Cannabis – the oldest crop plants on earth

Many people, including us, are convinced that cannabis products are suitable for health promotion and complementary treatment of ailments and diseases. Not without a reason, as a part of all of us is named after this crop plant: our Endo-Cannabinoid System. That is why it is worthwhile to learn more about cannabis and how it can positively influence and support our welfare.

A little bit of history

Cannabis originally comes from Central Asia and has been used as a medicinal plant for over 5000 years. For the first time Cannabis was mentioned as a medicinal plant in the book of Chinese medicine “Shennong Ben Caojing” as early as 2.737 BC.

In Indian medicine “Ayurveda” the positive effects of cannabis have been known since the 7th century and in Europe its use for medical purposes has been described in medieval recipes since the 9th century. At the end of the 19th century, cannabis developed into a medicine that was often prescribed by doctors. It replaced opium, which was often used at the time, as a pain reliever because it had fewer side effects.

However, the tide began to turn in the first half of the 20th century. In 1924, a ban on cannabis was voted for the first time at the International Opium Conference in Geneva, Switzerland. A “cannabis subcommittee” consisting of only 9 countries voted 6-3 for a global cannabis ban.

In the United States, the Ministry of Prohibition implemented the ban. While its chief Harry Anslinger, had always said that cannabis is not a problem and not harmful to people, he suddenly changed his mind, when alcohol prohibition ended. Now he claimed publicly, that cannabis turns a human into a wild beast. If cannabis would hit Frankenstein’s monster in the stairwell, Anslinger warned, the monster would fall dead with fear. To prove this, Anslinger wrote to the top 30 scientists of the USA, asking if cannabis is dangerous and should be banned. 29 wrote back and said no.

In fact, scientific studies suggest that cannabis is safer than alcohol. Alcohol kills 40,000 people in the U.S. every year. Cannabis doesn’t kill anyone – although country singer Willie Nelson said that one of his friends died because of a bale of cannabis falling on his head.

Our Endo-Cannabinoid System

The Endo Cannabinoid-System was discovered in 1992 while researching the effects of cannabinoids in the cannabis plant, the so-called Phyto-Cannabinoids. Dr. Raphael Mechoulam, William Devane and Dr. Lumir Hanus found out, that the human body produces own cannabinoids, so-called Endo-Cannabinoids, which are absorbed by body’s receptors. These Endo-Cannabinoid receptors are found throughout the human body, including the brain, organs, tissues, glands, and immune cells.

The Endo-Cannabinoid-System is part of the human nervous system, which uses neurotransmitters to transmit signals between the body and the brain. Depending on where the specific receptors are located, the endocannabinoid system takes on different tasks. all with the same goal: the establishment of the inner balance, also known as homeostasis. Homeostasis is a state in which biological processes reach an optimal state of equilibrium. If this condition is disturbed, this promotes complaints and illnesses.

Current research has shown that Endo-Cannabinoids regulate the nervous and immune systems and play an important role in anxiety disorders, pain, insomnia, appetite disorders or even cancer.

That´s CBD

Cannabidiol, in short: CBD, is one of the more than 100 cannabinoids found naturally in the cannabis plant. CBD is similar to the body’s own cannabidoids and works in a similar way in the Endo-Cannabinoid-System. In addition to many historical traditions, modern scientific literature also describes that CBD can be used successfully in various ailments and, above all, without serious risks. This is also confirmed by the World Health Organization (WHO), which classifies cannabidiol (CBD) as harmless.

Cannabis has been pain relieving for ages. In the 1920s, about 60% of the painkillers prescribed were based on cannabis. It can also help with restlessness and has a positive impact on the cardiovascular system. Many modern studies come to the conclusion that CBD has an analgesic, anxiety-reducing, antiseptic and antidepressant effect. It is even said to inhibit the formation of new blood vessels in cancer and thus counteract cancer growth. In addition, the positive, muscle-relaxing effect for the therapy of epilepsy, especially in children, was determined. And when it comes to skin health, there have been reports of the positive effects of cannabis for thousands of years. In 2019, scientists came to the conclusion that CBD is “a safe and effective alternative to treating skin diseases, especially if they have an inflammatory background”. These include, for example, psoriasis and general inflammatory reactions of the skin (dermatitis).

Even the European Parliament comes to the conclusion in 2019 that cannabis and cannabinoids can have therapeutic effects and more research is needed. The deportees of the European Parliament believe that it can reduce weight loss from diseases, alleviate symptoms of mental disorders such as psychosis, epilepsy and Alzheimer’s, help treat asthmaand cancer, and help reduce the risk of obesity and diabetes.

State of the science

However, there are no final clinical studies that clearly prove the effectiveness of CBD in the age of evidence-based medicine. This is certainly not least due to the fact that cannabis has been frowned upon as a drug and has been banned worldwide in recent decades.

It is therefore not surprising that research into the effects of cannabidiol (CBD) on humans is only just beginning. Clinical studies in humans are also very expensive and are mainly financed by large pharmaceutical companies. However, since natural plants and their active ingredients cannot be patented, the motivation to invest tens of millions in their research is rather low.

Critics and opponents have repeatedly cited the lack of clinical trials when warning about the use of CBD products, but you have to argue that the lack of evidence is by no means evidence of ineffectiveness or even harmfulness. So far, nobody has been able to provide proof of the existence of God, but religion is a reality for billions of people, with a proven positive impact on their quality of life.

The fact is that cannabis is a cultivated plant that is thousands of years old, all parts of which can be used meaningfully. And since a low environmental impact from fertilizers is required for their cultivation, it is also an extremely sustainable plant. As a result, the interest and cultivation of commercial or food hemp has increased steadily in recent years.

Our view

Cannabis was the first human crop-plant and has been cultivated since 8000 BC. Hemp oil, CBD and other valuable ingredients of the hemp plant have no intoxicating effects and have been used as remedies for thousands of years. The cannabis ban was completely arbitrary and was never based on scientific evidence of negative effects on humans. In our view, it is simply ridiculous that critics, warning against its use, now demand clear evidence of the effectiveness of CBD.

The fact is that cannabis is increasingly used as medicine today. Among other things, also CBD oil obtained from the cannabis plant. A large and growing number of people confirm the effectiveness of CBD oil and report a positive impact on their quality of life. And we are also convinced of CBD products as natural remedies. They can be easily integrated into everyday life and, in our experience, can also be used ideally as a preventive measure or as a supplement to a variety of complaints and diseases.

So in short, at the moment health claims are not backed up by sufficient research but this will likely change very soon looking at the many thousands of studies which are ongoing today. All we know for sure is that many people have stated that taking CBD has significantly benefitted them. If you have any doubts whether CDB products are right for you, for instance because you are using other medication, we recommend that you check with your physician before you start.

If you share our love for natural organic CBD, you’ve come to the right place!

We wish you an enjoyable shopping experience!

Jay, Mike and Aris