Relationships June 19, 2018
Move over coconut oil. It's your cooler big brother.
Yes, that’s hemp oil, as in cannabis.
Nope, not that kind of cannabis.
You’ve heard of all the other plant-based oils gaining popularity, such argon or coconut oil, but it’s time that all the benefits of hemp oil were highlighted.
Now I know what you’re thinking: “Won’t that stuff get me high?”
Not at all! First, we’ll look at what exactly hemp is before delving into its many possible uses.
What exactly is the difference between hemp and cannabis and marijuana? For starters, hemp and marijuana (a.k.a. weed, Mary Jane, ganja, you get the picture) are both byproducts of plants within the genus Cannabis.
Cannabis has different strains, or subsets, including Cannabis indica, Cannabis sativa, and Cannabis ruderalis. These can be bred together to make hybrid products.
What makes Cannabis known as a hallucinogen is the naturally occurring compound tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). cannabidiol (CBD) and cannabinol (CBN) also play a role in the bodily effects of Cannabis products, but THC is what gets you high. Fun fact: a Brentwood nail salon actually uses CBD oil in one of their mani-pedi treatments.
The difference between marijuana and hemp is hinged on THC levels and use of each product.
Marijuana generally referred to Cannabis for drug use. Because of this, the THC concentration levels are higher than those of hemp. THC levels in marijuana can hover around 25 percent.
Hemp, on the other hand, has a much lower concentration of THC – as in less than one percent. Therefore, hemp oil will not have you thinking your best friend has turned into a hot dog. In fact, industrial hemp is grown worldwide and utilizes as an organic material for paper, clothes, milk and, you guessed it, oil.
Hemp oil is made by pressing hemp seeds, much like how grapeseed or canola oil is made. It’s actually a pretty simple process.
CBD oil is very closely related to hemp oil, as both substances don’t contain enough THC to get a person a high. However, while hemp oil contains both low THC and low CBD, CBD oil utilizes the effects of CBD to open a variety of other medicinal purposes.
Now you’re cooking with cannabis!
Hemp oil is rich in heart-healthy omega-3s, making it a good vegetarian/vegan substitute for fish oil. It also has a nice nutty flavor that goes well with salads or bases for a savory dip.
When using it to cook, make sure you don’t let it get too hot (like deep-frying) or the flavor may change.
Those fatty omega-3s that keep your heart healthy also work well at keeping your hair healthy. While normal shampoos can strip your hair of nutrients, shampoo with hemp oil keeps hair moisturized, shiny and strong.
If you don’t want to change shampoos, you can use the hemp oil as a pre-shampoo conditioner and shampoo with your normal product.
Your hair isn’t the only thing that needs to be moisturized.
Hemp oil can keep your skin smooth without clogging your pores. Plus, the gamma-linolenic acid in hemp oil can soother inflammation irritated skin.
Bonus: the oil is safe for application to both body and face, which means you don’t need to keep all the other bottles at the bathroom sink.
This effect is linked specifically to CBD oil rather than plain hemp oil, but the benefits should be noted.
While it isn’t proven as an anti-anxiety medication, CBD stimulates the brain receptor called CB1 and tends to offset the feelings of anxiety that are accompanied by THC. When taken alone, people reported having reduced anxiety or cognitive impairment in high-stress situations. There’s even a case study which shows how it helped a young girl with post-traumatic stress disorder.
