Cannabis Indica.

Botanical name: 

To relieve pain in the pelvic region, and to allay certain forms of neuralgia and headache, cannabis indica is highly prized by certain physicians. One writer claims that it is not a poison, as he does not know of any serious cases on record, but that to obtain its full effect it must be given in full doses. Small doses are stimulating and exciting, large doses are required to obtain a sedative effect. He gave the tincture in from twenty to sixty minims at a dose, and the solid extract in doses from one-half to two grains.

He has found it useful in dysmenorrhea, especially the spasmodic variety and in painful chronic nephritis. In many cases of uterine cancer it has either prevented the pain entirely, or satisfactorily allayed it. In anemic headaches, while the anemia is being overcome, the headache is controlled by this remedy.

It is a safe and excellent hypnotic in insomnia. Where the pain is persistent in dysmenorrhea a suppository made of the extracts of cannabis indica and belladonna, one grain each with a dram or a dram and one-half of the oil of the obraoma may be introduced each night, beginning two, three or four nights in advance.


Ellingwood's Therapeutist, Vol. 3, 1909, was edited by Finley Ellingwood M.D.