The leaves, buds, and flowers of the female cannabis or marijuana plant are combined to form bhang. It has been used in India as a religious sacrament and medical therapy for centuries.
In India, it is a component of Hindu religious traditions, rituals, and holidays, including the well-known spring celebration Holi. It has been used as a spice in meals and beverages for thousands of years in that nation.
Bhang is an Indian term for a marijuana-based drink or food, and it also has ties to Ayurvedic medicine. Some people believe that Bhang can help with nausea, vomiting, and pain management.
This article is a review of bhang, including its potential benefits and safety.
What is bhang and how is it made?
Bhang is a paste that’s produced from drying, grinding, and soaking Cannabis sativa buds and leaves to create a solid.
Bhang has been consumed in India for centuries, even though cannabis is technically illegal in most parts of the country. However, the sale and consumption of bhang seem to be tolerated by authorities.
Bhang-laced food and beverages can be found in greater abundance in religious cities, from street vendors to government-sanctioned stores.
However, because the leaves of marijuana are specifically permitted by the Indian National Drug Policy on Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances, additional portions of the plant are not allowed.
The made beverage known as bhang lassi is a combination of bhang, curd and whey, the solid and liquid components of milk that separate when it coagulates.
Bhang goli is another popular option for those looking to enjoy a cannabis-infused drink. This drink is made by mixing freshly ground cannabis with water.
Bhang can also be combined with sugar and ghee — a clarified butter used often in India — to make sweets.
Bhang is a paste created from Cannabis sativa plant components that is used to create cannabis-infused meals and beverages.
How does bhang work?
The term “bhang” refers to a hallucinogenic drink made from the leaves of the Indian hemp plant. It is popular for its psychoactive effects, which are said to affect the way your brain and nervous system function. There are several different types of cannabinoids in bhang, but the two main active chemical compounds behind these effects are:
- Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). The main psychoactive compound in cannabis, bhang, is responsible for the “high” people experience after consuming foods and beverages containing it.
- Cannabidiol (CBD). Cannabigerol is a non-psychoactive cannabinoid that’s believed to be the primary component behind bhang’s health advantages.
Similar to compounds your body produces called endocannabinoids, both CBD and THC have a molecular structure.
Endocannabinoids are molecules that attach to your body’s cannabinoid receptors and affect various processes, including learning, memory formation, immunity, and motor function.
THC and CBD may bind to your body’s cannabinoid receptors, which can alter the way your brain transmits messages between cells. Blood THC levels peak within 15–30 minutes after smoking or vaping dried cannabis plant material.
In contrast, cannabinoids consumed as part of a food or drink are digested more slowly — peaking around 2–3 hours later.
Bhang contains THC and CBD, which can interact with your cannabinoid receptors to affect functions like memory, movement, learning and immunity.
Helps prevent nausea and vomiting
Bhang may help to reduce or prevent nausea and vomiting.
THC, which is one of the main cannabinoids in bhang, has been shown to treat nausea effectively and is legal in some states.
Cannabinoids have been shown to help with nausea and vomiting in several studies on cancer patients. To-date, their anti-nausea and anti-vomiting effects have been most thoroughly examined in those going through chemotherapy for cancer.
A review of 23 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) showed that people undergoing chemotherapy for cancer who were given cannabis-based products had less nausea than those who were given conventional anti-nausea drugs or a placebo.
Cannabis-derived medicines were found to be 90 percent less likely to induce nausea and vomiting in individuals who had been given them, according to the researchers. Furthermore, these items were just as effective as traditional anti-nausea medicine in reducing symptoms.
In addition, other research studies have strongly backed up the idea that cannabinoids can help reduce nausea and vomiting- especially for adults who are going through chemotherapy.
In some individuals, nonetheless, heavy chronic cannabis usage has been linked to abdominal discomfort, persistent nausea, and excessive vomiting. This is particularly typical in middle-aged men and is difficult to treat with traditional anti-nausea meds.
Bhang contains chemicals that have been shown to help with nausea and vomiting, especially when chemotherapy causes unpleasant side effects. Long-term use, on the other hand, can cause nausea and vomiting in some people.
May reduce pain
Cannabis products like bhang are commonly used to reduce pain.
