Cannabis

lat. Cannabis

Group: Grass and Green Components

Even the devils know 
And lift their hands in wonder at 
The beauty of the snow. 

Kyorai

Hemp (Cannabis) is a flowering annual plant from Cannabis family which includes hops (Humulus) as well. One of the interesting facts is that most of the members are often dioecious (distinct male and female) plants. That is kind of rare in the botanical world. The most popular species are Sativa, Indica and Ruderalis .

Cannabis has been used by humans for thousands of years. Throughout history, it has been good for clothing, food, medicine, spiritual and religious rituals, for making paper, ropes, clothing, etc. You name it! 

As early as 3000 A.D. the Chinese were weaving fabric from hemp and were eating the seeds. Also, farmers grew hemp as part of their diet, alongside rice, barley, millet and soybeans. Every single part of the plant is edible, including the leaves, buds and seeds, which can be served raw in a salad, sprinkled over porridge, or ground down to make flour pasta and bread. Hempseed oil is dark green aromatic and extremely healthy. I add it to salads with pure olive oil. It gives such a nice hint to any dish. The oil is of high nutritional value because of essential fatty acids, which match the balance required by the human body. The oil is also widely used for skincare such as body butter, lip balms, face creams. I apply hemp oil on my skin when it's very dry air in the apartment from the heat. Feels soft and good!

Hemp seed oil is renowned for its skin moisturizing and rejuvenating properties. Essential fatty acids have the ability to enter directly into the lipid layers of skin cells, replenishing the oils that are missing due to sun exposure, poor nutrition or neglect; and as shown by clinical studies it can actually slow down the aging effects on skin. Throughout history, the anti-inflammatory properties of hemp seed oil have been used as a soothing restorative to dry damaged skin. The replenishing nutrients of hemp seed oil are able to penetrate deep into skin cells, providing natural emollients and a lasting barrier to moisture loss and increasing the skin’s natural capacity for moisture retention.

Hemp seeds actually are nuts (botanical term), and they are very tasty. You can buy them shelled, roasted, ground, etc. Unfortunately in some countries (Canada, USA) the seeds have been sterilized which I think kills some of the healthy properties (like in any living organism). But the taste still remains nutty and delicious. It's believed that the Buddha survived for six years on one hemp seed a day.  Hemp producers sell hemp seeds as a health food, as they are rich in heart-healthy, essential fatty acids, amino acids, vitamins (including vitamin K) and minerals.

Ground seeds are sold as a base for a hemp drink that is full of protein, fiber and amino acids. You can also buy hemp beverage in healthy supermarkets. Love it! In India hemp drink is called Bhang. It's a brew of milk (or yogurt), hemp, almonds and spices. It is such an integral part of Indian life, let's say like beer in the West. 

The Greek philosopher Democritus stated that cannabis was drunk with wine and myrrh to create states for visions, and later the medicinal uses of cannabis were discovered. The Roman doctor Galen noted that rich gourmets were served with cannabis-seed dessert, which had beneficial effects. Also the drink was intended to be an analgesic.

Natural philosopher Pliny the Elder mentioned cannabis in his encyclopedic work "Naturalis Historia" (Natural History) as a medicinal, nutritional and a textile plant. Arabs in the Middle East developed sweets made from cannabis, dried fruits, nuts and honey mashed into a sticky paste, which became very popular in Egypt and Morocco. The Sufis of the Middle East developed sacramental chewing gum to aid the whirling dervishes in making contact with God. In today’s Nepal, hemp oil and seeds are used regularly in cooking, as well as elsewhere in the world for repasts.  Saduhs chew the leaves for their mild sedative effect, in the same way that coca leaves are used by South Americans. The modern era of medicinal marijuana is used as a serious herbal (homeopatic) cure for many medical conditions, including asthma, multiple sclerosis and also for pain relief.

In perfumes hemp is used to enhance stylish creations like the Vacances from Strange Invisible Perfumes or to be explicit in its “deep and penetrating beauty,” like in the Cannabis Flower Demeter Fragrance. The beautiful and unisex mix "Hemp and Leather" by Robbie VanGogh is a careful balance achieved in the bottle (nicely designed), but once on the skin it apparently can go in the direction depending on what your more favorite ingredient is, or even depending on the mood. I tried it a few times and sometimes the hemp lingers and sometimes over time leather takes over.