More and more people across the world are looking towards natural ways to treat their afflictions: And, with cannabis legal in many parts of the world, the plant often becomes the answer to treat conditions such as cancer, glaucoma, chronic pain and asthma.
Science is finally looking into what ancient cultures have known about and used for centuries. Here’s a closer look at CBD oil, the Ayurvedic approach to health and how they both connect.
Contents
Ayurvedic History
Ayurveda is a combination of the words ayur, meaning life, and veda, which means knowledge.
It’s an ancient and natural way of life and natural healing which has its origins in India, much like the Cannabis plant itself.
Ayurvedic medicine still remains hugely popular in India
, and has seen a huge boom in other parts of the world where people seek for a more natural approach to healing their ailments over heading for traditional pharmaceuticals.
Traditional Use in India
While the legal status of cannabis and its use in India has been under massive public dispute for decades, its use has been closely intertwined with traditional practices and medicine for centuries – and many politicians and medical experts in India are pushing for its legalization, both medically and recreationally.
Traditional use of cannabis has included the drink known as bhang, where the leaves and flowers of the plant are ground and mixed to create a healthy herb-containing milk drink.
(The scientific reason this works is that heat and fats are essential for THC and CBD-extraction: Slowly heated milk, in this case, steeps it like one would a tea and extracts what you need.)
Cannabis is also traditionally smoked or used in religious offerings and has been long known to be a treatment for a range of health conditions which include insomnia and other aches and pains.
Cannabis in the Ayurveda
Cannabis is exceptionally well-known for its ability to heal some of mankind’s most common ailments. And, the Ayurveda does make mention of cannabis as a treatment option for a range of conditions.
Many formulas for Ayurvedic medicines contain cannabis, where it acts as a muscle relaxant, pain-reliever, mood stabilizer and hundreds of others uses.
In Sanskrit, cannabis is known by many colorful names, including as “the poor man’s heaven” for its pain-relieving and antidepressant effects. It’s very clear that cannabis has its place in the Ayurveda, and is as effective today as it was thousands of years ago.
Studies
Sufficient studies have been conducted on the Ayurvedic approach to Cannabis – Danielle Bertoia explored the links between the two and took a closer look at just how an Ayurvedic approach to the plant would help in treating conditions like chronic anxiety.
With the legalization of the plant in more parts of the world, more Ayurvedic practitioners are recommending cannabis to their patients and the health benefits of the plant are still continuously studied to find more applications and learn about CBDs and THC.
Modern Ayurveda
Modern takes on Ayurvedic medicine has seen CBD oil and other CBD and THC-derivatives being employed and prescribed by Ayurvedic practitioners. Why? Because it’s easy to use and doesn’t come with the associated health risks of some pharmaceuticals, including opiates – which have caused thousands of deaths and overdoses the world over, many accidental.
CBD and THC carry none of the addictive risks of opiate-based medications, and the modern take on Ayurveda has even expanded to the combination of cannabis culture and yoga for practitioners to attend Cannabis-Yoga classes across the world.
