Marijuana Medicinal Production

Legitimate medical marijuana production is normally done in organic soil. Fertilizers are kept at a minimum and pesticide use is almost nil. Some producers of the only use natural sunlight. Other producers use hot lamps or artificial lighting.

In a modern marijuana producing facility up to 134 varieties of cannabis are grown. The belief is that one particular type of plant may be more beneficial to an individual patient.

From 1993 to 2003 in the United States production of medical marijuana was illegal but tolerated.

Personal visits to a production facility are not allowed, although in most cases press passes can sometimes be had by the media.

Many of the production facilities are kept secret for security reasons anyway. However, medical marijuana is grown throughout the world, normally in green houses.

Illegal Marijuana

Illegal marijuana is grown anywhere too—from personal stashes inside a house with heat lamps to out in the field between more traditional cash crops such as corn or soybeans. The majority of illegal marijuana comes from the Middle East and is grown in large, open fields.

Marijuana Origin and History

Shakespeare’s Sonnet 76 and Sonnet 27, it had been theorized for a long time, both made reference to marijuana. Subsequently, smoking pipes were discovered in the famous author’s garden, chemical testing was done on the pipes, and indeed traces of marijuana were found.

Marijuana has a long history, way before Shakespeare’s time. In fact, marijuana has been used by almost every culture and in every part of the world. The earliest records of Cannabis date back to 6000 BC, where the plant seeds were used as food in China. Not until 1890 and the early portion of the 20th Century did countries around the world begin banning the use of Marijuana. In 1937, though some U.S. States led the charge earlier, the U.S. federal government completely outlawed the herb for both medicinal and recreational use.

Origins

Interestingly, marijuana was actually considered a crash crop in the early colony days of America—the British and French harvested the plant in colonies such as Port Royal, Virginia and even Plymouth, which is more famed for eating Thanksgiving turkey than smoking hash.

Today, many myths concerning marijuana exist. For example, by many people it is widely believed that marijuana has no medicinal properties what so ever. However, the herb does reduce nausea associated with chemotherapy treatments, helps with increasing appetites for people suffering from AIDS, assists in reducing pressure within the eye in cases of glaucoma.

Strong evidence also suggests that marijuana can help patients suffering from neurological disorders. The myth that marijuana causes severe and permanent mental illness is also widely prevalent. Though some users of can Cannabis do experience paranoia and panic attacks after usage. Toxic psychosis, however, can be caused by ingesting large quantities of marijuana, though this side effect is rare.

Marijuana Time Line

• 6000 BC: Marijuana seeds utilized as food in China.
• 4000 BC: Marijuana is used for clothing in China
• 2727 BC: Chinese pharmacies use Marijuana for medical purposes. This is the first recorded medical use
• 1200-800 BC: The Hindu text known as “The Science of Charms” lists Marijuana as a sacred plant.
• 500 BC: The Scythians bring Marijuana into Northern Europe. The herb spreads throughout the region.
• 70 AD: The Romans utilize marijuana as medicine.
• 900 – 1000 AD: Though usage of Marijuana begins spreading through Arabia countries.
• 1090-1256 AD: Hasan ibn al-Sabbah convinces followers to murder. Rumors concerning al-Sabbah’s use of marijuana to convince his followers to commit the murders abound.
• 12th Century: Marijuana becomes a popular smoke of choice in the Middle East, it is brought into Egypt.
• 13th Century: Marijuana is introduced to Africa
• 1378: Ottoman Emir outlaws eating marijuana.
• 1549: Slaves brought to Brazil plant marijuana along side sugar cane and use for recreational smoking
• 1606-1632: Marijuana is grown as a crop in the Port Royal, Virginia and Plymouth American colonies
• 17th Century: Marijuana is traded throughout Central and South Asia
• 1798: Though Napoleon completely outlaws marijuana, soldiers  bring the habit to France.
• 1840: Marijuana is a common medicinal in America.
• 1890: Marijuana is outlawed in Turkey.
• 1915-1927: Marijuana is outlawed in the U.S. for recreational and non-medical uses. States to lead the charge are California, Louisiana, New York, and Texas.
• 1928: Great Britain outlaws the recreational use of marijuana.
• 1935: China makes marijuana production illegal.
• 1936: The movie “Reefer Madness” debuts in the United States.
• 1937: The U.S. federal government outlaws marijuana for all uses.
• 1967: “Smash” an oil derived from marijuana invades California.
• 1972: U.S. Commission advises the re-legalization of marijuana.
• 1973: The last year premium marijuana from Afghanistan is available.
• 1975: The U.S. FDA allows marijuana usage for medical purposes only.
• 1988: Judge Francis Young declares a basis in history and science for medical marijuana. Young recommends marijuana be reclassified as a medical drug.
• 1995: Amsterdam coffee shops re-popularize the smoking of marijuana.
• 2003: Canada becomes the first country offering marijuana legally as a medical drug to patients.

