How Our Extraction Equipment Unlocks the Deep Value of Hemp Seeds

Hemp is a truly versatile plant; its exceptionally strong fibers have been used for millennia to make linen and paper. The Vikings used hemp to make sails for their ships sailing from Scandinavia to Nova Scotia. Becky Ross used linen made from industrial hemp to sew the first American flag. The American Declaration of Independence was also written on hemp paper. The German mark (German currency) was also once printed on hemp paper.

Of course, today the detective mainly talks about hemp seeds, which are the seeds of hemp. The potential of hemp seeds as a food source is likely the earliest reason that attracted human attention. During the Warring States period, under the auspices of Qin Prime Minister Lü Buwei, a famous Huang-Lao Daoist classic, the Lüshi Chunqiu , compiled by his retainers , contains detailed records of hemp. The book lists hemp, wheat, millet, sorghum, and beans as the five grains, and also discusses knowledge about hemp cultivation, observation, and identification. Therefore, hemp seeds were one of the important foods for people at that time .

Hemp seeds are rich in unsaturated fatty acids, essential fatty acids, and protein. These components qualify hemp seeds as a functional food. Li Shizhen, in his Compendium of Materia Medica from the Ming Dynasty , recorded that "hemp seeds replenish the middle and invigorate qi; long-term consumption leads to health, longevity, and even immortality." This demonstrates Li Shizhen's high regard for the health benefits of hemp seeds from the perspective of traditional Chinese medicine. Therefore, I believe that hemp seeds, strictly speaking, should be classified as a nut, not just a seed.

Bama in Guangxi, a world-renowned longevity village, boasts the highest number of centenarians per 100,000 people in the world. One of the secrets to its longevity lies in the Bama people's centuries-old tradition of consuming hemp seeds and various foods made from them. The saying "Eat hemp seeds every day, live to ninety-eight" perfectly encapsulates the daily life of the Bama people. 

For thousands of years, hemp has been an integral part of human life in all aspects, from clothing and food to shelter and transportation. The fibers and oils extracted from hemp plants are used for spinning, clothing, rope making, papermaking, and fuel, making a significant contribution to humanity's journey from ignorance to civilization. It can be said that hemp is a stepping stone to human progress.

Hemp seeds have high medicinal value. Humans recognized their medicinal properties very early on. More than 4,000 years ago, the ancient pharmacologist Shennong used hemp seeds in medicinal formulas to treat gout, beriberi, malaria, rheumatism, and other diseases. Later, this formula was widely used in India, Africa, Greece, Rome, and other places, marking the beginning of human history in using hemp for disease treatment.

Some classical Chinese medicine texts also describe the functions of hemp seeds in detail:

1. The Shennong Materia Medica lists it as a superior herb, and it is sweet and neutral in nature, with the functions of moisturizing dryness, lubricating the intestines, promoting urination, and invigorating blood circulation.

2. According to the "Bielu" , it can treat stroke with sweating, expel water, promote urination, break up blood stasis, restore blood vessels, and treat postpartum ailments in lactating women.

3. According to the Treatise on the Properties of Medicinal Herbs , it can treat wind-heat accumulation and dampness in the large intestine and urinary tract infections caused by heat.

4. According to the "Dietary Therapy Materia Medica" , the juice can be used to cook porridge to remove wind from the five internal organs and moisten the lungs.

5. According to "Supplement to the Compendium of Materia Medica" , it can lower qi, promote urination, and dispel wind-dampness and stubborn skin. Stir-fry until fragrant, crush, and soak in urine to extract the juice for oral administration.

6. According to the "Rihuazi Materia Medica" , it can replenish deficiency and fatigue, build muscle, promote lactation, quench thirst, induce labor, and treat transverse birth.

7. According to the Compendium of Materia Medica , it can benefit women's menstruation, regulate diarrhea, and the juice can be used to cook porridge to stop vomiting.

Hemp seeds are clinically used to treat stomach cancer, blood deficiency and fluid depletion, constipation due to intestinal dryness, urinary tract infections, rheumatism, dysentery, irregular menstruation, scabies, etc., and can be used in combination with hemp seed kernels, trichosanthes seed kernels, and apricot kernel kernels. Hemp seeds are also effective in treating diabetes, coronary heart disease, esophageal spasm, chronic pharyngitis, dysphagia caused by pyloric obstruction, pulmonary heart disease, and hypertensive heart disease. Modern medicine has verified that hemp seeds can enhance gastrointestinal function, lower blood lipids, and treat constipation.

As early as 2800 BC, ancient Chinese people used hemp seeds as food. Both the Lüshi Chunqiu and Huangdi Qinwen list hemp, wheat, millet, sorghum, and beans as the five grains, with hemp being the first. Agricultural historians generally agree that hemp seeds were a staple food crop in ancient times.

Hemp seeds are among the crops with the highest oil content in ancient my country. Records show that hemp oil was used before the invention of vegetable oil processing technology, but it was a solid fat rather than a liquid oil.

The "Biography of Empress Chen" in the Book of Southern Qi records that when Empress Chen gave birth to Emperor Taizu Xiao Daocheng, "when he was two years old, his nurse was short of milk. Empress Chen dreamed that someone gave her two bowls of sesame porridge, and when she awoke, her milk flowed freely." This seems to confirm the method of making porridge with sesame seeds.

