beneficial as a food supplement rich in terpenes, amino acids, proteins and acts as an anti-inflammatory, pain reliever, mood stabiliser and muscle relaxant. But not only can you eat it, drink it, smoke it and rub it, you can wear it, weave it, draw on it, read off it, power a car with it, build a bike with it, build a house with it! Its uses are truly limitless, and as times change, the societal attitude towards cannabis has become more lenient, of course with many countries legalising all cannabis products and with great financial success and decriminalising users.
Cannabis has been used for medicinal purposes since the Biblical times and it is only in modern history where it has been outlawed. In the modern day we find ourselves in a situation where the same plant can get you a death sentence in one location whilst being prescribed by doctors to cancer patients in another, which quite suitably sums up the contrast in opinion on cannabinoids.
So let's get stuck in.
5 Reasons Hemp is Better with Shilajit
1. Amplifies the Effects of Terpenes
Shilajit isn’t the only thing that boosts the effects of cannabinoids. Other cannabinoids and terpenes can do that too. As well as finding terpenes in cannabis and hemp, it’s mostly found in plants and is a major constituent of essential oils, shilajit included.
Terpenoids are responsible for the differing smells of different cannabis plants, as well as the fresh scent of a lemon, the sweet smell of chamomile, conifers after the rain or freshly cut grass. They play a vital role in living organisms and have a host of therapeutic and medicinal effects.
"Terpenes have a wide range of medicinal uses among which antiplasmodial activity is notable as its mechanism of action is similar to the popular antimalarial drug in use—chloroquine. Monoterpenes specifically are widely studied for their antiviral property. With growing incidents of cancer and diabetes in modern world, terpenes also have the potential to serve as anticancer and antidiabetic reagents."
There are over 100 different types of terpenes in cannabis plants, and they can have effects ranging from helping you to sleep, to energising you. And everything in between.
Terpenes aren’t responsible for your high, but they do change aspects of it because they can be good for combatting anxiety, inflammation, and depression.
Terpenoids are the reason that two strains with similar levels of cannabinoids can produce different experiences. All of this points towards the ‘entourage effect’, whereby the different chemical compounds in both cannabis work together to optimise the benefits of each other. And what better way to optimise than to combine with a natural lightning rod like fulvic acid, the main active ingredient in shilajit.
2. Shilajit & Hemp Reduce Inflammation
Inflammation is right at the heart of many diseases that affect us. They vary from rheumatoid arthritis, IBS and cancers all the way down to asthma and even brittle nails, and a thinning and retreat of your hairline. All of those are signs of inflammation to one degree or another. Untreated inflammation leads to a worsening of disease state. Some anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen can cause acute kidney damage so shouldn’t be used long term.
Which leaves the question: what should I be using?
This is where shilajit and the cannabinoid family enter the scene.
Hemp has been shown to be an effective anti-inflammatory and is often recommended and prescribed for a huge range of health issues including cancer treatment (now here in the UK), not just for its immunosuppressive effects, and upregulation of appetite (which is essential for people undergoing chemotherapy) but also because it can help with curtailing inflammation of the liver. As previously mentioned, shilajit is a potent anti-inflammatory substance and the two have the potential to work in tandem to become an extremely powerful duo when it comes to reducing and preventing inflammation.
The piles of medical research became to tall to ignore and cannabinoids from CBD to THC are now available on prescription for thousands of people suffering from a host of discomforts and illnesses from inflammation, sleep disorders, pain and discomfort, emotional stress, gastrointestinal problems and even skin conditions.
Why not speak to a doctor and get yourself some medical high grade today? Yes, that's right. Medical hemp is legal in the UK and you can speak to a professional and get yourself a fully legal medical prescription for weed on the links below (not an ad!)
3. Turbo Boost Your Buds
In Ayurvedic terms, Shilajit is a 'Yogavāhī'.
I know exactly what you’re thinking. What on earth does yogavāhī mean and how do I even say that?
We often reference the Ayurvedic philosophies and therapies as this is where the first documented uses of shilajit are found (similarly too cannabis which has also been used in Ayurveda for centuries). In Ayurveda, a yogavāhī is something that accelerates the properties of other substances. They work in harmony to facilitate the purported action of the substance. Kind of like a lightning bolt for delivering nutrients to every last corner of the body. As a yogavāhī, shilajit does just that. Shilajit can bind to many nutrients, micronutrients, and chemicals and drive them into cells much quicker than they would otherwise be able to do so.
Dibenzo Alpha Pyrones which are an important group of metabolites found in great numbers in shilajit are thought to play a role in the synthesis of cannabinoids. They can also deliver cannabinoids directly to their receptors, meaning that there will be an increase in potency of your CBD vape, full spectrum hemp oil, Cali pack or whichever your cannabis derivative of choice is. Many people indicate that using shilajit in tandem with cannabis reduces the amount they use, meaning you get more bang for your bud! This doesn’t mean you have to take them both at the same time. Just taking shilajit once a day (in the morning for example) is thought to have the same effect.
