Cannabis

20Nov07

Cannabis
Cannabis sativa or Cannabis indica or Cannabis ruderalis

AKA: Ganja, Hemp, Huo ma ren, Marijuana, Pot

Portrait: Annual. Native to China, Iran, and northern India, but found wild in many warm regions of the world including the central and midwestern regions of the US. Both male and female plants flower from August to October but the female flowers are considered the most medicinally active. Seeds are small and ash-colored to dark green.

Medicinal Element: Flowering tops, seeds

Herbal Properties: Analgesic, anesthetic, antibiotic, antidepressant, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, antitussive

Summary: Frequently regarded as a psychoactive drug, the use of marijuana as a medicinal agent dates back to at least 800 BC where it was used in India to alleviate chest congestion. An herb with low toxicity, no documented overdose deaths have occurred as a result of cannabis intake, a fact that in part makes it an ideal medicine for chronically ill patients. A powerful analgesic, this herb reportedly eases or eliminates pain associated with virtually every illness. An equally potent antispasmodic, cannabis provides relief from muscle spasms and neurologic conditions such as multiple sclorosis, cerebral palsy, and the early stages of Parkinson’s disease. It is said to be an effective treatment for glaucoma, a disease in which the pressure of the fluid inside the eye becomes abnormally high and for some, cannabis acts as an antidepressant and mild sedative. For centuries cannabis has been used to relieve bronchial spasms, arthritis, rheumatism, and migraine. A standard painkiller for menstrual pain and cramps in the 19th century, Queen Victoria chose marijuana as her analgesic of choice for both menstrual discomfort and childbirth. In China an extract of the seeds is used as a well-tolerated laxative for the elderly and incapacitated. In many countries the cultivation, use, and possession of marijuana is illegal.

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