Maha Shivratri is approaching and this year it will be celebrated on the 4th of March this year. Mahashivratri is celebrated in the honour of Lord Shiva. The day is celebrated with observing a fast and worshipping Lord Bolenath. One of the most important offerings served to lord Shivay is 'Bhang' also called Cannabis made out of Hemp leaves and readd भांग in Hindi. Bhang is a culinary preparation of cannabis originating from the Indian subcontinent using Hemp leaves. This refreshing cooler traditionally distributed by Hindus during the spring festival of Holi and Shivratri. People usually associate Bhang with Holi and a form of offering given to Lord Shiva or Shankar. The intoxicating drink, Bhang is commonly made in India from the leaves and flowers of the female cannabis plant. Also called the 'nectar of the Gods,' Bhang has also been used as natural medicines. Mahashivratri 2019: Easy Bhang Recipes You Can Make This Maha Shivratri to Relish the ‘Nectar of the Gods.’

Here are some of the health benefits of Bhang:

Helps reduce anxiety: Bhang is said to have stress relieving agents that can have positive effects psychologically. It generally causes a sense of heightened mood or "high," which is known to decrease anxiety and increased social interaction as well. However, if you consume too much, on the flipside it also leads to slower reaction times, impaired coordination, and short-term memory.

Pain relieve: Ancient people have been using bhang topically as well as by ingesting to help relieve pain. The anti-inflammatory properties can help relieve pain and tension in the body. The pain-relieving effects can last upto 2 hours.

Beat nausea: Another positive effect of Bhag can be its ability to beat nausea. The giddy, nauseous and pukish feeling can be controlled with bhang upto a certain extent.

Increase appetite: Bhang is known to help increase the appetite in humans, if you consume bhang you will see that you feel hungrier than usual so if you suffer from no appetite, bhang may help you.

Better smoking substitute: Ingesting or smoking Bhang is known to be less harmful to the body as compared to smoking cigarettes. While we cannot say that Bhang is completely healthy but it is better than cigarettes.

Bhang thandai is the best way to consume bhang. Thandai infused with bhang is one of favourite Holi foods in India. However, you must keep in mind that chronic cannabis use can hasten the age-related loss of nerve cells and have other effects on mental health. Consistent use of cannabis can increase in the risk of psychosis by 50 percent as compared to nonusers of cannabis, as per a study.

(This article is written for an informative purpose and should not be substituted for medical advice. Kindly consult your doctor before trying any tips.)

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 01, 2019 05:21 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).