Cannabis in Ayurveda: The Ancient Science Behind India's Sacred Herb

For thousands of years before the word 'CBD' existed, India's healers were working with a plant they called Vijaya, the one who conquers. Cannabis was not a fringe herb in ancient India. It was embedded in the Vedas, prescribed in Ayurvedic texts, offered to Lord Shiva, consumed by warriors before battle, and used by sadhus to quiet the mind. Understanding cannabis through this lens reveals that what modern science calls the endocannabinoid system, Ayurveda intuitively mapped centuries ago.

The Historical Roots: Cannabis in Ancient India

Cannabis has been part of Indian civilization for more than 3,000 years, with references appearing in ancient Indian texts and historical records. As documented in a review of the history of cannabis and the Endocannabinoid system published on PMC (NCBI), records of medicinal cannabis use appear in the Indian subcontinent before the Common Era, making India one of the earliest documented cultures to systematically engage with the plant as medicine.

• Atharva Veda (c. 1200–1000 BCE): Cannabis is listed as one of five sacred plants (Pancha Parna), described as a source of happiness, a joy-giver, and a liberator from fear and anxiety.
• Sushruta Samhita (c. 1st millennium BCE): The foundational Ayurvedic surgical text recommends cannabis plant extract for treating respiratory ailments, diarrhoea, and as an anaesthetic aid in procedures.
• Charaka Samhita (c. 100 BCE–200 CE): Describes cannabis as a remedy for digestive disorders and notes its Vata-pacifying properties, particularly for conditions rooted in nervous system imbalance.
• Raja Nighantu (c. 13th–15th century CE): Classifies cannabis under its properties of inducing sleep, reducing pain, and stimulating appetite, mirroring modern cannabinoid pharmacology.
• Indian Hemp Drugs Commission Report (1894): A landmark 3,281-page colonial study involving over 1,100 interviews across India concluded that moderate use of cannabis had no significant harm and was deeply woven into Indian religious, medical, and social life.

Cannabis and Lord Shiva: The Mythology

The relationship between Lord Shiva and cannabis is among the most enduring narratives in Hindu mythology, and it fundamentally shaped how cannabis was perceived and used in India.

The Samudra Manthan (Churning of the Ocean)

As per the legend in the Vishnu Purana, the Devas and Asuras together churn the cosmic ocean in pursuit of Amrita, the nectar of immortality. From the ocean emerges Halahala, a deadly poison threatening to destroy all creation. Unable to withstand its power, the gods approach Shiva for help. He consumes the poison, which turns his throat blue, earning him the name Neelakantha. Goddess Parvati then offers him Vijaya (cannabis) to soothe the burning and restore his calm. In this narrative, cannabis is positioned as a sacred healing herb, powerful enough to balance divine distress.

Shiva and the Fields

A mythological story describes Shiva wandering into the fields after a conflict with his family, overcome by exhaustion and heat. He falls asleep beneath a tall leafy plant. On waking, he tastes the leaves and is instantly revived. The plant becomes his favourite, and he is thereafter known as the Lord of Bhang. This story gives cannabis its name Vijaya: the one who is unbeaten, the conqueror, reflecting its power to restore energy and calm the mind.

Cannabis in Ayurvedic Medicine: How It Was Used

Ayurvedic physicians worked with cannabis in multiple forms and for a wide range of conditions. The whole plant was engaged, not merely a single extract.

• Bhang: A preparation made from the leaves and stems, typically consumed as a drink or paste. Used for digestive support, fever management, and anxiety relief.

• Ganja: The dried flowering tops, used primarily in higher-potency formulations for chronic pain, nervous disorders, and insomnia, referenced historically as a soporific and appetite stimulant in the 1500 A.D. Dhurtasamagama.

• Charas: The resin, reserved for more serious conditions and used sparingly in classical formulations under careful supervision.

• Cannabis-infused ghee and oils: Used both internally and topically for joint pain, inflammatory skin conditions, and muscle tension.

• Rasayanas (herbal tonics): Cannabis was occasionally included in multi-herb formulations called rasayanas, aimed at longevity, vitality, and immune support according to the 1894 Hemp Commission Report.

Key Therapeutic Uses in Ayurvedic Practice

 

Usage by Brahmins, Sadhus, and Warriors

1. Warriors and Soldiers 

Rajput warriors historically consumed bhang before battle to suppress fear and fatigue. The plant, reverently named Vijaya (the unbeaten), was used ritually to calm nerves and reduce pain perception before conflict, a practice extensively documented by J.M. Campbell in the 1894 Indian Hemp Drugs Commission Report.

2. Sadhus and Yogis

For renunciants, cannabis acts as a tool to transcend ego-consciousness and connect with Shiva's energy. As detailed by Godlaski (2012), while lay worshippers consume oral bhang during festivals, smoking potent flowering buds is a distinct practice strictly reserved for holy men devoted to rigorous asceticism and yoga.

3. Brahmins and Scholars

Because alcohol was considered Tamasic (spiritually impure), scholarly classes utilized low-potency cannabis for deep study and rituals. Morningstar (1985) highlights that small quantities were used to promote focus and ease the physical discomfort of prolonged seated meditation, though potent forms like charas were not condoned for this group.

The Modern Science Bridge: The Endocannabinoid System

In 1964, Israeli biochemist Raphael Mechoulam isolated THC from cannabis. By the late 1980s and early 1990s, scientists had identified CB1 and CB2 receptor subtypes and the endogenous cannabinoids (anandamide and 2-AG) that the body produces naturally. This discovery explained, through molecular biology, what Ayurveda had observed empirically for millennia.

