HEMP IS ONE OF MANKIND'S MOST ANCIENT AND VERSATILE GROWN PLANTS. FOR MORE THAN SIX MILLENNIA, IT WAS CONSIDERED AN ECONOMICALLY ESSENTIAL SUPPLIER OF FOOD, FIBER AND MEDICINE. THE PLANT WAS GROWN IN ALMOST ALL OF EUROPE AND ASIA. IT SERVED AS AN IMPORTANT SOURCE OF RAW MATERIALS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF ROPES, SAILCLOTH AND PAPER AS WELL AS CLOTHING TEXTILES AND OIL PRODUCTS. ESPECIALLY THE USE OF THE FIBER AS A TECHNICAL TEXTILE WAS OF GREAT IMPORTANCE.
As early as 2,800 BC, the first ropes in the world were made from hemp fibers in China. Around 100 B.C., people scooped the first paper from the fibers. Evidence suggests that clothing was already being produced from hemp fibers in the 28th century BC. The probably most antique hemp textile is estimated to be around 1000 B.C. When sailing ships experienced their wedding in the 17th century, the boom in Europe began with hemp. Almost all the sails, ropes and nets as well as flags were made of hemp. Because of the tear and wet strength of the hemp plant, even the uniforms of the sailors were made of it. A single ship needed 50 to 100 tons of hemp fiber every second year. After hemp seemed to be almost insignificant in the 18th century, the interest in the plant has been growing in the last years - not least because of its manifold effects and ingredients.
THE ICOMPONENTS OF HEMP
The hemp plant contains over 500 components. These include the following:
Cannabinoids
Proteins
Amino acids
Essential oils
Flavonoids
Vitamins
Hydrocarbone
Aldehydes
Fatty acids
The essential oils alone claim over 120 ingredients for themselves. However, it is worth mentioning that not all ingredients are found in one plant alone. The constellations differ especially from the genus of the respective hemp plant (Indica, Stavia). Especially for the medical sector cannabinoids are of great importance. Mainly three to four cannabinoids are found in higher concentrations in the plants. For medical and therapeutic purposes THC and CBD have the highest priority.
CANNABINOIDS WITH GREAT EFFECT
THC
This is Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol. It is one of the most important cannabinoids. It is used for numerous therapeutic purposes. This substance not only has a psychoactive and pain-relieving effect, but also an exhilarating, muscle-relaxing and appetite stimulating effect.
CBD
Cannabidiol has a non-psychoactive effect and is therefore 100 percent legal. It can be used for many purposes. In particular, it helps with epilepsy, sleep disorders, movement disorders and psychosis.
CBC
These are cannabichromes, the second most common cannabinoid. It is not psychoactive and supports the effect of THC. It is analgesic, sedative and antidepressant.
There are many other cannabinoids like CBN, CBDV, THCA and THCV. They are all used for various medical purposes because they have a wide range of effects.
GROWING HEMP
First of all: This is a theoretical instruction only. Growing hemp remains prohibited for private persons. Only in very rare cases there are permissions.
Hemp can be cultivated in two different ways. Once with the well-known variant, namely in the growbox and outside in summer. In a growbox hemp can be grown all year round. Outside, this only works in summer when it is really warm. From seed to harvest it takes about three months.
Usually hemp grows between one and one and a half meters in size. The plant needs a very special light spectrum. This already differs between growth and flowering. So the right lamps for growing in a growbox must be available. About four to five hemp plants fit on one square meter. Depending on the variety, they release an average of one to two kilograms of cannabis flowers. However, you should not only pay attention to the quantity, but above all to the quality.
The hemp plant is extremely resistant and robust in terms of pests. Top priority is given to the climate inside the box, which should be the same as it is outside. The right draught and exhaust air as well as humidity and light are prerequisites for proper cultivation. Hemp needs 16 hours of light per day during the time of its growth. In the resting period, however, the plant needs absolute darkness. It must not be disturbed by the effects of light. In addition, the sex of the plant must be taken into account during cultivation. Male plants do not have flowers, but only pollen sacs. These should definitely be removed before pollinating the females. Hemp plants can be harvested as soon as all plants are colored brown and no white hairs are visible. When harvesting, it is important to cut off whole branches. In addition, the unnecessary leaves must be removed while the plant is still moist. The branches are then hung upside down until they are dry. As soon as the branches can be bent easily, they can be removed. They are then packed in an airtight bag so that the moisture can spread well and the plant gets its typical taste.
