Cannabis refers to a group of three plants, known as Cannabis Sativa, Cannabis Indica, and Cannabis Ruderalis. Since its discovery, Cannabis has been used for its medicinal properties as well as for recreational purposes. But the Cannabis that we know of today, is very different from the Cannabis that was first discovered. The plant itself might still be the same, but the perception humans had of it was very different back then. We’re talking about a plant that has been held in high regard for its medicinal properties for millennia, nearly 6000 years if we’re being precise.

But since the early 20th century, the use of cannabis for any purpose fell out of favour by both Eastern and Western cultures at large.

In the United States, a wave of regulations was introduced to make cannabis more inaccessible, starting from the late 1900s, ultimately leading up to the Marihuana Tax Act of 1937, which effectively made cannabis use illegal – whatever your reasons may be. Meanwhile, prohibition in Canada lasted for 85 years until being lifted by recent developments. Here in India, Cannabis had been in use for over 2,000 years. The Sushruta Samhita, an ancient medical bible, recommends cannabis plant extract for treating respiratory ailments and diarrhoea.

In 1798 however, the British parliament enacted a tax on cannabis by-products to reduce consumption and added to the so called global boycott of this plant.

Interestingly, however, this recent period of 20th century protests against cannabis is actually just a small speck in the wider 6,000-year timeline since its discovery.

Current Scenario:

Today we live in far more advanced times, innovation in science and research capabilities has allowed us to study the plant and how it works within our bodies in detail. The cloud of uncertainty over the medicinal uses of Cannabis is fast clearing, with mass adoption slowly coming into play. You’ve read that there have been numerous accounts of medical cannabis being used to treat pain and inflammation, nausea etc in the past but studies have shown that Cannabis use does in fact restrict and, in some cases, reduce the growth of Cancer cells. Besides that, it has shown to alleviate patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis for joint pains. We’ve ascended into a time where you have products like CBD ointments that can specifically target and reduce pain in your muscles and joints.
And we haven’t even touched upon the numerous studies that have shown that medical use of cannabis can reduce stress, anxiety, promote restful sleep and help reduce symptoms associated with epilepsy. 

India is one of the countries, where medical use of Cannabis is legal under Ayurveda. Cannabis based topical medicines can be purchased over the counter and consumption medicines require a valid prescription from a registered doctor. If you’re suffering from any one of the conditions mentioned above, Cannabis based medicines can be worth a consideration. 

At Oreka, we have researched and developed carefully formulated solutions using Cannabis to improve your quality of life.