Hemp Seed Pills Show Promise in Study on Excessive Syndrome

A new study is out that shows hemp seed pills, a staple in Chinese herbal medicine stores, relieves suffering of constipation known in traditional Chinese medicine as “excessive syndrome”, where the bowels dry out and cause problems such as dry mouth, abdominal swelling and pain that leads to trouble sleeping. The study done at the Hong Kong Baptist University looked into the hemp seed pills that have been used to treat constipation for more than 1,000 years in traditional Chinese medicine.

The study took 120 people who suffered from severe constipation and split them into two groups, one received 7.5 grams of hemp seed pills in 150 ml of hot water and the other got a placebo, both were treated  twice a day for 8 weeks. Forty three percent of those taking the hemp seed pill reported improvement compared to only eight percent on the placebo. Blood tests revealed no damage to the kidneys or liver observed in those that took the hemp seed pills. The conclusion was that that Hemp Seed Pills were safe for alleviating constipation. The traditional hemp seed pills that have been available in the East for hundreds of years consist of six different herbs along with crushed hemp seeds.

In theory, the herbs work in combination, acting as a purgative and laxative also relieving dry mouth and allowing the patient to sleep more peacefully. The study was published in the American Journal of Gastroenterology. Hemp Seed Pills can be purchased on-line and in some herbal medicine outlets in America, but the researchers cautioned that just because it is all natural, doesn’t mean it’s always safe. Some sellers fail to ensure the medicine contains the correct ingredients or lacks contaminants. Dr. Zhao-Xiang Bian who led the study cautioned recommended patients to only purchase herbal medicine from a reputable seller or under the guidance of a registered Chinese medicine practitioner.

Dr. John Johanson of the University of Illinois College of Medicine, who did not participate in the study, said he was please with the way the study was conducted, but said that the patients, even though they improved their symptoms, they still technically suffered from constipation. He said the improvements could be seen with the traditional western medicine advice of first trying a high fiber diet, sometimes with fiber supplements, drinking more water and adding exercise to your week.