ABSTRACT
For much of history the herbal lore of women has been secret. As pointed out in John Riddle’s book, Eve’s Herbs (Riddle 1997), botanical agents for control of reproduction have been known for millennia, but have often been forgotten over time or lost utterly, as in the case of the Greek contraceptive, sylphion. The same is true for other agents instrumental in women’s health, frequently due to religious constraints. One botanical agent that exemplifies this lost knowledge is cannabis. As will be discussed, its role as an herbal remedy in obstetric and gynecological conditions is ancient, but will surprise most by its breadth and prevalence. Cannabis appears in this role across many cultures, Old World and New, classical and modern, among young and old, in a sort of herbal vanishing act. This study will attempt to bring some of that history to light, and place it in a modern scientific context.
