Cannabis Roots
The roots of the cannabis plant have a long history of medical use stretching back millennia. However, the therapeutic potential of cannabis roots has been largely ignored in modern times. The root bark, provides a fairly harsh taste due to the fact of the tannin found in the outer portion of the root.
Gout, Arthritis, Joint Pain
A decoction of the boiled roots can be used to treat gout, arthritis, and joint pain.
Fever
A compress, salve or a tea can be made and taken to treat fevers.
Inflammation
A poultice (cataplasm) can be prepared and applied to affected areas.
Skin burns
A salve can be made to treat skin burns.
Hard tumors
A poultice or a compress can be made by boiling the roots and applied to the affected areas.
Postpartum hemorrhage (childbirth)
A juice or a decoction can be made and taken oral'y.
Gonorrhea
Eat raw cannabis
Stomach tonic, infections
Pulverized herbs mixed with wine.
Active compounds
Active compounds identified and measured in cannabis roots include triterpenoids, friedelin (12.8 mg/kg) and epifriedelanol (21.3 mg/kg); alkaloids, cannabisativine (2.5 mg/kg) and anhydrocannabisativine (0.3 mg/kg); carvone and dihydrocarvone; N-(p-hydroxy-β-phenylethyl)-p-hydroxy-trans-cinnamamide (1.6 mg/kg); various sterols such as sitosterol (1.5%), campesterol (0.78%), and stigmasterol (0.56%); and other minor compounds, including choline. Of note, cannabis roots are not a significant source of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabidiol, or other known phytocannabinoids.
Cannabis roots contain many different active compounds, including triterpenoids, friedelin and epifriedelanol (Table 2).18–21 Friedelin is found in many plants, including Aesculus, Cannabis, Citrus, Diospyros, Quercus, Rhododendron, and Vaccinium, as well as algae, lichen, mosses, peat, coal, and mineral wax.22 Epifriedelanol is also abundant in nature.23 The concentration of friedelin and epifriedelanol in cannabis root samples from Mexico, calculated by Slatkin et al., was 12.8 and 21.3 mg/kg, respectively.18 There is currently no research available about the activity of friedelin or epifriedelanol specifically isolated from cannabis roots.
Active compounds in cannabis root Amount/concentration Triterpenoids Friedelin18,207.5–12.8 mg/kg18,20 Epifriedelanol18,2014.5–21.3 mg/kg18,20MonoterpenesFrom initial 2 kg sample of dried powdered roots, 2.3 g oil fraction (extracted with n-hexane) from the root extract was identified as 77.7% carvone and 23.3% dihydrocarvone.24 Carvone24 Dihydrocarvone24Alkaloids Cannabisativine18,25–272.5 mg/kg18,25–27 Anhydrocannabisativine240.3 mg/kg24Sterols Sitosterol281.5%28 Campesterol280.78%28 Stigmasterol280.56%28N-(p-hydroxy-β-phenylethyl)-p-hydroxy-trans-cinnamamide181.6 mg/kg18Choline29
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