Contraindications for Marijuana Use

Marijuana is called Huo Ma in Traditional Chinese Medicine, which literally translates as “Fire Hemp.” The only part of the marijuana plant used in TCM is the hemp seed, which is used to nourish the blood and lubricate the bowels. TCM views the rest of the marijuana plant has a powerful, and even harsh herb whose hot nature should be softened so as to avoid long term side effects. We do not condone or condemn medical marijuana use. We seek to support personal empowerment and educated choice. The following is a list copied from the Marijuana Syndromes website:

13 Dangerous Conditions for Marijuana Use

Traditional Chinese Medicine believes there are 13 conditions that marijuana is very dangerous for. If you have any of these conditions, don’t even think of taking marijuana.

1) Stroke

If you’ve had a stroke, especially recently, stay away from marijuana. Marijuana’s effects on the small vessels in your brain could lead to serious or fatal consequences. Don’t do it!

2) Pregnancy

Marijuana crosses the placental barrier. That means when mommy gets stoned, baby does, too. The effects of a drug as powerful as marijuana on a very tiny and developing nervous system in a fetus are not something that you want to subject your child’s development to. Be responsible. Don’t do it!

3) Breastfeeding

Marijuana comes through your breast milk when you get stoned. So if you’re getting high, your baby is, too. Your baby will not benefit in any way from getting stoned. If you get high at this time, you run the risk and hold the responsibility for the long-term damage you may do to your child’s growth and development when you introduce marijuana into his or her delicate young system.

Even if none of the items above were true, there’s another more immediate danger in taking marijuana if you’re breastfeeding. Marijuana’s hot and toxic nature can irritate your baby. You don’t want to take marijuana at this time for the same reasons that you wouldn’t want to eat garlic or eat spicy foods. All of these substances travel through your milk and make your baby uncomfortable and colicky. Don’t do it!

4) Menopause

The many discomforts that women face during menopause come from rising heat and diminishing reserves of yin and blood. This is a time when you want to cool everything down and nourish your yin. Even a small amount of marijuana at this time can interact with the processes your body is already in ways that will add to your suffering. Don’t do it!

5) Menstruation

Your body is using its body fluids and components of your blood during this time to flow unwanted material out of your body. This is a time of cleansing and rejuvenation. If you take marijuana during this time, it does at least three things that can interfere with and damage this process:

1) It can influence and alter your hormonal cycle at the point of your greatest vulnerability.

2) It may heat up your blood, which can alter the flow of your menstruation.

3) It can dry and irritate the delicate membranes that are working their hardest to have this process go as smoothly as possible for you.

Be kind to your body at this time. Don’t put a flamethrower on the garden of your fertility.

6) Diabetes

Diabetes is caused by excessive heat in the digestive system that burns up the functions of the pancreas. The heat and poison of marijuana can go straight into the digestive system and overstimulate it. In other words, if you’ve got diabetes, marijuana gives you more of what you’ve already got a problem with. Don’t do it!

7) Hyperthyroidism

Hyperthyroidism is usually caused by a condition of heat in the liver and lung systems. The heat and poison of marijuana can push this heat even further and create more pressure on your already hyperactive thyroid. Don’t do it!

Schizophrenia, including family history of schizophrenia

Marijuana induces schizophrenic brainwave patterns in the people who take it. This can set up a very negative resonance in the brain if you already have schizophrenia or the tendency exists in your family. Don’t do it!

9) Acne or other skin issues

Acne and the vast majority of skin issues come from excessive heat and sometimes poison in the blood. If you already have problems of this type, then the heat and poison of marijuana will go into the level of your blood more quickly that it would in a healthy person. This extra heat and poison, right in the area that you least need it, will not help you and it can easily make your skin problems worse. Don’t do it!

10) Flu, especially with a sore throat

Many viruses have a hot and poisonous nature in the same way that marijuana does. The heat and poison of the virus may synergize with the marijuana in your body and make the whole condition much worse. Don’t do it!

11) Herpes and Shingles

The herpes virus is a very hot and toxic virus. If you take marijuana it can set up a perfect internal environment for the herpes to get a strong hold on you. This can easily lead to a breakout.

If you’ve already had a breakout, taking marijuana is the last thing that you want to do, because it can feed the fire and poison of the herpes. This can be tricky, especially with shingles, because marijuana may help with the pain you’re experiencing from the shingles but actually make the overall condition worse. Don’t do it! Try acupuncture instead.

12) Bad breath

Bad breath is usually caused by excessive heat in the stomach and stomach channels. Marijuana’s main pathway in the body is through the stomach channels. This can aggravate your bad breath in a big way. Don’t do it!

13) Sinus Infections

Also a condition of excessive heat in the stomach and large intestine channels, marijuana can really aggravate the toxic qualities of this type of infection. Be especially careful if you have any yellow, green or red mucous or discharge from your sinuses, as this indicates the presence of large amounts of toxic heat in this area. Don’t do it!

Responsible Use

Using marijuana and abusing it are totally different things. A large part of responsible use means knowing when it might be OK to use marijuana and when it’s clearly not.

If you use marijuana, there are many ways that you can enhance its positive aspects and diminish or eliminate its negative ones. Timing is important among these techniques. The more you can learn about your body, its cycles and the nature of marijuana’s qualities, the more empowered you’ll be to stay on a positive path with it.