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HEMP -- ITS HISTORY -- TRADITIONAL AND POPULAR APPLICATION

KONOPI JAKO LEK (Hemp) [in Czech {Slovak} except for summaries] 

Acta Universitatis Palackianaw Olomucensis--Tom. VI 1955

Prof. Dr. Jan Kabelik

Summary (p. 41) 

A review of hemp applications -- hemp shoots and hemp seeds -- taken from ancient herbaria, popular pharmacology, and the present official pharmacology has been presented inasmuch as partial recordings of the application of the cannabis extract have been extant. The author ascertains that the antibiotic and analgetic effect of the hemp, forgotten in nowadays medical science, was made use of by our forefathers particularly. In the following reports no mention is made of the hashish effect and this for the reason that our hemp does not possess any stupefying effect. In Europe hashish had been unknown up to Napoleon's Campaign to Egypt and has been imported from then on.  

THE ANTIBACTERIAL EFFECT OF CANNABIS INDICA  

Summary (p. 55-56) 

Our study of the Mideuropean flora with regard to its contents of substances producing antibacterial effects comprehends 3,000 species from which the Indian hemp --- Cannabis indica --- grown in Czechoslovakia has been selected for elaborate investigation. A preliminary method of isolation accomplished by paper chromatography with the disclosure of an effective zone in the biological way has been described.

The most advantageous methods of extraction were determined, and the bactericide effect of the hemp substances experimentally proved in vitro on Gram-positive microorganisms: Staphylococcus pyogenes autreus haemolyticus, Staphylococcus aureus --- resistant to penicillin, Streptococcus beta haemolyticus, Streptococcus viridans, Pneumococcus Cornyebacterium diphteriae, and Bacillus anthracis.

Gram-negative microorganisms of the typhus-coli group remain resistent, as well as Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Proteus vulgaris. An excellent antibacterial effect on Mycobacterium in vitro even in a dilution 1: 150,000 could be ascertained.

A parallel between the bactericide effect of isolated, amorphous, and crystal substances, and a comparison of the sensibility of the two applied bacterial methods, both the modified Oxford method and the tests in a liquid medium was made in detail. The limit of efficacy in the maximal dilution of biologically active substance (1: 100,000) and the velocity of their effect in various dilutions were determined. The influence of inactivating factors has been studied in detail. Blood, plasma, and serum partly inactivate them and reduce their antibacterial effect.

As a conclusion, a comparison of the efficacy of these active substance[s] with penicillin and streptomycin at various pH was worked out, and a summary of hemp preparations manufactured for the purpose of clinical application in stomatology, oto-rhino-laryngology, dermatology and phthisiology has been given.

 PHARMACODYNAMIC EFFECT OF SUBSTANCES ISOLATED FROM CANNABIS

 Summary (p. 71)  

A preliminary pharmacologic investigation of the hemp substances was carried out. It was ascertained that the isolated hemp extract possesses analgetic, anticonvulsive and locally anaesthetic properties. Administered to white mice per os its toxicity was determined with 1.83 g / kg as LD-50.* (*Ed. note...LD-50 ratio of 18,300: 1 for a concentrated extract.) Acid II and the acetylderivative of the canabidiol-acid --- pure substances obtained from hemp do not possess these pharmacologic properties. All the investigated substances were observed to bring forth local irritations.

Further studies will have to explain this irritative effect with regard to the fact that the extract from the drogue, (sic) when being deprived of a part of its ballast substances only, does not show to be an irritative factor in clinical use but, on the contrary, does relieve pain entirely, a fact having been known to ancient physicians, and nowadays newly confirmed both by stomatologists and oto-laryngologists.  

THERAPEUTICAL RESULTS IN STOMATOLOGY AFTER APPLICATION OF SUBSTANCES OBTAINED FROM CANNABIS INDICA  

Summary (p. 77-78)  

Cannabis substances were applied either in the form of a 5% hempsalve with lanolin, or they were used in the form of alcohol extracts for mouth sprayes. (sic) The application of these substances shows significant positive results in the treatment of herpes labialis, paradental painful gum pockets, gum capuches over the wisdom teeth, dry sockets, aphthae and ulcerous gingivostomatitis. More than five hundred patients were subjected to this treatment.

