Scientific Name Cannabis sativa Linn. ( syn Cannabis indica L.)
Family Cannabinaceae
Used Part Leaves, flowers
Distribution Area A annual occurring wild throughout the western Himalayas, and is also cultivated in this and adjoining region.
Common Uses . Cannabis drugs have been used in India from ancient times. The drugs -- bhang, ganja, and charas - commonly used in India, are derived from the flowers, leaves and the resinous matter obtained from them. Bhang When taken orally in small doses they stimulate the appetite and digestion but their prolonged use leads to loss of appetite. They are prescribed in dyspepsia, colic and diarrhoea along with other drugs.
Leaves bitter, astringent,tonic,aphrodisiac,antidiarrhoeic, intoxicating, stomachic, analgesic and arbotifacient. They are used in convulsions,otalgia, abdominal disorders, diarrhoea,stomatalgia, and heamatorrhoea. The leaves are useful in "Kapha" , leprosy,cause biliousness, intoxication,, hallucination.
Its excessive use causes dyspepsia, cough, impotence,melancholy, dropsy, hyperpraxia and insanity. The bark is tonic, and is useful in inflamations, haemorrhoids and hydrocele. Seeds are carminative, astringent, aphrodisiac, antiemetic and anti-inflammatory.
Cannabis is recommended as a psychiatric aid in treating depression and high blood pressure. It is useful in treating glaucoma by reducing intra-ocular hypertension. It has proved favourable in treatment of extreme nausea in patients undergoing cancer therapy. It is also prescribed in treating menstrual disorders and during labour pains.
