Marijuana According to Traditional Chinese Medicine

Is it really a miracle drug & what are the side effects of long-term marijuana use?

Marijuana use is on the increase and it has been recently legalised in some countries, including Thailand where I am now, and it's likely many other countries will likely follow.  

Marijuana has mainly been marketed and promoted for its medicinal and pain-reducing properties however, many people often take it also for its psychoactive and dream-like properties. While short-term marijuana use can be used to support medical conditions, and let's face it, for a bit of fun, it does have negative effects on the systems, especially when used for a long period. 

In this article, we will be going into detail as to what the effects of marijuana use are on the system, according to traditional Chinese medicine. Chinese medicine offers a unique and rather sophisticated way of looking at the natural world, herbs and how these influence the human system, especially in the context of health and wellbeing. 

What separates traditional Chinese medicine from the modern biomedical model is that traditional Chinese medicine acknowledges, recognises and links the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual dimensions of the human being all together into a dynamic play of relationships based on certain principles and natural laws.

Traditional Chinese medicine is especially focused on the relationships of the elements and the interactions of nature, rather than focusing heavily on what something is objectively and in isolation from other parts. It’s this approach to relationships and interactions that offers us a very unique perspective on health and wellness.

The 3 Treasures

According to traditional Chinese medicine, there are 3 golden treasures that are said to govern the health, well-being and longevity of human beings. They are Qi, Shen and Jing. The Qi is housed in the head, the Shen in the heart and the Jing in the kidneys. These locations on the body are often referred to as the “3 Dan Tiens” or the 3 major chakras according to the yogas and they all have physical, emotional, psychological and spiritual effects. The goal of the healing arts (and traditional Chinese medical arts) is to balance these 3 treasures.

When the 3 treasures are balanced and healthy and communicating properly, the human being is not only full of vitality and well-being, but the higher spiritual dimensions, such as wisdom and intuition, also become easily and readily available. 

Pain in Chinese medicine

Physical pain is the number one reason why people seek out medical care. There is an old saying in Chinese medicine that goes, “wherever there is no movement, there is pain and wherever there is movement, there is no pain.” This comes from the view that whenever Qi or blood or body fluids become stagnant in the body, it will eventually produce pain. 

With this view, it actually makes out the treatment of pain to be very simple - remove the stagnation in the area and the pain will disappear.

And, this is what marijuana essentially does. Many drugs do this also, from alcohol to amphetamines and opioids. They essentially get the body to release energy from the Jing storage and it turns into Qi which then floods through our system. This surge of extra Qi blasting through the system removes stagnation (ie. pain) in the body, which is why we often feel slightly numb, tingling, buzzing and relaxed whenever taking marijuana (or substances like opioids or alcohol). 

It is the relief of stagnation that is reducing the pain symptoms. However, it is short-lived because eventually the marijuana or drug will wear off, and stop taking the energy from the Jing storage, which means, the surge of Qi through the system will eventually stop and the pain will gradually return. 

Therefore marijuana as a medicine for pain relief, just like most other drugs, is useful and effective for the short term. When the patient or person continues to take marijuana continuously, it will continue to drain the Jing which means, the person will begin to age more quickly and the internal relationship of the organs will begin to skew and generate other imbalances over time which we explore in greater details in this article. Some of the most common effects are Insomnia, restlessness and changes in the way our body manages food and digestion are greatly affected by long-term use of marijuana. 

Therefore, marijuana (which also includes CBD use which offers the same effects without the psychoactive component) can be considered effective at pain relief in the short term, but for long-term solutions, other approaches like the application of Chinese herbs that clear stagnation from the system without draining the system alongside medical Qi Gong and other medical approaches should also be considered as a more holistic and balanced approach to pain management. 

