The Therapeutic Use of Cannabis sativa (L.) in Arabic Medicine

Abstract

Abstract Arab scientists were several centuries ahead of our current knowledge of the curative power of hemp (Cannabis sativaL., Cannabaceae). Modern Western scientific literature ignores their contribution on the subject. We review in this paper the therapeutic uses of the plant in Arabic medicine from the 8th to the 18th century. Arab physicians knew and used its diuretic, anti-emetic, anti-epileptic, anti-inflammatory, painkilling and antipyretic properties, among others.