Cannabis has a rich, long history of use all throughout the world. Isn’t it time to finally take this tremendous plant and study it for all its benefits and potential? Well it would seem that time has finally arrived!
Cannabis as been used as medicine throughout the history of mankind. Written records from the Chinese Emperor Shen Nung in 2727 BC indicate early cannabis use. Hua Tuo (c. AD 140-208), a Chinese surgeon is credited with being the first recorded person to use cannabis as an anesthetic. Hieroglyphics indicate that the ancient Egyptians also used cannabis. Bhang, a drink made in India using raw cannabis, is considered to be an overall wellness beverage. In the Middle East cannabis was used in steam baths to treat inflammation. In the United States, cannabis tinctures were considered to be an everyday health aid and were widely available at pharmacies until the 1930’s, when the plant became criminalized as part of prohibition and the healing potential of the plant was largely forgotten. Recently, as a result of the tireless work of many activists, once again we are beginning to tap into the potential of cannabis.
Israel has been a leader in medical cannabis research in present times. Israeli research pioneered the medical cannabis industry. Israel claims the world’s best cannabis scientists and researchers such as 86-year-old Israeli chemist Raphael Mechoulam, a researcher at Hebrew University and a leading pioneer in cannabis as medicine. Mechoulam’s accomplishments include co-discovering the Endocannabinoid system, the largest receptor system in the human body. He also found that the human brain produces its own cannabinoids — compounds that stimulate the body’s receptor system.
In the US, National Institutes of Health researchers believe these compounds could alleviate dozens of illnesses, including seizure disorders, cancer and multiple sclerosis. The discovery of the cannabinoid system essentially legitimized the study of a substance previously snubbed by medical research.
Today the push for new research based on clinical studies as opposed to anecdotal observations is gaining momentum. Pennsylvania, as a part of the medical cannabis initiative in that state, plan to utilize tax revenues to partner with top state universities to perform clinical studies to formally document the medical properties of cannabis and its compounds. With growing public support and renewed scientific interest the future looks bright for discovering and validating the growing list of health benefits associated with cannabis and its use as a healing plant.
With time, it is the hope of the Industry and it’s patients that medical cannabis will be well researched and it’s many uses heralded by scientific and medical professionals alike. That patients have a real, viable alternative to pharmaceuticals is the hope of the Blair Wellness Center team.
At Blair Wellness Center, our team will provide a personalized approach to addressing your health needs by providing a broad selection of holistic medicine products, the best quality medical cannabis available in Maryland as well as experienced and trained staff who can guide you as you explore these new options for your health. We hope to see you soon!
