Is Huo Ma Ren Safe and Legal?

Cannabis-derived products have experienced a surge in popularity in recent months, in part due to the potential health benefits of CBD oil. They are gaining traction among health professionals, patients and the general public with their promise to potentially provide relief from everything from pain to depression.

Huo Ma Ren, commonly known as Hemp Seeds, is a subspecies of the Cannabis Sativa plant. It has been favoured in Traditional Chinese Medicine for thousands of years for its sweet and mild properties, associated with the spleen and large intestine.

But is Huo Ma Ren safe to prescribe? And are there any other alternative cannabis-derived products suitable for your patients?

Huo Ma Ren

Hemp seeds are harvested in the autumn, dried in the sun and then powered and milled. Huo Ma Ren contains all 10 essential amino acids, as well as the essential fatty acids our bodies need to survive, but can’t produce on its own. The seeds contain more essential fatty acids than any other nut or seed and the ratio of omega-3 to omega-6 is pretty perfect!

Huo Ma Ren is traditionally used as a laxative to loosen bowels and relieve constipation. It is also prescribed for relieving pain, inducing sleep and helping nausea associated with chemotherapy. Some practitioners also use the seeds for their soothing effects and calming nervous disorders such as MS. But does it contain cannabis?

Legal or Illegal?

The answer is no! Cannabis Sativa is the main species of the plant, but there are two sub-species that we have come to know as hemp and marijuana. One species is the hemp – which is a tall, fibrous plant. The second species is a smaller, bushier plant whose leaves contain large amounts of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). It is the THC that is psychoactive. As Huo Ma Ren does not contain any THC, it is therefore 100% safe and legal.

Huo Ma Ren has been available for many years. However, there is a new cannabis-derived product on the market.

CBD Oil

Cannabidiol, known as CBD, is one of 104 chemical compounds that can be found in the cannabis plant. It is a naturally occurring substance, which can be extracted and mixed with a carrier oil – often hemp seed or coconut – to create CBD oil.

Like Huo Ma Ren, CBD is not psychoactive and is legal in the UK for medicinal purposes, provided it has been derived from industrial hemp strain that is EU approved. These strains contain very little to no THC. There are strict restrictions in place regarding CBD oil’s THC content as no more than 0.2% THC is used.

CBD oil is available over the counter in the form of tincture, spray, capsules and creams. Much like Huo Ma Ren, the oil has sweet properties and can be used to alleviate pain, ease anxiety and benefit depression. Additionally, it has been known to benefit epilepsy suffers and help acne.

Whether you prefer to use traditional methods or want to try new alternatives, both products are legal and safe.

Please note: this information is intended for qualified herbalists and health professionals only.

You can buy Huo Ma Ren and all of our other herbs in our online shop. And if you would like to know more regarding the safety of our herbs, please contact info@phoenixmd.co.uk.