Ananda Munakka or Rockets

Happiness @ One Rupee

It looked like an ordinary pack of gutka or paan masala. But "Ananda Munakka" was different. A Dutch tourist handed a packet to me with the words: "You have one of these in the morning and you are happy the whole day." She wanted to know what it contained. I told her that "ananda" meant "happiness".

The contents of the packet were listed in Hindi, which she could not read. Nor could I, for the lettering was too small. She got me a huge magnifying glass.

As I scanned the list of ingredients, I found the words "Shudh Bhang – 15%". Trust a Dutch woman to find it! I told her it contained 15 percent pure cannabis. She was overjoyed. I read out the other ingredients:

Munakka – 40% (crushed dates)
Mishri – 40% (natural sugar crystals)
Jeera – 1% (cumin seeds)
Dalchini – 1% (cinnamon)
Lavang – 1% (cloves)
Kali Mirch – 1% (black pepper)
Heeng – 1% (asafoetida)
And, of course:
Bhang (shudh) – 15%

When I first heard about this candy (thanks Fat Freddy) I wanted to try it out. But since I don't have the cash to go overseas and get the real thing I figured I'd try my hand at making it.

Munakka is usually translated as  'Sultanas or large raisins' so I'm using that in the recipe. You can still use the dates, it will be sweeter.

This is what I came up with;


Rockets

7 oz. Sultanas or large raisins   
7 oz. natural sugar crystals
2 1/2 oz. cannabis   
1 tsp.cumin seeds    
1 tsp. cinnamon       
1 tsp. cloves       
1 tsp. black pepper   
1 tsp. asafoetida  *     

Place cannabis in a 300 deg. F oven for 15 minutes. Let cool.

Add all ingredients to a food processor and pulse until blended.

Roll into 5 gram balls.

Mix it in milk and get Thandai (literally - coolness), the enhanced version of a popular Indian drink.

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* asafoetida

It has recently come to my attention that asafoetida should not be used by the following people;
Children, pregnant or breast-feeding women, people with bleeding disorders,
epileptics or those with a history of convulsions, those with stomach and intestinal (gastrointestinal, GI) problems, and people with high blood pressure (hypertension) or low blood pressure (hypotension).

As with any herbal preparation consult your physician before use.

Treating Shingles with Cannabis

Shingles (herpes zoster) - Cannabis Treatment
Published by Jan

Caused by the same virus that causes chicken pox—affects the nerve endings in the skin.
Usually occurs on the skin of the abdomen under the ribs leading toward the navel, but can appear anywhere on the body. 3 or 4 days of intense pain in affected area often precede an attack. Then painful, itchy blisters develop, lasting for 7-14 days. The blisters form crusty scabs and fall off.

The virus may lie dormant in the spinal cord and nerve ganglia for years until triggered. Risk of Shingles increases with the use of anti-cancer drugs, Hodgkin’s disease, and other cancers, stress, and immune system deficiency. If Shingles develop near the eyes, the cornea can be affected and blindness may result.

After an attack of Shingles, the pain may continue even after blisters gone. The pain can last for months or years! The post-herpetic syndrome can be more painful than the original infection.

"Do not take acetaminophen—it might prolong illness."

Diet:

• Raw fruits and vegetables, brewer’s yeast, whole grains.
• A cleansing fast.
• Sunlight on blisters for short periods.
• Gently wash blisters.
• Take: L-Lysine 500 mg. (twice a day)
• Vitamin C 2,000 mg. (twice a day)
• Cayenne capsules follow instructions on label
• Vitamin B complex plus extra B12 100 mg. (three times a day)
• Zinc chelate 80 mg for one week then reduce it to 50 mg.a day

Cannabis Treatment:
Cannabinoids are compounds in marijuana (cannabis), which may have properties that protect nerve cells. They are being studied for a number of nerve-disorders, including chronic nerve-related pain. In one study, it was effective in reducing pain and had no major side effects.

Acting through cannabinoid receptors CB1 and CB2, endocannabinoids (as well as THC) are thought to play a role in variety of biological functions, including pain and anxiety control, and inflammation This is where medical marijuana comes into play. There has been plenty of research demonstrating marijuana’s ability to reduce pain associated with damage to the nerves (neuropathic pain). Patients with HIV and Diabetic neuropathy have been studied at the UCSD Medical Cannabis Research Center. All showed dramatic improvement in patient’s symptoms.

With the addition of cannabis other pain medications that patients require should decrease

Shingles can lead to a debilitating complication called post herpetic neuralgia.

This condition causes the skin to remain painful and sensitive to touch for months or even years after the rash clears up. Medical marijuana is the perfect treatment for neuropathic pain.

Cannabis has also been shown to be useful as an antiseptic topical treatment for infections.


White Rastas' Cannabalm Ocean of Lotion

Ingredients:

• 24.0 oz distilled H2O
• 4.0oz strong cannabis oil or fat (1 ounce of resinous leaf (sugar leaf) and\or small bud per 8 ounces of oil)
• 1.2oz emusifying wax
• 1.2oz cosmetic grade stearic acid
• 1.0oz liquid vegetable glycerin
• .3oz germaben ( a natural preservative necessary to prevent spoilage/rancidity)
• .3oz essential oil of your preference(remember the smell your already working with and try to compliment it)

For a cooling sunburn lotion menthol crystals can be added in place of/with the essential oils

Instructions:

• Heat the first five ingredients in a double boiler until melted then whisk until creamy.
• Add the germaben and essential oil and whisk thoroughly.
• Pour while warm into bottles. 

Makes approximately 32oz.