To talk about the history of cannabidiol As a therapeutic form, we have to go back thousands of years, where medicine treated, in a very different way than today, the various conditions and diseases that the human body can suffer from and without knowing it, people used this natural medicine many times, only which, in its purest form, known as cannabis.
When we are going to use a medication that promises to be the ideal treatment for many diseases, it is best that we learn a little about it, its origin, its long history, its successes and also its failures.
Here we will give you all the information you need about the history of CBD and how it evolved over time thanks to the scientific advances that humanity has had.
Birth of Cannabis as a natural medicine.
The Origin of medicinal Cannabis is a topic that has given many people a battle, and there is no clear information about the discovery of the medicinal uses that can be given to cannabis.
Some people say that its origin dates back to the years 3.000 BC, however, there is evidence of the use of this plant from the years 6.000 BC and even 26.000 BC, which is why giving an exact or approximate date about the beginnings of this plant in the medicinal world, for now it is difficult to specify.
Cannabis or in this case Hemp, is one of the oldest plants of humanity, so human beings learned to give it different applications according to the needs of the time, its use being to alleviate the adverse effects of many diseases, better known.
There is evidence that great figures in world history used cannabis medicinally.
Traditional Chinese Medicine and Cannabis
This medicine is the oldest known to man, and its applications range from rituals, massages and acupuncture to help reestablish the body's energy balance, to the use of plants as a healing method. various diseases, cannabis being almost as old as Chinese medicine, so it is to be expected that it has been part of its remedies for several millennia.
The first time the use of cannabis as a medicine was documented was when Emperor Sheng Nung, using his pharmacological knowledge, applied it for treatment of joint pain who suffered, specifically using hemp root for his experiment, he also used it on other people who suffered from malaria, rheumatism and constipation, this being an effective solution for their ailments.
To make the best use of cannabis, Sheng Nung boiled the leaves of the plant to make an infusion capable of relieving pain, as well as making a topical that fulfilled the same function.
Hua T'o, an ancient Chinese surgeon, used cannabis to anesthetize his patients and be able to perform surgeries without them experiencing severe pain. He also used it as an anticoagulant.
Cannabis in Egypt
When we talk about Cannabis in ancient Egypt, there is not only evidence in the medical books of that civilization, but also, according to studies carried out in more recent times, it was possible to determine that, in the tombs of some pharaohs, particles were found. of Cannabis, which supports what is established in the books.
Papyrus Ramesseum and Ebers Papyrus are the ancient books of Egyptian medicine, and they refer to the use of Cannabis for different purposes, it was used through formulas that were created.
Inducing uterine contractions, washing patients' eyes to relieve the side effects of what we now know as intraocular pressure due to glaucoma, cataracts, those who suffered from acute ear pain, depression and other psychological problems, They were also treated with cannabis, having favorable results with each of these cases.
The first tomb where they found remains of cannabis was that of the pharaoh of Ramses II, which was examined in 1881. From there, they discovered more remains of this plant in other Egyptian tombs, Akhenaten and Cleopatra, are just some other figures of which there is evidence of cannabis use as a medicinal source.
Ibn Sina or Avicenna, was the Persian doctor who recommended in his books the use of cannabis to find relief from many diseases.
These are just some of the people who took advantage of the effects caused by cannabis consumption to relieve discomfort, meditate and even study and report the sensations experienced when consuming the plant.
Cannabis, Hindu anesthetic.
Hindu medicine is called Ayurvedic medicine, it is also one of the oldest of humanity, it used cannabis to relieve many conditions such as migraines, to contribute to the flow of urine, for better digestion, to relieve pain. stomach pains and also as an analgesic and antispasmodic.
Its records as a Hindu medicine date back to the years 700 BC, however, according to the beliefs of the Indian culture, cannabis has accompanied them since the times of the gods.
Other cultures that have used cannabis since ancient times
Not only are the most famous cultures those that have taken advantage of the various uses of cannabis, but also, thanks to explorers like Christopher Columbus, it spread throughout Europe and America, where it was used in the best way by different doctors. and healers of the time.
Once cannabis was established in Europe, it spread through the countries one by one, relieving people's pains. In Greece it was used as a strong analgesic, capable of relieve menstrual pain, inflammation and more.
In the Roman Empire it was used to calm the sexual desires of soldiers, so that they could perform better in their work, and not only that, but those who had severe earaches testified of feeling better after having consumed cannabis.
Vikings, Italians and Arabs were others who also took advantage of hemp to make materials that were useful to them, as well as for recreate during their long sea voyages.
Already in the XNUMXth century, Portuguese doctors such as García da Orta gave reports of the various benefits that could be obtained from the consumption of cannabis. At this same time, the Chinese doctor Li Shih-Chen determined that hemp had properties capable of relieving vomiting.
Going a little further into the history of Cannabis
Once the use of cannabis as a medicine was well known, almost all countries took advantage of this plant in every possible way, manufacturing everything from ropes, making clothes, making ship sails, to topicals to cure pain.
In the year 1500, thanks to the Spanish, Cannabis was introduced to America, it became increasingly famous, to the point that, if we go to the United States in the 1600s, we can discover that, in Virginia, it was It penalized any settler who did not grow hemp. By this time, some magazines were talking about hemp as a treatment for venereal diseases, inflammation and some pain in different parts of the body.
Between the mid-XNUMXth century and the XNUMXth century, presidents such as George Washington and Thomas Jefferson cultivated Cannabis for many years, both for recreational reasons and for medicinal uses.
Later, in the United Kingdom, Queen Victoria relieved her strong menstrual cramps through the consumption of cannabis, as well as other people came to use it as a medicine to help them relieve pain and diseases such as rheumatism, epilepsy, sleep, rage and more.
