Wouldn’t it be nice if there were a wonder drug that assisted healing no matter what needs healing? What if this amazing drug came from a plant that grows wild?. What if this drug was safer than aspirin? What if this drug has been safely used for thousands of years
Sure, that would be nice. Lots of impossible things would be nice. Would you think it impossible if its medical value has been unambiguously verified by peer-reviewed science?
Surprise! It has.
It’s proper scientific name is: is Cannabis sativa. Its more widely known as: marijuana. Its active ingredient is: delta-9-tetrahhydrocannabinol, better known as: THC. Its medical value. Has been known since 1960, when it was discovered by the organic chemist and Israeli researcher at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Raphael Mechoulam, PhD, MSc.
It has largely remained a secret ever since.
Cannabis sativa.
Well, it’s not really a secret, it’s just not common knowledge. Many know that marijuana has some sort of medical value. They just don’t know it has an all-purpose medical value.
The reasons for keeping a lid on the all-purpose medical value of Cannabis sativa are complicated enough to require a separate essay.
No doubt many have already been written.
I’ll go straight to the original research. Not in full, but in summery.
It happened in Israel.
Professor Mechoulam’s research group discovered what nobody expected: Marijuana is good for whatever ails ya’.
Of course, he didn’t say it quite that way.
Professor Mechoulam delivered his surprising findings in the predictable style typical of scientific papers - endogenous neurotransmitters bind to specific receptors, synthesized and metabolized by specific enzymes . . . etc., etc., and so on, and so on.
He finished by noting that the natural human endocannabinoid system influences practically everything that goes on in the body - memory, mood, pain, psychosis, healing and, repair. He also noted the endocannabinoid system has receptors that seem especially made to receive THC.
Wait! What! What’s that bit about, “made to receive THC” - what does that mean?.
It means that THC, the active ingredient of Cannabis sativa, is happily embraced by the natural human regulating system – almost as though planned to be that way.
Happier yet, the combination of endocannabinoids and cannabinoids produces more effective homeostasis at every level of biological life. Homeostasis refers to keeping the body running smoothly.
That’s a big, big surprise.
There are exceptions. Some people don’t do well with marijuana. I’ve known some such people. Marijuana makes them anxious and mildly paranoid. Whatever health benefit they might get from THC is offset by their personal discomfort in smoking it.
I don’t know how many have this reaction. It’s not common. Probably about the same percentage as people with allergy to peanuts, or are lactose intolerant.
Marijuana has been known as a healing herb for millennia. Herodotus tells of a steam-bath commonly used by the Scythians. It was constructed of three poles tied together at the top. The tripod was wrapped tightly in woolen cloth. Inside this little tent they placed a dish filled with red-hot stones, Then, hemp was thrown upon the stones, producing a thick warm vapor.
Herodotus tells us the Scythians emerged much refreshed from these vapor baths.
Modern readers will recognize something more.
People from China to India to Moracco, throughout time, have appreciated the calm healing of this ubiquitous herb.
Now, it’s value has been verified by science.
The modern world has been dubious of marijuana since the 1930’s government released its propaganda film, Reefer Madness. Many are still convinced marijuana is dangerous; roughly equivalent to heroin, crack, and fentanyl.
The unknown effects of mixing prescription and over-the-counter drugs doesn’t seem to trouble them as much.
Potheads everywhere get a double benefit from their preferred medicine.
The Rastaman smoking his spliff by is also medicating whatever ailments he’s currently experiencing or ignoring. The guy on the couch with his bong is unknowingly treating his scuffed knee while he’s getting high. What a wonderful plant!
Grandma will vouch for the healing power of her medical marijuana.
All medical marijuana around today, is here because of Professor Mechoulam‘s original research, yet, the most amazing revelation of his findings is largely left unsaid.
Cannabis is good for what ails ya’.
Why does such a wonderful healing agent remain such a secret?
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Exegesis: Marijuana’s capacity to enhance all sorts of physical well-being is not so much a secret as it is submerged beneath the rigid constraints of scientific studies.
Scientists are trained to avoid conclusions. Typically, they restrict their comments to something like: “Our experiments produced such-and-such results”, and that’s the end of it.
Scientists conclude nothing because science is never settled. Nonscientists are left to make their own conclusions from the data - as best they can.