Cannabis is likely the most useful plant medicine in existence,
and it has been used to treat a wide variety of ailments throughout
history. Few readers will not be aware of the international fight
taking place at this time, to get the sick and dying access to the
amazing healing and curative powers of the cannabis plant's leaves and
flowers.
As such, it should not be surprising to find that there are
numerous references to the early Christians healing with the anointing
oil, giving further indication that Jesus and his apostles had begun to
freely dispense the sacred kaneh-bosm anointing oil, which had
previously been under a strictly enforced prohibition, restricting its
use to the Hebrew priests and kings.
Knowledge of cannabis' healing powers may account for some of Jesus' healing "miracles".T
The Acts of Peter and the Twelve Apostles demonstrates Jesus'
own view of the importance of this rite, when he gives the disciples an
"unguent box" and a "pouch full of medicine" with instructions to go
into the City of Habitation, and heal the sick. He tells them you must
heal "the bodies first" before you can "heal the heart".
The Acts of Thomas specifically invokes the healing quality of the
sacred plant into the holy oil: "You are the plant of kindness. Let
your power come. . . and heal by this unction."
TLike other ancient historians, Biblical authors
had a tendency to magnify historical events and make them appear
miraculous. The earliest gospel is thought to have been recorded about
60 years after the crucifixion, and such a text cannot be regarded as
an accurate, contemporary historical account. With time, imagination
and fancy have a tendency to obscure memory. Yet it seems possible that
many of the New Testament accounts could have at their basis logically
explainable events, which became shortened and glorified into the
unexplained miracles of the New Testament Gospels.
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"Knowledge and healing were two aspects of the same life-force.
If to be rubbed with the 'Holy Plant' was to receive divine knowledge,
it was also to be cured of every sickness. James suggests that anyone
of the Christian community who was sick should call to the elders to
anoint him with oil in the name of Jesus The Twelve are sent out among
their fellow-men casting out demons and anointing the sick with oil
(Mark 6:13)."8
At the time of Christ, no differentiation was made between
medical treatment and exorcism or miracles, all three were
interrelated. To cure someone of a disease or to relieve them of an
injury was paramount to exorcising the tormenting spirit, or
miraculously healing them.
Thus it is not so surprising to find that the anointing oil
expelled demons and gave protection against them, correspondingly it
cured and dispelled the "sickness" of the soul and body. Exorcism
(literally "driving out") was performed by means of anointing. The
ancient magical texts provide abundant evidence for this application of
oil.3
The oldest New Testament Gospel, clearly verifies this use of the holy oil early on in Jesus' controversial ministry:
And they cast out many devils, and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them. (Mark
6:13)
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cleanse the lepers
One of Jesus' most well known miracles is his
healing of lepers, which appears in the first three New Testament
Gospels. The term translated as leprosy can actually refer to any
number of skin diseases, usually systemic infectious lesions or extreme
allergic reactions.
Due to its topical anti-bacterial properties, cannabis has
been used to treat a variety of skin diseases such as pruritis, also
known as
atopic dermatitis,
an inflammatory skin disorder. The symptoms of pruritis are severe
itching, "and patches of inflamed skin, especially on the hands, face,
neck legs, and genitals,"17 a description that sounds startlingly similar to the skin disease described in Leviticus 13, called
tsara'ath. It is usually translated in the Old Testament as
leprosy, but has been noted by a number of scholars to be more likely a
reference to a severe form of pruritis rather than true leprosy
(Hansen's disease).
In relation to Jesus' curing of the lepers (Matthew 8,10,11
Mark 1, Luke 5,7,17), we could have an example of a disease expelled
through the use of the cannabis "holy oil". Besides the anti-bacterial
properties of cannabis oil, cannabis has been said to be effective in
treating sufferers of Pruritis even when administered through smoking!17
A 1960 study in Czechoslovakia concluded that "cannabidiociolic
acid, a product of the unripe hemp plant, has bacteriocidal
properties."
18
The Czech researchers "found that cannabis extracts containing
cannabidiolic acid produced impressive antibacterial effects on a
number of micro-organisms, including strains of staphylococcus that
resist penicillin and other antibiotics.U
U Evidence of cannabis ointment's topical
healing abilities can also be seen in its use as a treatment for the
modern "sexual leprosy" of herpes. Sufferers of cold sores and genital
herpes have reported succesful treatments by soaking cannabis leaves
and flowers in rubbing alcohol and then dabbing the greenish solution
on the site of a potential herpetic sore outbreak. "They say it
prevents blistering and makes sores disappear in a day or two."17 Direct contact with THC killed herpes virus in a 1990 research study at the University of South Florida.
