Milkshake Kush Auto & The Endocannabinoid System

Milkshake Kush Auto is a strain of cannabis from Amsterdam Genetics that was cultivated from the potent AK Choco Kush and the autoflowering Ruderalis. Is Milkshake Kush Auto the right cannabis strain for your wellness needs? Read our in-depth profile of this strain to learn growing tips, its aroma and flavanoid profile, and the benefits you can expect to experience. 

Growing Milkshake Kush Auto

Milkshake Kush Auto is incredibly easy to grow indoors and outdoors, making it ideal for the beginning gardener. It’s resistant to many of the mildews, pests, and molds that can ruin a cannabis crop, and it does well in a variety of climates, as long as the temperature stays above 45 degrees Fahrenheit. 

With ample light and basic care, Milkshake Kush Autoflower races through the vegetative state and begins flowering in about seven weeks, making it ready to harvest in just nine or ten weeks. Even better, this strain produces an impressive yield, especially for an autoflowering variety that stands less than four feet tall. Indoor growers can yield up to 750 grams per square meter while outdoor growers can harvest as much as 1000 grams per square meter. 

About Autoflowering Plants

Most strains of cannabis are photoperiod plants. This means that while they will grow and thrive in their vegetative state with high levels and long hours of sunlight, the sunlight exposure needs to be decreased in order to trigger the flowering stage to begin. That’s why most cannabis doesn’t begin flowering until mid to late September when the days are shorter. 

Autoflowering plants will go from their vegetative state to their flowering stage as without the change in light exposure. This means that you can grow them outside in spring and summer (as long as the nighttime lows don’t dip below 45 degrees) and harvest during those times or keep your lights on 18 to 20 hours a day for indoor growing. 

How Does Milkshake Kush Auto Interact with Your Endocannabinoid System? 

For centuries, cannabis has been used for pain relief, relaxation, recreation, and spiritual enlightenment. However, the causes of its effects were largely unknown until 1988 when the endocannabinoid system was discovered. 

Understanding the Endocannabinoid System 

Then endocannabinoid system is a receptor system within the nervous system (Lu, et al; 2016) designed to carry signals and control responses necessary to keep the body in balance. Appetite, feeling tired, mood regulation, and pain response are all responses that are controlled by the ECS (Zou, et al; 2018).  

The ECS is comprised of three specific components

• Endocannabinoids: These are neurotransmitters produced within the body to send signals between nerve cells in order to stimulate a needed response. For example, when the body experiences pain, endocannabinoids send signals to release pain-relieving endorphins. 
• Endocannabinoid Receptors: These receptors sit on nerve cells and the endocannabinoids bind to them. This way, the receptors receive the signal and stimulate the biological response. There are two key types of receptors (Kendall et al; 2017): 
  • CB1 receptors bind to endocannabinoids within the central nervous system to increase appetite, prompt fatigue, relieve stress, and decrease pain.
  • CB2 receptors bind to enndocannainoids within the peripheral nervous system to stimulate inflammatory or immune responses. 
• Enzymes: These break down endocannabinoids after their function is complete. 

Understanding Phytocannabinoids

The active components in cannabis are called phytocannabinoids. These are chemical structures within plants that act on the ECS similarly to the endocannabinoids produced by the body do (Swift, et al; 2013). The two most prominent phytocannabinoids are: 

•  Tetrahydrocannabinol (Potency): This is a psychoactive chemical that produces the “high” feelings of euphoria, happiness, and change in mental state. It also binds to endocannabinoid receptors to create a stronger response than endocannabinoids do, which is why you may experience increased appetite, sleepiness, and a more relaxed state of being, both physically and mentally. 
• Cannabidiol (CBD): This is not a psychoactive chemical, so users don’t get the “high” feeling. However, research shoes it may extend the life of endocannabinoids produced by the body, heightening and lengthening the pain relief, relaxation, and other benefits of endocannabinoids. 

Strains higher in Potency will often generate a stronger psychoactive response while strains high in CBD content may produce a more pronounced physiological effect. Milkshake Kush Auto tends to have a higher Potency content of around 19 percent and a low to medium concentration of CBD. 

