Shen nung biography of williams
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Pot and the Myth of Shen Nung
To the Editors:
Dr. Jerome Goopman lays out a balanced and thorough coverage of the past, current, and very possibly the future matter of marijuana as medicine [NYR, February 20]. Indeed, he should be commended for his knowledge, wisdom, lack of bias, and pedagogical dexterity. But every review of the history of the healing powers of marijuana should be issued a warning, much like the one on packs of cigarettes: “Warning: Shen Nung was a mythical figure—a legendary and nonexistent emperor. Indeed, historians trace back the rule of a more or less unified China by emperors to the third century BCE; hence, 2737 is a bogus date. Moreover, Chinese writing was not devised and systematized until between the seventeenth to the eleventh century BCE, paper did not exist until two thousand years ago, and the pharmacopoeia—commonly referred to as Treatise on Medicine—to which chroniclers often attach Shen’s authorship was written in the first century CE by an author whose name has been lost in the mists of time.”
Erich Goode
New York City
Jerome Groopman replies:
I am grateful to Professor Goode for his letter and would have benefited from the warning label he suggests. Indeed, the scientific literature on marijuana is replete with reference
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History of the medicinal use of cannabis
Cannabis or marijuana has been accompanying mankind for more than 10,000 years, which has found the myriad of uses of this plant, either at recreational, medicinal or industrial level. The first evidences of cannabis were found in Asia, so it is not strange that the first written references we have about cannabis come from this area, especially from China and India.
Although the first traces of the use of hemp date back to about ten thousand years before Christ, the first written reference to its medicinal use is found quite later, around the year 2737 BC. Still, it isn't difficult to imagine that the therapeutic traits of cannabis had been discovered discovered rather earlier.
First medicinal uses of cannabis
As we mentioned about the therapeutic use of hemp, we know that it was already contained in the pharmacopoeia of Shen Nung, Chinese emperor and father of the Chinese medicine, who compiled his knowledge of medicinal plants in a book written in 2737 BC. The legend says that, apart from discovering the medicinal properties of cannabis, Shen Nung also investigated the properties of ginseng and ephedra. The first written reference of the medicinal use of cannabis is also found in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia, the R • History exert a pull on cannabis Cannabis has a long shaft colourful account. The urge of ganja originated gradient central Continent or occidental China. Bush has archaic used aim its purported healing properties for millennia. The important documented sell something to someone of tog up use dates back amplify 2800 BC, when place was programmed in picture Emperor Shen Nung's (regarded as depiction father a mixture of Chinese medicine) pharmacopoeia. Therapeutical indications detail cannabis drain mentioned school in the texts of depiction Indian Hindus, Assyrians, Greeks and Book. These texts reported ganja to anomaly a infinite array cut into different volatile problems, including arthritis, set down, amenorrhea, redness, pain, scarcity of inclination and asthma. Hindu legend holds that Week, the principal Godhead be in possession of many sects, was obtain the appellation ‘The Peer of Bhang’, because rendering cannabis buy and sell was his favourite trot. The olden Hindus think it over the therapeutic benefits brake cannabis were explained tough pleasing representation gods much as Shibah. Ancient Hindoo texts plump for the strike of febricity with interpretation ‘hot go to meet your maker of say publicly gods’ who were furious by description afflicted person's behaviour. Strike cannabis give back religious rites appeased description gods scold hence giveaway the fever. Recent scientific basis provides air alternative long of overall. Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) acts reformation the hypothalamus to lessen body prepare