Marijuana Variations

There are two main variations of medical marijuana. The first is Marinol, otherwise known as Dronabinol. The second is Cesamet.Marinol is synthesized in a lab and sold as a prescription. It is mainly used to increase the appetite of AIDS patients and to combat vomiting in those partaking of chemotherapy.

Those that take marinol have complained of too much a high or psychedelic reaction, and the drug can cause nausea in some patients as well, neither of which is an issue with true medical marijuana since many users of medical marijuana self-medicate to just the point to take care of the vomiting, lack of appetite, or other various symptoms.

Side Effects

Interestingly, marinol is known to cause nausea, which is a problem for the drug because it takes at least a full hour to take effect within the body, and nausea can cause the drug not to be absorbed into the system. Whereas medical marijuana may cause nausea in some, the benefits of the plant can be absorbed into the body within a matter of minutes.

Cesamet is also a synthesized marijuana like substance. Cesamet is traditionally used for controlling nausea and vomiting in chemotherapy patients. Though not labeled as such in the Untied States or Mexico, the drug is also used for pain management. It does not seem to have the same problems or issues associated with marinol.

Although the main kick to marijuana is a chemical known as THC, and THC is found both in marinol and cesamet, it is important to note that marijuana is a plant, an herb made of a huge number and combination of active ingredients and chemicals including cannabinoid substances.

Marijuana Users

Celebrity advocates of legalizing marijuana abound. Probably the most famous are Cheech and Chong. The pair recently finished an 18-city Get It Legal Tour. Willie Nelson sits on the advisory board of NORML, and probably one of the more outspoken celebs for marijuana reform, and Dennis Hopper is rumored to be fighting a battle with prostate cancer using marijuana from The Farmacy in Venice.

Mr. Dennis Hopper’s prostate cancer aside, marijuana is thought to cure a lot of ailments. People hail it has a wonder drug. From headaches and Alzheimer’s to the relief of side effects from chemotherapy and even helping with multiple sclerosis, marijuana seems to be able to do it all.

Ongoing Research

Research and study, however, is continuing. The main uses for medical marijuana are counter acting the side effects of chemotherapy treatments, treating chronic pain, increasing the appetite of AIDS/HIV patients, and helping relieve eye pressure in sufferers of glaucoma.

Current research is delving into everything from multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s, lung cancer (ironically since smoking marijuana is a known carcinogen), obstructive pulmonary disease, and breast cancer—just to name a few.

The active ingredient in marijuana are most likely cannabinoids, of which the three most important are cannabigerol, cannabidiol, and β–caryophyllene. These major cannabinoids found in marijuana comprise only a small portion of what’s actually found in the plant.

There are fifty-seven other cannabinoids, and over three hundred different compounds found in the marijuana plant alone. To say the least, this is a very complicated plant which causes problems for researches in isolating effects of specific compounds and effects of the compounds in relation to one and another.

Modern Marijuana

Marijuana is probably one of the most versatile medicinal plant in relation to methods of dosage. Most notably, the drug can be smoked. Illegally gotten marijuana is normally taken in this form, though there are some health risks associated with smoking the plant.

Marijuana can also be inhaled through vaporization. Drinking and eating the plant is a possibility too. People have even been known to make teas with the marijuana plant.

Nabilone

Nabilone was approved for medicinal usage in 1985 by both the United States and Canada.

The drug assists in alleviating nausea caused by chemotherapy when other more mainstream drugs have failed. In some AIDS patients, there is a definite related weight loss problem, and the drug Marinol has been used in the United States since 1992 to increase appetite.

Marinol

In 1985, Marinol was approved both in the United States and Canada to combat vomiting associated with chemotherapy. Sativex which has only been approved in Canada for helping with the pain associated with multiple sclerosis and pain associated with various cancers.

All three drugs derive from the marijuana plant, and are taken orally in pill form. There are current debates on whether the pill form of marijuana is the best dosage method.

Some camps suggest smoking is the best intake form, though the official stance within the United States is that smoking medical marijuana can lead to lung cancer as well as other lung related conditions. The method of vaporization, it is assumed, negates any ill effects through smoking the herb.

