Cannabis according to Ayurveda – Cannabis Life Network

Illness is nothing new to mankind; it has been there since the very first humans. The discovery of fire and the wheel made life easy, and ancient cultures also developed healing practices with the substances and resources readily available to them. Accordingly, some of them have also acquired knowledge in herbal medicine. The ancient science of Ayurveda was one such science.

Many familiar with the health benefits of cannabis wonder if our Ayurvedic ancestors recognized these benefits too. Well, as Dr. Achintya Mitra, research officer (Ayurveda) / scientist at CARI (Central Ayurveda Research Institute) thinks this is actually the case. Chemicals like CBD were obviously not yet known at the time. However, it appears that Indian healers were well acquainted with some of its benefits.

Legal Barriers to Ayurvedic Cannabis Research in India

In India, the central NDPS law regulates cannabis and its use. Legislation classifies cannabis as a state-regulated narcotic. As Dr. Mitra, referring to the article Stresses the use of cannabis leaves in Indian Ayurvedic medicine,

“This means that cannabis leaves cannot be produced (that is, separated from the cannabis plant) or used for commercial purposes without a license. So, for example, if a drug manufacturer wants to use cannabis leaves in their medicines, they should be licensed to source cannabis leaves and use them for medicinal purposes. Of course, the manufacturer also has to pay a “duty” (or tax) on the procurement of cannabis leaves.

The marketing of drugs in India is governed by the Drugs and Cosmetics Act of 1940 (DCA). There is currently no pharmaceutical drug containing cannabis or cannabis leaves (or cannabinoids) approved for sale in India under the DCA. If a pharmaceutical manufacturer were to introduce a cannabis- or cannabis-leaf-based drug in India, they would first have to conduct clinical studies on that drug and determine its safety and effectiveness. Conducting clinical trials is an expensive and time-consuming process. In addition, cannabis is hardly ever grown officially in India. It is therefore difficult to obtain standard quality cannabis or cannabis leaves that are required for the manufacture of medicinal products containing cannabis or cannabis leaves or their extracts. “

Cannabis according to Ayurveda

Photo by Katherine Hanlon, courtesy Unsplash

But people looking to explore the medicinal benefits of cannabis in India can dare. “Ayurveda as a branch of medicine expressly recognizes the use of cannabis and cannabis leaves in the manufacture of Ayurvedic medicines. This means that if a standard Ayurvedic drug is to be manufactured that contains cannabis or cannabis leaves, no clinical studies need to be carried out before it is launched on the market. This makes the Ayurvedic drug system an obvious choice for the manufacture and sale of cannabis and cannabis-based medicines, ”says Dr. Miter

As he further informs us: “Some Ayurvedic formulations like Jatiphaladi Churna, Madananada Madaka etc. with cannabis as an ingredient.”

Leaves of Cannabis Sativa Linn. are bitter, astringent, strengthening, aphrodisiac, alterative, intoxicating, stomach-relieving, pain-relieving and abortive. It is used to treat cramps, otalgia, abdominal discomfort, malaria, dysentery, diarrhea, skin diseases, hysteria, insomnia, gonorrhea, colic, tetanus and hydrophobia. Its excessive use causes dyspepsia, cough, impotence, melancholy, dropsy, restlessness, and madness. To reduce these toxic effects, Bhangā is boiled with Babbula Tvak kvātha for 3 hours and the powder obtained is rubbed with Godugdha. The toxic effect of bhangā can also be reduced by rubbing it with Babbula Tvak kvātha and frying the powder obtained in cow ghee. “

However, there is a significant difference between medicinal products containing cannabis in Ayurveda and the standard method of cannabis use. That means, “in Ayurveda, cannabis is used after the correct purification according to traditional methods”, explains Dr. Miter.

However, those looking for a high will be disappointed with the Ayurvedic uses of cannabis. According to Dr. Mitra “cannabis is only recommended for therapeutic purposes, not for recreational purposes in Ayurveda.”