Ma Zi Ren Wan, Hemp Seed Pill, is Huo Ma Ren, Xing Ren, Shao Yao, Zhi Shi, Hou Po and Da Huang. The catalogue classes it among the formulas that moisten the Intestines and unblock the bowels.

Herb

Amount

500 g

150 g

150 g

150 g

150 g

300 g

Actions and indications

Moistens the Intestines and unblocks the bowels

Dry Intestines with Heat, from deficient body fluids
Hard, dry stools that are infrequent and difficult to pass, without strong excess Heat
Constipation with normal or frequent urination, the fluids going to the Bladder instead of the bowel (Spleen-restriction pattern)
Chronic constipation in the elderly or debilitated, for whom a harsh purgative is unsuitable
Constipation after childbirth, surgery, a febrile illness or other loss of fluids
Mild fullness of the abdomen with dry stool, but no high fever or hard, painful mass
Dry skin

Drains Heat from the Stomach and Intestines

Dry Heat retained in the Stomach and Intestines because fluids are deficient (Yang Ming deficiency)
Haemorrhoids
Scanty urine, or frequent urination at night
Dizziness
Tongue pink or red with a dry yellow coat; pulse slippery and rapid, thin and rapid, deep and rapid, or floating and choppy

Nourishes Yin and protects fluids

Moves Qi and alleviates pain

Invigorates the Blood and dispels Blood stasis

Modern uses

Habitual constipation
Constipation of elderly or weak people
Postpartum constipation
Post-surgical constipation
Drug induced constipation
Constipation from kidney atrophy
Incomplete intestinal obstruction
Postoperative ileus
Irritable bowel syndrome
Chronic colitis
Reflux gastritis
Atrophic gastritis
Hemorrhoids
Post-hemorrhoidectomy bleeding
Bad breath
Sore throat
Asthma
Cystitis
Interstitial cystitis
Oliguria
Diabetes
Cardiopulmonary disease
Coronary heart disease
Dizziness
Vertigo
Weakness
Dry skin

Modifications

Severe loss of fluids: + bai zi ren, + gua lou ren

Severe stagnant Heat with a yellow coat and rapid pulse: + da huang, + mang xiao

Severe weakness: + fan xie ye, − da huang

Haemorrhoids: + tao ren, + dang gui

Qi deficiency of the Middle Jiao (combined with Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang)

Bleeding haemorrhoids: + huai hua mi, + di yu

Parasites blocking the Intestines: + wu mei, + bing lang, + chen pi

Alternative additions, indication unclear: + huai hua mi, + di yu, + ce bai ye

Haemorrhoids with constipation: + huang lian, + sheng ma, + tao ren, + dang gui

Thirst and heavy drinking from Stomach Heat: + shi gao, + zhi mu

Frequent urination: + qian shi, + sang piao xiao, + yi zhi ren

Dry-stool constipation that is habitual, in older patients: + da huang, + bai zi ren, + rou cong rong, + dang gui

Show all 24 modifications

Constipation from Heat in the Stomach and Intestines: + zhi ke, + gua lou ren, − bai shao, − zhi shi
Long-standing constipation from Heat in the Stomach and Intestines: + zhi ke, + gua lou ren, + mai men dong, + tian men dong, − bai shao, − zhi shi, − da huang
Long-standing constipation from Heat in the Stomach and Intestines, alternative: + gua lou ren, + yu li ren, + xuan shen, − bai shao, − hou po
Constipation from Heat in the Stomach and Intestines with severe stagnation: + zhi ke, + gua lou ren, + bing lang, + chen pi, − bai shao, − zhi shi
Stools hard and dry, badly constipated: + mang xiao
Fluids badly depleted, with marked dryness: + sheng di huang, + xuan shen, + shi hu
Constipation with intestinal parasites: + bing lang
Constipation with Heat remaining in the Lungs: + huang qin, + gua lou ren
Interstitial cystitis (combined with Xiao Chai Hu Tang): + dang shen, − sheng jiang, − da huang, − ren shen
Interstitial cystitis with severe constipation (combined with Xiao Chai Hu Tang): + dang shen, − sheng jiang, − ren shen
Interstitial cystitis without dry stools (combined with Xiao Chai Hu Tang): + dang shen, − sheng jiang, − ren shen, − huo ma ren, − xing ren
Interstitial cystitis with marked Qi deficiency and Damp (combined with Xiao Chai Hu Tang): + dang shen, + bai zhu, + fu ling, − sheng jiang, − da huang, − ren shen

Cautions

pregnancy Contraindicated in pregnancy, as Da Huang purges and moves Blood

contraindication Constipation from Qi or Yang deficiency with Cold (cold limbs, fatigue, a tendency to loose stools), which it can make worse

contraindication Acute, severe Yang Ming organ excess with hard, painful distention and high tidal fever, which needs a stronger purgative

caution Blood-deficiency constipation and very weak patients: modify the formula before use

caution Meant for short courses until bowel movements are normal again; long or habitual use without reassessing the cause is discouraged

caution Take care with existing diarrhoea, weak digestion, or sensitivity to any of its herbs

caution With antipsychotic drugs: reported to relieve the constipation they cause

Pinyin

ma zi ren wan

English Name

Hemp Seed Pill

ma zi ren wan

About ma zi ren wan

Ingredients

Actions and indications

Moistens the Intestines and unblocks the bowels

Drains Heat from the Stomach and Intestines

Nourishes Yin and protects fluids

Moves Qi and alleviates pain

Invigorates the Blood and dispels Blood stasis

Modern uses

Symptoms

Modifications

Cautions

Preparation

Names

Classification

Support