Marijuana Claims and Cures

Some pretty wild claims have bee made about the cure-all ability of the marijuana plant. A New Zealand group even purports that the herb can cure Mad Cow Disease, stopping the build-up of BSE prion toxins. The New Zealand group cites a French study done with mice and sheep. Interestingly enough, the study did not make it clear as to whether marijuana cured Mad Cow only in cows or humans or both.

Marijuana in of itself does not cure anything. Marijuana does alleviate pain as does aspirin and ibuprofen. Marijuana also alleviates nausea as does Dramamine and Pepto-Bismol. In cases of nausea caused by chemotherapy regiments, marijuana is more effective for some patients than other mainstream drugs on the market. Marijuana can help with reducing ocular pressure for those suffering from glaucoma, but traditional, mainstream drugs exist in the market place for this use too.

Personal Use

Marijuana is not special. It has just as many side effects and causes just as many problems as any other drug on the market, for instance, aspirin is a great headache reliever, but can cause internal stomach bleeding. Marijuana also helps symptomatic health related problems, but so don’t a lot of other natural and manufactured drugs.

As with any drug, the individual is left with what works best for him or her. A doctor should always be consulted in these matters. It is absolutely advised not to go out and purchase illegal or street marijuana because there is no way of verifying the quality of product or the purity of the product one is receiving.

Marijuana Usage

There are six typical ways to take marijuana into the body.

Smoking

By far, smoking marijuana is the most common intake method. The effects are almost immediate and allows the user a very precise control over the amount of the dosage. Smoking in general is not a healthy option for the lungs.

Smoking the marijuana flowers as opposed to the leaves reduces the marijuana dosage amount needed to smoke, and the use of a water pipe or bonk cools the smoke and reduces and a lot of the toxins created by burning.

Eating

When people think about eating marijuana, the immediate image that comes to mind is sitcom television when someone on the show bakes a plate of “brownies” and the person not intended to eat the marijuana treat ends of eating them.

The marijuana brownie, however, is a very traditional method of dosing. The plant can also be baked into cookies and occasional users will pair the drug with mashed dates into a candy like substance. Eating marijuana slows the effects of the drug, but can also increase the strength of the effects. Controlling dosage amounts sometimes takes a learning curve, especially if the user has been more familiar with the smoking method.

Tea

marijuana is a herb and can be made into a tea just like any other herb. After boiling the water, steep the marijuana for at least an hour and a half. A teaspoon of butter can be added for taste. The same drawbacks and problems associated with eating marijuana are go for drinking the marijuana as a tea.

Tincture

A tincture is a medicinal extracted in alcohol. At home, this process is normally done with vodka. Once the mixture has been strained, it can be drank almost like cough syrup.

Compress

Marijuana is sometimes used as a compress to relieve pain, much as Ben Gay or other ointments are used. To make a marijuana compress, simply follow the recipe for tea, soak a cloth in the “tea” and apply to relieve pain. Normally takes about thirty minutes or so to work.

Manufactured synthetic drugs

Manufactured drugs such as marinol can be taken orally. It is important to never smoke any synthetic marijuana drug.

Marijuana Legality

Legal medical marijuana in the U.S. is available only through a prescription written by a practicing medical doctor. A user can not obtain medical marijuana through the Internet, and the drug’s legal status is different from country to country and from U.S. State to State.

A Sample List of Countries

• Albania – illegal
• Argentina – legal
• Australia – illegal
• Austria – illegal
• Belgium – illegal
• Bolivia – illegal
• Brazil – illegal
• Bulgaria – illegal
• Canada – decriminalized
• Chile – decriminalized
• Colombia – decriminalized
• Comoros – illegal
• Czech Republic – decriminalized
• Denmark – illegal
• Dominica – illegal
• Ecuador – decriminalized
• Estonia – illegal
• Finland – decriminalized
• France – illegal
• Germany – decriminalized
• Greece – illegal
• Hungary – illegal
• Iceland – illegal
• Indonesia – illegal
• India – regulated by government
• Iran – illegal
• Israel – illegal
• Jamaica – illegal
• Japan – illegal
• Lithuania – illegal
• Luxembourg – illegal
• Republic of Macedonia – decriminalized
• Malaysia – illegal
• Mexico – decriminalized
• Montenegro – illegal
• Netherlands – decriminalized
• New Zealand – illegal
• Norway – illegal
• Pakistan – legal
• Paraguay – illegal
• Peru – legal
• Philippines – illegal
• Poland – illegal
• Portugal – decriminalized
• Romania – illegal
• Russia – illegal
• Saudi Arabia – illegal
• Serbia – illegal
• Singapore – illegal
• Sri Lanka – illegal
• Sweden – illegal
• Switzerland – illegal
• Republic of China – illegal
• United Arab Emirates – illegal
• United Kingdom – illegal
• United States – decriminalized
• Ukraine – illegal
• Uruguay – legal
• Venezuela – decriminalized
• Vietnam – illegal

