The History of Medical Marijuana 1/2 The use of cannabis for medical purposes has a long and complex history dating back thousands of years. Ancient civilizations in China, India, and the Middle East
The first mention of human interaction with marijuana dates back to the Neolithic period. Don't expect early humans to be rolling dried marijuana into cigarette papers. People from this era began settling and building their dwellings. At that time, marijuana existed as a wild-growing plant.
The oldest evidence of cannabis use appeared in ancient Babylon. However, ancient China takes the lead. During this period, hemp was mainly used for producing clothing, fishing nets, and ropes.
Ancient China and Taiwan
Cannabis, called má in Chinese (meaning "hemp, cannabis, stiffness") or also dama ("great, excellent"), was used in Taiwan for fiber production around 10,000 years ago. Botanist Li Hui-Lin wrote: "Medical use of cannabis was likely in early development stages. Since ancient people used hemp seeds as food, it was only a matter of time before they discovered its healing properties."
Dama "cannabis" is described in the oldest medical book "Shennong Bencaojing".
Plants were called 麻 蕡 (mafen) or 麻 勃 (mabo). The best time for hemp collection was on the 7th day of the 7th month. Seeds were harvested in the 9th month. It was said that hemp leaves and fruits were poisonous, but flowers and grains were not. (ed. note: we think there might be some truth to this :) )
At the beginning of the 3rd century, Hua Tuo was the first in the world to use cannabis as an anesthetic. He made cannabis powder and mixed it with wine. During this time, operations were performed using Indian cannabis as an anesthetic, led by this outstanding surgeon Hua Tuo. The Chinese term for anesthesia (má zui) is also composed of the ideogram meaning hemp, followed by intoxication terms. Elizabeth Wayland Barber says that Chinese evidence "proves knowledge of cannabis's narcotic properties from at least 1000 years before Christ". Clear proof that Chinese doctors already knew about the significant effects of this plant.
Cannabis is one of fifty fundamental plants in traditional Chinese medicine and is prescribed for treating various diseases.
Every part of the cannabis plant is used in medicine; dried flowers, dried plant fruits, seeds, oil, leaves, stem, roots, and juice. Flowers are recommended for 120 different disease forms, menstrual problems, and injuries. Fruits, considered poisonous, stimulate the nervous system and when used excessively, cause hallucinations and instability. They are prescribed for nervous system disorders, special types marked as local anesthetics. Seeds, meaning only the white kernel of the fruit, are used for numerous conditions and are considered a tonic, soothing, laxative, diuretic. Seeds are also used in preparing kanji (Chinese dish).
In China, it is believed that frequent cannabis use and preparation ensures longevity and prevents aging. Cannabis is primarily prescribed for serious illnesses. For external use, it is mainly used for ulcers, open wounds, and hair loss. Oil was used for hair loss, sulfur poisoning, and dry throat. Freshly extracted juice is used in China as an anthelmintic (parasite removal), for scorpion stings, hair loss, and graying. The stem is considered a diuretic and used with other medicines for urinary stones.
Medical cannabis use includes rheumatism, female reproductive system disorders, malaria, and others.
Ancient Egypt
Ebers Papyrus (around 1550 BC) describes medical marijuana. Other papyri mentioning cannabis are known from Ramesse III (1700 BC). The Berlin Papyrus (1300 BC) and the medical papyrus IV of Chester Beatty (1300 BC) also document cannabis effects on the human body.
Ancient Egyptians even used cannabis to treat hemorrhoids in suppository form! Who would imagine this form of medical marijuana use today.
Around 2000 BC, they treated tired eyes. Egyptologist Lise Manniche recorded references to "medical marijuana cultivation" in several Egyptian texts, one dating back to the 18th century BC.
Papyrus Ramesseum III (1700 BC)
For non-Egyptologists literally: Parsley, cannabis, early morning, during dew, wash eyes.
Ancient India
Surviving documents confirm that cannabis's psychoactive properties were already known, and doctors used them to treat a wide range of conditions and diseases.
In India, cannabis use was widespread and known as medicine and recreational drug. The broad use might also be due to cannabis being closely connected to religion, which attributes sacred power to this plant.
Ancient Greece
Ancient Greeks used cannabis to cover wounds and ulcers in horses. In humans, cannabis was a remedy for nosebleeds, and cannabis seeds were used to remove tapeworms. Most widespread was soaking cannabis seeds in wine. This hot extract was used to treat inflammation and ear blockage pain.
In the fifth century BC, Greek historian Herodotus described how Scythians from the Middle East used cannabis in steam baths.
Southeast Asia
Local inhabitants were the first pioneers of cannabis's diuretic, antiemetic, anti-epileptic, pain-relieving, and fever-reducing properties, using it extensively for "Kopi Kapuganja" as a recreational food, drink, and relaxation medicine throughout centuries.
Modern medical marijuana history continues in the article HERE.