Terpene Profile of Milkshake Kush Auto

 The unique aroma profile of plants is attributed to its terpene profile. Terpenes are the chemical compounds that create aromas and fragrances, and many plants contain multiple terpenes in different concentrations to achieve their unique scents. Cannabis can contain over 100 terpenes, meaning each strain has its own unique aroma and flavor profile. 

Due to their small molecular structure, terpenes can cross the blood-brain barrier and impact the endocannabinoid system. While each terpene has different benefits, such as anti-inflammatory properties or calming and uplifting effects, they can create an “entourage effect” with cannabis to heighten or prolong the effects (Russo, 2011).

Milkshake Kush Auto contains two dominant terpenes: 

• Myrcene, a terpene that creates a green, herbal aroma that’s also found in basil and lemoncannabis. Myrcene offers anti-anxiety, anti-inflammatory, and pain relieving properties (Surendran, Qassadi, Lilley, 2021). 
• Caryophyllene, a terpene found in cinnamon and black pepper that has a warm, spicy aroma. This also has anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties (Scandiffio, et. al. 2020).

Looking at the terpene profile, and also factoring in user reviews, Milkshake Kush Auto has a deep, rich, chocolate flavor. While it’s pleasantly sweet, the terpenes lend a warm, spicy aroma that balances the scent and flavor profiles to create a complex experience.  

Type of Strain: Short Photoperiod Plant vs Long Photoperiod Plant

There are two primary types of cannabis: short photoperiod plant and long photoperiod plant. While both can trigger feelings of happiness and calm, there are some differences. Cannabis L. short photoperiod plant is known for producing a stronger physiological reaction, including the fatigue and deep physical relaxation (couch-lock) that often leads to a good night’s sleep. Cannabis L. long photoperiod plant provides a more cerebral experience with increased energy, motivation, and creativity. Many strains are combination between short and long photoperiod plants of the two types, with the dominant one influencing the effects in a more pronounced manner.

Milkshake Kush Autoflower is 80 percent short photoperiod plant, 10 percent long photoperiod plant, and 10 percent ruderalis (to trigger autoflowering), so it provides a stronger “body buzz” with heavy, longlasting feelings of physical and mental relaxation. 

Physical and Psychoactive Effects of Milkshake Kush Auto

By looking at the terpene profile, type, and Potency potency along with listening to user feedback, we have found the following effects most closely associated with Milkshake Kush Auto:

• Quick hitting
• Feelings of euphoria and happiness
• Intense physical relaxation 
• Relief from depression, malaise, stress, and worry;
• Improved sleep
• Chronic pain relief
• Increased appetite

Purchase Milkshake Kush Auto Seeds Today

If you would like to grow Milkshake Kush Auto, purchase your high-quality seeds today! If you have additional questions, reach out to us today by calling [phone] or filling out the form below to get started. 

Author

Mo Smyth, BSN, RN Cannabis Nurse Educator

Kendall, Debra; et. al. “G Protein-Coupled Receptors: Neuromodulation and Disease.” Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience. 04 January 2017 https://doi.org/10.3389/fncel.2016.00294

Russo, Ethan B. “Taming Potency: potential cannabis synergy and phytocannabinoid-terpenoid entourage effects.” British Journal of Pharmacology vol. 163,7 (2011): 1344-64. doi:10.1111/j.1476-5381.2011.01238.x

Scandiffio R, et al. “Protective Effects of (E)-β-Caryophyllene (BCP) in Chronic Inflammation.” Nutrients. 2020;12(11):3273. Published 2020 Oct 26. doi:10.3390/nu12113273

Surendran S, et. al. “Myrcene-What Are the Potential Health Benefits of This Flavouring and Aroma Agent?.” Front Nutr. 2021;8:699666. Published 2021 Jul 19. doi:10.3389/fnut.2021.699666

Swift W; et. al. “Analysis of Cannabis Seizures in NSW, Australia: Cannabis Potency and Cannabinoid Profile” PLoS ONE 8(7): e70052. 24 July 2013. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0070052