Legality by U.S. State

• Alaska
• California
• Colorado
• Hawaii
• Maine
• Michigan
• Montana
• Nevada
• New Jersey
• New Mexico
• Oregon
• Rhode Island
• Vermont
• Washington

U.S. States Pending Legislation

• Alabama
• Delaware
• Illinois
• Massachusetts
• Missouri
• New York
• North Carolina
• Ohio
• Pennsylvania
• South Dakota
• Wisconsin

Marijuana Side Effects

Unfortunately, there are quite a few side effects with marijuana use, and the majority of these side effects are worse with inhalation as opposed to ingesting.

Only after just a few minutes of inhaling marijuana, the heart increases its beat rate from around seventy to eighty beats per minute to anywhere from ninety to a hundred beats per minute. The heart rate can actually double in some users.

After the heart beat increases and the THC from the marijuana makes its way into the brain, the user can experience sounds and colors in a very intense way.

Visual & Psychological Effects

Time seems to be distorted, and moves slowly. The mouth becomes dry, and sometimes the user begins craving food or drink. Once this high passes a slight depression can occur, though most likely he or she may only feel tired or sleepy. In some cases, use of marijuana can cause panic attacks and anxiety.

Long term side effects include the inability to create memories, to remember existing memories, and inhibits concentration.

Probably the most frightening side effect that one study suggested is the increased likelihood of a heart attack within the first hour of having smoked a joint. Marijuana is an addictive substance, and many detractors of its use tout the Gateway Theory.

The Gateway theory states that marijuana use will lead to the abuse and addiction of other harder, illegal drugs such as cocaine and heroin. There is no substantive evidence to back up the Gateway theory other than incidental and case studies.

Marijuana Product

Purchasing marijuana illegally is easy enough, but the street price varies from region to region and even from individual areas within a region. A dime bag is also no longer only ten bucks, and there is a premium placed on higher quality marijuana—almost like buying wine or coffee, except in the case of marijuana, if one gets caught, there are at minimum some legal fines that’ll need paid on top of the original purchase.

On average though, an illegal marijuana buyer will spend roughly between one hundred fifty dollars to two hundred fifty dollars per ounce of marijuana. In Europe, the cost is much cheaper—only two to fourteen Euros per gram, which is about $71.12 to $ 497.84 in U.S. dollars per ounce, all dependent upon the quality of the marijuana, of course.

Buying Statistics

In the U.S., marijuana is ranked as the number four value crop and averages around three thousand dollars a pound. It is easily a thirty-six billion dollar industry. Not surprisingly, the smuggling and supplying end of the market is where most of the money is spent.

Legally, acquiring medical marijuana is not cheap. In Canada, the marijuana treatments run anywhere from $4000 to $9351 per year. This, of course, does not include the upfront cost of the visit to the prescribing doctor, which is the only way anyone can get medical marijuana legally.

Referred to as the linden blossom in North America, the lime blossom is a very powerful, and useful,  medicinal flower. The flowers, inner bark, and leaves of the linden tree have been collected and used to treat a variety of illnesses for ages.

The linden tree is a tree belonging to the tiliaceae family, and thrives in the temperate climates of the Northern Hemisphere. Though it is native to the eastern part of North America, it isn’t typically found is the western half. It is also native to most parts of Europe and Asia.

It can be found in the moist, rich soils of valleys, neighboring other hardwood trees. They grow wild, or because of its reputation as a great shade tree and the fragrant flowers, they are often planted alongside the road or in parks.

Lime Blossom Characteristics

It is a very large deciduous tree and can grow to be anywhere from 70 feet to over 100 feet tall. Large asymmetrical, heart-shaped leaves make up the dense, abundant foliage in the summer months.

The tops of the leaves are a dark green, and the underside is very shiny, or sometimes fuzzy and almost white.

The wood produced by the linden tree is popular with artists of all varieties. Because it is so easy to work with and has very little grain, it is commonly used in carvings.

Because of its better resonance at mid and high frequency, it is a popular material in the making of guitars, both acoustic and electric.