Cannabis substances found their application to practical advantage mixed with sterile tooth-powder for the treatment and maintainance of a vital tooth pulp. This was done in cases of indirect covering of the tooth pulp (about 300 patients -- 80 of whom were reexamined), and in those of direct covering (about 70 cases -- with 15 patients reexamined). Even here quick analgesia was considered to be the positive effect. In two patients, direct covering was experienced with teeth destined for extraction beforehand, and the extraction performed a certain time thereafter and the teeth studied histologically. For general therapeutical use, it is suggested to verify these methods in further cases or, eventually, to find methods of a more suitable aplication of cannabis substances in direct or indirect covering of the tooth pulp.  

APPLICATION OF THE CANNABIS INDICA EXTRACT IN PRESERVING STOMATOLOGY 

Summary (p. 81-82)  

In 64% of patients with deep dental caries incidence, and in more than 30% cases of casually opened or irritated tooth-pulp, and finally in 41% of persons suffering from pulpitis partialis positive response could be observed when treated with cannabis paste. This result corresponds to the analogous number obtained on application of the Lezovic-paste. (Paste containing a high ratio of streptomycin, penicillin, tricresol or benzocaine respectively.) The anaesthetic effect of cannabis has been attested: in numerous cases with negative response to therapy painlessness lasting for several days could be attained, in many patients painless necrosis could be achieved. In a number of cases the failure was due to an unsuitable vehicle that did not liberate the antibioticum in the right proportion. (The same vehicle as with the Lezovic-paste was made use of.) Future research work will have to include further clinical control, histological investigations and the search for a more proper vehicle.)  

STUDY ON THE EFFECT OF CANNABIS INDICA IN OTO-RHINO-LARYNGOLOGY 

Summary (p. 85) 

A positive response due to antibiotics obtained from hemp could be observed in patients with otitis, ulcers of the anterior narines, and furuncular otitis. With chronical otitis positive results could be obtained in most cases -- failure, however, in patients with pyocyaneum and proteus infections. The most striking effect could be observed with sinusitis, particularly with both-sided sinusitis maxillaris when one side had been treated with penicillin on control with negative result, whilst the other side had been healed by three punctures of hemp extract. The sinus resultlessly treated wit penicillin showed an immediate positive response to hemp thereafter.  

EFFECTIVENESS OF CANNABIS INDICA ON CHRONIC OTITIS MEDIA

 Summary (p. 89)  

Local application of cannabis indica was experienced in 18 patients suffering from chronic otitis media, and in 4 patients after mastoidectomy. A significant improvement was noticed in 13 cases of chronic otitis. Up to the present, our experiences are of a rather short time, i.e., of three weeks only. It will be necessary to test cannabis with other more proper vehicles that would gradually liberate antibiotica on a satisfactory scale.  

PRELIMINARY STUDY ON THE LOCAL EFFECT OF CANNABIS INDICA --- A REMEDY FOR SPECIFIC FISTULAS  

Summary ( p. 92)  

The reported results of our preliminary investigations made it possible to establish that specific fistulas respod positively to hemp extracts, except the cases brought about by pyocyaneum infection.  

IMPORTANCE OF HEMPSEEDS IN THE TUBERCULOSIS THERAPY  

Summary (p. 106-107)  

The application of the hempseed in the tuberculosis therapy is based on a thirty years' experience acquired with regard to diet at the sanatorium in Jince. The right function of the liver has always been considered by the authors as the necessary supposition for complete assimilation: that is why those commands and limitations, nowadays known as the fundamental rules of a liver diet, have been stressed. To a certain extent, we consider it to be the universal base of every diet therapy. Next to the vitamins B-1, C and A the tuberculosis diet must contain protein substances above all and among those particularly such as got from nature the faculty to yield building material for the construction of the organism. Such are especially curd, egg-yolk and spare protein substances contained in corn, nuts and other fruits. It is essential to get these proteins prepared without their being denatured. Curd prepared in an expert way becomes a precious dietetic, it is worthless in its tough or coagulated from. Analgous observations can be made with raw or hard boiled egg-yolks. A daily dose of only 15 or 20 g of oatflakes in the form of porridge prepared in an expert way proves to be a highly effective substance in a short time, whereas twenty times as much cereals denatured by baking or boiling in water, show to be a mere indifferent foodstuff.

Ground hempseeds extracted by milk at a temperature from 60 to 80 degrees C. prove to be analogically --- even in their smallest doses --- an utmost effective remedy. The mouldable organism of the consumptive child is a good criterion for such a diet, eked out with hempseeds.  

 (Special thanks to Jack Herer, author of "The Emperor Wears No Clothes" for pointing out this forgotten study from Czechoslovakia.)

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