Hemp seed, also known as hemp seed, hemp seed kernel, hemp seed, hemp kernel, white hemp seed, winter hemp seed, etc., is the seed kernel of the hemp plant Cannabis sativa L. of the Cannabaceae family. Hemp has a history of more than 6,000 years of cultivation in China, mainly used to extract hemp fiber and make clothes, ropes and paper.
In ancient medical books, hemp seed was widely recorded and used, and it was recorded as early as in the Shennong Bencao Jing. The Shennong Bencao Jing said that it was "sweet and mild" and had the effect of moistening the intestines and relieving constipation. The Wu Pu Materia Medica mentioned that hemp seed was "sweet and mild" and pointed out its role in treating constipation caused by dry intestines.
Botanical properties of hemp seed
Hemp seed, also known as hemp seed, hemp seed kernel, hemp seed, etc., is the seed kernel of the plant Cannabis sativa L. of the Cannabaceae family. It is flat and oval in shape, 4 to 5 mm long, 3 to 4 mm wide, with a gray-green or slightly gray-brown surface, glossy, and with fine white, brown or black reticular texture.
The top is slightly pointed, the base is blunt, with a slightly concave fruit stalk mark, and a light-colored ridge on each side. The pericarp is thin and brittle, easily broken, the seed coat is dark green, often attached to the endocarp, the embryo is curved, oval, covered with a thin endosperm, brown at the top and white at the other end, the cotyledon is the same length as the radicle, milky white, and rich in oil. The smell is light and the taste is light, and there is a slight numbness on the tongue after chewing.
Hemp seeds are widely used in daily life. For example, the "Food Therapy Materia Medica" records that hemp seeds can be used to make porridge, remove wind from the five internal organs, moisten the lungs, treat joint obstruction, hair loss, and dredge blood vessels. In addition, the oil extracted from hemp seeds can be eaten and contains a special amino acid that can absorb excess fat, cholesterol, and toxins in the body and excrete them out of the body.
These records show the diverse applications and important status of hemp seed in ancient life.
The nature, flavor and medicinal effects of hemp seed
Hemp seed tastes sweet and is neutral in nature. It has the effects of moistening the intestines and relieving constipation, replenishing deficiency, promoting diuresis and reducing swelling, and strengthening the spleen. Its main components include fatty oil, muscarinic acid, choline, fatty acids, etc., of which the fatty oil content is about 30%, mainly composed of saturated fatty acids, oleic acid, linoleic acid and linolenic acid.
In ancient times, hemp seed was widely used in traditional Chinese medicine. The Shennong Herbal Classic mentioned that it tasted sweet and was neutral in nature, which helped to lubricate the intestines and promote bowel movements . The Wu Pu Herbal Classic also pointed out that hemp seed was sweet and neutral in nature, and was particularly suitable for treating constipation caused by dry intestines.
Hemp seeds used in traditional Chinese medicine are obtained by frying hemp seeds in a white pot. They are a specialty of Guangxi, China. They are even beautifully called "longevity hemp" locally because of their high nutritional value and rich plant protein, making them a good source of protein for vegetarians.
Tang Materia Medica mentions that hemp seeds have a slightly cool taste and can enter the spleen, stomach and large intestine meridians, which is beneficial for drainage, diuresis and dissolving blood stasis. Food Therapy Materia Medica further introduces that hemp seeds can be squeezed into juice and cooked into porridge, which helps to relieve internal wind, moisten the lungs, treat joint obstruction and hair loss symptoms, and promote blood circulation . Materia Medica Shiyi also mentions that hemp seeds can relieve qi flow, promote diuresis, and be used to treat female dystocia.
In summary, hemp seed is mainly used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat constipation caused by various reasons , especially for the elderly and postpartum women with blood deficiency, body fluid deficiency, and constipation. In addition, hemp seed can effectively lower blood pressure and cholesterol , and is also effective for symptoms such as high blood pressure and facial aberration.
It has the properties of moistening, lubricating the intestines, relieving stranguria and promoting blood circulation, and therefore is also effective in improving problems such as dry intestines and constipation, quenching thirst, hot stranguria, rheumatism, dysentery, irregular menstruation, scabies and leprosy.
Modern Applications of Hemp Seed
Lubricating the intestines and relieving constipation: Hemp seeds contain rich fatty oils, which can stimulate the intestinal mucosa, increase secretion, speed up peristalsis, and reduce water absorption by the large intestine, thereby achieving the effect of lubricating the intestines and relieving constipation. Cantonese cold tea "Hemp Seed Paste" is made by frying hemp seeds and sesame seeds over a slow fire until they turn golden yellow, then putting them in a blender, adding water to make a paste, filtering the residue with gauze, adding sugar and seasoning, and boiling. It has the effect of relieving constipation.
Lowering blood pressure : Hemp seed tincture is made into an emulsion by removing alcohol and injecting it into the duodenum of anesthetized cats. It can slowly reduce blood pressure and drop to about half of the original level after 2 hours. Hypertensive patients tried taking hemp seed emulsion for 4 weeks, and their blood pressure dropped from 18.62/13.3 kPa (140/100 mmHg) to 120/80 mmHg (15.9/10.6 kPa). After continuing to take the maintenance dose for 5 to 6 weeks, the blood pressure stabilized at 15.295/10.64 kPa (115/80 mmHg) with no adverse reactions.
Edible oil : The oil extracted from hemp seeds is edible and contains a special amino acid that can absorb excess fat, cholesterol and toxins in the body and excrete them out of the body. Hemp seed oil is rich in many ingredients that are beneficial to the human body, including a variety of unsaturated fatty acids, such as linolenic acid and linoleic acid, which have significant benefits for cardiovascular health and skin health. In addition, hemp seed oil also contains rich vitamins and minerals, such as vitamin E, calcium, magnesium, etc. These nutrients play an important role in anti-oxidation, anti-aging and maintaining skin health.
Traditional dessert hemp seed paste
Elderly people and postpartum women are prone to constipation due to dry intestines. You can cook some hemp seed paste to moisten the intestines and relieve constipation while also nourishing and replenishing the body. Stir-fry the hemp seeds until fragrant, then grind them into fine powder. Add appropriate amounts of sesame seeds, almonds and rock sugar and blend in a blender until smooth.
Notes
Although hemp seed has many benefits, it also has certain side effects. Hemp seed contains mushroom toxins, choline, fat, etc. Ingestion of more than 50 grams can cause poisoning within 1 to 2 hours, with symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, numbness of the limbs, loss of orientation, convulsions, coma, dilated pupils, etc. Therefore, when using hemp seed, you should pay attention to the dosage and avoid excessive consumption.
In addition, hemp seed should not be used with oysters, white mulberry, or Poria cocos. Eating too much hemp seed may damage blood vessels and cause loss of essence and qi. Eating too much hemp seed may cause leukorrhea in women. People with spleen and kidney deficiency who suffer from loose stools, impotence, spermatorrhea, and leukorrhea should take it with caution.
Conclusion
As an ancient Chinese herbal medicine, hemp seed has a rich history and diverse effects. Its effects of moistening the intestines and relieving constipation, lowering blood pressure, and lowering cholesterol make it still have important application value in modern medicine. However, when using hemp seed, you should pay attention to the dosage and avoid excessive consumption to prevent poisoning. The modern application of hemp seed is not only limited to the field of traditional Chinese medicine, but also extends to the food and health care products industry, showing its broad application prospects.