Hemp and Ayurveda

[Guest guest]

Namaste

 

Here in Canada, hemp is considered a easily accessible, easily

digestable nutritious food, yet it is not mentioned in any Western

ayurvedic texts. Is anyone willing to share their understanding of the

ayurvedic perspective on hemp?

 

Om Shanti,

 

Tanya

[Guest guest]

> Here in Canada, hemp is considered a easily accessible, easily

> digestable nutritious food, yet it is not mentioned in any Western

> ayurvedic texts. Is anyone willing to share their understanding of the

> ayurvedic perspective on hemp?

 

The possible reason there is no mention of hemp in western texts, is

that hemp belongs to that controversial family of plants -

Cannabinacea. In many countries apart from Canada, even hemp with

little or none of the narcotic mind-altering constituent,

tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), is still historically a controlled plant.

This is in spite of hemp being one of the most durable of fibres -

sails, ropes and jeans used to be made from hemp - and also producing

a nutritious oil for internal and external uses.

 

In ayurvedic texts hemp is called Bhanga or Ganja. It is generally

classified as being bitter, with light, sharp and drying qualities. It

is heating in potency, with a pungent or catabolic post-digestive

effect. It decreases Vata and Kapha, and increases Pitta. It has the

special quality of Vyavayi Vikasi, meaning a drug that spreads quickly

to all the tissues, and has an effect on the central nervous system

that is stimulating, then depressing.

 

It is used as an antispasmodic, analgaesic, hypnotic, somniferant,

anticonvulsant. It is said to be an aphrodisiac; and because of its

subsequent depressant effect, alleviates premature ejaculation. It is

Rocana, i.e. stimulating appetite and the munchies. The leaves are

digestive and antidiarrhoeic, while the seeds are laxative,

carminative and check vomiting. It has a drying, astringent,

haemostatic effect, and also has specific drying effects on the

respiratory system. It is a uterine stimulant and abortifacient. It is

a diuretic and is used in some urinary conditions.

 

Bhanga is used in high Vata conditions, painful conditions like

headache and migraine, in insomnia, convulsions in children,

haemorrhages, indigestion and anorexia, diarrhoea and dysentry,

catarrh, asthma, whooping cough, piles and prolapsed rectum, painful

labour, gonorrhoea.

 

Leaves are used externally to resolve tumours, for dressing wounds and

sores, on the eyes for ophthalmia, on the anus for piles and prolapsed

rectum, and the juice is used for dandruff and head lice.

 

Dosage needs to be carefully controlled (bhanga 2-4 grains, flowers

1-2 grains, resin 1/6 -1/4 grain), as excessive use is habit-forming

because of the euphoric effects, and can cause indigestion, impotency

and long-term adverse effects on the nervous system. When overused, it

is said to be wasting and to deplete Ojas, the life essence that also

governs immunity.

 

Bhanga is mentioned by in various classical ayurvedic texts, such as

Caraka Samhita, Bhavaprakasha, Cakradatta, Raja Nighantu and Kaiyadeva

Nighantu.

 

Kia ora,

Gerald Lopez

Auckland, New Zealand

[Guest guest]

What I'm most interested in is the use of the seeds of the hemp plant

(vs the flowering tops or the leaves) of the low-THC (hemp is less than

0.3%THC while marijuana is between 5-15%) strain of cannabis sativa.

 

From http://www.hemphasis.com/indisty1.htm

 

 

/Hemp Seeds/

 

/Hemp seeds are also a potentially valuable commodity. The seeds have

exceptional nutritional value. They are second only to Soya beans as a

source of complete vegetable protein and hemp seeds contain all 8

essential amino acids in the correct proportions humans require. Hemp

seeds also contain 30-35% oil by weight. Hemp seed oil is approximately

80% polyunsaturated essential fatty acids (EFA's). Furthermore, the

proportion of these oils in hemp seeds most closely match the ratios

which have been determined to be most beneficial to human nutrition.[1]

However, although the oil is very healthy, this high percentage of

polyunsaturated fats also makes hemp seed oil somewhat unstable and so

subject to fairly rapid rancidity unless preserved. Hemp seed oil can be

extracted or expressed and used in cooking, or industrial uses such as

paints, varnishes, detergents, cosmetics, and lubrication. The left over

seed casings are a rich source of protein which can be ground into flour./

 

 

/Hemp vs. Marijuana/

 

/The flowering tops and to a lesser extent, the leaves of the Cannabis

sativa plant contain delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). This chemical

substance gives marijuana its psychoactive properties. Generally

Cannabis sativa strains with a THC concentration of less than 0.3 % are

classified as low-THC or " fibre " hemp. At this low concentration, the

psychoactive properties of the hemp plant are nonexistent. Marijuana, on

the other hand has an average potency of 5-15% THC. In any Cannabis

plant, no THC is to be found either in the stalk or the seeds./

[Guest Danae]

Thank you for this insight to hemp seeds. Does this view apply as well to hemp seed oil: "...as excessive use is habit-forming because of the euphoric effects, and can cause indigestion, impotency and long-term adverse effects on the nervous system. When overused, it is said to be wasting and to deplete Ojas, the life essence that also governs immunity."?

 

I am considering taking hempseed oil because of its anti-inflammatory properties which are said to calm down the mucous membranes and its praised ability to flush fat-soluble toxins out of the liver and tissues. However, I would much appreciate an Ayurvedic perspective on this - as your culture has a longer-term view and understands the spiritual aspect of any herb/stone/life - and I am not interested in depleting ojas - rather building them up.

 

Furthermore, any insights on how to balance the liver & mucous membrane healing herbs/foods/supplements would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for this great website!