Even now, humans still consider hemp seeds an excellent food ingredient. In Bama County, Guangxi, a famous longevity region in China, hemp seeds are often used to make hemp soup . To make it, hemp seeds are placed in a stone mortar, mixed with other ingredients, and rubbed until dissolved. The residue is filtered out, and the liquid is poured into a pot and brought to a boil over high heat. When cracks appear on the surface of the liquid, mustard greens or pumpkin sprouts are slowly added through the cracks without stirring. Once cooked, the hemp seed foam adheres to the vegetable leaves, and salt is added. Hemp soup is soft, clear, and delicious, with excellent health benefits, and is sometimes called "longevity soup."

In Yunnan, my country, there are also specialty foods made from hemp seeds, such as hemp tea and hemp tofu. In addition, there are other dishes made from hemp seeds, including hemp seed and mung bean porridge, hemp seed and perilla porridge, crispy hemp seed duck, hemp seed and lean pork soup, hemp seed wine, and hemp seed beer.

Analysis revealed that hemp seeds contain all seven essential dietary nutrients required by humans: protein, fat, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, dietary fiber, and water. In addition, they also contain small-molecule polyphenolic compounds, alkaloids, and phytosterols.

Hemp seeds are rich in macroelements such as potassium, sodium, calcium, and magnesium, as well as trace elements such as copper, iron, manganese, zinc, and selenium. These elements are all directly related to physiological and biochemical reactions in the human body. For example, potassium ions are key elements in biological membrane transport channels, magnesium ions participate in the synthesis of certain enzymes, iron is an important component of hemoglobin, and selenium plays an important antioxidant role in the human body and can also help prevent cancer.

Hemp seed protein is an excellent source of protein. Hemp seeds contain approximately 32% protein, one-third of which is albumin, an essential nutrient for maintaining human physiological functions. Hemp seed protein can be enzymatically hydrolyzed to produce protein peptides, which possess antioxidant and other biological activities and are readily digestible and absorbable.

However, the journey from the "longevity herb" in ancient texts to modern functional foods on store shelves requires not only scientific validation but also breakthroughs in core processing technologies. Embracing this opportunity for industrial transformation, our extraction equipment empowers traditional herbs with advanced technology, unlocking the profound value of hemp seeds comprehensively through precise process control.

In the Compendium of Materia Medica, Li Shizhen highly praised hemp seeds, stating that "long-term consumption leads to health, longevity, and even immortality." Similarly, the longevity secret of Bama in Guangxi is inseparable from a bowl of "longevity soup." As the foremost of the ancient "five grains," hemp seeds are not only a traditional treasure but also rich in high-quality protein, essential fatty acids, and various trace elements, making them a true "food and medicine" gem. However, transforming this gift of nature into modern functional foods, special medical foods, and premium skincare products requires breakthroughs in core extraction technology. Our extraction equipment serves as the perfect bridge connecting traditional herbal wisdom with the modern health and wellness industry.

Traditionally, making hemp soup requires repeatedly grinding hemp seeds in a stone mortar to release their essence. Our extraction equipment perfectly replicates and upgrades this process. Inside the equipment, a transmission rod and mixing plate work in tandem with a cylindrical barrel and grinding rollers. While heating, the impeller drives the grinding rollers to rotate, thoroughly crushing larger pieces of hemp seeds. This highly efficient physical cell-breaking and grinding mechanism not only significantly increases the extraction rate of hemp seed protein and oil but also ensures the complete release of active ingredients.

Modern research shows that hemp seed protein possesses excellent antioxidant and blood-sugar-lowering activities, but its solubility and emulsification are often limited. Our equipment supports the introduction of the cutting-edge "hydrogen-rich water" extraction process. With its low surface tension and high diffusivity, hydrogen-rich water can significantly alter the microstructure of hemp seed protein, increasing its emulsion stability several times over. Combined with the low-temperature extraction stage of our equipment, the entire process is free from toxic solvents. This not only preserves the highly volatile and easily oxidized fat-soluble active ingredients in hemp seeds but also maintains the gelation and water-absorption properties of the protein, truly achieving green and sustainable large-scale production.

Whether developing high-protein beverages for athletes or extracting bioactive peptides with blood-sugar-lowering and liver-protecting effects, precise control over the extraction process is crucial. Our extraction production line is equipped with high-precision pressure, liquid level, and temperature measuring instruments, allowing for exact control over the key parameters of separating and collecting useful compounds. Through multi-stage filtration, concentration, and thin-film evaporator distillation purification, we can precisely control the content of cannabinoids and polypeptides in the final product. This ensures the extract is free of impurities and unnecessary by-products, perfectly meeting the stringent standards of special medical foods and premium health supplements.

In the past, hemp seeds were sold "by the jin"; today, through deep processing, they can be sold "by the gram." Our complete set of extraction equipment covers the entire process from raw material cleaning, crushing, and low-temperature extraction to flash sterilization. With a high degree of automation and low production costs, our equipment provides stable and efficient capacity support for extracting hemp seed oil, preparing hemp seed concentrate powder, or enzymatically hydrolyzing high-value protein peptides.

From the "longevity and immortality" in ancient texts to the "active polypeptides" in modern laboratories, the value of hemp seeds is being redefined. Empowering traditional herbs with technology, our extraction equipment is dedicated to transforming the "longevity code" of hemp seeds into standardized, high-quality modern health products, helping enterprises seize the initiative in the booming plant-based health and wellness track!