Hemp

Indian Hemp
Botanical Name: Cannabis sativa
Indian Name: Bhang or Ganja

Indian Hemp is a robust, tall, erect, annual herb, 1 to 5 metres high, usually with male and female plants in roughly equal numbers. It has angular stems bearing palmately or hand shaped divided leaves with greenish flowers. The hemp plant provides three products, namely, fibre from the stems, oil from the seeds and narcotic from the leaves and flowers. Indian hemp have been in use as intoxicants in Asiatic countries and Africa. Bhang, ganja and charas have been habitually used in these parts of the world. The leaves of the plant are used as a drug to reduce excitement, irritation and pain as well as to induce deep sleep.

Used as a drug to counteract spasmodic disorders, to increase the secretion and discharge of urine and arrest any secretion or bleeding. Three types of narcotics are produced from the hemp plant, namely Bhang or hashish which constitute the dried leaves and flowering shoots of male and female plants. Ganja which is the dried unfertilized female inflorescences of special varieties grown in India and charas, which is the crude resin collected by rubbing the tops of the plant with the hands or beating them with a cloth. In all these drugs, the active principle is a resin from the glandular hairs on its leaves, stems and inflorescences.

Insomnia The leaves help in insomnia.They can be administered to induce sleep where opium cannot be used. Charas which is the active principle of hemp, as well as ganja, are effective drugs to induce deep sleep.

Digestive Disorders Bhang or hashish is considered useful in digestive disorders like dyspepsia and other bowel complaints. It also acts as an appetizer when taken in small doses.

Diarrhoea and Dysentery The leaves are beneficial in the treatment of diarrhoea and dysentery. Two grams of dried leaves can be taken with sugar and black pepper.

Nervous Disorders Charas is of great value in periodical headaches, migraine, acute mania, insanity and delirium, nervous vomiting, nervous exhaustion, convulsions and neuralgia. It should be taken in 1.5 to 6 centigram doses.

Gonorrhoea The seeds of the plant are not narcotic. Their infusion is useful in gonorrhoea. Bhang or hashish can also be taken in this disorder.

Skin Disorders A paste of the fresh leaves is useful in resolving tumours. The powder of the leaves serves as a useful dressing for wounds and sores. Ganja is externally applied to relieve pain in itchy skin diseases.

Excessive consumption of hemp is physically and mentally harmful. If consumed for long time, it causes loss of appetite and gastric derangment. Hemp drugs act chiefly on the cerebrum wherein they resemble the action of alcohol or opium.

Herbs Index

Liquorice

Crystallotus Home | E-zine