Much later, in 1833, William O'Shaughnessy, an Irish doctor, recounted his experience treating sick people in India with cannabis, describing it as a miraculous medicinal plant.
Then in 1845, the first scientific study carried out on cannabis was published, when J. J Moureau decided to experiment in his own body the effects of cannabis on his health, as well as on the health of some residents of Egypt.
In the United States it was stated that cannabis was practically the same as opium. Thus being harmful to health, since it could leave the person who consumes it in a state of catalepsy.
Already into the 1900s, the Cannabis plant was losing the good reputation that had accompanied it for millennia, and because its use became mostly recreational, and was associated with the abuse of morphine, the government of the united states did everything possible to prevent the use of that plant, not only in its country, but also in others.
Little by little, it was believed that cannabis had the ability to drive people crazy, as a result, it became increasingly expensive and difficult to obtain. It was directly associated with crime, prisons, and other places of bad reputation.
By mid-century, it was seen as a symbol of rebellion and debauchery, until some scientists decided to study more thoroughly what cannabis is on a chemical level, and thus better understand the effects it causes on people.
Currently, cannabis is used normally in countries like India, who include it in various dishes and drinks in their cuisine, all of this still based on the beliefs of their ancestors and to thank the Gods. Just as they also take advantage of the healing qualities of the plant, so they consume it inhaled, topically and more.
Getting started with CBD isolate
When we talk about CBD, we are detailing a relatively new discovery, since only in the last century has a way been found to use CBD separately from the other components of Cannabis such as THC, CBN, CBC, CBG. And thanks to the fact that medicine is constantly evolving, it has been possible to discover the different positive effects that CBD has on people's health both preventively and curatively.
The recent use of Cannabidiol as a medicinal therapy was thanks to the fact that a few years ago in 1940 when the Israeli scientist Raphael Mechoulam, in order to better understand the functions of industrial hemp or the cannabis indica plant, managed to isolate the different chemical compounds of the Cannabis and thus be able to study them in more depth to know the benefits that each of them could bring to medicine naturally.
This Israeli scientist not only managed to isolate each of the chemical compounds in cannabis, but a few decades later, together with his work team, he discovered the Endocannabinoid System of the human body, which is a fundamental part of biological functions, such as regulating appetite, stress, blood pressure, glycolysis, and many more.
In the 70s, according to studies carried out on animals by scientists from Brazil, they managed to determine that it reduces seizures caused by epilepsy, as well as the side effects of Chemotherapy, such as nausea and vomiting.
After that, the chemist Rafael Mechoulam decided to travel to Brazil to help in the studies that were being carried out there, with which they were able to confirm that CBD helped pediatric patients with epilepsy, as well as that CBD has antipsychotic effects and helps calm anxiety.
In parallel with the studies that were carried out in Brazil, American researchers discovered that CBD is a powerful cellular antioxidant and that it has Neuroprotective effects, which opened the doors to CBD to treat diseases such as Alzheimer's or even Parkinson's.
In 1998, the company GW Pharmaceuticals founded by British Doctor Geoffrey Guy received a license from the British government for the legal cultivation of cannabis strains, in order to extract its compounds and study them to determine what benefits could be obtained from the plant.
GW, With the help of Hortapharm, who provided strains designed to have high levels of CBD to obtain better results in the tests they carried out, they discovered that CBD is capable of neutralizing the psychoactive effects of THC, eliminating its toxicity and leaving only the relaxation effects, thus managing to create the first CBD-based medicine called Epidiolex along with FDA (Food and Drug Administration) approval.
CBD and its advances in the XNUMXst century
In 2000, Wonderland Nursery was the institution that was in charge of grow cannabis strains, which were genetically altered to achieve stabilization of phenotypes Cannabis with the highest amount of CBD and in order to take advantage of its positive effects on people's health.
Spain is not far behind When using this new and improved strain of cannabis with high levels of CBD, and in 2004 a scientist, through crossing different cannabis seeds, managed to create a strain that reached 23% CBD concentration greater than the rest.
From then on, Spain became more involved in research that supports the use of medicinal cannabis or Cannabidiol, and then created a seed bank in 2008, where they study and search daily. ways to completely release CBD from the other cannabis compounds, in order to eliminate all traces of THC and avoid the psychoactivity that accompanies it.
In 2010, Lawrence Ringo, another cannabis grower, but this time from the United States, managed to create a strain of cannabis called Sour Tsunami, with which he achieved higher concentrations of Cannabidiol, giving rise to the creation of other more enriched seeds such as Harle- Tsu, Canna-Tsu and the Swiss Tsunami.
Concluding with the history of CBD
For millennia, each culture has been in charge of giving its own uses to cannabis, but always with the same beliefs that it is a healing plant. Today its use is more regulated, however, they want to achieve complete acceptance of its compound. Cannabidiol by all health organizations and people who, even with all the advances that have been seen, do not stop believing that using it is harmful to their health and to other people.
There is still much to learn and write about this medicine that is in the sights of many scientific organizations as an alternative or complement to treat patients.
Thanks to all the studies carried out from the 40s to the 90s, more scientists have joined the research, ensuring that CBD recovers the reputation it had for more than 5000 years, in order to improve the lives of many people who They receive treatment for various diseases such as Parkinson's, Anxiety, Cancer and more, as well as the typical side effects of these and other conditions.
Good article, since I first heard about CBD and this page I have been reading everything to know 100% the entire history of this compound and learn more about it. Of course, this “natural medicine” must continue to grow and become known to people, it works really well.