Cannabis (Cannabis sativa L.) / Indian Hemp or Bhang

Scientific Classification

• Scientific Name: Cannabis sativa L.
• Family: Cannabinaceae

Common Names

• English: Indian Hemp
• Sanskrit: Bhanga, Vijaya, Madakarini, Madni
• Hindi: Bhang
• Gujarati: Bhang
• Marathi: Bhang
• Bengali: Siddhi Bhaang
• Arabic: Kinnab, Kunnab
• Persian: Kanab, Kinab, Bang

Introduction

Cannabis grows abundantly in India, especially in Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, and Bihar.

• Bhang is prepared from dried male cannabis leaves.
• Ganja is made from the dried resinous flower clusters of female plants.
• Charas is the resinous extract found on cannabis leaves and branches.

External Morphology

• A perennial, aromatic, and hairy shrub growing 3-8 feet tall.
• Leaves: Alternately arranged, lower leaves with 3-8 segments and upper leaves with 1-3 segments.
• Flowers: Small, green, connate, and unisexual.
• Fruits: Small, grain-like, containing a single flat seed.
• Flowering & Fruiting: Occurs in autumn.

Chemical Composition

• Contains cannabidiol (a soft brown resin).
• Produces a thick sticky red oil, which hardens in air.
• Also contains gummy substances, sugar, volatile oil, calcium phosphate, etc.

Properties

• Bhang: Relieves cough, bitter, absorbent, digestive, hot, bile-producing, and intoxicating.
• Seeds: Absorbent, prevent vomiting and diarrhea.

Medicinal Uses

For Ear & Head Issues

• Earache: 8-10 drops of cannabis juice in the ear kills worms and relieves pain.
• Insomnia: Bhang induces deep sleep without causing constipation or headaches.
• Headache:
  1. Finely ground bhang leaves, when inhaled, relieve headaches.
  2. Heated extract applied as ear drops cures seasonal headaches.

For Nervous System Disorders

• Hysteria:
  • 250 mg bhang with asafoetida or 65 mg dry extract helps treat hysteria in women.
• Head Worms & Dandruff: Applying cannabis leaf juice on the scalp removes dandruff and kills scalp parasites.

For Respiratory Issues

• Cough & Asthma:
  1. 65 mg ganja extract helps stop asthma attacks.
  2. 125 mg roasted bhang + 2 grams black pepper + 2 grams sugar candy improves breathing.
  3. Inhaling bhang smoke helps with breathing difficulties.

For Digestive Disorders

• Diarrhea & Dysentery:
  1. 100 grams bhang + 200 grams dry ginger + 400 grams cumin – ground, sieved, and taken with curd for 40 days cures chronic dysentery.
  2. 125 mg bhang powder + 4-6 drops fennel extract twice a day treats acute dysentery.
  3. 100 mg cannabis powder + 50 mg poppy seed powder cures dysentery.
  4. Decoction of dried cannabis flowers with sugar and black pepper is effective.

For Pain & Inflammation

• Abdominal Pain: Bhang and chili powder mixed with jaggery into ½ gram tablets relieve pain.
• Testicular Swelling:
  1. Cannabis water wash reduces swelling.
  2. Poultices and steam therapy using dry cannabis ease inflammation.
• Urinary Issues: Drinking cannabis extract with cucumber juice cures urinary dysuria.
• Menstrual Pain: Mild purgation followed by ganja consumption relieves menstrual pain.
• Hemorrhoids: Cannabis poultices relieve swelling, pain, and itching.