Cannabinoids for Headache

Cannabis was probably the first crop grown for reasons other than food and is found in the ancient writings of Galen and Hippocrates, who both prescribed cannabis. 2] Chinese writings from the first 2 centuries AD refer to Emperor Shen Nuang in the third millennium BC using cannabis medicinally, the first medical use of cannabis. In India in the fourth and third centuries BC, Ayurvedic mixtures called Rasachandrika vati and Mahalakshmivilasa rasa, which contained cannabis, were used for neuralgic headaches and hemicranias. The cannabis family of plants has long been known for industrial uses, notably hemp, which has an ultralow amount of cannabinoids and no psychoactive effects compared with marijuana. East Asian and European societies used cannabis mostly for its strong fibers and the nutrient value of the seeds. Hemp fabrics were routinely used for clothing, canvas, rope, and even high-quality paper. South and SouthEast Asian cultures along with Middle Eastern and African cultures used cannabis primarily for its psychoactive effects and less so for manufacture and food. Legal issues with the psychoactive cannabinoids along with efforts by industrial competitors have retarded the growth of hemp industrial products in the United States.