Hemp Seed Oil

Hemp Seed Oil

　　Pressed from hemp seeds. Hemp seeds are the dried, mature seeds of the plant Cannabis sativa L., which belongs to the Moraceae family. They are also known as cannabis seeds, hemp seeds, or linen seeds. Hemp is cultivated in most parts of China, thriving in warm, humid climates. It is not demanding on soil, preferring deep, loose, fertile, well-drained sandy or clay soils. The seeds are harvested in autumn when the fruits ripen, cleaned of impurities, and then sun-dried to become hemp seeds.

　　Physiological Characteristics

　　　　Hemp seeds have a sweet taste and neutral nature, and are associated with the spleen, stomach, and large intestine meridians. They function to moisten the intestines and relieve constipation, as well as to moisten dryness and kill parasites. Common clinical names include hemp seeds and stir-fried hemp seeds. 　　Hemp Seeds (medicinal): 　　The dried fruit of cannabis is flat and oval-shaped, measuring 4–5 mm in length and 3–4 mm in diameter. The surface is smooth, grayish-green or grayish-yellow, with fine white, brown, or black patterns, and has a light-colored ridge line on each side. One end is bluntly pointed, while the other has a round depression where the fruit stem was attached. The outer pericarp is very thin, and the inner pericarp is hard and brittle. The green seed coat often adheres to the inner pericarp and is not easily separated. The endosperm is grayish-white and thin; the two cotyledons are thick and rich in oil. It has a faint scent and a mild taste. Those that are yellow in color, free of seed coat, and plump are considered high quality. It is produced in Heilongjiang, Liaoning, Jilin, Sichuan, Gansu, Yunnan, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and other regions.

　　Historical Research

　　　　Li Shizhen of the Ming Dynasty recorded in the "Compendium of Materia Medica" that hemp seeds replenish the middle (energetic layer), benefit qi, and with prolonged use, promote health and longevity, even leading to immortality ("Shennong's Classic of Materia Medica," Upper Grade). He also documented 38 prescriptions using hemp seeds for strengthening the body, dietary therapy, and treating various diseases. The broad range of applications and therapeutic benefits recorded are extremely rare. 　　The Bama region in Guangxi, known worldwide as a longevity village, has research results internationally and domestically recognized by the nutrition community showing that the longevity of its population is directly related to the consumption of hemp seed oil.