What Is Hemp Oil & How Does It Work?
Many people who are unacquainted with the world of cannabis often ask themselves what hemp is, mistakenly believing that hemp is weed. It’s a fair assessment; unless you’re aware of cannabis and the differences between all the strains, it’s easy to make that mistake.
Both marijuana and hemp are – biologically – cannabis. They come from the Cannabis plant, but you must learn some essential differences that you must learn if you want to use hemp correctly. The differences between the two aren’t just about the taste, flavor, or usage, but the language and regulations that apply. So, before we jump into what is hemp oil & how does it work, let’s talk about what hemp is first!
What Is Hemp?
Hemp is a dioecious plant and a variety of the Cannabis Sativa L. This means that it can be separated into both male and female plants, which serve a huge range of purposes and have done for thousands of years. Whether it’s for the fibers in the stems of the plants or the protein in the seeds, the whole hemp plant works to make a variety of different materials. For example, the fiber can be used for clothing should you wish to make some, and the leaves and flowers can be used to smoke or to be made into oils.
Does Hemp Have THC?
As with any other cannabis plant, the hemp plant makes a range of cannabinoids, including tetrahydrocannabinol – or THC, as you may know. This is the cannabinoid in marijuana and is the intoxicating part of the plant. Hemp plants don’t make enough THC to be significant, but it is capable of creating CBD (cannabidiol), which is both non-intoxicating and medicinal. It’s true that one of the most popular therapeutic cannabinoids on the market today is CBD derived from hemp.
Most countries that are exploring cannabis and hemp plants are those that differentiate hemp and marijuana solely by the THC produced.
What Is Hemp Oil?
So, we’ve talked about the hemp plant and its properties; What is hemp oil? Where is it from, and how does it work? Well, hemp oil comes from the seeds in the cannabis plant that we mentioned earlier. It’s why you’ll likely find “hempseed oil” when searching for hemp oil. The tall, growing varieties of cannabis produce the seeds that you would use to make hemp oil.
It’s essential to note that hemp oil does not, in fact, contain THC; THC is the psychoactive piece of the cannabis puzzle. It’s also important not to confuse hemp oil with CBD or hash oil, as these two are the ones that get you high (depending on the strength), and hemp oil will not.
Given the seeds omega-6 to omega-3 rating, the health benefits are glaringly obvious here. Not only can you use hemp oil internally, but you can use it topically! It works as one of the best fatty acid sources you could find, and it’s wholly natural, too.
How Does Hemp Oil Work?
Hemp oil works in a variety of ways for your health, and below, we’ve put together a list of all the ways that you can benefit from its use.
For the Brain
The brain requires nourishment to survive and remain lubricated. Hemp oil can offer the brain the right fats that it needs to operate well. It can also protect the brain, which is very helpful when you need to protect it against inflammation. Interestingly enough, studies in mice have found that the extracts from hemp seed have done precisely that: protecting the brain from inflammation. Studies are still needed in humans, but it’s a good start overall!
For the Skin
Hemp oil can be used topically on the skin, and it works to help because – again – the fatty acids in the oil will benefit skin health. As the oils are packed with nutrients, the skin will benefit from those nutrients, preventing breakouts of spots and acne, keeping the skin looking healthy and supple. Hemp oil has been proven to contain rich, healthy fats and fatty acids that make the skin protected from inflammation and oxidation. It can also prevent aging! Some of the skin conditions that hemp oil can help with include:
– Eczema
– Psoriasis
– Dermatitis
– Rosacea
These conditions will – of course – need to be assessed by a doctor. However, if hemp oil has been proven to contain a range of nourishing properties that can help, it’s always worth a look!
For the Heart
If you have a weak heart, you likely head to the doctor to get a diagnosis and medication to get well again. Did you know that hemp oil could help your heart? Given that it has a comprehensive profile of nutrients, hemp oil could be an answer to your heart health troubles. It’s important to note that the health studies here are quite old, but it’s shown that there may have been positive effects on the various health issues that affect the heart. This includes high blood pressure and cholesterol levels. One of the main fatty acids contained in hemp oil has been shown to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. There needs to be more research here, but it’s looking positive based on previous studies.
For Pain Relief
We all know that CBD is excellent for pain relief, but hemp oil can be used to reduce the pain of inflammation. If you’re someone who doesn’t want to take pain medication over the counter, there’s a good chance that hemp oil could help your pain. Hemp oil has many different uses, and it can help in a variety of ways, and it’s essential to research this before making any decisions about how it helps your health.
