153. Unearthing Hemp's Enduring Legacy: From Ancient Fields to Modern Wellness Insights 🌱

The story of hemp is a narrative of humanity and our deep connection to the plant kingdom. For 12 millennia, this plant has been in harmonious partnership with humans, offering its nurturing essence to civilizations across the globe. Its journey from ancient cultivation to its contemporary appreciation is a worthy read.

Archaeological evidence confirms that Hemp was one of the first plants cultivated by humans 10,000-12,000 years ago in northeastern Asia! This enduring relationship highlights how deeply our ancestors understood and utilized the botanical resources around them, long before modern science. From its fibers used in textiles, ropes, and early forms of paper, to nutrient-rich seeds and its therapeutic properties, hemp has consistently supported human well-being.

Written records of hemp's medicinal applications across ancient cultures speak volumes about its relevance for wellness today. In China, around 2800 BCE, Emperor Shen Nung included cannabis in his pharmacopoeia, prescribing it for ailments like gout, rheumatism, malaria, constipation, female disorders (cramping), and pain. Fast forward to ancient Egypt, where the Ebers Papyrus (circa 1500 BCE) documented hemp as a treatment for inflammation and pain. The ancient Greeks, including the renowned physician Dioscorides, used it for earaches, edema, and inflammation. And Arab physicians from the 8th to the 18th centuries harnessed its diuretic, antiemetic, anti-epileptic, anti-inflammatory, pain-killing, and antipyretic qualities. Our ancestors utilized this plant for a comprehensive range of health challenges.

Perhaps one of the most compelling scientific validations of hemp's historical uses is the discovery of our own endocannabinoid system (ECS), which I discuss in depth in this blog post. This biological system, present in all vertebrates, plays a vital role in regulating a wide array of functions, including mood, sleep, appetite, pain sensation, and immune response. What's astonishing is that our bodies naturally produce cannabinoids (endocannabinoids) that interact with this system, and...  the Hemp/Cannabis plant also produces its own unique cannabinoids (phytocannabinoids) that can engage with these very same receptors.

This incredible interspecies dependency, a philosophy long acknowledged by indigenous cultures, suggests a co-evolution (a concept I discuss in this blog post about the microbiome), demonstrating that humans have evolved with built-in receptors specifically designed to interact with compounds found in plants. It’s a powerful, science-based argument against dismissing this plant's connection to our well-being.

An extensive historical record stands in stark contrast to the limited perspective about plants and healing promoted in modern times. The kind of information we receive about natural Herbal Remedies is partially dictated by those with a financial interest in synthetic alternatives. (I wrote a whole blog post about this.) Some "research" funded by Big Pharma appears designed to cast doubt on Herbal Remedies, including CBD. It's an attempt to limit CBD's use through stringent regulations. ​This often includes biased studies that try to draw parallels between exceedingly high dosages of CBD—thousands of times greater than the "minimum effective doses" used by Herbalists—and typical applications.​ This approach distorts the perception of CBD's safety in real-world usage. For example, at Spiral Herbal Remedies, we suggest 6mg as the dose for our Organic, Lab-Tested, THC-Free CBD Isolate Oil. This is in stark contrast to the 3500+mg doses sometimes used in the"research" quoted in Harvard journals.

This tactic appears to be intentionally designed to generate negative results, which are then used to influence regulatory bodies like the FDA and FTC, making it increasingly difficult for Herbal practitioners like myself to bring high-quality, ethically produced CBD products to the general public. Just look at our glowing Google reviews to see the difference quality makes!

A calculated dismissal of millennia of usage, coupled with biased research, because it doesn’t fit a commercial model, is a disadvantage to us as 21st-century people seeking alternative, holistic healing. There are echoes of the past at play here. Dismissing this wisdom and demonizing those who champion it mirrors the tragic Witch Hunts of the Middle Ages, a topic I will be exploring in an upcoming post.

As the founder and owner of Spiral Herbal Remedies, my adult life has included working as an RN, a mother, an artist, and now as a Clinical Herbalist, running my own shop for nearly a decade. My mission is to build a bridge between ancient wisdom and contemporary understanding. Working for 13 years as a Registered Nurse at a Harvard teaching hospital, with a decade in clinical research, instilled in me a rigorous appreciation for precision, careful methodologies, and an in-depth understanding of physiological interactions.

This training, coupled with the discovery of a direct lineage to Hereditary Herbalist families in Ireland dating back to the 1100s, shapes Spiral Herbal Remedies’ commitment to quality, plant-based solutions. Discovering my heritage led me to study Clinical Herbalism for three years and to run my own shop for nearly a decade.

Frustratingly, the current regulatory environment creates hurdles for us in even discussing the rich history of CBD on our product pages, preventing us from being found on Google, making it challenging to reach a wider audience. This underscores the importance of direct education and personal connection through our shop and blog posts. Wellness support is a personal journey, and delivering premium, lab-tested CBD products for discerning individuals.

Visit our website to explore our ethically sourced, premier hemp-derived products and more! ✨

I'll be delving into the topic of sleep in our next blog post, so be sure to sign up for our newsletter (at the bottom of the home page) and check back frequently for new insights! For those eager to deepen their understanding of plant-based practices, we are adding a new educational opportunity: another Herbalism class is starting in the next few weeks! Please check our classes tab and reach out if you’re interested in joining us! Space is very, very limited.

 Unearthing Hemp's Enduring Legacy: From Ancient Fields to Modern Wellness Insights 🌱