4. Happy Healthy Crops
The two questions that every farmer strives to answer:
How do I stop my plants from getting sick?
How do I increase the yield from my crop?
The short and sweet answer is to improve the immunity of the crop.
But we can break this issue down further. There are two primary factors that contribute toward your plant’s immunity: adequate mineral nutrition, and absorption of minerals.
Both of these needs are met by shilajit. Due to the biochemical makeup of shilajit, all growth factors are provided to plants and correct absorption of nutrients take place when shilajit is used as fertilizer. When it comes to increasing your yield, fulvic acid is the ultimate cannabis fertilizer that you can use to add trace minerals, macro- and micro-minerals, amino and organic acids, and phytochemicals to your feeding schedule from a prehistoric compost.
There are a huge number of vitamins and minerals on this planet, and every living organism – conscious or not – needs 102 to function optimally. Shilajit contains 85 of these so it goes without saying that dissolving shilajit in water and pouring it onto your crop is only going to have a positive effect. 100-200mg of Altai Mountain Shilajit Resin per 1 gallon to be exact.
Using shilajit as a fertiliser for cannabis has been shown to produce a higher yield with a better taste, smell, and shelf life. The cannabis plants you produce will have more vigour – meaning greater height, stronger roots, and bigger leaves. Shilajit also increases the oil and terpene percentages, which as discussed, can give more variety to your cannabis experience.
5. Balance Your Buzz
This is both theoretical and has been ratified by many peoples personal experience (maybe, possibly including my own), so bear with me.
Shilajit can act as a GABA-mimetic in the brain. GABA, (gamma-aminobutyric acid) is an inhibitory transmitter that acts on the central nervous system. It functions to reduce neuronal excitability by inhibiting nerve transmission. So, when there is not enough GABA in circulation, you feel stressed. A stress that is often described as feeling overwhelmed and overstimulated.
There is a word for this. Paranoia.
THC is known to inhibit GABA, which is why some people are prone to anxiety or paranoia after two puffs too many. GABA regulates this by binding to various GABA receptors in the brain. When this binding occurs, it triggers the release of compounds (various peptides and chemokines) that quell the hyperexcitability associated with this state of mind.
In other words, it helps you to chill, bro. Stop freaking out, it's all good, we got you.
One other important factor to consider is that shilajit can also convert glutamate (the neurotransmitter responsible amping you up) into GABA. Think of GABA and glutamate as the yin and yang of your brain. So as shilajit can act as a GABA-type molecule, you'll be far less likely to feel the pangs of paranoia and start thinking everyone in the room is looking at your weird hands or that you've forgotten how to breathe properly.
Optimised GABA levels can support your mood, sleep, focus and help to prevent cognitive disorders such as autism and ADHD. Further to its calming effects via the GABA network, shilajit also increases dopamine. Anxiety and depression are both signs of low dopamine. So the evidence would seem to suggest that adding shilajit to your medication ritual can lead to a stress free, cleaner and more pleasurable high. Nice!
Shilajit and Hemp: Not so High Maintenance
The observant among you will have noticed that the theme here is this: shilajit enhances the positive effects of cannabis while alleviating some of the negative aspects.
And the truth is, that is the case. But it’s hard to get away from the fact that peoples experience with CBD, THC, and cannabis in general is quite subjective. To the extent that I would even argue that empirical knowledge is more important in this discussion, so the lack of specific clinical trials isn’t an issue and offers a chance to discuss opinions and personal experiences.
Again, we all know that the effects can vary based on your previous experience of using hemp or cannabis, the set and setting, and even how you feel when you use it.
Your reasons for using cannabis and its related products will vary too, and there are hundreds of strains out there to meet almost any need.
What I am getting at is that..... you just have to try it for yourself!
I could talk to you more about how shilajit helps to increase ATP, and how dibenzo-alpha-pyrones help cannabinoids cross the blood brain barrier, but ultimately it doesn’t matter.
All that matters here is that you know your ‘why’ for cannabis use, and maybe you feel the pull to go deeper into yourself, or you have a greater need for pain relief, or just simply because you’re the type of person who is restless unless you’re on the periphery of knowledge with an unquenchable thirst for more. Whatever it is, adding shilajit will help to experience it at its fullest. Shilajit in combination with cannabis is as iconic a pairing as Cheech and Chong, Dre & Snoop or Mark and Jez.
You might even say, 'weed be great together'.
I won't advise where's best to buy your weed, but I will point you in the direction of our full stack shilajit product range below and our newest creation, ALTAI MOUNTAIN SHILAJIT HEMP DROPS EXCLUSIVELY HERE!
A groundbreaking therapeutic blend of full spectrum raw hemp oil and pure Siberian shilajit resin in a tincture. The full range of active compounds and terpenes are accentuated by the fulvic acid of shilajit making for a versatile and incredibly potent product.
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