Women have long been the caretakers of society–whether it be in the home or fighting for human rights– in ways that men were too disinterested or unable to do.
Be it Eunice Newton Foote, an early climate science pioneer whose at-home experiments illuminated the greenhouse effect centuries before climate change became part of the global conversation, or Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the revolutionary lawyer and Supreme Court Justice who argued Reed vs. Reed to establish the equal Protection Clause of the 14th amendment against gender discrimination, women are constantly pushing the envelope to expand the standards of society.
During Women’s History month, Moon Mother Hemp is celebrating the power of women as healers and innovators who have successfully harnessed the rejuvenating powers of hemp.
Like many areas of study, women were far ahead of the game in the use of hemp as medicine and resource. The use of hemp by women dates back to the 1400s BCE; female pharaoh Hatshepsut of Egypt used hemp to manage menstrual symptoms. Ancient Egyptian medicinal texts further cite the use of hemp and honey as a common antidote to menstrual pain, and women have long used the plant to manage their pain.
Britain’s Royal Family even used hemp. Many historical accounts record that Queen Victoria was prescribed a hemp tincture to alleviate menstrual cramps among one of the most socially restrictive periods in England’s history — the 19th century.
A 17th-century reference from Azerbaijan by Muhammad Riza Shirwani highlighted the efficacy of treating uterine tumours with hempseed oil.
Margaret Mead also used her time to fight for the legalization of cannabis, giving a speech at a senate hearing in 1969, at the height of her career. She was ahead of her time in hoping to prevent the disastrous effects the drug war has since had on targeted minority communities, but her efforts remain an important bellwether as we continue to fight for access to hemp today.
More recently, women continue to champion Hemp; Madison Margolin of Jane Street writes that “The country’s oldest, continuously operating medical cannabis collective, the Wo/Men’s Alliance for Medical Marijuana, was co-founded in Santa Cruz by Mike and Valerie Corral, after Valerie discovered that cannabis stopped her epileptic seizures.” Valerie Corral became a hero for mothers around the world promoting the use of medicinal cannabis to care for her child, breaking the stigma around the plant.
Green Leaf Lab, is the first woman-owned laboratory specializing in cannabis and hemp CBD analytics in the nation. Rowshan Reordan, founder and CEO said, “When I opened Green Leaf Lab in 2011, my goal was to support consumer safety, quality control testing, and the legitimacy of an emerging industry. A true pioneer, Rowshan dedicated herself to strengthening transparency in the cannabis industry. Green Leaf Lab was the first cannabis and hemp CBD laboratory to receive license and accreditation by a state agency, showing their commitment to consumer safety through quality science.
Each of these women are true pioneers in the use of cannabis and hemp and understand the value of this abundant resource.
Hemp as an antidote to menstrual cramping and uterine issues
- CBD is well known to relax muscles and help with muscle spasms
- The use of tinctures and oils can help alleviate menopausal signs such as sleeplessness, hot flashes, and vaginal dryness
- Hemp oil is a common folk remedy for alleviating heavy bleeding and cramping
Hemp as a fabric for fashion can:
- Help reduce carbon in the atmosphere — hemp crops absorb carbon unlike cotton that tends to damage the earth
- Use low amounts of water — hemp doesn’t need much irrigation meaning less water use and healthier soil
- Make stronger clothes — hemp fiber is lightweight and absorbent yet up to three times stronger than cotton
Hemp seeds as a healthy snack can:
- Provides a healthy balance of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids — these nutrients do everything from fight depression and anxiety to improve eye health
- Serve your body with strong anti-inflammatory properties
- Lead to a lower risk of diabetes due to the insoluble fiber found in them
Hemp itself is a strain of Cannabis which excludes less than 0.3% THC, meaning that there are no psychoactive effects included with its use. Medicinal and recreational Cannabis on the other hand contains above 0.3% THC which leads to psychoactive effects and has distinct medicinal uses.
Either use has exponential potential, and women have always been keen to notice and cultivate those benefits.
