With the use of cannabis being prohibited throughout most parts of the world, it is not, therefore, unreasonable to jump to the conclusion that the therapeutic benefits that it holds are a relatively new discovery. However, that belief could not be any further from the actual truth.
It was in 2737 BC that the first recorded use of cannabis being used as a form of medicine was made. The Chinese Emperor Sheng Nung would often drink a tea that was infused with leaves from the cannabis plant in order to treat issues with his memory, gout, and rheumatism.
Even Queen Victoria (1819 – 1901) has been documented to use CBD in order to reduce the cramps associated with the menstrual process.
It is clear to see then that throughout the years of history, cannabis has been used by some for its important therapeutic qualities. It was not until the age of modern medicine that cannabis was not widely recognized by the medical and scientific community, as a result of a distinct lack of evidence.
A game changer
However, things changed in 1839, when the Irish researcher Willam B. O’Shaughnessy looked into the medicinal abilities of the cannabis plant. This set the ball rolling in terms of other physicians and qualified medics researching the potential medical applications of the plant.
In O’Shaughnessy’s research he looked at, in depth, what effects cannabis has on health and how it can be used within a medical setting, i.e. as an anesthetic. His work was considered to be highly controversial at the time.
Although he did not realize it at the time, what O’Shaughnessy had done was open up the door to the discovery of cannabinoids – the compounds that make up the cannabis plant.
Discovering cannabinoids
Almost a century after the work of Willam B. O’Shaughnessy the major advancements that had occurred in technology and research meant that the presence of the compounds within the cannabis plant could now, for the first time, be detected.
This discovery was made by the famous chemist Rovert S. Cahn in 1940. Just a couple of years after this, the chemist Roger Adams was able to successfully isolate the first ever cannabinoid – cannabidiol or CBD as it is now more widely referred to as. It was this work that enabled the discovery of Tetrahydrocannabinol or THC.
How CBD is used today
During the past few years as CBD has become more common place and well known, the stigma that was once associated with its use has started to wane. This has seen an increasing number of people begin using cbd oil for pain and to treat numerous other ailments and mental conditions, such as depression and anxiety.
This has seen an explosion of brands offering CBD in one form or another. And not only for humans, CBD and hemp oil for cats, dogs and other animals is also being used now. It is now in everything from food and drink products, to cosmetics and even clothing. Some of the best brands that you should look out for when using CBD oil include Lazarus Naturals, penguin cbd, and Holmes Organics.