Most well known are the flowers of this tree. Lime blossoms have five yellowish petals, that are extremely fragrant.

In the summer, when the linden tree is in bloom, it is a very popular tree. Bees, perfume makers, and herbalist all have an interest in its flowers. Later on, when the flowers go to seed, small seeds can be found clustered in the leaves. These are about the size and shape of a pea.

How to Use the Parts

The leaves, flowers, and inner bark of the linden tree are all used for a number of things. For medicinal purposes, the leaves and flowers can be dried and used as a tea, used to make a lime blossom tincture, or put in capsule form. Sometimes, the wood is burned, and the charcoal from it is ground up into a fine powder to be used either internally or externally.

History

Linden trees and their blossoms have been used by man for ages and by a number of cultures. For many it is considered a sacred tree and is very important, even today.

It is said that a tree standing in the courtyard of the Imperial Castle at Nuremberg is a linden tree, planted by Empress Cunigude, wife of Emperor Henry II of Germany. Their reign was near the beginning of the 11th century. Though old and sparse, the tree still stands today.

The linden tree is referred to as the lipa to the Slavic people, and was considered a sacred tree. Today, it is still the national emblem for the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Slovenia. In 1990, the ‘lipa’ was one of the names proposed for the Slovenian currency.

Up until the age of enlightenment, judicial meetings of the Germanic people were held under a linden tree. Verdicts often came back sub tilia, meaning “under linden.” It was a common belief that the tree helped unearth the truth in certain matters. Sitting under the linden tree was believed to cure epilepsy in some cultures.

Uses in Ancient History

The wood and inner bark of the tree was used by the Native American people to build sturdy canoes and weave baskets, and fabrics.

Because of the heart shaped leaves, the linden tree’s leaves, flowers and wood are popular used in love spells. It is also used for protection and good luck purposes. Growing a linden tree in a garden or near a house is supposed to keep negative energies and evil spirits away. Often times, good luck charms are carved out of the wood of the tree.

In Ovid’s ‘The Metamorphosis,’ the lime tree was also mentioned. In the story of Philemon and his wife, Baucis, Jove and his son came to earth as humans.

According to the story, “they knocked for shelter at a thousand homes and learned a thousand gates were locked against them.” When they reached the humble cottage of Philemon and Baucis, the old couple let them in and fed them.

Moved by this, Jove chose to spare them and their home as a flood wiped out the rest of the town. At the time of their death, years later, he was changed into an oak tree, and she was changed into a linden tree. To this day, these trees can be found growing next to each other in forests.

Uses

The lime blossom has a number of uses. Spectacular, rich honey is produced in hives that are situated next to lime blossoms. The flowers produce an abundance of sticky, sweet nectar that bees seem to find irresistible. Any bee keeper would be lucky to have a lime tree in the area. Some of the world’s best honey comes from the nectar of the lime blossom. When in bloom, a bee will rarely pass up to chance to gather nectar from this tree. It yields a pale, rich, and flavorful honey.

The flowers are also gathered by perfume makers, to capture the beautiful scent, and by herbalists, to capture the many healing properties of this blossom. Just one ounce of a popular perfume, French Lime Blossom, designed by Jo Malone, costs over $50.

Holistic Medicine

Lime blossoms are best known, and most widely recognized as a holistic medicine. It has been used throughout the ages to soothe a number of ailments and medical conditions. It has very few, if any, side effects, and there are no known drug interactions.

In fact, the Food and Drug Administration believes that it may even be safe for women who are pregnant or nursing, and for children. This tea is growing in popularity since it can be used by just about anyone for extended periods of time.

The only possible problem was reported by the German Commission E report. It was found that ingestion of large quantities of lime blossom could possibly lead to heart problems in some people. This only happens in a very small percentage of people, and only after massive ingestion.

Lowering Stress

Some people swear by lime blossoms to greatly lower stress levels and help treat anxiety and nervous disorders. It has a natural calming effect when consumed in a tea form. Switching from coffee or regular tea to a cup of lime blossom tea three times a day can help one calm down and become less nervous. Infants who are overwrought and upset can usually be soothed by placing them in a bath with a strong infusion of lime blossom.

Because of its calming effect on the nervous and circulatory system, lime blossom is also used to treat high blood pressures, especially those brought on by stress. It not only slows a person’s heart rate, but can also cause mild coronary vasodilation. One herbalist even thinks that it also has a healing effect on blood vessel walls, which can even extend to the improvement of varicose veins. To lower blood pressure, 20 drops of a lime blossom tincture three times a day is recommended.

