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The broad usage of Cannabis in Indian Alchemy and its detailed description of its pharmacological qualities, indications, multiple dosage forms, and doses can all be found in the Ayurvedic scriptures. Thandai and Chilam are traditional Hindu beliefs about the proper uses of Cannabis. In Ayurveda, Cannabis is listed in about 209 formulations as a single component, and 29 medical problems are treated using these formulas.
Efficacy of Cannabis in the treatment of tetanus has been discussed when inhaled. Studies on Bhanga users with special reference to malabsorption have been done. Remarks on the value of Indian hemp in the treatment of a cerain type of headache have been published.
The use of Cannabis and Cannabis leaves in the creation of Ayurvedic medications is clearly acknowledged in Ayurveda. This means that no clinical trials must be conducted before a normal Ayurvedic medicine's commercial release if it contains Cannabis or Cannabis leaves. This makes the Ayurvedic medical system a natural alternative for the production and distribution of Cannabis and Cannabis-based medications.
Cannabis leaves that have been legitimately obtained from the regulating authority in accordance with governmental regulations and utilized for therapeutic purposes are not subject to the NDPC Act and may be used as an Ayurvedic medicine.
If an Ayurvedic drug is intended for internal consumption, the manufacturer must include the warning "Caution: to be used taken under medical supervision" on the label in both English and Hindi. According to a Ministry of Ayush recommendation, these medications must be sold with a prescription from a licensed doctor. However, as these medications are not narcotics, they are not obliged to have the designation "NRx" on the label. Jatiphaladi churna, Madanananda modaka, Manmath Rasa, Nidroday Rasa and Pushpadhanwa Rasa are some of the formulations based on Bhanga.
The list of poisonous substances under the Ayurvedic (including Siddha) and Unani Systems of Medicine are described in Schedule E (1). Schedule E-I of the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1940 lists Bhanga (apart from seeds) among the dangerous drugs of Ayurvedic medicine, including the Siddha and Unani systems. Furthermore, according to Sections 3(a) and 3(h)(i) of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 and Rule 158-B of the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945, cannabidiol does not fall under the category of Ayurvedic, Siddha, or Unani medicines.
Additionally, if a medication for internal use intended for the treatment of human illnesses contains a drug listed in Schedule E(1), it must prominently have the warnings "Caution: To be taken under medical supervision" in both English and Hindi.
E-commerce platforms selling Ayurvedic, Siddha, and Unani medications containing drugs under Schedule E(1) of the medications and Cosmetics Rules, 1945 are required to have a prescription from a licensed physician.
In August 2019, Ayush experts advocated for the legalization of cannabis use for therapeutic purposes, claiming that India could employ Ayurvedic knowledge to revolutionize pain care through the use of cannabis.
To date, no research has been done on marijuana as a potential cancer treatment by the Research Councils under the Ministry of Ayush, namely the Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS), the Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine (CCRUM), the Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy (CCRH), and the Central Council for Research in Siddha (CCRS).
As per O.M. no. T-11011/11/2021-DCC-Part (1) dated 04.04.2024, the Ministry of Ayush has established an Inter-Ministerial coordination committee headed by the Director General of Health Service to tackle the illicit trade of Ayurvedic, Siddha, and Unani (ASU) drugs that contain Bhanga. It is really surprising to see that there is a rush of CBD oil based commercial products on the internet claiming licensed under Ayush Ministry.
Recently Cannabis advisory has issued by National Commission of Indian System of Medicine regarding use of cannabis containing drugs and self-proclaiming as cannabis specialists. The advisory seems to be correct in term of prohibiting self-proclaiming as cannabis specialists.
When preparing ayurvedic medications with cannabis leaves or extracts, producers must take care not to use resin that could end up deposited on the leaves of the cannabis plant. Any part of the cannabis plant, including the leaves, contains resin that is thought to be narcotic. Because of this, using cannabis resin in Ayurvedic medicine turns it into a narcotic drug, which requires additional compliances like manufacturing quotas, required sale licenses, and record-keeping.
When employing cannabis leaves or their extract in a medication, producers must take care to preserve the natural balance of cannabinoids present in the leaves of the cannabis plant. THC, one of the cannabinoids, is classified as a psychotropic substance under the NDPS Act due to its well-known psychoactive qualities. There is a chance that the ayurvedic medication could be classified as a psychotropic substance under the NDPS Act if the cannabis leaves are used expressly to extract THC for use in other ayurvedic treatments. This would encourage more compliance.
The majority of CBD oils that are marketed in India, including those that are available online, are actually full-spectrum extracts from the cannabis plant's leaves, which means they include all of the plant's cannabinoids, including CBD. Given that cannabis leaves are not regarded as narcotic drugs, CBD oil derived from leaf extract should thus not be regarded as such. Put another way, using CBD oil derived from cannabis plant leaves shouldn't subject users to NDPS Act restrictions.
Probably an effective regulatory mechanism is a missing link in Ayush with regard to Cannabis. Medical science is openly advocating legitimate use of marijuana within provisions of the Drug & Cosmetic Act, 1945 and The Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985. Injudicious use by registered Ayush practitioners must be questioned by the apex body. However, the recent advisory by NCISM has not mentioned a single word for irrational cannabis use by self-styled physicians or more specifically quacks having unrecognized or fake Ayush qualifications neither included to the 2nd schedule of the IMCC Act, 1970 or Section 35 of the NCISM Act, 2020. It is a well established fact that in Ayush systems of medicine there is practical scarcity of effective painkillers. If institutionally qualified physicians are serving the humanity by employing Cannabis then where lays the harm? Instead of putting a question mark on the registered Ayush practitioners, Ayush and NCISM should issue advisory to multi crore companies openly violating the provisions of magic remedy act. What role the apex bodies have played in Covid-19 illness period nobody has forgotten with regard to sales of medicines.
As already discussed that cannabis is integral part of Ayurvedic formulations either single or polyherbal or herbomineral. A good number of formulations are prescribed by Ayush practitioners in routine clinical practice. However, it is difficult to estimate whether Ayush practitioners are aware about cannabis as a necessary ingredient of the prescribed formulation. Regulatory knowledge about cannabis and cannabis based Ayush formulations is also a missing link when it comes to majority of the Ayush practitioners.
This is the appropriate time to standardize cannabis based Ayush formulations for the regulatory point of view. There are several well-liked cannabis-based Ayurvedic formulations available for the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders. Many Cannabis based formulations on the market don't have standardized quality control standards or assessment techniques.
(Author is a herbal consultant, based in Mohali 160062)
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