Marijuana Medicine: A World Tour of the Healing and Visionary Powers of Cannabis

Excerpts & Samples

By Christian Rätsch

Publisher : Inner Traditions/Bear & Company

ABOUT Christian Rätsch

Christian Rätsch
Christian Rätsch, Ph.D., is a world-renowned anthropologist and ethnopharmacologist who specializes in the shamanic uses of plants. He is the author of Marijuana Medicine and coauthor of Plants of the Gods, Shamanism and Tantra in the Himalayas, Witchcraft Medicine, and The Encycloped More...

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Description

A comprehensive survey of the therapeutic, historical, and cultural uses of cannabis in traditions around the world.


• The most complete visual record of cannabis culture ever published.


• Christian Ratsch is one of the world's foremost ethnopharmacologists and is the current president of the German Society for Ethnomedicine.


Marijuana Medicine explores the role of hemp in medicinal systems spanning the globe. Cannabis has accompanied the development of human culture from its very beginnings and can be found in the healing traditions of cultures throughout Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Americas. Even today it is an important part of many Asian healing traditions: in Ayurveda cannabis is praised for its tonic and aphrodisiac qualities and in traditional Chinese medicine it is cited as a superb antidepressant. It also remains a significant part of the healing and visionary traditions of Latin American curanderos and Brazilian, Nepalese, and Indian folk medicine. Modern research has confirmed the effectiveness of marijuana's application in treating such diseases as asthma and glaucoma. Christian Ratsch profiles the medicinal, historical, and cultural uses of cannabis in each of these societies and medical systems, providing remedies and recipes for those interested in how cannabis can be used to treat specific conditions. 

"The historical, medicinal, cultural, and visionary uses of marijuana (Cannabis sativa) in Africa, Asia, India, Europe, and the Americas is discussed in this visual tribute to a versatile plant. The dialog is clear and engaging, yet maintains a scientific approach. Complete with very good photography, this has to be the most complete pictorial and informative presentation of Cannabis."

American Herb Association



"Ratsch has produced a masterful overview, filled with an enormous scholarship."
The Book Reader, Spring/Summer 2001