The meaning of the symbols of bhang seen in a dream.

Wall. ex Royle.

Family: Ranunculaceae.

Family: Ranunculaceae.

Habitat: The alpine Himalayas from Sikkim to Garhwal and Assam.

English: Indian Aconite, Wolfsbane, Monkshood.

Ayurvedic: Vatsanaabha, Visha, Amrita, Vajraanga, Sthaavaravisha, Vatsanaagaka, Shrangikavisha, Garala.

Unani: Bish, Bishnaag.

Siddha/Tamil: Vasanaavi, Karunaab- hi.

Folk: Bacchanaag, Bish, Mithaa Zahar, Telia Visha.

Action: Narcotic, sedative, antilepro- tic, anti-inflammatory. Extremely poisonous. (Roots possess depressant activity, but after mitigation in cow's milk for 2-3 days, they exhibit stimulant activity.)

Key application: In neuralgia. (Aconitum napellus L. has been listed by German Commission E among unapproved herbs.)

The root contains diterpenoid alkaloids, which act as a powerful poison that affects the heart and central nervous system. Aconitine has a shortlived cardiotonic action followed by

Habitat: Cultivated at Manali and Rahla in Himachal Pradesh. Also found in northwestern Himalayas at altitudes ranging from 2,000 to 4,000 m.

English: Atis Root, Aconite.

Ayurvedic: Ativishaa, Arunaa, Vishaa, Shuklakandaa, Bhanguraa, Ghunapriyaa, Ghunavallabhaa, Kaashmiraa, Shishubhaishajyaa (indicating its use in paediatrics), Vishwaa.

Unani: Atees.

Siddha/Tamil: Athividayam.

Folk: Patis.

Action: Often regarded as non- poisosnous, antiperiodic, anti- inflammatory, astringent (used in cough, diarrhoea, dyspepsia), tonic (used after fevers), febrifuge, antispasmodic (used in irritability of stomach and abdominal pains).

Along with other therapeutic applications, The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India indicates the use of the dried, tuberous root in emesis and helminthi- asis.

The roots yield 0.79% of total alkaloids, of which atisin is 0.4%. Atisine is much less toxic than aconitine and pseudoaconitine. (The inert character of the plant is well known to the hill people, who often use it as a vegetable.) The plant possesses potent immuno- stimulant properties.

Dosage: Root—0.6-2.08 g. (API Vol. I.)... aconitum heterophyllum

Linn.

Synonym: C. indica Linn.

Family: Cannabinaceae.

Habitat: Cultivated all over the country. Commonly occurs in waste grounds, along road side, often becoming gregarious along the irrigation channels of gardens.

English: Hemp, Indian Hemp.

Ayurvedic: Vijayaa, Bhangaa, Maadani, Maatulaani, Indraasana, Trailokya-vijayaa, Tribhuvana- vijayaa, Shukranaashana, Ganjaa, Bhangaa. (Bhangaa is consumed orally; Ganjaa and charas are usually smoked.)

Unani: Bhang, Charas, Qinnab.

Siddha/Tamil: Ganja.

Folk: Bhaanga.

Action: Hallucinogenic, hypnotic, sedative, analgesic, anti- inflammatory, Hemp derivatives are suggested for treating glaucoma and as an antiemetic in cancer chemotherapy. All variants produce initial excitement followed by depression.

Cannabis yields 421 chemicals of various classes—cannabinoids, canna- bispirans and alkaloids. More than 60 cannabinoids have been isolated, the most important one is delta-9- tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).

Toxic constituents are readily absorbed, excreted in urine and feces, stored in lipid tissues, especially CNS, crosses placenta. High doses in animals have damaged developing embryos and resulted in birth defects. (Francis Brinker.)

Dosage: Dried leaves, after removing turbity—125-250 mg powder. (API Vol. I.)... cannabis sativa

Linn.

Family: Datiscaceae.

Habitat: Temperate and subtropical Himalaya from Kashmir to Nepal at 300-1,800 m.

English: False Hemp.

Folk: Akal-ber. Bhang-jala (Punjab).

Action: Diuretic, purgative, expectorant. Used in fevers, and gastric and scrofulous ailments.

The plant contains flavonoids, datis- cin and datiscanin. EtOH (50%) extract of seeds and flowers exhibited marked sedative, highly anti-inflammatory, mild analgesic, antipyretic and diuretic activity in rats.... datisca cannabina

(Linn.) Hassk.

Synonym: E. prostrata Roxb.

Family: Compositae; Asteraceae.

Habitat: Throughout India, up to 2,000 m on the hills.

English: Trailing Eclipta Plant.

Ayurvedic: Bhringaraaja, Bhringa, Bhringaja, Bhrngaaraka, Bhrngaara, Maarkava, Kesharaaja, Keshranjana.

Siddha/Tamil: Karisalaankanni.

Folk: Bhangaraa.

Action: Deobstruent, antihepato- toxic, anticatarrhal, febrifuge. Used in hepatitis, spleen enlargements, chronic skin diseases. Leaf—promotes hair growth. Its extract in oil is applied to scalp before bed time in insomnia. The herb is also used as an ingredient in shampoos.

Key application: As hepatoprotec- tive. (Indian Herbal Pharmacopoeia; The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India.)

The herb should be dried at room temperature under shade. Its active principles are lost due to aerial oxidation during sun drying or drying under reduced pressure below 40°C. The herb contains wedelolactone and demethyl- wedelolactone, which showed a dose- dependenteffectagainstCCl4, d-galac- tosamine- or phalloidin-induced cyto- toxicity in primary cultured rat hep- atocytes, and exhibited potent anti- hepatotoxic property. The whole plant shows effect on liver cell regeneration. Immunoactive property has been observed against surface antigen of hepatitis B-virus. The plant is also reported to be effective in the treatment of peptic ulcer, inflammatory diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, diseases of the gallbladder and skin infections.

Aqueous extract of leaves exhibits myocardial depressant and hypoten- sive activity (unrelated to cholinergic and histaminergic effects).

The roots are very rich in thio- phene acetylenes. Thiophene derivatives show activity against nematodes.

Dosage: Whole plant—3-6 ml fresh juice; 13-36 g for decoction. (API Vol. II.)... eclipta alba

Linn.

Family: Solanaceae.

Habitat: North-western Himalayas. Cultivated on limited scale in North Indian plains.

English: Egyptian Henbane.

Ayurvedic: Paarsika-yavaani (related species), Turushkaa.

Unani: Ajwaayin Khuraasaani, Shuukraan, Tukhm-bang.

Folk: Vajra-bhang.

Action: Sedative.

The leaves and flowering tops contain higher concentration of tropane alkaloids than other species of Hyoscy- amus, used as a source of hyoscine.... hyoscyamus muticus

n. a recreational drug prepared from the Indian hemp plant (Cannabis sativa), also known as pot, marijuana, hashish, and bhang. Smoked or swallowed, it produces euphoria and affects perception and awareness, particularly of time; high doses may cause hallucinations. In the UK cannabis is currently classified as a class B drug under the *Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 (as amended). The medical use of cannabis products for those with ‘exceptional clinical need’ was legalized in 2018; this has so far been taken to include people with epilepsy and those suffering particularly severe effects from chemotherapy. A particular extract of cannabis containing its principal psychoactive ingredient, tetrahydrocannabinol, had already (2010) been licensed for treating spasticity in patients with multiple sclerosis. See Appendix 12 for a list of street names for illicit drugs.... cannabis