Hemp Oil Seed – The Real Truth
You might have heard of hemp. In plant form is often used in clothing or textiles. The oil form can be controversial due to its family connections. And there has been a lot of chatter about this over the years. Many people spruik the benefits of health hemp seed oil, others steer clear of it due to the stigma of its illegal cousin. So, what is the real truth behind hemp seed oil? And why should you or shouldn’t you use it?
What is hemp?
Let’s be clear to start with, the negative press is partially true, but it’s not the full story and that makes a huge difference. Hemp is a species of the cannabis family, with a well-known, and generally illegal cousin – marijuana. Oh, those troublesome family members! As they are in the same gene family, they are both known as cannabinoids. But, importantly, they are different species. The three terms – hemp, cannabis and marijuana – are often incorrectly use interchangeably. They are different. Cannabis is the plant family and hemp and marijuana are species of this.
What is the difference between the species?
There is one big difference between the plants, and this is the concentration of the THC. THC is the psychoactive ingredient, or the part of the plant that can give users a ‘high’. This also determines the legality of the plant. Marijuana has between 15% and 40% concentration of THC, while hemp has 0.3% or less. In the US the legal concentration of THC is 0.3%, while in the rest of the world it’s 0.2%. Remember this only applies to the leaves of the Hemp Plant.
What is hemp seed oil and why is it so good?
Hemp seed oil is the oil that is pressed (either hot or cold, but better if it’s cold pressed) out of the seeds of the plant. It’s a well-known and trusted natural remedy in Eastern medicine. In Western cultures, being mistaken with its cousin species that has had a bad rap (and is actually illegal), has meant that hemp has not been well accepted. It is actually a very beneficial remedy that has been reported to help with pain management, sleep troubles, heart health and anxiety to name a few of its many beneficial uses.
What are some other benefits of Hemp Seed Oil?
It’s a great skin moisturiser with high concentrations of antioxidants and having anti-inflammatory properties. These also help slow the aging process. And many ears have just pricked up now!! Read on… there is more!
Hemp seed oil also has a unique combination of essential fatty acids (we all know these from fish, but they are available in other things as well). Omega-6 to Omega-3, and DHA are present in hemp seed oil and support brain health and development. These fatty acids also support eye health, particularly during development stages. And it doesn’t stop there. They also help support the immune system, can improve mood and help to balance hormones. Further to these benefits, Hemp Seed Oil has the ability to replicate our own skin’s natural lipids, therefore enabling it to penetrate cells to deeply moisturise in the epidermis and the subdermal layers. Omega-6 an Omega-3 are two essential fatty acids, that our bodies are unable to produce naturally, and we can benefit from, both by applying topically or ingesting into our system. Hemp seed oil can be taken in tablets, added to other foods (without an unpleasant odour) or used on the skin or body. In addition to essential fatty acids, hemp seed oil is a rich source of vitamins B (retains skin moisture), E (protects and repairs skin cells) and D (helps absorb calcium). Very handy! So now you know the real truth, why not give it a try?