Our society is experiencing a historic moment as cannabis reclaims its place in wellness and culture after decades of prohibition. Yet, if we zoom out to take a broader view of human history, we find that cannabis has been a part of human civilization for thousands of years. At Veda Warrior, our mission is to rediscover and celebrate the profound ancient knowledge of cannabis that was once widely known but which was obscured, hidden, and systematically dismantled during the era of prohibition.
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After six years of dedicated research, our journey has led us deep into the ancient roots of Ayurveda—the world’s oldest system of medicine, dating back over 5,000 years to ancient India. Ayurveda uses a combination of herbs, diet, movement, and lifestyle tools to help the individual cultivate radiant health proactively and heal from a variety of diseases.
The role of cannabis in Ayurveda
Within the ancient texts of Ayurveda lies some of the most comprehensive and time-tested wisdom of over 700 different medicinal plants, including cannabis. Known as “Vijaya” in Sanskrit, cannabis was known not only as a healer of the body but also as a sacred medicine that addressed the mind and spirit. In its mythic representation, cannabis was seen as an enchantress, a plant capable of bridging the earthly and the divine, connecting humanity to the rhythms of nature and universal consciousness. It is also known to be a favorite of Shiva, one of the foremost spiritual deities in Hindu culture, and its virtues are extolled in folk songs, rituals, and prayers.
Ayurveda offers a unique perspective on cannabis, viewing it as a sacred herb to be used thoughtfully in combination with other plants for holistic healing. Ancient texts such as the Atharva Veda, one of the four foundational sacred texts of ancient Indian philosophy known as the Vedas, as well as later texts such as the Charak Samhita and Bhavaprakash Nighantu, contain over 300 written references to cannabis, detailing its use in addressing pain, stress, sleep, and even enhancing sexual vitality.
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These writings reveal a deep understanding of the plant’s therapeutic potential, not as an isolated remedy but as part of a broader, harmonious system of healing. For centuries, this knowledge was practiced and refined, yet much of it was lost to time. With the rise of industrialized medicine and the prohibition of cannabis, humanity turned away from this holistic approach to healing. The result has been a fragmented understanding of cannabis, often reduced to its most basic components and divorced from its historical context.
We believe that Ayurveda’s time-tested knowledge of the cannabis plant, which is native to North India, holds immense untapped potential to transform modern wellness. Our Council of Science and Research, which consists of experts from diverse fields, including Eastern medicine practitioners, Western medicine physicians, pharmaceutical drug developers, and biochemists, has been on a mission to research this wisdom through the lens of modern science.
More than a trend…
Our aim has been to develop innovative cannabis solutions for our modern society that are rooted in traditional wisdom but optimized through best-in-class modern technology. Together, we are committed to bringing an authentic, nuanced, science-backed approach to cannabis while honoring its sacred heritage. By anchoring the time-tested principles of Ayurveda into today’s cannabis industry, we aim to restore cannabis’s rightful place in health and healing and to educate consumers on how to consume mindfully.
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Cannabis is more than a trend—it’s a legacy, a gift from nature that has long been a part of humanity’s quest for balance and vitality. The rediscovery of its ancient story is a source of inspiration and an opportunity to reimagine wellness for today’s world. Our goal is to ensure that as the cannabis industry evolves and meaningful cannabis research is conducted post-prohibition, the ancient history, anthropology, and heritage of cannabis are rediscovered, studied, and applied to shaping the future of the industry.
*This article was submitted by a guest contributor. The author is solely responsible for the content.