Hemp is a plant belonging to the family of Cannabis Sativa L. Hemp is used mainly for medicinal purposes. The seeds of this plant are used for the production of raw hemp oil and the processing is done by the cold-pressing method. Cannabis and hemp belong to the same family but the chemical compositions of both plants are way distinct.
The presence of a compound, Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), is the major difference between these two. THC is known for its ability to induce the euphoric effect associated with cannabis. The cannabis plant has THC levels of 28% whereas the hemp plant has THC levels of less than 0.3%. Due to the minute amounts of THC, hemp cannot induce euphoria. The hemp plant has many health benefits and hence is used for various medicinal purposes.
Health Benefits of Hemp Seed Oil
The hemp seed oil contains polyunsaturated fatty acids; Gamma-linolenic acid, Alpha-linolenic acid, and Linoleic acid. The ratio of omega-6 fatty acid to omega-3 fatty acid in hemp seed oil is 3:1.
Hemp seed oil can offer the following health benefits.
-
Blood Pressure Control
The hemp seed oil contains abundant amounts of omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids help people with hypertension in lowering blood pressure.
-
Skin benefits
Hemp oil can help moisturize your skin without clogging your skin pores. Studies show that the consumption of hemp seed oil can help with the symptoms of atopic dermatitis. Hemp seed is also found effective against psoriasis, cradle cap, and acne. Moreover, it makes the skin less prone to skin infections.
-
Heart Health Benefits
The hemp seed oil contains linoleic acids. It can reduce LDL and total cholesterol. Lowering cholesterol level have direct implications for reducing stroke and heart disease risk.
-
Pain Relief And Anti-Inflammatory Properties
Natural hemp oil can help with inflammation and reduce the associated pain. The application of hemp seed oil directly to the painful area can offer pain relief.
Gamma linoleic acid (GLA) is responsible for the inflammation-reducing properties of hemp seed oil. GLA can help with inflammations caused by IBS, rheumatoid arthritis, and multiple sclerosis.
-
Can Support A Healthy Pregnancy
Omega-3 fatty acids can offer many health benefits to a pregnant woman. It can help with the eye and brain development of the baby and can also help with controlling maternal depression.