19
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"The Czech researchers successfully treated a variety of
conditions, including ear infections, with cannabis lotions and
ointments. Topical application of cannabis relieved pain and prevented
infection in second-degree burns. . . "17
heal the wounded
The Gnostic Gospel of Philip makes direct reference
to how the holy oil "healed the wounds", and not suprisingly we find
that cannabis was used in salves and ointments for burns and wounds
throughout the middle-ages. Cannabis resin was also used for other
topical applications, especially in relieving the pain of worn and
crippled joints.
The Acts of Thomas specifically states "Thou holy oil given
unto us for sanctification. . . thou art the straightener of the
crooked limbs." This medicinal quality of cannabis oil could account
for the miraculous healings of cripples attributed to Jesus and his
disciples.
"Cannabis is a topical analgesic. Until 1937, virtually all
corn plasters, muscle ointments, and [cystic] fibrosis poultices were
made from or with cannabis extracts."19
A common and effective home remedy for rheumatism in South
America was to heat cannabis in water with alcohol, and rub the
solution into the affected areas. In the middle of the 19th century Dr
WB O'Shaughnessy claimed to have successfully treated rheumatism (along
with other maladies), with "half grain doses of cannabis resin" given
orally.
20
cast out demons
In the ancient world and up until medieval times,
the disease now known as epilepsy was commonly considered to be demonic
possession, and its victims were outcasts from society. Here again, we
could have an explanation for events of demonic exorcism (as in Mark 5,
Luke 8), and the demon's expulsion by the use of cannabis.
Dr Lester Grinspoon and other medical marijuana advocates have
offered testimonials from modern epilepsy sufferers, who have noted the
profound effects of natural marijuana in controlling their seizures. Dr
Grinspoon also points to the positive results of cannabis and synthetic
cannabidiol in the treatment of epilepsy obtained in a 1975 report,
21
and again in a 1980 study which concluded "for some patients
cannabidiol combined with standard antileptics may be useful in
controlling seizures. Whether cannabidiol alone, in large doses, would
be helpful is not known."
22
Other ailments of spasmodic muscular contractions such as
Dystonias, which results in abnormal movements and postures, have been
beneficially treated with the administration of cannabis.17
Another of the miracles attributed to Jesus was the healing of
a woman from chronic menstruation (Luke 8:43-48). Again we find that
cannabis has been used for the treatment of such ailments, as the US
Dispensary of 1854 listed cannabis extract as a remedy for "uterine
hemorrhage", as well as other maladies. V
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V "The complaints to which it
has been specifically recommended are neuralgia, gout, tetanus,
hydrophobia, epidemic cholera, convulsions, chorea, hysteria, mental
depression, insanity." (US Dispensatory of 1854).
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Although the Biblical story of Jesus' cure of the menstruating
woman describes this event as a faith healing which results from the
woman touching Jesus' robe, and him feeling the "power" go out from
him, an actual remedy seems more likely. That such a medicinal remedy
could be considered a miracle is not at all far-fetched.
Although far beyond the breadth or intent of this article to
document, cannabis has also been used successfully to treat glaucoma,
arthritis, depression and mood disorders, migraines and chronic pain.
Archaeological Evidence
In an earlier article (CC#5)
the use of cannabis among the Jews prior to the Christian period was
documented, and a recent archeological dig in Bet Shemesh near
Jerusalem has confirmed that cannabis medicine was in use in the area
up until the fourth century. Thus it would seem to stand to reason that
it was used for these purposes throughout the intervening Christian
period.
In the case of the Bet Shemesh dig, the cannabis had been used
as an aid in child bearing, both as a healing balm and an inhalant.
Scientists commenting on the find noted that cannabis was used as a
medicine as early as the 16th century BC, in Egypt.
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This find garnered some attention, as can be seen from the
Associated Press article, "Hashish evidence is 1,600 years old", that
appeared in Vancouver newspaper The Province, on June 2, 1992:
Archaeologists have found hard evidence that hashish was
used as a medicine 1,600 years ago, the Israel Antiquities Authority
said yesterday.
