The Practical Herbalist

Cannabis seeds

Over the years there has been a lot of controversy over the medical use of marijuana. Chinese herbal medicine has recognized marijuana as medicine, but not for the anti-nausea effect that comes from smoking the herb. Cannabis or marijuana seeds were used for helping relieve constipation.

In Chinese medicine there are many herbs and acupuncture treatments that will calm stomach upset. Marijuana for nausea is not seen as necessary. Hemp and Cannabis seeds have a very high oil content. Seed oils are key to helping lubricate the large intestine in cases of "dry" constipation. This is constipation marked by stool that is hard and dry and may be scratchy and painful to defecate. This type of constipation is most common in the elderly. Oils, and seed oils in particular, help lubricate the stool and relieve these symptoms. This is the area where cannabis seeds are considered most valuable.

Herbalists here in the U.S. rarely use cannabis seeds, and the reason may surprise you. It is not as you might suspect, that cannabis is a controlled substance. As it turns out Herbalists can buy cannabis seed from suppliers. The seeds are sterilized so that they will not germinate, and are thus legal to sell and posses. The real issue is that cannabis seeds go rancid very easily. They have a very short shelf life and thus most herbalists use other seeds that are more shelf stable.