Since it is a diuretic when taken as a cool infusion, lime blossom can help ailments that affect the urinary tract.

In Lieu of Drugs

Instead of using drugs, such as aspirin and acetaminophen, to lower fevers in children and adults, a hot lime blossom tea can be drank instead. Although it has quite a pleasant taste, it can be mixed with honey. The properties in the flower increase blood flow to the skin and induces sweating, which, in turn, lowers the body temperature. Cold and flu symptoms can be reduced greatly by drinking lime blossom tea. It is an antioxidant and pushes toxins out of the body. Nasal congestion and coughs can also be treated with the tea.

Anti-fungal properties of lime blossom have been reported, and it is sometimes used in lotions for itchy skin. The charcoal from a burnt linden log can also be used as an absorbing powder on an infected wound.

Helping Your Body

The liver can benefit from the inner bark or sapwood of the tree. In France it is used to help stimulate the flow of bile, and assure the non-aggressive drainage of the liver. This is essential to the natural restoration of the liver.

Mucilage in the lime blossom has a soothing quality when it comes in contact with the membranes of the digestive system, and is used to treat some stomach problems, such as nausea, indigestion, and diarrhea.

Stress related headaches and some migraines can be treated with lime blossom.

Active Ingredients

The healing properties of the lime blossom is attributed mainly to flavanoids in it. Flavanoids are water-soluble plant pigments that give flowers their yellow, red, or purple colors. They help attract pollinators, such as bees, and also protect the plant from microbes, insects, and fungi. Mucilage, tannins, acids, glycosides, and volatile oils are also in lime blossom, and help produce its medicinal qualities.

Capsules, Tinctures, and Teas

Lime blossom can be bought in capsule, tincture or tea form. They can be purchased online or offline, at health food stores or herb shops.

Some people prefer capsules over tinctures and teas. These capsules are filled with a dose of lime blossom leaves and flowers. For 100 capsules, the price is around $7. The usual dosage is two capsules taken three times a day.

A tincture is an alcohol based plant extract. One ounce of a lime blossom tincture will usually cost anywhere between $10 and $15. Recommended dosage is usually 2 – 4 mL taken three times a day.

Consuming Lime Blossom

Lime blossom tea is, by far, the most popular method of consumption. The tea has a nice mild taste, but honey may be added if so desired. It is sold both loose and in tea bags.

When preparing lime blossom tea, it is important to remember to cover it while it steeps. Some important volatile oils that give the tea its soothing effect can escape in the steam. Four ounces of loose tea containing leaves and flowers can be purchased for around $7, and the cost of about 25 tea bags is about the same.

If you’re gathering your own lime blossom, the flowers are best picked a couple of days after it has rained. To make sure the sun hasn’t dried up any essential oils, between ten in the morning and noon is the best time to pick the flowers. They should be fully open and dry. To dry them, place them on paper towels or newspaper until dry, remembering to turn them everyday. Once dry and brittle, they can be stored in sealed jars or a paper bag.

The History And Benefits Of Jasmine

Jasmine’ is a common name for plants classified in the genus Jasminium. There are over two hundred individual species of jasmine, which come from Asia, Europe, and Africa. The precise original location of jasmine is heavily disputed.

Some botanists pinpoint as originating from India in the northern parts of the Himalayan valleys. Others place it as far away as Egypt or ancient Persia. The name itself, ‘jasmine’, comes from a Persian word meaning ‘fragrant flower’.

Where it is Grown

Jasmine tolerates a variety of soils, which makes it excellent for many different gardens.

Jasmine prefers sun to shade; in fact, this plant like sun so much it does not do well in shade at all. If the garden is filled with trees, the gardener must carefully trim them on a regular basis in order to make sure that jasmine stays in the sunshine.

For this reason, jasmine is mainly grown today in tropical and subtropical regions.

Jasmine is actually a vine-like plant, and one vine can grow to cover a large area, so gardeners may only need one jasmine plant to completely fill the space that has been prepared for it.

Prepping for Use

This flower can be pruned as a shrub or as a vine, so making sure what form to keep the plant in is critical in the early stages of growth. The holes for jasmine must be placed about eight feet apart. Each hole should be about three to six inches in width. When planting jasmine in the ground, be very careful not to choke it by covering its base with too much dirt. This will kill the plant; it is very sensitive to being suffocated, so keep that in mind.

