With the end of our cultivation cycle, we are face some harvest leftovers. So what to do with the roots of those beautiful healthy plants you grew? Here, we tell you how to make medicines from them!

You have already taken care of your cannabis plants for a whole cycle. You’ve harvested beautiful and fragrant buds, and overcame all the cultivation obstacles.

Now, you’ve probably found yourself surrounded by leftover roots – and you don’t know what to do with them. We recommend that you do not throw these beauties away! The center of attention is usually your flowers,  but the roots of cannabis have incredible medicinal powers.

You can make ointments and healing teas to treat minor infections to inflammation of the skin. Since ancient times, cannabis roots have  been used by many people as a powerful medicine, and you may be surprised at how effective they are.

Got curious about it? Here, we’ll tell you more about how to use your cannabis roots after harvest!

The root of cannabis in traditional medicine

Important: although these extracts that we will talk about next can be indicated for many purposes, it is important to always talk to your doctor about their use. These substances found in the root of cannabis can interact with other types of drugs if you’re on any kind of prescription

The first records of the medicinal use of cannabis roots date back to around two thousand years before Christ, and were found in manuscripts translated as “The classic of herbal medicine”. In this ancient kind of encyclopedia, Chinese healers described the action of cannabis root as a powerful pain medicine. Later, Roman civilization would also use it for cramps, gout, joint pain, other types of acute pain – and even to reduce bleeding in women during labour.

With prohibitionism, of course, this type of medicine was basically wiped out of our lives. But, research brought these ancient manuscripts to light, today we have more information on how to prepare and use them correctly.

The properties of cannabis root

Cannabis root has different terpenes: friedelin, pentacyclic, triterpene ketones and epifriedelanol, which have significant health benefits. Friedelin is an antioxidant that protects the liver; epifriedelanol has antitumor benefits; and the other two have been shown to kill cancer cells, reduce inflammation and relieve pain.

It can also be effective for:

• Reduce inflammation;

• Improve the health of cells (mainly cell membranes);

• Soothe burned, inflamed or bruised skin.

How to clean your cannabis roots

To make your medicinal recipes, it is better to use fresh roots, which usually have more nutrients – but only from plants grown in clean soil. That’s because cannabis is great for cleaning contaminated soil, and ends up absorbing pollutants (including heavy metals). If that’s the case with your plant, throw it away! The roots will not do well, in fact, they can have a very negative effect.

For clean roots, the process is not that complicated. You should gently pull them off the earth, taking care to break as few wires as possible. When the roots are free, separate them from the stem with a sharp knife. After that, wash them with warm water, and remove the excess soil with the help of a soft-bristled toothbrush.

After the roots are clean, put all of them in a cool, dark place for 48 hours to dry them completely. After drying, you have two options: you can boil the roots in water or grind them into powder. Both methods work, but grinding the roots into powder allows you to use them in a variety of ways!

To make a soothing balm

To make your own balm, follow the steps above to extract, clean and dry the roots of your cannabis plant. After drying, grind the roots into a fine powder (it can be done with the help of a grater or a food processor).

After turning it into powder, you can mix it with any type of oil or fat. We recommend coconut oil – use the powder of 1 to 2 balls of root, 4 cups of oil and 2 cups of water. Place the mixture in a saucepan over low heat or in a water bath, and cook slowly for 12 to 18 hours. You can also add beeswax to harden the balm when done.

That being done, you will have a mixture that can treat skin conditions such as acne and blisters. You can also rub your temples for headaches or chest pains to relieve nasal congestion and cold symptoms. It even works on sore joints!

Cannabis root tea

Another modern recipe is cannabis root tea. To do this, mix about 20 grams of cannabis root with other herbs, such as anise and cinnamon, and cook for about twelve hours.

But be very careful:

Some cannabis root compounds, such as pyrrolidine and piperidine, are toxic when taken in large quantities. They can irritate the stomach lining and even damage the liver. For this reason, we do not recommend prolonged use of tea with cannabis roots!

So, did you like this information? We strongly believe in the use of cannabis in a medicinal and holistic way – after all, this plant has a lot to offer us. But, if possible, consult a doctor or specialist in herbology before using any herbal medicine! Plants have power and, like any medicine, they may not be suitable for all types of organisms.