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Hemp Sativa what is it?
In this article we will talk about what cannabis sativa is, a plant belonging to the genus of cannabinaceous.
A little bit of history.
The plant is also called “useful hemp”, because it has multiple uses. It owes its name to the Latin “sativus”, “sown”, and indicates the plants that can be cultivated. Originally Sativa hemp was grown in areas Asia, China, India, and was known for its precious healing and medicinal properties. According to some studies, the cultivation of hemp Sativa dates back to the Neolithic. It is therefore one of the oldest and most exploited crops by man.
In Italy, the cultivation of cannabis sativa dates back to 13 thousand years ago. It was introduced from the East and took root in the Roman Empire in order to produce ropes, canvases and other textile materials. The fibers obtained from the hemp plant are in fact very resistant, and even today we have an extraordinary example of this art in the Amerigo Vespucci, a ship launched in 1931 and whose ropes and canvases are made of hemp.
Outside Asia in the West, the cultivation and production of hemp sativa spread only starting from the eighteenth century, with the increase in naval and commercial exchanges.
Since the Second World War, our country for hemp production was second only to Russia, which nevertheless had better quality fibers.
Later, cannabis sativa will be used for recreational purposes (the one for which it is best known in present times) and for its THC content.
Nowadays Sativa hemp is grown mainly for textile, industrial or construction use. However, there is no lack of recreational and therapeutic uses, to exploit the numerous beneficial properties of this plant. However, hemp is sometimes also used to produce paper, also exploiting the fact that in this way it is possible to produce it generating a lower environmental impact, avoiding excessive use or consumption of trees.
Sativa hemp appearance and its properties.
Cannabis sativa is a variety of plant belonging, as we have said, to the cannabinaceous. It is a variety whose cycle is summer-spring, and for this reason, it adapts well to the Mediterranean climate. The plant is a shrub that can reach up to seven meters in height. It has very characteristic leaves which are palmate-lanceolate and have a serrated edge. The roots sink into the ground up to over two meters, which gives stability to the hemp Sativa plant. Among the numerous beneficial properties of legal hemp Sativa we remember those related to the substances (cannabinoids) contained in it: among them, there is THC, one of the most recognized psychoactive compounds.
The effects and beneficial properties.
The effects and beneficial properties of hemp Sativa are in any case now known: its anti-inflammatory, anticonvulsant, relaxing properties. CBD (cannabidiol, one of its non-psychoactive components) induces calm and well-being helps regain appetite and promote sleep and relaxation. Sclerosis, anorexia, tumours, glaucoma, rheumatoid arthritis, mycosis and other diseases: there is a long list of disorders and diseases that can be treated with the help and use of hemp Sativa. Despite prohibition and countless attempts to “get rid of” hemp Sativa and to prevent its cultivation and production, its numerous properties and beneficial effects have led many states to rethink the use that can be made of hemp Sativa, and move ever more decisively towards the path of its possible legalization in the future.
Hemp health benefits.
So, what is sativa hemp if not a concentrate of beneficial effects for health and for those who take it? There are many health benefits and beneficial properties that are recognized to legal hemp, and which can vary depending on the type of substance that is taken and the percentage of THC contained in it. Despite all the rhetoric surrounding the use of cannabis sativa and its cultivation. The resin of hemp sativa contains all its characterizing functional substances: terpenes, flavonoids, cannabinoids. From the plant are obtained the numerous products based on legal hemp or those used for recreational purposes, containing THC. The denominations are what we know well, “hashish”, marijuana, and the like.
Smoking or consuming marijuana or other drugs can cause temporary feelings of well-being and euphoria, as well as many unpleasant side effects. In the case of cannabis, the effects are limited but can include paranoia, hallucinations, personality disorders and exaggerated appetite increase.
Use of Sativa hemp in ancient times and today.
In ancient times, hemp sativa was used as an antiseptic and analgesic. Recently these properties have been strengthened and used to prepare topical applications that serve, for example, to heal burns. Other properties of cannabis are exploited for the preparation of oils, ointments, medicaments and herbal teas. Cannabis (in particular, its best-known compound, CBD) can help in the treatment of rare and rather serious diseases such as epilepsy, Alzheimer’s disease, nausea, chronic pain and side effects due to the treatment of tumours such as cancer, in association with radiotherapy or HIV therapies. Despite this, there are now many studies that attest to the value and benefits of hemp sativa, from the reduction of chronic pain and spasms, due to the properties we have indicated above (analgesic, anti-inflammatory, muscle relaxants, etc.).The results are also different and may vary from person to person.
Hemp indica.
Hemp Indica is a variant of cannabis. Cannabis sativa differs in many ways from Indica: first of all, it usually comes from crops in Mexico or Thailand, India, Colombia; Sativa usually takes a longer time to reach full bloom.