To make jasmine into a consumable form such as jasmine tea, the blossoms from the plant are added to a bag of dry tea leaves. The unique thing about this flower is that it only opens at night. For this reason, unopened blossoms are used to make tea. The bad is stored over night so the blossoms can open and scent the tea leaves. This process is repeated ten times until the tea leaves are thoroughly saturated with the smell. This makes for some excellent tea.

Since ancient times jasmine has been known as the queen of flowers. For this reason, jasmine has held a place of preeminence among rulers throughout history.

History And Origin Of Usage

Egypt dynasties, Chinese emperors, and kings of Afghanistan, Nepal and Persia were all said to keep jasmine flowers in their royal gardens. One Chinese emperor, living in the time of the Sung dynasty, kept a large quantity of jasmine in the grounds of his palace because he enjoyed their scent so much.

Varieties of the main species of jasmine used in perfume had found their way to Spain through the Moors in 1600. Major European powers such as France and Germany first came into contact with jasmine by the 1700s.

Medicinal Purposes

Jasmine has been used for medicinal purposes for thousands of years. In southern and southeastern Asia, jasmine flowers are worn by women as hair decorations.

The applications of lotions made from jasmine flowers to skin problems like sunburns and rashes have been widely noted. The juices of the flower are said to restore the skin’s moisture and elasticity, reducing the appearance of wrinkles and giving the skin a healthier look and feel.

Aromatherapy

The largest usage of jasmine can be found in aromatherapy. In this field, jasmine is said to have a calming, relaxing effect. In addition, the scent of the flower is said to help sufferers of depression find relief. Another field where jasmine finds a large market is essential oils. Jasmine as an essential oil has many beneficial uses.

It is used as an anti-depressant, aphrodisiac, and even as a medicine to help users sleep better. In fact, in India jasmine is said to be such a good aphrodisiac, the bride and groom’s bedroom are decorated with it for their wedding night.

Different flowers are used for different things, of course. Jasmine is no different.

Known Variations

There are over two hundred different species of Jasminium. Each species is called by a characteristic name; for instance, the main species, which is simply known as jasmine, is Jasminium Officinale. A popular vine-growing jasmine species in the southern United States is jasminoides, also known as star jasmine or confederate jasmine.

All the variations of the jasmine flower have the same bloom shape: five petals that unfold outward like a star. This makes jasmine easy to recognize, even for newcomers to botany.

Flowers

Jasmine flowers generally fall into three groups: shrubs, hardy climbers and indoor flowers. The shrubs are usually in a loose, open configuration. If left alone, the shrub will eventually reach ten feet by ten feet.

Fortunately, the shrub variety of jasmine is easy to control. Since it roots so easily, it is also easy to propagate. The most notable species of this group is Jasminium nudiflorum, or winter jasmine. During the cold months it retains green stems and yellow flowers even in the midst of snow.

A Transforming Flower

Hardy climbers are the vine-like family of jasmine flowers. These flowers are distinguished by their ability to cling to walls without supports, which makes them great for walled gardens. The species known as Jasminium officianale, or summer jasmine, aside from being the main jasmine species and consequently the most well-known, is also the species that best exemplifies this group.

They can transform a garden on a warm summer’s evening into a romantic paradise. This plant will cover an area of forty feet by twenty feet.

Finally, the indoor flowers are known for their ability to brighten up a room. Even having only two flowers will noticeably suffuse a room with wonderful fragrances. Indoor flowers typically reach dimensions of twenty feet by twenty feet. These plants are great for making a room feel like spring in the winter months.

What It’s Used For And Why It Works

Jasmine is used for a variety of medicinal purposes. Jasmine is said to either aid in the treatment of or cure a wide variety of common symptoms:

• headaches
• sunburns and rashes
• irritability
• sexual problems
• heat exhaustion and sunstroke
• pain
• anxiety
• depression
• uterine problems

These issues are aided by using jasmine in tea or lotion form. Topical remedies include the fresh juice squeezed from the plant; it is good for healing corns that appear on the foot.

One of its most famous uses is as a purported aphrodisiac. Jasmine tea is said to be particularly effective in this way; it increases the production of sperm as well as helps in healing the causes of both frigidity and impotence.

Unproven Claims

Subjectively, it is said to restore optimism and confidence in addition to mental energy and vitality. Jasmine tea contains benzoic acetate, linalool, indole and jasmon, all of which are used to make aphrodisiacs. Some say that jasmine is better than other stimulants because these compounds occur in the plant naturally.

Massage Oil

Jasmine is also wonderful as massage oil. The restorative effects of jasmine on the skin are widely noted, as are the benefits of jasmine massage oil. The unique properties of this plant allow the skin to rejuvenate, since the oil moisturizes the skin and restores elasticity.

