History of Hemp

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Humankinds and hemps relationship spans Eons. In fact, the oldest fiber ever found was made of hemp, it was found in an area that was ancient Mesopotamia. Hemp was also used as a textile in China and Eurasia 10,000 years ago(1).

In China The earliest plant used for fiber, was hemp (2 ). In 2737 BC the Chinese Emperor Shen Nung said cannabis was a "superior herb"(3 ). He also documented its use for treating rheumatism, gout, and even absent-mindedness (4 ).

From 5000-3000 B.C. the Yangshao civilization thrived around the middle of the Yellow River in China. They used bows and arrows for hunting, kept dogs and pigs and used hemp for fabrics(5 ). In China around the second century B.C. Hemp was one of the principle crops of Han farmers(6 ). The ashes of the hemp plant was used in the manufacture of fireworks(7). Male plants were used for fabrics, and hemp seed was considered a Cereal food (8 ). Hemp seed was also used in preparation of drinks, in early Chinese culture(9 ).

The ancient Chinese also used Cannabis medically as an analgesic(10 ). Also an old Chinese folk remedy called for cypress nuts, hemp seeds and ale, this would allow a person to drink and not get drunk. Its unclear how effective this was (11 ).

Ancient Chinese Taoist mixed cannabis and other ingredients together then burned them in incense burners and inhaled the smoke(12 ). Early Chinese priest used cannabis stalks to drive away evil. A 2,500 to 2,800 year old mummy was found in China that had been interned with cannabis (13 ).

The Aryans introduced cannabis to Scythians and Thracians. Also members of the cult Dionysus that came from Thrace, Bulgaria, Greece and Turkey are also believed to have smoked cannabis (14 ).

Also Greek historian Herodotus reported in the fifth century BC that Scythians living near the black sea used cannabis(15 ). The Scythians used cannabis as part of their religious rituals(16 ). The ritual was for purification as part of a ceremony to bury the dead. It called for throwing cannabis seeds on red-hot stones. Evidence of smoking cannabis has also been found, it felt that, this use might have been for relaxation and not part of the ceremony(17 ).