The Leaf THE LEAF November-December 2017 | Page 25

Cannabis Root Can Save Your Life. Here is How
The weed root is the most underutilised part
of the weed plant. Save it because it could
come in handy!
The Roots of Weed Therapy
We use almost every part of the weed plant:
leaves, seeds, flowers, resin, fibre.
During historical times, cannabis root was
highly valued by our ancestors as they used
them for medicine.
While herbal uses from the ancient and
medieval times have survived to present day,
it seems that the numerous useful properties
of cannabis root aren’t mentioned as often as
other plants.
But that doesn’t mean that hemp root does not
have any healthy uses.
Cannabis Roots as Medicine
Analysis of chemical compounds in these
roots show why they are considered such
important healing and anti-inflammatory
herbs.
Cannabis roots are made up of lipids and
sugars.
The ethanol extract of hemp root contains
terpenes that have many benefits:
Friedelin: antioxidant and protects the liver
Hemp root was first recorded in Chinese
medical literature about 5,000 years ago.
The document states that the juice of hemp
root is an effective diuretic.
Ancient Chinese used it to stop haemorrhages
in women after they gave birth.
Chinese literature also documents the use of
hemp root to manufacture gunpowder. Epifriedelanol: can prevent the growth of
tumours
Around 77-79 CE, Pliny, a Roman historian,
published known uses of hemp root in his
book Natural Histories.
He said that when hemp was boiled in water,
it was useful in treating joint stiffness as well
as gout and similar disorders.
Pliny also wrote that raw hemp root could be
applied topically to soothe burn wounds. Piperidine: is used by pharmaceutical
companies as a chemical building block to
create medicine used in psychiatry
Between the 9th and 18th CE, manuscripts in
Azerbaijani also documented the popular uses
of hemp roots as a decoction to treat wounds
and cure fevers.
It was used by Azerbaijani to treat toothaches,
ulcers, and abscesses.
Throughout history there have been other
little known documented uses of cannabis
root.
Pentacyclic triterpene ketones: can kill
cancer cells, reduce inflammation, act as a
diuretic, and reduces bacteria
The alkaloids found in cannabis root s have the
following benefits:
Pyrrolidine: also used by pharmaceuticals as
a building block in the manufacture of
stimulant medications
Small quantities of choline as well as atropine
are found in cannabis roots.
Choline is an essential nutrient that plays an
important role in maintaining health cell
membranes.
Post-menopausal women are at high risk for a
choline deficiency, so they can benefit from
consuming cannabis root tea.
Atropine on the other hand can be used to
relax eye muscles, and can be used to increase
heart rate during resuscitation, and it also has
bronchodilator properties.