Ma Fen: To Bob & Todd:

[Guest guest]

Dear Bob & Todd:

1) In Japanese translation of Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing (Hamada & Kosodo,

Second Edition 1993):

105 Ma-fun (ma fen): Ma-fun is the flower of Cannabis sativa L.

Note: In Zhong Yao Da Ci Dian, 1978, Ma-fen is " you nen guo sui (young ear

of fruits). "

2) In the Encyclopedia of Wakan-Yaku with Color Pictures (Nanba, 1993):

23-7 Ma-shi-jin (ma zi ren): CANNAVIDIS SEMEN

In Shen Nong Ben Cao, it is listed with its original name, Ma-fun (ma fen).

In modern China, it is generally called Ka-ma-jin (huo ma ren). In old days,

they called the female plant, Sho-ma (ju ma) and the male Shi-ma (xi* ma).

Shen Nong Ben Cao points out its narcotic effect as " large dosage makes

people seeing oni (gui), and run madly. " There is a legend that in the

San-Guo era the famous doctor Huatou used Ma-Fei-San, which contains ma zi

ren as the main herb, to do surgery. In India, ma zi ren has been used as

medicine since the 9th century, B.C.

* Shinjiro's note: This character xi is also used for da ma.

 

So, it looks like everyone ingnores Li Shi-zheng, doesn't it? Some says 'ma

fen' is the flower, other says seeds, and one says the young ear of fruits.

No one, here, says it is the plant itself, though.

" I see dead people... "

 

Acupuncturist Shinjiro

Shinjiro Kanazawa, L.Ac.