Hemp, Cannabis sativa, has been characterized as the world's most multidimensional plant. Hemp fiber materials have been discovered in tombs dating back to 7000 BC. During the Middle Ages, hemp was used to treat fevers, insomnia, and malaria. Columbus's ships had sails made of hemp and during the colonial period, it was universally cultivated due to its durable fibers that produced superior ropes, sails, fabrics, and paper. In fact, hemp was used as currency in most American countries from 1631 to the early 1800s, and the original drafts of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were written on hemp paper. As a food, hemp seed oil has the highest content of essential fatty acids and the lowest content of saturated fats. Britain and Canada have recently lifted bans on the cultivation of industrial hemp and it is now reemerging in the market with an impressive variety of products: from lotions, jeans, salad oil, and cheese to paper goods, composite fibrous material, and biomass.

Pages: 256, Year of Publication: 1101, Dimensions: 20.3x20.3cm