Hemp seed, used both as food and medicine, is the mature fruit of the annual herbaceous plant Cannabis sativa L. from the Moraceae family. It is also known as cannabis seed, hemp kernel, or hemp seed, among other names. Hemp seed has a sweet, neutral nature and is rich in lipids, making it suitable for various types of constipation, especially for the elderly, postpartum women, and those who are weak with insufficient body fluids.
Hemp seed has a long history of culinary use, such as in porridge, tea, soups, and alcoholic beverages. Additionally, hemp seed oil can be extracted and consumed. The Compendium of Materia Medica records that it “can be used to extract oil.” Modernly, hemp seeds have been developed into functional foods, including hemp seed protein drinks.
The medicinal use of hemp seed is recorded in the Shen Nong's Classic of the Materia Medica, where it is classified as superior grade, stating that it “mainly replenishes the middle, invigorates qi, nourishes for health, and prevents aging.” Hemp seed is included in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia (2020 Edition) for its fruit kernels, which are used to lubricate the intestines and relieve constipation in conditions like blood deficiency, essence depletion, and intestinal dryness.
In the Treatise on Cold Damage Disorders, the hemp seed pill combines it with apricot kernel, hawthorn, and others to lubricate, reduce heat, and relieve constipation. Other traditional Chinese medicines like Danshen granules and Tongyou Runzao Pills also include it in their formulas. Notably, individuals with loose stools due to spleen-kidney deficiency, impotence, spermatorrhea, or leukorrhea should use hemp seed with caution.
Hemp seeds contain fatty acids, esters, steroids, flavonoids, alkaloids, and other chemical components. Modern pharmacological studies show that this herb has anti-inflammatory, antioxidative, anti-aging, and analgesic effects.
It is worth mentioning that there is a distinction between hemp seed and hemp kernel; they should not be confused. The whole fruit with the shell is called hemp seed, while the shelled kernel is hemp kernel. The Compendium of Materia Medica states, “the shell is toxic, but the kernel is not,” which is why “hemp kernel” is commonly used in clinical practice rather than “hemp seed.”
Although hemp seed is both a food and a medicine, it should not be consumed in excess. A recommended dosage is 10 to 15 grams. Studies have shown that excessive consumption (over 50g) of hemp seed may lead to poisoning, causing symptoms like nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, numbness in the limbs, crying, convulsions, and even coma.
Editor: Zhang Zhiyuan