Organic medicines, like cannabis, are making a comeback after years of prohibition. But, the real truth is that cannabis has been utilised as a healing plant for millennia.
For thousands of years, diverse cultures recognised the medicinal virtues of the cannabis plant, using it to treat a wide variety of medical conditions. Yet today, leftover stigma from years of prohibition and misinformation shroud this botanical remedy.
This powerful plant has been part of humanity’s quest for health since ancient times. And now in modern times, as cannabis re-emerges as medicine, we can build on the wisdom of past generations to guide our path forward. By examining cannabis’ extensive history as a medicine, we can start to better understand its immense potential.
Ancient Greece and Medical Cannabis
In Ancient Greece, cannabis was referenced as a remedy in historical texts by authors such as Dioscorides and Galen. It was recommended for treating inflammation, nosebleeds, and earache, and was used as an ingredient in bandages and suppositories. The Greeks mostly utilized the seeds and roots of cannabis plants for healing purposes and referred to the herb as “kannabis”.
Ancient Greek physicians developed precise guidelines for preparing and administering medical cannabis that formed an early foundation for the medical use of the herb. Evidence also suggests cannabis also had a role in spiritual rituals in Greek culture.
Ancient China's Long Tradition with Therapeutic Cannabis
Cannabis was integral to traditional Chinese medicine for thousands of years, with references dating back as far as 2700 BC. The Chinese term for cannabis was “ma”. Chinese medical texts prescribed ma for various conditions like rheumatic pain, intestinal constipation, disorders of the female reproductive system, malaria, and others.
During the 2nd century AD, the Chinese surgeon Hua Tuo is said to have utilised ma as an anaesthetic during complex surgeries. The herb was administered via various methods including topical ointments, smoked, or as tea. Cannabis seeds were also an important part of traditional Chinese medicine. Overall, cannabis has a long-established history as a therapeutic botanical remedy in China.
Indigenous Rainforest Tribes and the ‘Sacred Plant’
Among indigenous communities in rainforests spanning the Amazon and Southeast Asia, cannabis has been used ceremonially and medicinally since ancient times. Tribes like the Siona in Colombia viewed the cannabis plant as sacred and utilised it in spiritual divination rituals. Shamans ingested cannabis to induce trance-like states and commune with the spirit realm.
Medically, rainforest tribes used cannabis to treat fever, diarrhoea, skin infections, snake bites, and other conditions through topical salves, teas, and tinctures. The herb offered pain relief, anti-inflammatory effects, and infection-fighting properties, along with fibre, and cordage for constructing tools and shelter.
India's Cannabis History in Ayurvedic Medicine
Cannabis has been prevalent in India since around 2000 BC and is considered a sacred plant in the Hindu religion. According to ancient Ayurvedic medicine, cannabis balances the three humours of the body and can treat a wide range of conditions. The herb was ingested, often in combination with spices like black pepper to amplify its effects. Cannabis was prescribed for issues ranging from headaches, digestive disorders, anxiety, sexual debility, fever, leprosy, and more.
Scripture like the Atharvaveda mentions cannabis as one of the five most sacred plants on Earth – as a source of ‘happiness’ and a ‘liberator’. Both hemp and marijuana varieties of cannabis were widely utilised in the Indian subcontinent throughout history. Today, various cannabis preparations remain an integral part of India’s traditional plant-based medical system.
The Rise, Fall, and Comeback of Cannabis in The UK
Cannabis had a brief history as a widely embraced medicine in the UK in the 19th century. After being introduced by a British surgeon, extracts of the cannabis plant were sold in pharmacies and even hospitals for medical uses starting in the 1840s.
At the time, cannabis was viewed as a wonder drug, used to treat everything from menstrual cramps to delirium tremens. However, the “war on drugs” led cannabis to be restricted by the Dangerous Drugs Act in 1928 and fully outlawed in 1971. Cannabis is currently a Class B restricted drug in the UK.
This all changed in November 2018 when it was approved purely for medical use, however, with no NHS clinical trials being undertaken and fewer than five NHS prescriptions being issued for unlicensed products, there is still much progress still to be made.
We wholeheartedly believe that everyone deserves the opportunity to make their own decisions about the type of healthcare they receive and that more natural, holistic options should be available to patients. Check out our article on the changing landscape of healthcare for insights on some of the barriers the industry still faces in the UK.
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