Hemp Seed Pill
Chinese Prescription: Ma Zi Ren Wan
English Translation: Hemp Seed Pill
Formula Type: Moisten the Intestines and Unblock the Bowels
Actions: Moistens the Intestines, drains heat, promotes the movement of qi, & unblocks the bowels.
Indications: Constipation with hard stool that is difficult to expel, normal to frequent urination, a dry, yellow tongue coating, & a submerged, rapid, or floating, choppy pulse.
Contraindications: Because most of the herbs in the formula possess draining, dispersing, or purgative properties, it should not be used without modification for treating the very weak or for constipation due solely to blood deficiency. Contraindicated during pregnancy.
Pinyin | English | Suggested Dosage |
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view: Huo Ma Ren |
Hemp Seeds | 500-600g |
view: Xing Ren |
Apricot Kernel | 250g |
view: Bai Shao Yao |
White Peony | 250g |
view: Zhi Shi |
Bitter Orange, Unripened | 250g |
view: Hou Po |
Magnolia Officinales Bark | 250g |
view: Da Huang |
Rhubarb Root | 500g |
Huo Ma Ren / Cannabis oval green-brown Seeds | |||
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Taste: Sweet • Temperature: Neutral • Category: Downward Draining • Sub Category: Moist Laxative | |||
Dosage9-15g, up to 45g as principal herb |
Actions1. Nourishes & moistens the Intestines: for constipation in the elderly, in the aftermath of a febrile disease, post partum & in cases of blood deficiency.2. Nourishes the yin: mildly tonifies the yin & primarily used in cases of yin deficiency with constipation. |
MeridiansLarge Intestine, Spleen, Stomach |
CautionsOverdosage or long-term use may result in vaginal discharge or spermatorrhea. Severity of overdose symptoms are related to the dosage. Symptoms include nausea & vomiting, diarrhea, numbness of the extremities, irritability, chorea, miosis, & in very severe cases coma & death. Treatment is based on gastric lavage, fluids, & symptomatic therapy. |
Xing Ren / Apricot Kernel | |||
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Taste: Bitter • Temperature: Slightly Warm • Category: Tranform Phlegm & Stop Coughing • Sub Category: Relieve Coughing & Wheezing | |||
Dosage3-9g |
Actions1. Stops coughing & calms wheezing: used quite broadly for many kinds of cough disorders caused by either heat or cold, depending on the combination. Because the herb is moist in nature, it is especially useful for externally contracted dry cough.2. Moistens the Intestines & unblocks the bowels: this secondary use of the herb derives from its high oil content. Apricot Kernel - Northern - Bei Xing Ren is bitter. It is better for cough due to heat (excess condition). Apricot Kernel - Southern - Nan Xing Ren is sweeter. It is better for cough due to deficiency. |
MeridiansLarge Intestine, Lung |
CautionsUse with caution in treating infants & in cases of diarrhea. May antagonize huang qi, huang qin, & ge gen. Slightly toxic. |
Bai Shao Yao / Peony (White) | |||
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Taste: Bitter, Sour • Temperature: Cool • Category: Tonic • Sub Category: Tonify Blood | |||
Dosage6-15g, very large doses up to 30 g |
Actions1. Nourishes the blood & regulates the menses: for blood deficiency with such symptoms as menstrual dysfunction, vaginal discharge, & uterine bleeding. This is a very commonly used herb for treating women's disorders.2. Calms & curbs the Liver yang & alleviates pain: for such symptoms as flank, chest, or abdominal pain from either constrained Liver qi or disharmony between the Liver & Spleen. In general, this herb is used to "soften & comfort" the Liver, stop painful spasms in the abdomen, stop cramping pain or spasms in the hands & feet, & alleviate abdominal pain associated with dysentric disorders. It is also used for headache & dizziness due to ascendant Liver yang. 3. Preserves the yin & adjusts the nutritive & protective levels: for vaginal discharge & spermatorrhea, as well as exterior wind-cold from deficiency patterns with continuous sweating that does not resolve the problem. It is also used for yin deficiency where the yang floats to the surface causing spontaneous sweating or night sweats. |
MeridiansLiver, Spleen |
CautionsUse with caution in cases of diarrhea due to cold from deficiency, & in patients with weak yang & cold from deficiency. May antagonize shi hu & mang xiao, may counteract with bie jia & xiao ji, & may be incompatible with li lu. |