It has been shown in multiple studies to be beneficial. A recent overview of 28 RCTs found that cannabinoids were effective in treating chronic pain and nerve pain, among other things.
Cannabinoids have been reported to be beneficial in decreasing chronic pain caused byromyalgia and rheumatoid arthritis in a study of 18 RCTs. Furthermore, a research of 614 people with chronic discomfort found that 65% of those who used legally prescribed cannabis had an increase in discomfort. Cannabis medicines like bhang can assist relieve agony, especially if it is brought on by illnesses such as fibromyalgia and rheumatoid arthritis.
May reduce muscle spasms and seizures
Cannabis can also be used to treat muscular spasms and seizures. Cannabis-based medicines have been proved to lower muscular spasms in individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS), a neurological illness that affects the brain and spinal cord, causing muscle cramps.
Two studies found that cannabinoids are more effective than placebos at reducing muscle spasms experienced by people with MS.
Cannabis-based medications, such as bhang, may also help with seizure control, especially in those who haven’t responded to other treatments.
A recent analysis of four RCTs revealed that CBD-containing products might help children with a form of epilepsy (a seizure disorder) resistant to medications.
In a separate trial, 9 mg of CBD per pound (20 mg per kg) of body weight per day was found to be 1.7 times more effective than a placebo at reducing the number of seizures by half in people with epilepsy.
Even so, we need additional studies to corroborate these findings.
Cannabis-based medicines like bhang may help to relieve muscular spasms in individuals with multiple sclerosis. It might also aid in the reduction of epileptic seizures in people not responding to conventional therapies.
Other potential benefits
The use of bhang may have a variety of advantages as well. The following are some examples of the most investigated:
- May offer some protection against cancer. Cannabinoids have been shown in test-tube and animal research to kill or constrain the growth of cancer cells.
- May improve sleep. Bhang may help people with sleep apnea, chronic pain, multiple sclerosis, and fibromyalgia get a better night’s sleep.
- May reduce inflammation. Studies on animals and in test tubes show that the compounds in bhang may help to reduce inflammation, which is a common feature of many diseases.
- Can increase appetite. Bhang’s most well-known and debilitating side effects are increased hunger and thirst. This may be beneficial to those attempting to gain weight or keep it, but it can also be a liability to others.
Some have said that bhang could help with issues such as anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), Tourette’s syndrome, dementia, IBS, Parkinson’s disease and schizophrenia.
Although there are some potential benefits, more research is needed to confirm these advantages.
Although more research is needed, some bhang users are beginning to notice positive changes like cancer prevention, reduced inflammation, and better sleep patterns.
Possible risks
Although bhang has several advantages, it also comes with certain health risks. Bhang is most recognized for causing pleasure, but it can also induce anxiety, dread, and sadness in some people. In addition, because of its psychoactive effects, bhang may impair short-term memory, coordination, judgment, and paranoia or psychosis when taken in high doses.
Children and teenagers should generally stay away from Bhang since it may hinder brain development, cause school dropouts, and lower life satisfaction. Cannabis products might also raise your risk of specific diseases, including depression and schizophrenia — particularly in those who are susceptible to developing them.
Pregnant or breastfeeding women should not consume bhang as it might result in premature birth, low birth weight, and poor brain development in infants. When taken as a food or drink, bhang’s absorption rate slows down making accurate dosing difficult and increasing the risk of taking too much—which can cause irregular heartbeat very low blood pressure,, and confusion.
Bhang consumption comes with a set of dangers. It shouldn’t be consumed by children or adolescents, pregnant women, nursing mothers, or people who are prone to certain health problems like depression.
The bottom line
Bhang, a paste made from Cannabis sativa flower buds and leaves, is frequently used in meals and beverages.
It may help with the following: It can be used to treat pain, muscular spasms, seizures, nausea and vomiting.
Despite these negative effects, marijuana is nevertheless a drug that has some uses. People with certain health conditions or during specific life phases should avoid bhang, including childhood, adolescence, pregnancy, and lactation.
Furthermore, cannabis and its derivatives are regulated differently in different nations. As a result, it’s essential to familiarize yourself with local legislation before experimenting with bhang or other cannabis products.