A Collective Amnesia
There is a herb that has travelled with humans for thousands of years. That was used in the ancient civilizations of Egypt, Rome, and India; throughout Africa, Asia and many other parts of the world. It was revered as folk medicine and, much later, entered Western medicine. It is a plant with an astonishing list of applications — assisting childbirth; preventing miscarriage; treating arthritis; migraines; pain and inflammation are just a few examples. This coevolutionary species was one of the first plants to be domesticated by humans and it’s been used as medicine, in community ritual, and celebration ever since.
Yet, in the last century, this plant has all but vanished from most herbal and conventional medicine books. It’s a remarkable collective amnesia. How did it happen?
The story is familiar: powerful elites saw this ancient medicine as a threat to their interests. In the early 1900s, magnates of pharmaceutical medicine, including John D. Rockefeller, mounted a campaign to eradicate this herb, along with other holistic healing practices, from doctors’ offices. The full story is far too complex for the confines of a blog post. But, suffice to say, the campaign was a success.
Cannabis had largely vanished from mainstream medicine in the US by the early 1940s. Through concerted pressure, American prohibition spread worldwide, creating a status quo that has only recently begun to be legally challenged.
While relegalisation efforts are important, equally vital is rekindling our ancient relationship with cannabis. Modern society has largely forgotten the wider possibilities of this plant. This has made misuse and misinformation common. Yet, when used intentionally, cannabis can nurture wellbeing, heal trauma, and promote mindfulness. It can support deep connection to nature, enhance bodily awareness, and strengthen community ties.
It’s time for us to remember our connection to this plant. To see the dark age of prohibition as the historical mistake that it is. To return to what our ancestors on every continent knew — when used wisely, cannabis is one of the safest, most effective and exceptionally versatile herbs we’ve ever encountered.
If you’re ready to rediscover the ancient & modern uses of this magnificent plant, both as a herb and a psychedelic, I’d love you to join my intimate online course in 2026 . Email me at hello@thepsychedelicherbalist.com.au to learn more or sign up for a free connection call.
Image from Oxford Research Encyclopedias, African History, Cannabis and Tobacco in Precolonial and Colonial Africa