☯ TCM Properties
Moistens the Intestines and Unblocks the Bowels; Nourishes Yin; Promotes Urination; Invigorates Blood and Dispels Stasis
Traditional Chinese Uses
Huo Ma Ren (hemp seed) is a neutral, sweet, oily herb used in Chinese medicine to moisten the Intestines and gently relieve constipation from dryness — particularly in the elderly, postpartum women, and those constitutionally dry or Blood deficient. Its moist, lubricating quality softens dry stools and promotes gentle bowel movement without harsh cathartic side effects. As a food-grade herb and nutritious seed, it is among the safest and gentlest laxative herbs in the Chinese materia medica.
Western Herbalism Properties
Traditional Uses
The Iroquois used Cannabis sativa as a psychological aid, given after a patient had recovered but did not think themselves recovered, and as a stimulant, stating that "this plant will get you going" (Herrick, 1977, Iroquois Medical Botany, State University of New York, Albany, page 306).
Used In Formulas (1)
Botanical Description
Cannabis sativa is a fast-growing annual herb in the Cannabaceae, probably native to central Asia and now cultivated worldwide for fibre, oilseed and medicinal preparations. The plant produces an erect, often single, ridged and hairy stem 1 to 4 meters tall, with palmately compound leaves arranged oppositely below and alternately above. Each leaf has 3 to 11 lanceolate, sharply serrate leaflets joined at a single point on a long petiole, with a deep green, slightly rough upper surface and a paler underside studded with resinous glandular trichomes, especially on female inflorescences. The species is typically dioecious. Male plants bear loose, branching panicles of small, five-parted, pendulous greenish-yellow flowers shedding wind-borne pollen; female plants produce dense leafy spikes of single-flowered axillary clusters with a tubular perianth enclosing the ovary. The fruit is a small, smooth, somewhat lens-shaped achene (the hemp seed) 3 to 5 mm long, greyish-brown and often mottled, containing a single oily seed. The dried ripe seed constitutes the Chinese drug Huo Ma Ren.
Dosage
| Form | Amount | Frequency | Duration | Population | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| decoction | 6-15g | Daily | — | — | — |
This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any herbal remedy, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications.
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