summon spirits; it is very poisonous. It can be only used as 
external application for inflammation. When ingested, it is 
extremely harmful, causing unceasing bloody stool. It may be 
fatal. It causes one to see spirits.”’ 
Ta-ma — Cannabis sativa L. 
The hemp, Cannabis sativa L., was the chief textile plant in 
northern China, and the seed was a leading grain. It was also an 
important drug plant. There are archaeological and historical 
records to indicate that it has been found in China since 
Neolithic times (Li 1974a). 
The early Chinese records clearly differentiate the male and 
female plants. The male plants produce better fibers. The edi- 
ble seeds are enclosed in fruit coverings which contain the 
toxic substance. The Pén-ts’ao ching (1) states that ‘‘Ma-fén 
(the fruits of hemp) . . . if taken in excess will produce halluci- 
nations (literally ‘seeing devils’). If taken over a long time, it 
makes one communicate with spirits and lightens one’s body.” 
T’ao Hung-ching (7) says that at his time ‘‘Ma-fén is not much 
used in prescriptions. Necromancers use it in combination with 
ginseng to set forward time in order to reveal future events.” 
As a drug plant, Cannabis was used for various purposes but 
primarily for its anesthetic effect. 
The hallucinogenic effect caused by Cannabis, especially 
the effect of temporal distortion, is mentioned in other later 
works. T’ang Shén-wei (16) gives a more complete account on 
the pharmaceutics use of the plant: ‘‘Ma-fén has a spicy taste; it 
is toxic; itis used for waste diseases and injuries; it clears blood 
and cools temperature; it relieves fluxes; it undoes rheuma- 
tism; it discharges pus. If taken in excess, it produces halluci- 
nations and a staggering gait. If taken over a long term, it 
causes One to communicate with spirits and lightens one’s 
body.”’ 
The stupefying effect of the hemp plant, commonly known 
from extremely early times, was indicated linguistically as the 
character ma assumed also a connotation of numbness and 
senselessness, apparently derived from the medicinal charac- 
ters of the leaves and fruits. Ma as a radical combines with 
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