I was sitting, reading a book on "The Gardener's Guide to Better Soil" this morning.
While reading, I came upon the section which was discussing Soil Micronutrients.
While the book focused mainly on the benefits the plants derive from the uptake of these micronutrients, it added how necessary each of these are to the human body.
This got me to thinking about the many patients who are now growing their own marijuana.
While we are learning how best to make our plants grow healthy, we learn how much nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium to apply during the various stages of growth. Some methods of growing such as hydroponics also afford the grower to supplement micronutrients.
For those growing in soil, the levels of micronutrients may not be of much concern as most fertilizers also contain base levels of micronutrients.
You are probably asking, what the hell does this have to do with growing good smoke?
While many patients do indeed smoke their marijuana for the pain relieving effects it offers, what if consuming marijuana could be more of a benefit to the whole body?
The plants retain the minute levels of micronutrients, which if added to one's diet may provide an overall healing effect. The body needs several trace elements in tiny amounts, including boron, chromium, cobalt, copper, iodine, manganese, molybdenum, selenium, and zinc.
The minerals selenium and zinc, and glutathione act as an Antioxidant.
If your marijuana is grown organically and, could become a source of nutrition, wouldn't that increase a patients overall health?
In Michigan, as a patient, I am allowed to grow 12 plants.
If I were to consume my crop in food preparation rather than smoking it, I would obtain the needed pain relieving effects per dose while also receiving a daily supplemental dose of necessary trace elements in tiny amounts.
I am not in any way a medical expert nor, a biologist yet I did some googling and found a bunch of websites that lend validity to this idea.
I'll post the various links below and, hope to stimulate a discussion on the merits of this idea of consuming marijuana as a whole-body approach. Some of the links discuss the use of Soil Micronutrients to increase your yields, while others discuss the benefits and toxicity levels to be avoided if consumed.

So, here are the links I promised. I hope a good discussion will result.

Fertilizer - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Micronutrient - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

List of micronutrients - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Unlock the Potential of Your Soil with a Soil Test - 06/08

http://www.cimmyt.org/bangladesh/Pub...WCSS/Anwar.pdf

Micronutrient Functions - Nutrient Deficiency Symptoms in plants

Long-Term Changes in Soil Micronutrients in Response to Rapid Forest Growth.

Essential Trace Minerals for Your Health

http://www.direct-ms.org/pdf/Nutriti...aging%2006.pdf

What are Trace Elements in Nutrition

NutritionMD.org :: Micronutrients in Health and Disease - Table 3

Hemp Oil Questions and Answers - Natures Perfect Oil - Hemp Products FAQ

http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/about.htm

Simply Hydroponics - What is Hydroponics?

Agri-Environment | Nutrient Management | Soil Fertility Guide | Micronutrients | Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives | Province of Manitoba

The 3LB’s Molasses Manual - A Marijuana Growers Guide To Soil Sweeteners

Coca Cola is it! The ubiquitous extractant for micronutrients in soil. -- p. 1721-1730

Soil Micronutrients Testing Kits: Environmental Education & Outdoor Monitoring - © LaMotte Company

In my writing above, I intentionally left many gaping holes so that discussion could build naturally. One point I would like to bring up is the effect of adding these various Micronutrients without consideration of the effect from over intake which could lead to toxicity in an unsuspecting patient who might consume the entire plant material.
While I began this article hoping to discuss a thoughtful program of obtaining these necessary Micronutrients and adding them to one's diet, the reverse could also be true if the grower isn't aware of the accumulating effects.

Or do the majority of patients not consider consuming the entire plant ?

Personally, I don't have any problem with using the entire plant.

butter, hash, hash oil, etc..etc...etc..

__________________


When the government fears the People, that is Liberty. When the People fear the Government, that is tyranny. ~Thomas Jefferson



The Cannabis Network
.


Get the GreenPassion Headline Animator


Get the GreenPassion ToolBar

That's good yet, understanding the whole complex of chemicals you are ingesting, especially for a chronically ill patient is important and, I believe this aspect might be overlooked.
A patient who knowingly promotes the uptake of these beneficial micronutreints could benefit greatly with enhanced health. A patient who unknowingly consumes a product that has not been carefully monitored for how much of each micronutrient is available in the plant material could ingest a toxic level and see their health decrease.

I am dismayed that on a website intended for chronically-ill patients, this topic is not of interest to more people.

That is a pretty complicated topic to understand though..

My question is, how would you go about measuring the nutrients & macro/micro nutrients that you were consuming, whether it be via smoking, ingesting it orally or applying it topically.

I would think that there would also be a considerable amount of factors for nutrient uptake of the plant itself too (growing conditions, hydro/dirt, experience/skill of gardener, etc).

Then there are things like how much of what nute do you need.

__________________


When the government fears the People, that is Liberty. When the People fear the Government, that is tyranny. ~Thomas Jefferson



The Cannabis Network
.


Get the GreenPassion Headline Animator


Get the GreenPassion ToolBar

Hmm...I imagine you would want to monitor your trace minerals in veggies. Since a person would eat more of those, rather than the meds, and they probably have higher levels. My suspicion leads me to believe that the marijuana plant has the highest concentration of trace minerals in the root system. Once you flush the plant, the last two weeks with just water..any sizable amount of "build-up" would be gone. Just my 2 cents.

I think that it would also be safe to assume that if you had veggies in your own OG garden, they would most likely have considerably higher nutritional value vs. store bought produce too, since most store bought produce is picked way too early. I also think that (most) people that also grow cannabis would also be able to grow "better" veggies since most of us have already invested in 'good' nutes and the 'soil people' would kind of have a `leg up` (IMHO) from extra experience mixing/experimenting different soil mixes.


Would be interesting to find some data on that just to satisfy basic curiosity alone...

__________________


When the government fears the People, that is Liberty. When the People fear the Government, that is tyranny. ~Thomas Jefferson



The Cannabis Network
.


Get the GreenPassion Headline Animator


Get the GreenPassion ToolBar