As outlined in a 2025 review of the Endocannabinoid system published on PMC (NCBI), the endocannabinoid system is central to maintaining homeostasis across the neurological, immune, and metabolic systems. It regulates pain perception, inflammation, mood, sleep, and appetite. These are precisely the domains Ayurvedic texts attributed to cannabis under Vijaya's therapeutic profile.

CBD vs THC: An Ayurvedic Lens

Ayurveda does not categorise plants by isolated chemical constituents, but its framework of Gunas (qualities), Doshas (functional energies), and Prabhava (special potency) maps meaningfully onto the modern distinction between CBD and THC.

What the Ancient Texts Caution

Ayurveda did not prescribe cannabis without reservation. Classical texts were explicit about the conditions under which it was appropriate and the risks of its misuse.

• Shodhana (purification) was required: Raw cannabis was considered to have impurities (Ama) that needed to be processed before medicinal use. Texts describe purification methods involving soaking, drying, and combining with specific herbs before consumption.
• Dose-sensitivity was acknowledged: Ayurvedic physicians recognised that excess cannabis produced Prajnaparadha (crimes against wisdom), a state of mental cloudiness and poor judgement. The texts consistently advise starting with small quantities.
• Contraindicated in certain constitutions: Individuals with Pitta-dominant constitutions (characterised by heat, inflammation, and intensity) were advised caution, as high-dose cannabis could aggravate rather than pacify Pitta over time.
• Not for children or the elderly without guidance: Classical texts restricted the stronger preparations to healthy adults under supervision of a Vaidya (Ayurvedic physician).
• Dependency risk noted: The Charaka Samhita acknowledges the potential for habitual attachment to cannabis and advises that it be used with intention and discipline, not casually.

What Are the Common Medicinal Uses of Cannabis?

Both in classical Ayurveda and in contemporary evidence-based medicine, cannabis (and its isolated compounds CBD and THC) is used for the following conditions:

• Chronic pain and neuropathic pain: One of the most extensively documented modern uses, and the most frequently cited Ayurvedic application.
• Anxiety, stress, and PTSD: CBD's action on 5-HT1A serotonin receptors mirrors Ayurveda's description of cannabis as a medhya (mind-clarifying) herb. Qurist CBD Oil is used by many patients for daily anxiety management.
• Insomnia and sleep disorders: Ayurveda and modern clinical studies both confirm cannabis's role in improving sleep onset and quality.
• Menstrual pain and cramping: Cannabis modulates prostaglandin pathways relevant to period pain. Qurist Periodaid relief tablets is a modern Ayurvedic continuation of this application.
• Inflammation and arthritis: CB2 receptor-mediated anti-inflammatory effects align with Ayurveda's Shotha (inflammation) indications.
• Nausea and appetite loss: Documented in both the Sushruta Samhita and modern oncology protocols for chemotherapy-related nausea.
• Epilepsy and neurological conditions: Ancient texts reference cannabis for Vata-related neurological disorders; modern science has validated CBD for specific epilepsy syndromes.

Cannabis Today: Qurist and the Ayurvedic Lineage

In 2018, the Ministry of Ayush, Government of India, formally recognised cannabis leaf extract under the Vijaya category of Ayurvedic proprietary medicines. This was not a new invention but a restoration: a return of cannabis to its rightful place within India's oldest system of healthcare.

 

Qurist was founded on this lineage. Every Qurist product is manufactured under a valid Ayush Ministry licence, uses hemp-derived Vijaya extract with declared cannabinoid content, and is developed with medical oversight. The active compounds in Qurist products, CBD and THC, are the same molecules that Ayurvedic physicians were working with for centuries, now standardised, tested, and delivered in precise, consistent dosages.

Medical cannabis India legal access means Indian patients can now access Vijaya extract with the same scientific rigour they expect from any modern medicine, and with the cultural and historical context that makes it distinctly, authentically Indian.

About Qurist

Qurist is an Indian wellness brand producing hemp-derived and cannabis-based formulations under a valid Ayush Ministry licence. All products are developed with medical oversight, third-party tested, and compliant with the NDPS Act 1985 and Drugs and Cosmetics Act 1940. Qurist does not claim to treat, cure, or prevent any medical condition. Products are intended to complement, not replace, medical care. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before use.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is cannabis mentioned in the Vedas?

Yes. Cannabis (referred to as Vijaya) is mentioned in the Atharva Veda, one of the four Vedas generally dated to c. 1200–1000 BCE by modern scholars. It is listed among five sacred plants and described as a source of happiness, a liberator, and a joy-giver. 

Did Ayurveda use the whole cannabis plant?

Yes. Ayurvedic practitioners used different parts of the cannabis plant for different purposes. Leaves were used for bhang preparations and digestive formulations. Flowering tops (ganja) were used in higher-potency preparations for pain and nervous disorders. Resin (charas) was reserved for the most serious conditions under careful physician supervision. Roots and seeds were also used in specific formulations. The approach was holistic and differentiated, not based on isolated compounds but on the therapeutic properties of each plant part as understood through Ayurvedic principles.

Is CBD oil Ayurvedic?

CBD oil as a modern standardised extract did not exist in classical Ayurveda. However, CBD is one of the primary active compounds in the Vijaya plant that Ayurvedic physicians were working with. It is a prescription-based product and use under medical supervision. CBD oil benefits in India, including pain relief, anxiety management, and sleep support, closely align with the therapeutic applications documented in classical Ayurvedic texts. In this sense, CBD oil is both Ayurvedic in lineage and modern in formulation.