More than a quarter of Americans are diagnosed with depression, and nearly 10% suffer from anxiety. Delta-8 thc flowers to improve mental health, more than 70 million Americans regularly seek out treatment, but only about half of Americans who need help receive it.
As a floral editor, I know firsthand the powerful effects that fresh, hand-delivered flowers can have on mental health.
The Emotional Power of Flowers
Flowers are fascinating, captivating, and symbolic. Not only do they bring beauty and joy to our homes, offices, and communities, but they carry an emotive message.
As a society, we tend to fall into two categories: celebrators and skeptics. We celebrate the big things like birthdays and holidays. But we don’t celebrate the little things like good health or good money.
A recent study confirmed that when people receive flowers or a gift from a loved one, they experience positive emotions like joy and tenderness, but also positive feelings that are associated with mental health, including gratitude, contentment, and happiness.
Flowers Are Medicine
While flowers may be used as a nice way to bring a smile to someone’s face, for those with mental health challenges, they can be life-changing.
Researchers believe that the chemical makeup of flowers, like the anandamide in flowers, called “the bliss molecule,” can offer hope for treating depression and anxiety.
Citation: The chemical properties of anandamide and other endocannabinoids in cannabis flowers play a role in the anxiolytic properties of cannabis.
First, let me explain what “anandamide” is. It’s an endocannabinoid, a chemical compound produced in your brain that is similar to THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), another chemical found in marijuana. The endocannabinoid system is responsible for so many biological functions, including appetite, pain, mood, memory, and sleep.
When someone is anxious or depressed, they often produce less endocannabinoid or feel that their endocannabinoid system is less balanced. However, when the patient takes CBD, the chemical that produces the same effects as marijuana, they receive an anandamide rush that rebalances their endocannabinoid system.
Citation: CBD significantly enhanced anandamide levels in rat hippocampus.
Citation: CBD upregulates endocannabinoid levels in rat hippocampus.
Citation: CBD treatment increases BDNF levels in the rat hippocampus.
Citation: Pre-treatment with CBD enhances the antinociceptive effect of morphine in the hot plate test in mice.
Citation: CBD enhances the analgesic effect of morphine in the tail-flick test in mice.
Citation: CBD treatment in the mouse tail-flick test increased the percentage of mice that responded to the foot-shock.