Cannabis as a miracle cure - from a South African perspective

Cannabis as a miracle cure - from a South African perspective

Cannabis is the Greek word for “hemp,” from which the word “canvas” is derived, after the fibrous nature of the plant. A single species genus of large, coarse annuals found in most moist soils, particularly as weeds of nitrogen-rich soils near human habitation.

It is listed in Victorian gardening manuals as an elegant “spot plant” for summer borders. The Scythians, who lived north of the Black Sea 3,000 years ago, produced intoxicating fumes by throwing cannabis onto hot stones. Cannabis has been cultivated in Asia and the Middle East for over 4,000 years, both as a fiber crop and as a medicine. Therapeutic uses were mentioned in Indian medical texts before the 5th century BCE. described. Today its possession and use is illegal or subject to strict controls in most Western countries as well as Australia and New Zealand, but is legal and socially acceptable in many parts of Asia and the Middle East, where the dried plant or resin is commonly smoked. The various common names for cannabis refer to specific preparations: Haseesh – resin from the female plant, usually smoked in hookahs; bhang – dried plant mixed in water, fruits or sweets; charas – resin smoked or eaten with spices; Ganja – dried tops of the female plant.

Sixteenth-century European herbs include the plant that John Gerard called “Indian dreamer.” Cannabis was listed in the pharmacopoeias of many countries, including the United States, until it was restricted in 1930. It contains more than 60 types of cannabinoids, including delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is largely responsible for the psychoactive effects. Modern research confirms that cannabis is effective for a variety of medical treatments, but its illegal status has suppressed therapeutic use in the West. Cannabis is still widely used in traditional Chinese medicine.

CULTIVATION (WARNING)

The cultivation, harvesting and processing of cannabis plants are subject to legal restrictions in many countries. Approved varieties are grown for their fiber (hemp). Cannabis sativa is a strong-smelling, variable annual plant with long taproots, erect branching stems and palmate leaves. Panicles of small green flowers appear in summer, male and female on separate plants.

Parts used:Whole plant, oil-flowering tips and seeds

Characteristics:Undersp. indica has analgesic, antiemetic, anti-inflammatory and sedative properties; it is also a laxative and antihypertensive.

Medical applications:Internally for nausea and vomiting associated with cancer chemotherapy, to lower eye pressure in glaucoma, to relieve muscle stiffness and tremors in multiple sclerosis, and to help AIDS patients gain weight (subsp. indica). Externally for corns, wounds and varicose veins. Seeds (huo ma ren) used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat constipation caused by weakness or dehydration.

Culinary use:Seeds are an ingredient in whole food cuisine and beers and are used as a spice in Japanese cuisine, particularly in the spice mix shichimi. Seed oil is used for culinary purposes. dried herb is an ingredient in Moroccan sweets (majoun) and is important as a flavoring in Italian (rastafarian) cuisine.

Economic uses:Source of fiber for rope making. Oil pressed from seeds is added to cosmetics.

WARNING THIS HERB IS SUBJECT TO LEGAL RESTRICTIONS IN MANY COUNTRIES