Guest guest Posted December 27, 2000 Report Share Posted December 27, 2000 " The practice of using ethylene oxide or radiation sterilization techniques are not typically revealed to the buyer. " Stephen, You seem to have experience observing the harvest/preparation process...Thanks for sharing. I was ignorant of the above. How common is this? Regards, Nicole Nichole, It would be impossible for me to give you an accurate percentage. I will email the question to a colleague in China to seek a better guestimate and will let you know what I find out. Best regards, Stephen Chinese Herbal Medicine, a voluntary organization of licensed healthcare practitioners, matriculated students and postgraduate academics specializing in Chinese Herbal Medicine, provides a variety of professional services, including board approved online continuing education. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 27, 2000 Report Share Posted December 27, 2000 Stephen Morrissey wrote: > " The practice of using ethylene oxide or radiation sterilization > techniques are not typically revealed to the buyer. " I think it would be prudent to ask why this is a problem. I am unfamiliar with these terms. Is it common knowledge that these are harmful things? Is the radiation sterilization the means by which Cannabis seeds are prevented from sprouting after import as a medicinal herb? -- Al Stone L.Ac. <AlStone http://www.BeyondWellBeing.com Pain is inevitable, suffering is optional. Attachment: vcard [not shown] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 27, 2000 Report Share Posted December 27, 2000 <<Is the radiation sterilization the means by which Cannabis seeds are prevented from sprouting after import as a medicinal herb?>> My information says that the huo ma ren is steamed to make it sterile. Karen Vaughan CreationsGarden *************************************** Email advice is not a substitute for medical treatment. " You can't do anything about the length of your life, but you can do something about its width and depth. " Evan Esar ______________ GET INTERNET ACCESS FROM JUNO! Juno offers FREE or PREMIUM Internet access for less! Join Juno today! For your FREE software, visit: http://dl.www.juno.com/get/tagj. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 28, 2000 Report Share Posted December 28, 2000 Al Stone wrote: " I think it would be prudent to ask why this is a problem. I am unfamiliar with these terms. Is it common knowledge that these are harmful things? " Al, I have personally and subjectively noticed a difference in herbs I've taken after using these sterilization techniques to save some production batches from landing in the city dump because of high bacterial counts. However its been a few years since I was forced to look into it and I recall that there are rational/objective reasons that make them undesirable as well. I will look through my notes when I get back to my office at the end of January and see if I can give you a better answer. In terms of cannabis seed sterilization, the Chinese Pharmacopeia states under " preparation " that the seeds should be stir fried until they become yellowish and scented. THC and other cannabanoids are typically only psychoactive after heating, so this would not likely satisfy any FDA or Customs requirements if psychoactivity is their concern. Consequently Karen's postulation of using steaming to deactive would surprise me if it were effective in neutralizing the psychoactive components. Although, I certainly don't claim to be an authority on the subject. I would also be surprised if the cannabanoids were somehow inactivated by radiation sterilization since this technique is mainly used to kill organisims, not grossly change the chemical structure or bioactivity of only selected chemical components. Its my understanding that the sterilization or frying/steaming, if acceptable to FDA, is to satisfy them that the seeds will not propogate and that the issue of their cannabanoid content is not of concern since it is usually negligable in the seeds. Stephen eGroups eLerts It's Easy. It's Fun. Best of All, it's Free! http://click./1/9698/1/_/542111/_/977950792/ --> Chinese Herbal Medicine, a voluntary organization of licensed healthcare practitioners, matriculated students and postgraduate academics specializing in Chinese Herbal Medicine, provides a variety of professional services, including board approved online continuing education. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 29, 2000 Report Share Posted December 29, 2000 the cannabis seeds -huo ma ren- are HEMP seeds, cannabis sativa, which is not the same as the stuff that is smoked- cannabis indica. If you smoked hemp you'd end up w/ a wicked HA. By the way, my understanding of the availability if hemp seeds is due to the bird seed manufacturers having lobbied to include them in the seeds mixes! and a small commentary: someone asked why more practitioners on the list don't participate more often. this is really, on my part, due to time constraints. If I am not treating 50 or so patients a week, or writing formulas, or working on product development, I'm busy with my kids! So while y'all are expounding on language, pot smoking, raw vs. alcohol extractions, I'm busy assembling Hot Wheels Tornado Twister and Barbie's Beach Bungalow. It takes time to respond. I for one, am a terrible typist. and finally re: alcohol extractions, raw, powdered, etc. I have tons of comments, but refrain because I own an herb company, I don't want to be accused of self aggrandizement - even if we are the only company with the real thing. Oops! there goes that self aggrandizement! so the reasons for remaining quiet are multiple. nevertheless, the conversations are vicariously enjoyed. Happy new year to all Cara Frank Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 29, 2000 Report Share Posted December 29, 2000 The steaming is to sterilize the cannibis seeds so they will not germinate. THC levels are negligible (although they will show up on our patient's drug tests), so the FDA does not require deactivation of cannanoboids. Canadian hemp seed is often mechanically dehusked. That would preserve EFA levels, but would probably reduce the fiber component of the laxative effect. Heating cannibis seeds is less destructive to the EFA profile than heating flax seeds since the fats are more stable. Nonetheless I would be wary of grinding up a weeks worth of huo ma ren because of rancidity concerns. Karen Vaughan CreationsGarden *************************************** Email advice is not a substitute for medical treatment. " You can't do anything about the length of your life, but you can do something about its width and depth. " Evan Esar ______________ GET INTERNET ACCESS FROM JUNO! Juno offers FREE or PREMIUM Internet access for less! Join Juno today! For your FREE software, visit: http://dl.www.juno.com/get/tagj. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 29, 2000 Report Share Posted December 29, 2000 Al, I was surprised to hear during a blood borne pathogens/OSHA course that the use of ethylene oxide to sterilize office equipment is not recommended because of its carcinogenic effects. Yikes! Is there residue on the needles we use that are sterilized by EO I wonder? That is my concern with EO and surpised to hear it might be used to sterilize herbs also. Irradiation is a controversial sterilization technique which organic consumers are opposed to because it is unnatural and radiation is also carcinogenic. Nicole > Stephen Morrissey wrote: > > > " The practice of using ethylene oxide or radiation sterilization > > techniques are not typically revealed to the buyer. " > > I think it would be prudent to ask why this is a problem. I am > unfamiliar with these terms. Is it common knowledge that these are > harmful things? > > Is the radiation sterilization the means by which Cannabis seeds are > prevented from sprouting after import as a medicinal herb? > > -- > Al Stone L.Ac. > <AlStone@B...> > http://www.BeyondWellBeing.com > > Pain is inevitable, suffering is optional. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 30, 2000 Report Share Posted December 30, 2000 Stephen Morrissey wrote: > Its my understanding that the sterilization or > frying/steaming, if acceptable to FDA, is to satisfy them that the seeds > will not propogate and that the issue of their cannabanoid content is not of > concern since it is usually negligable in the seeds. That is my understanding. The seeds are processed to make it impossible to grow your own from these seeds. -- Al Stone L.Ac. <AlStone http://www.BeyondWellBeing.com Pain is inevitable, suffering is optional. Attachment: vcard [not shown] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 30, 2000 Report Share Posted December 30, 2000 Reminds me of the (urban legend?) where free pot was to be found growing at the city dumps because of the parakeet seed that had been thrown out. > > That is my understanding. The seeds are processed to make it impossible > to grow your own from these seeds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 30, 2000 Report Share Posted December 30, 2000 has anyone ever tried sprouting the seeds? Cara Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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