Cannabis and Anti-Aging: What You Need to Know

Ah, to be young again! Or at the very least…to feel and look young again!

Let’s face it: getting older makes a lot of us feel insecure. Which is funny because it’s something that we all have to go through. No exceptions. No passes. Aging is just a part of how life works.

But are there ways to age more gracefully and maintain our health and vitality while doing so? If we can’t control the aging process itself, can we at least utilize natural remedies to slow it down and get the best use out of our skin, joints, and brains?

Cannabis is known for having many different health benefits, but its role as an “anti-aging” treatment isn’t exactly high on the list. And it should be! With the right knowledge and the right products, you can easily incorporate cannabis into your health and wellness regimen in a way that’ll keep you looking and feeling young.

Here’s what you need to know about cannabis and anti-aging!

Cannabis and Skin Health

When we think of aging, the first thing we usually think of is how it affects our face. Next comes the thought of damaged and wrinkled skin.

And while there are lots of beauty products out there that claim to help you reduce wrinkles and rejuvenate skin, let’s take a minute to explore why cannabis should be one of your first options.

The two primary beneficial compounds in the cannabis plant are THC and CBD. You can learn more about them here and here. For the purposes of this post, however, you should know that both THC and CBD are antioxidants.

What are Antioxidants and Free Radicals?

If you aren’t familiar with antioxidants or free radicals, here’s what you need to know:

Antioxidants are molecules that fight the effects of free radicals.
Free radicals are unstable atoms, and at high levels, they can have a damaging effect on your body.
Free radicals aren’t all bad; if you have moderate levels, your body can use them to fight off infections. The truth is, you need a good balance of free radicals and antioxidants in your body in order to stay healthy.
When you have more free radicals than antioxidants in your body, this creates oxidative stress. Oxidative stress can damage important molecules in your body, including your DNA, and can lead to cell death. It can even increase your risk of cancer. Scientists have also noted that the presence of free radicals can play a substantial role in the aging process.
Exposure to air pollution, cigarette smoke, alcohol, toxins, and radiation can all increase your levels of free radicals. However, by consuming healthy amounts of antioxidants, you can combat these negative effects.
We can get antioxidants by eating plenty of vegetables and fruits (especially those rich in vitamin C and E) as well as drinking green tea. We can also get them from cannabis via THC and CBD. One study found that CBD has more potent antioxidant effects that either vitamin C or E!

Cannabis Can Reduce Skin Inflammation

Skin inflammation can be a real problem, and not just because it’s painful and itchy. Inflammation can cause your skin to mature faster, making you look older than you really are.

However, THC and CBD are potent anti-inflammatories (CBD is even effective at treating acne), so making them a part of your natural beauty care arsenal is one of the best things you can do for your skin health.

Cannabis Topicals For Your Skin

Okay, so now you know that both THC and CBD have effective anti-aging benefits. How do you go about consuming them in a way that makes sense for your skin?

In this case, topicals are the best way to go. These are cannabis products that can be applied directly onto your skin using an infused cream, lotion, balm, oil, etc.

Your skin contains tiny receptors that THC and CBD can attach to and work their magic. This also allows you to apply localized treatment to specific areas of your body. And because the cannabinoids are absorbed directly into the skin and don’t enter your bloodstream, you won’t feel intoxicated afterward.

If you want to use cannabis strictly as an anti-aging treatment, we recommend that you don’t smoke it because the carcinogens from the resulting smoke could have a negative impact on your skin. To be on the safe side, use a vaping device, consume edibles, and/or use topicals.

Cannabis, Aging, and Brain Health

As we get older, it’s not uncommon to experience cognitive decline. Memory loss, dementia, and Alzheimer’s are all common illnesses that can affect us as we enter our twilight years.

With all the anti-cannabis propaganda that’s been leveled at us since the 1980s, it might be hard to believe that cannabis could actually help improve brain function. But there are studies that suggest exactly that.

As part of a joint study between the University of Bonn and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, researchers gave low doses of THC to mice of varying ages and tested their memories. The results? The older mice who’d been given THC displayed memory levels that matched younger mice who hadn’t received any THC at all.

Part of the reason for cognitive decline is that the body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS), which is responsible for regulating our memory, begins to function less efficiently. The researchers theorized that giving THC to these mice helped their ECS reach “normal signaling levels.”

The researchers are currently organizing a human study, so we’re waiting to see what the effects will be. But the current research looks promising!

Another uncomfortable truth about aging? Your body is more likely to experience aches and pain — some related to injury and some that feel totally random. Rheumatoid arthritis is particularly common among middle-aged and elderly individuals.

Of course, cannabis can be used to treat pain and inflammation, and arthritis definitely falls under both those categories. Smoking, vaping or eating cannabis can help, but so can any topical that’s directly applied to the joints.

Exercising With Cannabis

Researchers have found that people who exercise throughout their lifetime don’t experience muscle mass or strength loss as they age, and that they maintain the cholesterol levels and, in the case of men, testosterone levels that rival those of younger people.

So if you needed yet another reason to exercise, there ya go! But if you find the idea of exercising daunting, trying using cannabis as a workout supplement. Users report that they enjoy their workouts a lot more and experience less pain and fatigue afterwards. Check out our post “How Marijuana Affects Your Workout” to learn more.

Cannabis Anti-Aging Products That You Need to Try

If you’re looking for great anti-aging topicals, we recommend Nordic Goddess Therapeutic Body Balm or Youth CBD Argan Glow Serum by CBDNA Botanicals. We also invite you to check out our post “5 Best Cannabis Products for Beauty Care.”

For pain relief, see our post entitled “9 Best Cannabis Strains and Edibles For Pain Relief.”

Of course, you can always swing by any of our three locations — Las Vegas Strip, Tropicana West, and Henderson — and one of our dispensary consultants will be able to point you in the right direction.

And if you already know what you want, go ahead and place your order online for either pickup or delivery!