Zhi Shi / Orange (Bitter) unripened, immatured fruit | |||
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Taste: Bitter, Acrid • Temperature: Slightly Cold • Category: Regulate Qi • Sub Category: | |||
Dosage3-9g |
Actions1. Breaks up stagnant qi & reduces accumulation: for epigastric or abdominal pain & distention or indigestion with focal distention or gas.2. Directs the qi downward & unblocks the bowels: frequently used for abdominal pain & constipation caused by accumulation & stagnant qi. Also used for dystentric diarrhea that is difficult, with or without tenesmus. 3. Transforms phlegm & expels focal distention: for focal distention & fullness in the chest & epigastrium due tp phlegm obstructing the qi mechanism. 4. Also used with qi tonifying herbs for gastriectasis, gastroptosis, rectal prolapse, or uterine prolapse. recently used to raise blood pressure. |
MeridiansLarge Intestine, Spleen, Stomach |
CautionsUse with caution during pregnancy, or in cases where the normal qi is weak or there is Stomach cold from deficiency. |
Hou Po / Magnolia Bark | |||
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Taste: Bitter, Acrid • Temperature: Warm • Category: Qi Regulating / Moving; Transform Damp - Aromatic • Sub Category: | |||
Dosage3-9g |
Actions1. Regulates qi & reduces stagnation of the middle jiao: Key herb for treatment of qi stagnation of the Spleen & Stomach that is causing epigastric & abdominal fullness & distention, loss of appetite, & poor digestion. Indispensable herb when treating bloating, distention, & other related signs of qi stagnation.2. Regulates qi circulation & dries dampness. Clinically qi stagnation with accumulation of dampness in the middle jiao is characterized by epigastric & abdominal fullness, nausea, vomiting, decreased intake of food, & a greasy tongue coat. 3. Descends qi, dissolves phlegm, relieves wheezing: treats cough & wheezing when phlegm blacks the normal circulation of qi in the Lung. Best for tightness in the chest, dyspnea, & cough & wheezing accompanied by profuse phlegm. |
MeridiansLarge Intestine, Lung, Spleen, Stomach |
CautionsUse with caution during pregnancy or in cases of qi deficiency. Hou po has a mild anticoagulant effect, & should be used with caution in patients who take anticoagulant or antiplatelet medications. Unprocessed hou po is sometimes irritating to the throat & may cause nausea. Processing it with sheng jiang reduces bitterness & the stimulatory effect, & is less likely to cause nausea & stomach discomfort. |
Da Huang / Rhubarb Rhizome | |||
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Taste: Bitter • Temperature: Cold • Category: Downward Draining • Sub Category: Purgative | |||
Dosage3-12g |
Actions1. Drains heat & purges accumulations: for high fever, profuse sweating, thirst, constipation, abdominal pain & distention, delirium, yellow tongue coating, & a full pulse. This presentation is referred to either as Intestinal heat excess or the yang brightness organ-stage of the six stages of disease.2. Drains damp-heat via the stool, especially in cases of damp-heat jaundice or acute, hot dysentric disorders. Also for painful urinary dysfunction. 3. Drains heat from the blood: for blood in the stool either from bleeding hemorrhoids or heat accumulating in the Intestines. Also for reckless movement of hot blood that overflows, manifested in vomiting blood or nosebleed accompanied by constipation. 4. Invigorates the blood & dispels blood stasis: for amenorrhea, immobile abdominal masses, or fixed pain due to blood stasis. Also for blood stasis due to traumatic injury or Intestinal abscess. This is an important herb for treating both recent & long-terms blood stasis. 5. Clears heat obstructing the blood level: for fever, hot, swollen & painful eyes, or fire toxin sores due to heat excess obstructing the blood level. 6. Clears heat & reduces fire toxicity: used either topically or internally for burns or hot skin lesions. |
MeridiansHeart, Large Intestine, Liver, Stomach |
CautionsContraindicated in cases of exterior disorders, qi or blood deficiency, cold from deficiency of the Spleen & Stomach. Use with exteme caution during pregnancy, menstruation, or post partum. Contraindicated for nursing mothers because the active ingredients enter the milk. |