The Science Behind Munchies…
I just happened to come across a recently published article on why people get the munchies when smoking pot.
We see this all the time in movies, even if you have not had your own personal experience with the munchies.
You smoke and you cannot stop raiding the refrigerator, pantry, even your roommates’ private stash of chips.
It does not matter if you have just finished a huge dinner, in minutes you are ready to do it again!
So what is happening internally when a person smokes that stimulates this bottomless pit of food desires?
The brain is made up of neurons.
Neurons are excitable cells that process and transmit information through electrical and chemical signals.
Some of these neurons stimulate our appetite and lead us to want to eat. Others signal that we are full and time to stop consuming.
There is a cluster of neurons in the Hypothalamus called the POMC. This is a region of the brain that is typically associated with sexual arousal, alertness, and feeding.
A chemical signal is sent out telling us we are full and to stop eating.
When cannabinoid compounds are introduced to the brain something unexpected happened.
It was assumed that the THC would stimulate the specialized neurons that tell us we are hungry.
Instead the cannabinoid compounds slowed down the POMC neurons that tell us we are full.
The same neurons that tell us we are full are now telling us we are hungry.
As one researcher put it: “It’s a bit like slamming down on the brakes and finding weed has turned it into another gas pedal.” *
There are other factors involved here also. Many parts of the brain get “lit up” with smoking pot.
Our olfactory senses get heightened and dopamine levels are increased (especially with the pleasure of eating everything in sight).
As we move towards legalization of marijuana more studies are being done to understand exactly what goes on especially in our brains.
This study was especially exciting in the area of brain research, as it was not known before that a neuron could switch activity from giving off one signal to giving the totally opposite signal.
Marijuana is such a healing plant and does want our respect as such. She is another gift from our Mother to be used to help us here in these physical bodies.
She helps people in pain whether from cancer or depression to be able to eat who otherwise might have no appetite at all.
Understanding the dopamine connection is also helping us understand the psychological addiction that can form with smoking pot. **
As with any herb whether it is Comfrey Root or Red Raspberry Leaf, or spices like Turmeric the more we understand the relationship between plant and our bodies the better we are able to incorporate these amazing plant gifts into our healing arenas.
Marijuana is just one of those amazing plant gifts for us to use as medicine.
Together Our Hands Are Joined To Heal One Another…
Alexander Gardener
The Lymph Guy
thelymphguy.com
thelymphguy@gmail.com
*Jessica Barson. Rockefeller University, NYC
** Dopamine is part of the brain’s pleasure and reward center. It makes sense with all the difficulties around we would seek an easy and immediate relief from pain to pleasure that an herb such as Marijuana can provide. Unfortunately, as with any “drug,” dependence can form and with it an addiction seeking out that pleasure state more and more often. At some point the body does become dependent on the pot to stimulate dopamine releases.
