Cannabis has been legal in Canada since October of 2018, the second country after Uruguay to legalize marijuana. Many people have taken advantage of the recreational aspects of legal pot, but many have also discovered the medicinal benefits of this herb.
It’s a little bit ironic that the part of the plant that is most commonly discarded because they offer no psychedelic affects—the seeds—are a commonly used Chinese herb, called Huo Ma Ren. This herb has been used as a Chinese medicinal since roughly 100 BCE, and is mentioned in the first Chinese Materia Medica, called the Shennong Ben Cao Jing.
The cannabis plant (Cannabis sativa) is originally native to Asia, growing in India, Iran, China and the Himalayas. That said, cannabis is now cultivated throughout the world. In addition to its medicinal and recreational uses, the cannabis plant is used to make paper, twine, rope, fishing nets and linen. It’s also used as fuel, as fodder for animals and even in the manufacture of biodegradable plastics.
So with everything that the cannabis plant is used for, what makes the seeds so special? Simply put, the seeds are full of healthy oil. They contain healthy fatty acids, fiber, and are a source of Vitamin E, the B vitamins, magnesium potassium, and phosphorus. Hemp seeds are also a good source of complete protein, containing all nine of the essential amino acids.
In Chinese medicine, hemp seeds are used in formulas to moisten the intestines and help relieve constipation. They’re also beneficial in nourishing Yin as a way to cool and moisten the body, nourish the blood and support digestion by having a therapeutic effect on the stomach, spleen and large intestine. In treating constipation, Huo Ma Ren is usually combined with other herbs to address the underlying cause, such as blood depletion or dryness, and is an especially useful herb in gently treating constipation in older people. Additional uses for this herb include treating irritable bowel syndrome, ulcerative colitis, heart disease, migraines, epilepsy in children, multiple sclerosis and hyperthyroidism.
While hemp seeds come from the cannabis plant, they contain little to no amounts of THC responsible for the psychoactive effects of marijuana, and trace amounts of CBD, which is often used for medicinal purposes to decrease anxiety, depression, pain and inflammation. In addition, the cannabis seeds used for the herb Huo Ma Ren are processed in a way that they can’t germinate. And it’s important to note that, when unprocessed, this herb can cause toxic reactions at high dosages, and intake should not exceed 10 to 15 grams per day.
Huo Ma Ren is a common and useful Chinese herb, and can be prescribed as a decoction (tea), pills or powder. However, it is also a useful dietary supplement, frequently found in the form of hemp seed oil. The nutritional makeup of this herb provides antioxidant effects, can help lower cholesterol and prevent blood clots and atherosclerosis, and is found to be heart protective.
So, if you’re ever in the position of tossing out cannabis seeds, think twice and maybe use them to garnish your salad. Who knew they were healthy?
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Dr. Jeda Boughton is a Doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Registered Acupuncturist in Vancouver. She is also a Registered Herbologist and the founder of BodaHealth.