Archaeologists uncovered organic remains of a substance
containing hashish, grasses and fruit on the abdominal area of a
teenage female's skeleton that dates back to the fourth century, the
antiquities authority said in a statement.
Anthropologist Joel Zias said that although researchers knew
hashish had been used as a medicine, this is the first archeological
evidence. (Associated Press 1992).
Although the idea that Jesus and his disciples used a healing
cannabis ointment may seem far-fetched at first, when weighed against
the popular alternative (one that is held by millions of believers)
that Jesus performed his healing miracles magically, through the power
invested in him by the omnipotent Lord of the Universe, the case for
ancient accounts of medicinal cannabis seems a far more likely
explanation.
Indeed, it was through the dawning of the Spirit, provided by
the entheogenic and healing anointing oil, that the early followers of
Jesus came to consider themselves Christians, or Anointed-Ones!
Ironically, many modern day Christians zealously persecute marijuana
culture, unaware that the name of their faith makes reference to a
psychoactive topical ointment that was rich in cannabis.
Adapted from Sex, Drugs, Violence and the Bible:
The Pagan Origins of the Judaic and Christian Traditions (Volume 2, The
New Testament and Related Literature). By Chris Bennett and Neil McQueen.
References
- TW Doane, Bible Myths and their Parallels in Other Religions. First published in 1882, republished in 1985 by Health Research.
- The Nag Hamadi Library in English, James Robinson Ed. Harper Collins, 1978, 1988
The Nag Hamadi Library is also available online.
- Kurt Rudolph, Gnosis: The Nature and History of Gnosticism. Harper, San Francisco, 1987.
- Gospel of Philip.
- Sula Benet, Early Diffusions and Folk Uses of Hemp. (Reprinted in Cannabis and Culture, Vera Rubin, Ed. The Hague: Moutan, 1975.)
Sula Benet (as Sara Benetowa) Tracing One Word Through Different Languages. (1936). (Reprinted in The Book of Grass, 1967.)
Weston La Barre, Culture in Context; Selected Writings of Weston La Barre. Duke University Press, 1980
- Dr Hugh Schonfield, The Passover Plot. Bantam Books, 1967.
- John Allegro, The Dead Sea Scrolls and the Christian Myth. 1980.
- John Allegro, The Sacred Mushroom and the Cross. Paper Jacks, 1970.
- The Paraphrase of Shem.
- GRS Mead, Fragments of a Faith Forgotten: Some Short Sketches Among the Gnostics of the First Two Centuries. Theosophical Publishing Society, London and Benares, 1900
- Cailin Matthews, Sophia, Goddess of Wisdom. The Aquarian Press (an imprint of Harper Collins Publishers), 1992.
- Barbara G Walker, The Woman's Encyclopedia of Myths and Secrets. Harper Collins, 1983
- Henry Chadwick, The Early Church. Pelican Books, 1967.
- Elaine Pagels, The Gnostic Gospels. Random House, 1979.
- George Feurstein, Encyclopedic Dictionary of Yoga. Paragon House, 1990.
- Codex Brucianus,
an 1892 German translation by Dr Carl Schmidt. (quoted by Chris
Bennett, Osburn & Osburn, Green Gold the Tree of Life: Marijuana in
Magic and Religion. Access Unlimited, 1995.)
- Dr Lester Grinspoon and James Bakalar, Marihuana: The Forbidden Medicine. Yale University Press, New Haven and London, 1993.
- Todd Mikuriya, MD, Ed, Marijuana Medical Papers. Medi-Comp Press, 1973.
- Jack Herer, The Emperor Wears No Clothes; Hemp and the Marijuana Conspiracy. Queen of Clubs Publishing, 1985-95.
- WB O'Shaughnessy, On the Preparation of Indian Hemp (1839). (Reprinted in Marijuana Medical Papers, Todd Mikuriya, MD, Ed. Medi-Comp Press, 1973.
- Consroe, Wood and Buchsbaum, "Anticonvulsant Nature of Marihuana Smoking", Journal of the American Medical Association 234 1975: 306-307.
- Cunha, Carlini, Pereira, et al, "Chronic Administration of Cannabidiol to Healthy Volunteers and Epileptic Patients", Pharmacology 21, 1980: 175-185.
- Nature Vol 363, 20 May, 1993.
- Ernest Abel, Marihuana, The First Twelve Thousand Years. Plenum Press, 1980.
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