Marijuana opens the Liver & Wood Element

When the Jing is turned into Qi, the Qi is then expressed and flooded through the liver and solar plexus area of the system. In Chinese medicine, the liver is considered to be the general of the army, which is in charge of the distribution of Qi and blood throughout the body. When the liver receives a flush of Qi it floods through the system helping us to feel good, bussing, relaxed and smooth/flowy and essentially happy and calm.

The other aspects of the liver are connected with vision, creative potential and decision-making. Therefore, Marijuana helps to activate inner visions and creates the potential for our lives and our future, allowing us to see what's possible. This activation can sometimes allow us to see new solutions to current problems we may be having or develop hope and vision and excitement about our future. 

This means we get a flush of good feeling Qi through the body, clearing away pains and stagnations, plus we get a burst of creativity. Musicians, visionaries and artists are often the biggest users of marijuana for this very reason. It helps us to stimulate our creative selves. However, having visions and great ideas is one thing, and fulfilling them is another. 

So, what usually happens is that we get creatively activated, but if we continue to use marijuana, the person lacks the drive-through and focuses on being able to actually complete the very end. Waking up late with heavy eyes and finding it hard to get going and actually do anything during the day is common for high-use marijuana users. 

Wood burns Heart & Fire Element

In the 5 element theory of organ relationships, the wood element nourishes the fire element which means the heart gets “switched on” with marijuana use. The heart is responsible for many functions of the mind, thought and consciousness. Because marijuana tends to stimulate mental functions and can even lead to enhanced focus (or lack of focus) depending on the person.  

This effect is can be psychologically insightful and helpful and transformational for many, however, like any drug, it is also short-lived. The next day any focus-enhancing properties have worn off and then we are back at trying to get ourselves motivated and actualise our visions from the previous day. 

Long-term users and some people due to their current state or genetic make-up can become intensely anxious whenever they use marijuana. It can even lead to paranoia and psychosis in some people. This tends to be due to the heart becoming overstimulated and therefore the mind become highly agitated and wild which can be a terrifying feeling. Usually, people who have this experience repeatedly tend to give up marijuana easily or never really get into it and often say “I just don't like it.”  

Wood Scorches the Stomach & Earth Element

When the Liver and wood element becomes overactive, they tend to disturb the stomach and spleen which are important organs in the digestive function. This effect on the stomach and spleen is what triggers the “munchies” and can open us up to overeating sweets. Constant overactivity of the liver on the stomach and spleen tends to weaken digestion over time and impairs the body's ability to self-regulate blood sugar levels. Putting on weight is often a sign of the stomach spleen organs going out of balance and can often be connected to marijuana use. 

Wood Dries up the Lungs & Metal Element

Over time, the wood element and the heating effect of marijuana will impede and dry up the fluids in the body and in the lungs. This is especially true wherever we smoke anything - it has a very drying effect on the body and the fluids in our system. Over time, the lungs will show signs of heat and dryness, with coughing, dry skin, red skin legions like boils (especially around the upper chest region and the upper back) and even a weakened immune system. 

The dryness in the overall fluids of the body can manifest as dry eyes, dry skin and dry mouth-type symptoms which can also contribute to faster ageing.

Water Taxes Kidneys & Water Element

Because marijuana taxes the Jing of the kidneys, the kidneys become depleted over time. The kidneys are of the water element and are usually linked to willpower, confidence and the ability to complete projects through to the very end. And, because it gets taxed from overuse, the tendency of the excessive marijuana user is to become increasingly flaky and move on quickly to the next idea is potentially a sign of the kidneys becoming depleted. Also, lower back pain, fertility issues, weak legs and weak bones also tend to manifest when kidney and jing energy become depleted. 

Because the kidneys are connected to our overall drive, willpower and overall sexual vitality things like premature ejaculation, low libido and erectile dysfunction (which are on a major increase in our modern society, especially among younger men) are often linked to an imbalance and weakening of the kidneys which could be due to excessive marijuana use. 