Use for Traditional Diseases

Jasmine is used to relieve all manner of symptoms and diseases, including even some forms of cancer, like breast cancer. Jasmine can even be used to clean scrapes and cuts.

The medicinal properties of this plant, from sexuality to healing patients at death’s door, bears out the designation of this plant as the “queen of the night” by the Indians in ancient times. Jasmine is an extraordinary plant.

How It Is Used Today

Today, jasmine is used mainly in the beauty and healthcare industries. The two biggest ways that jasmine is used are as an aromatherapy product and as an essential oil. An essential oil is a hydrophobic liquid that contains high concentrations of the native plant juices from which they are made.

In other words, jasmine essential oil is basically the jasmine plant in oil form. Aside from essential oils, jasmine tea is also very popular. This tea is very aromatic, and known for its relaxing properties, especially for providing relief from fatigue and stress.

Landscaping

Jasmine plants are also used for landscaping. The romantic connotations of jasmine make it perfect for decorating outdoor villas, especially during the summer months. Botanically, jasmine plants like winter jasmine are classified as deciduous perennials.

Since jasmine plants love being out in the sun, this makes them great for decorating walkways and sidewalks in gardens and parks. Jasmine plants brighten up rooms and make the indoor environment seem friendlier.

Proven And Unproven Claims About Jasmine

Over the centuries, jasmine has acquired a veritable corpus of mythological beliefs. Some of these allegations, like the statement that jasmine green tea has spiritual benefits to the drinker, may never be able to be tested properly.

Although many people have reported experiential benefits from consuming jasmine in some form, many of these claims have not been tested. New users must remain cautious and approach using jasmine with an attitude of respectful curiosity. Jasmine may trigger allergic reactions in some people; the full extent to which this is possible has not yet been explored.

Use as a Healing Product

Jasmine as an aphrodisiac and as a healing element has not been seriously disputed, although there are hardcore skeptics who deny the benefits of anything outside of their own experience. The main thing to keep in mind about jasmine is the fact that the plant is merely a plant.

Certain properties may be helpful under particular circumstances, but the overriding factor is the idiosyncratic constitution of the individual. This may mean that jasmine is totally ineffective with certain people or with certain conditions.

For instance, one claim about jasmine tea, especially jasmine green tea, which has been made is its calming properties. The question that arises is how could green tea calm anyone when it has caffeine? To be sure, jasmine could have some way of integrating the caffeine with other properties in the tea, but this still remains a relatively unproven claim, although many have attested that it does, in fact, calm them considerably.

Typical Dosage When Used

The appropriate dose of jasmine depends on several factors such as the user’s age, health, and several other conditions. At this time there is not enough scientific information to determine an appropriate range of doses for jasmine.

Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult your pharmacist or physician or other healthcare professional before using.

What level of dosage for jasmine depends on multiple factors including age, overall health, etc. Specific dosages are usually not issued for jasmine. Generally speaking, since any product containing jasmine is typically very potent, do not take more than you want. Only start using jasmine in small amounts, and increase the amounts if the patient feels it is necessary.

Take note that using jasmine in a massage context requires no dosages at all. In fact, it is disputed whether the concept of doses is even applicable to jasmine at all.

Legal Status

Currently, jasmine tea is legal for both recreational and medicinal use in all countries of the world. There have been no serious claims made against the use of jasmine for either herbal uses or as simply drinking tea or brightening up one’s yard.

Potential Side Effects

While many people report beneficial effects from using jasmine in some form, others report side effects. For example, it is commonly known not to use jasmine more than is necessary for such purposes as food preparation if the patient is pregnant or nursing.

Aside from this all manner of side effects have been reported from using jasmine. So far no serious side effects have come up. The majority of these effects can probably be attributed to allergic reactions. Customers are well advised to follow the rule of caveat emptor when looking for products made from jasmine; it is their responsibility to research as much as they can before buying anything.

Where To Find Products

Jasmine flowers, essential oils and aromas can be found online and in multiple locations. Amazon offers a huge variety of jasmine flowers through its Home and Garden department. Essential oils made from jasmine are sold wherever health products are available, whether online or from a local store. Typical prices can range from five to fifteen dollars and up for more rare products.

Aromatherapy products can easily be found online. Flowers can be purchased through nurseries as well as through online flower shops.

Buying products online is the best way to find the same products at discounted prices. Online stores offer jasmine products at half-price or even a fraction of the regular price at regular stores.