Hemp seed is also calledhemp seedIt is the mature fruit of the hemp plant in the mulberry family. It contains a high amount of oil, making it effective in moistening the intestines and promoting bowel movements. It is cultivated throughout the country and harvested in autumn when the fruits are ripe. After removing impurities, it is dried in the sun for medicinal use. It is often used in its raw form.
I. Efficacy of Hemp Seed:
Hemp seeds taste sweet and are neutral in nature. They belong to the spleen and large intestine meridians. Their effects includeMoisten the intestines and promote bowel movementIts characteristic is to moisten the intestines without harming the body's vital energy, making it especially suitable for the elderly, postpartum women, and those with weak constitutions.
Commonly used inBlood Deficiency and Fluid Depletion, Intestinal Dryness and Constipationtreatment of conditions such as
Summary of Masterpieces by Renowned Authors
The Classic of Materia Medica: "Primarily tonifies the center and boosts qi, treats wind stroke with sweating, expels water, promotes urination, breaks up stagnant blood, restores blood vessels, and addresses postpartum ailments in nursing mothers."
"Medicinal Properties": "Hemp seeds can moisten the intestines; their moist nature can dispel dryness, specifically benefiting constipation due to stagnation of qi in the large intestine. They are effective for treating conditions such as dryness of blood and fluids in the elderly, postpartum disharmony of qi and blood, incomplete recovery of primordial qi after illness, or constitutional weakness that impairs movement."
Changsha Materia Medica: "Hemp seeds are smooth and lubricating, promoting bowel movements and nourishing the meridians. They are suitable for conditions involving blockages and stagnation in the pathways."
"Compendium of Materia Medica": "A medicine for the spleen, stomach, and large intestine, it soothes the spleen and moistens dryness. It treats Yangming disease, stomach heat, excessive sweating, and difficulty in bowel movements. It breaks up stagnant blood, promotes urination, stimulates lactation, and aids childbirth."
II. Compatibility and Application of Hemp Seed:
1. For the elderly, postpartum women, and those with weak constitution suffering from intestinal dryness constipation due to deficiency of body fluids and blood. Hemp seeds are rich in oil, especially effective in moistening dryness, lubricating the intestines, and promoting bowel movements. To treat constipation due to intestinal dryness in individuals with weak constitution, they are often combined with Angelica sinensis, Rehmannia glutinosa (prepared), and apricot kernels, namelyYixue Runchang Wan。
If treating heat evil damaging yin or constitutional fire excess, constipation and hemorrhoid constipation, habitual constipation and other syndromes, it is often combined with rhubarb, magnolia bark, immature bitter orange, white peony root, apricot kernel, etc., namelyMazi Ren Wan。
"Treatise on Cold Damage Disorders": "The pulse at the dorsum of the foot is floating and hesitant. The floating pulse indicates strong stomach qi, while the hesitant pulse suggests frequent urination. When floating and hesitant pulses combine, the stool becomes hard, and the spleen is constrained. The appropriate treatment is to use the Hemp Seed Pill."
Wang Haogu said, "Excessive sweating, stomach heat, and difficulty in bowel movements all lead to dryness and depletion of body fluids, which is why it is called spleen constraint. Constraint here means restriction. The 'Shennong's Classic of Materia Medica' states that dryness should be moistened, so Zhang Zhongjing used hemp seeds to moisten the dryness of the foot Taiyin meridian and unblock the intestines."
Cheng Wuji said, "The spleen desires to be moderated, and sweet foods should be consumed to moderate it. The sweetness of hemp seeds serves to moderate the spleen and moisten dryness."
Huang Yuanyu said: "To treat Yangming disease, the spleen is constrained and defecation is difficult. Because the spleen qi is constrained and knotted, the waste cannot smoothly descend. The large intestine, governed by the dry metal, contracts and astringes without discharging, gradually shrinking over time and forming into pellets. The dryness and knots do not descend, hence the difficulty in defecation. Hemp seeds and apricot kernels moisten dryness and lubricate the intestines; peony root and rhubarb clear wind and purge heat; magnolia bark and immature bitter orange move stagnation and open knots."
2. Other Compatibility Applications.
For habitual constipation, hemp seeds are often combined with plum seeds. The combination of these two seeds regulates both qi and blood, enhancing the laxative and purgative effects.
If treating deficiency of yin blood, malnutrition of heart vessels, intermittent pulse, and palpitations, it is often combined with honey-fried licorice, raw rehmannia root, donkey-hide gelatin, and ophiopogon root, namelyZhigancao Decoctionby nourishing the blood and moistening dryness.
If there is beriberi with edema, or abdominal distension due to wind-water, this herb can be used alone or boiled with red beans to make a decoction for consumption.
For treating burns and scalds, it can be combined with gardenia and phellodendron, finely ground together, and applied to the affected area mixed with lard, which yields excellent therapeutic results.
III. Usage and Dosage of Hemp Seed:
Hemp seeds are often used in decoctions and are also suitable for making pills. The usual dosage in decoctions ranges from over ten grams to several tens of grams.
Huang Yuanyu said: "Remove the shell, stir-fry, and grind for use."
IV. Application Notes for Hemp Seed:
Hemp seeds contain a high amount of oil, and large doses not only have the drawback of causing loose stools but also easily lead to poisoning, thereforePatients with loose stools, impotence, seminal emission, or leukorrhea due to spleen and kidney deficiency should use with caution.。
In addition, hemp seeds are prone to insect infestation after the dog days of summer and require careful storage.