Other Issues

Many people claim that using vaporisers or eating them is a healthier way to consume it. While it does reduce the drying effects on the lungs that smoking causes, it still affects the organs in the same way - it taxes the Jing from the kidneys and turns it into Qi for the liver and heart. Therefore, these other methods of consuming marijuana while they do reduce the harmful effect of smoking, are not entirely getting around the issue of taxation on the system.

Many long-term users become dependent on marijuana to help them “chill out” at night and get to sleep. And, if they don't have it at night, they move into a highly anxious and agitated state. This is a clear sign that the balance of the body is out of whack and that underneath the usage, is a growing problem.

Therefore, it's advisable to start replacing the dependency on cannabis use at night to help create the “yin” chill-out effect at night with other supplements or activities that also create the “yin” effect. 

Chinese herbs are very effective at replenishing the kidneys and calming down the liver. Calming the liver helps to “smooth out” our emotions and moods which reduces overall emotional volatility that often comes up whenever stagnation or toxicity is in the system.

Also, and especially in the early stages of removing dependency from any substance, practising Qi Gong for around 1-2 hours a day would also help to replenish the system, plus reduce the stagnating effects of the withdrawal. Or, any exercise for a few hours each day can also help dramatically. 

Spiritual Use of Marijuana

Many people take marijuana because they say they experience a greater depth of perception, vision and spiritual insight. This is again due to the flushing of Qi through the system which produces a buzzing and floating feeling plus a sense of higher vision perception coming from the liver.

While it is true that marijuana does allow us to activate these higher perceptive abilities, it is short-lived and when the drug wears off, so does the buzz and the insight.

It's important to know that this feeling that many people enjoy and one of the main reasons people smoke it daily - the buzzing & flowing feeling - is actually what it feels like when your system is naturally full of Qi that's flowing properly.

This means you can actually feel this buzzing flowing feeling naturally and often without the marijuana because that's a natural state. Anyone who practices Qi Gong or Tai chi on a regular basis knows this feeling. You can also get this blissful and bussing feeling when you go to Shivanasa after an intense yoga class. Therefore, this flowing feeling can actually become a more normal daily state with regular and ongoing training and practice in the arts like QI Gong and Tai Chi and yoga. 

Marijuana and many other drugs are therefore a way to preview the higher functioning states that can give inspiration and insight to the user. The problem becomes when the user doesn't engage in the natural practices to access those states and instead relies on the substance to get there. This is where the drug also becomes toxic because it is actively taxing the system to get there and the person is becoming heavily dependent on the substance to feel those things. 

Therefore, it's important to know that anyone can access these higher states if they are willing to put in the practice and daily training to access them naturally. From my observation and experience, western cultures don’t seem to have a clue as to how to access these higher energetic states naturally which is why I think there is a huge epidemic of alcoholism and mental health problems increasing throughout the west. However, the teachings and practices found within yoga and Taoism appear to be specifically designed for activating these higher energetic states in the human being and therefore, are an ideal place to look into it further.

Conclusion

While marijuana use does offer some benefits in pain management and for some other medical conditions, long-term use, especially recreational use tends to produce harmful and depleting effects on the system. Therefore, according to traditional Chinese medicine, marijuana is not something that can be taken day in and day out without consequence.

If you want to work towards a healthy and balanced body-mind system, then minimal or occasional use (and legal where you live) is ok alongside the use of Chinese herbs and lifestyle practices that will help to replenish the depleting effect on the system and smooth out any stagnation affects it may cause.

If you are using marijuana for its spiritual and creative enhancing type effects, then it would be a good idea to explore yoga or Qi Gong as methods to help you get there without depending on using the substance. 

The energy that is activated easily and quickly from marijuana (and all drugs) must come from somewhere, and therefore, one must be increasingly aware of this dynamic so that they can actively replenish any depleting effects a substance has on their system while also exploring natural methods of getting “high” without becoming dependent on any outside substances like marijuana. 

*This article is not intended to replace advice from your preferred health practitioner