Product Description

A comprehensive survey of the therapeutic, historical, and cultural uses of cannabis in traditions around the world. * The most complete visual record of cannabis culture ever published. * Christian Ratsch is one of the world's foremost ethnopharmacologists and is the current president of the German Society for Ethnomedicine.

Marijuana Medicine explores the role of hemp in medicinal systems spanning the globe. Cannabis has accompanied the development of human culture from its very beginnings and can be found in the healing traditions of cultures throughout Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Americas. Even today it is an important part of many Asian healing traditions: in Ayurveda cannabis is praised for its tonic and aphrodisiac qualities and in traditional Chinese medicine it is cited as a superb antidepressant. It also remains a significant part of the healing and visionary traditions of Latin American curanderos and Brazilian, Nepalese, and Indian folk medicine. Modern research has confirmed the effectiveness of marijuana's application in treating such diseases as asthma and glaucoma. Christian Ratsch profiles the medicinal, historical, and cultural uses of cannabis in each of these societies and medical systems, providing remedies and recipes for those interested in how cannabis can be used to treat specific conditions.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #916776 in Books
• Published on: 2001-05-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 224 pages

American Herb Association
The historical, medicinal, cultural, and visionary uses of marijuana (Cannabis sativa) in Africa, Asia, India, Europe, and the Americas is discussed in this visual tribute to a versatile plant.

The Book Reader, Spring/Summer 2001
Ratsch has produced a masterful overview, filled with an enormous scholarship.

About the Author
Christian Ratsch is a world-renowned anthropologist and ethnopharmacologist. A specialist in the cultural use of natural products, Ratsch has conducted fieldwork in many areas of the globe. He is the author of numerous books, three of which--Gateway to Inner Space, The Dictionary of Sacred and Magical Plants, and Plants of Love--have been translated into English. He is currently serving as the president of the German Society for Ethnomedicine.

Customer Reviews

Fascinating ethnobotany
This fascinating book considers the role of cannabis or hemp as medicine in a multitude of cultures from around the world. The author looks at the historical role and medicinal and cultural uses of hemp in these societies.

The introduction deals with botany, taxonomy, chemistry and pharmacology and also looks at the literature and research, providing an impressive bibliography.

Some of the interesting chapters include information on shamanism in Nepal, hemp in the Chinese herbal arts, Vijaya in Ayurvedic medicine, Bhanga in Indian and Nepalese folk medicine and the use of the plant in Africa and the Americas.

Each chapter includes recipes and remedies that contain hemp from these traditions for various disease conditions. The plant has a long history as herbal medicine with a multitude of applications.

The author discusses the German saint, seeress and musician Hildegard von Bingen and German medieval medicine, and provides one of her hemp containing remedies for stomachache. The role of hemp in Alchemy, Rastafarianism and Homeopathy is also investigated.

A list of diseases which hemp is used to treat is provided, from abdominal pains to wounds, whilst the bibliography includes books, articles, periodicals, multimedia and website addresses.

The text is enhanced by black and white illustrations whilst the beautiful full colour plates include botanical illustrations, photographs, paintings, album covers, T-shirts and buttons. There is also an impressive painting by Alex Grey of the hemp goddess.

The book includes a glossary of terms and concludes with an index. Every chapter has its own bibliography. This is a valuable reference and source book and provides a spellbinding read.