An Indian Perspective on Cannabis for Treatment of Pain
Journal Title: International Journal of Ayurveda and Pharmaceutical Chemistry - Year 2017, Vol 0, Issue 0
Abstract
The history related to the use of medicinal Cannabis has been intimately intertwined with India since the beginnings of human civilization. Since its origin in the lower Himalayas, the diverse cultural, medical and religious uses of the Cannabis plant slowly disseminated around the world. After being outlawed as a narcotic drug in the 20th century, Cannabis has been rediscovered as a much needed medicine for chronically ill patients. Since 2000, a number of countries have initialized national programs to cultivate and distribute Cannabis for medical use, and to stimulate research and development to produce modern medicines from this ancient plant. Unfortunately and ironically, India has not benefitted from these developments, despite the countries’ claim to fame as a major source of information about the medicinal uses of Cannabis. In India untreated chronic pain is one of the major sources of patient’s sufferings and Cannabis medicine can prove to be a welcome alternative to the much more risky opioids derived from the Opium poppy. This review paper explores the origins of Cannabis medicine in India, its historical use as a treatment for chronic pain, and recent scientific developments with Cannabis and its main active constituents, the cannabinoids. Finally, the cannabinoids are compared to opioids for the treatment of pain, in order to make a recommendation for the reintroduction of Cannabis medicine for pain treatment in India today.
Authors and Affiliations
Arno Hazekamp
Keywords
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