finalfullthesisdjpotter

Chapter 1 Introduction
Chapter 1 INTRODUCTION
1.1 Plants as a source of medicines – past and present
Since modern man (Homo sapiens L) first walked this earth he has probably always
exploited plants as medicines. Evidence from burial sites suggests that the
Neanderthals (Homo neanderthalis) also shared this practice. Man’s present day
closest relative the chimpanzee (Pan troglodyte L), medicates with many plant species.
Observations suggest that when the chimp purposefully swallows unchewed leaves of
one of these, Aspilia mossambicensis, it is making use of the dense foliar trichomes to
ensnare gut parasites (Huffman et al. 1996). Conceivably, common ancestors of Homo
and Pan also shared similar practices, since many less developed animal species are
frequently observed consuming plants for what appear to be medicinal, rather than
nutritional, purposes (Sumner, 2000).
There are written records dating back several millennia BCE, from early civilisations on
most continents, which describe man’s use of plants as medicines. These include
American Indian, early European, Middle Eastern, Ayurvedic (Indian sub-continent),
Chinese, Korean and Japanese, and Aboriginal cultures. Cannabis features in many of
these, and in oriental and Middle Eastern countries its use can be traced back many
thousands of years. Evidence suggests that around 3000 BCE Cannabis sativa L was
used as an Ayurvedic (Russo, 2004) and Chinese medicine (Mechoulam, 1986). In
Egypt, mention of medicinal uses of cannabis was written in the Papyrus Ramesseum
III (circa 1700 BCE). More detailed uses were recorded in the Ebers Papyrus (circa
1600 BCE) which describes the use of cannabis as a decoction in enemas,
applications to the eye and topically in the form of medicated bandages (Mannische
1989). An archaeological discovery of cannabis in China dating back 2700 years is
also supportive evidence of its early medicinal use (Russo et al., 2008). In Hebrew,
Greek and Roman texts there are references to the sedative hypnotic uses of cannabis.
These sources refer, inter alia to its use in obstetrics and gynaecological products.
There are also ancient references to the inhalation of smoked cannabis. Most ancient
Middle Eastern and Asian civilisations record it being smoked for medical and ritual
purposes. An archaeological find in Jerusalem, from the fourth century AD, indicates
the use of cannabis vapour in an enclosed environment by women during labour (Zias
et al., 1993). In museums around the Mediterranean (e.g. Empurius North of Barcelona)
there are collections of surgical artefacts, which include pipes for smoking drugs. This
is at least a millennium before the introduction of smoking tobacco from the New World.
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