Release the old and embrace the new! Do you ever wonder why it seems easier for others to change? Why are some successful and some not?
Deep down we know we are capable of better health, but we lose hope, give up, and even sabotage our own efforts. Most of us lose our healthy resolutions before January even ends.

Luckily, we can activate our ECS, or endocannabinoid system to help us reframe, and regain our motivation to approach life with more love and compassion. Anandamide, our naturally occurring bliss molecule activates CB1 in the brain, releasing fear patterns of the amygdala, and aversive memories in the hippocampus. It’s not a fail-safe system though, as chronic stress erodes our levels of endocannabinoids and after the holidays we might feel a bit drained.

Supplements of phytocannabinoids from the cannabis plant can help nourish the ECS, granting more peace, strength, and balance. Low doses of THC directly stimulate areas of the brain involved with anxiety, fear processing, motivation, and reason. Cannabinoids activate CB1 receptors in the amygdala which can turn down fight or flight reactions critical to a healthy stress response and resilience. CBD activates 5-HT, helping the body make serotonin to stay calm, lift mood, and achieve better sleep.

Because the ECS fine tunes all 11 other body systems, maintaining its health is a short cut to improving the rest of our body-mind-spirit balance. Supplementing with CBD and other plant medicines is the first step towards wellness, but it’s not the only way to reboot your brain. Here’s some simple tips and tricks to boost your happiness neurotransmitters every day!

Dopamine = Reward and motivation. Imagine one way you can improve your health and take one small step towards that goal daily. Celebrate each small win with a small reward.

Serotonin = Mood and peace of mind. Take a daily nature walk, exercise, and meditate. Feel accomplishment just from making the effort and know you’re building a better you.

Oxytocin = Love and belonging. Play with a dog or a baby, be generous with compliments, and give and accept more hugs. Self-love is the beginning of every healing journey.

Endorphins = Pain killers. Belly laugh out loud with good comedy, exercise, and eat chocolate.

Pairing these happiness hacks with cannabinoids is your best bet towards achieving your goals. Keep a loving mindset, grace for yourself and others, and be aware of your thoughts to stay out of the default mode network. When you don’t have access to cannabinoids – support your ECS with these healthy activities and regain your balance. Life is about the simple things, so stay grounded in hope, peace, faith, and love, and you will unlock your true potential.

One day, modulating the endocannabinoid system will be the 1st step to reclaiming our health. At Holistic Caring & The Green Nurse, we’re already living from that truth. If you’ve struggled with conventional care and haven’t found the health and happiness you seek, book a coaching session with one of our nurses to take a short cut with cannabinoids.

Blessings for a Fabulous 2022 from Team Holistic Caring

Elisabeth Mack, Sherri Tutkus, Tasha Jackson, and The Green Nurses