The hemp oil industry is taking over. It’s official.
I thought 2018 was the height of hemp oil insanity, with CBD oil signs hanging in every corner store window. But now that we’re buying hemp oil for our pets, it’s probably time you catch up on what the buzz is all about.
Really though, the health benefits of hemp oil aren’t overrated.
Start with this list of 8 hemp oil uses and their benefits.
The Hemp Oil Breakdown
With the fairly new popularity of hemp oils, many different products, offering many different benefits have appeared on the market. So now, bloggers and others tend to throw around the different industry terms haphazardly, often getting it wrong and using terms interchangeably (which does not work).
If you’re going to get what you’re looking for, you have to know a few of the differences between products. So first let’s break down what we’re talking about when we talk about hemp oil. Then we’ll discuss the many benefits hemp oil products have to offer.
There are essentially two main types of hemp oil:
Hemp seed oil and cannabinoid-rich hemp oil (full spectrum, broad spectrum, and CBD isolate). Don’t worry, all these technical terms aren’t as complicated as they sound. I’ll explain.
We’ll start with hemp seed oil.
Hemp seed oil is very different from other hemp oil and CBD oil products. Hemp seed oil is derived only from the seed and no other part of the plant. This means that most hemp seed oils on the market contain low amounts of cannabinoids, such as CBD.
Although it is not a good source of CBD, hemp seed oil is a rich, natural source of valuable fatty acids, vitamins, and proteins. It has great health value as a dietary supplement and skin care agent.
Now, hemp oils rich in cannabinoids like CBD.
CBD and other cannabinoids found in hemp have been discovered to have a variety of medicinal benefits. CBD is known to aid in treatments, from pain relief to acne treatment and much more.
Hemp oil containing these cannabinoids can be derived from every part of the plant: stalk, leaves, and flower.
There are three different types of cannabinoid-rich hemp oils. The difference between them is simple.
The hemp plant has over 100 different cannabinoids. So, some hemp oil producers choose to utilize all, some, or only one of the cannabinoids in their oil. This allows for these three different types:
- Full Spectrum contains all cannabinoids in the plant
- Broad Spectrum contains a select number of cannabinoids
- CBD Isolate contains only CBD (cannabidiol)
Now on to the 8 recommended uses of hemp oil. First, we’ll look at a couple of the health benefits and uses of hemp seed oil. Then we’ll explore cannabinoid-rich oils.
Hemp Seed Oil Uses and Benefits
In years past, hemp was mainly utilized by consumption in food and medicine. Today, we’ll talk about two main forms of hemp seed oil use: you can eat it or you can apply it to the skin and hair.
This brings us to the first use.
1. Hemp Seed Oil in Cooking
Hemp seed oil is used as a cooking oil just as you would use olive oil or other culinary oils. Both hemp oil and olive oil will smoke at 350 degrees Fahrenheit, so you can use it for most stovetop cooking, but not deep-frying.
Hemp oil is darker and richer than most of the oils you’re used to cooking with, such as vegetable oil. The flavor is earthy and nutty. This makes it a great option for use as an ingredient in things like salad dressing or bread dip.
When you’re cooking with hemp oil, you’re also getting a lot of health benefits.
Hemp seed oil is rich in omega 3 and omega 6 essential fatty acids. These are known to help regulate blood pressure, and the production of healthy cholesterol. Which is why they are good for heart health and the prevention of heart disease.
A 2007 study provides particularly strong evidence for that claim. The study found that hemp seed oil as a dietary supplement was able to help in the prevention of blood clotting.
Healthy eaters are also attracted to hemp oil because it is significantly lower in saturated fats than most other culinary oils. Hemp seed oil contains 40% less saturated fat than olive oil, for instance.
As an added bonus, hemp seed oil is also a great source of plant protein for the vegetarians and vegans out there.
2. Hemp Seed Oil for Skin Care
Some of the same features of hemp seed oil that are so healthy when ingested are also great for skin care. Namely omega 3 and omega 6 essential fatty acids. These have several benefits when absorbed through the skin.
Hemp oil uses for skin care are no secret anymore. You’ll find many different lotions, skin creams, shampoos, and other cosmetics containing hemp seed oil available today. So let’s look at what these topical solutions are used for.
- The lipids found in hemp seed oil are similar to those found in the skin, making it a very effective moisturizer
- The omega 6 in hemp seed oil helps to both moisturize and oxygenate the skin. Which is great for eczema and dry, itchy skin
- The vitamin A, E, and D content of hemp oil help to rejuvenate the skin, which many believe is ideal as an anti-aging agent
Hemp oils containing small amounts of cannabinoids still have all of these benefits and more. So what other uses are there for hemp oils containing higher levels of cannabinoids? Let’s take a look.
Cannabinoid-Rich Hemp Oil Uses
As was discussed earlier, this includes full spectrum, broad spectrum, and CBD isolate hemp oils. Any of these types of hemp oil can produce many of the same results.
When choosing the right product for a specific purpose, you’ll want to do a little more research to see which type you think is most effective. Fortunately, companies like Ananda Hemp offer extensive information online to help you find the product that’s right for you.
Let’s explore some of the other uses and health benefits of these hemp oils.
3. Used for Pain Relief
Hemp oil is often recommended for people who suffer from physical pain. One reason for this is that inflammation can be reduced with the use of hemp oils. And hemp oil won’t have all of the possible side effects of anti-inflammatory medication that may be prescribed.
Hemp oil is commonly used by people with arthritis. It has also been used to alleviate pain for people with multiple sclerosis. But now that hemp oil is so readily available, many people utilize it to help with pretty much any kind of physical discomfort.
4. Reduces Anxiety and Depression
Of course, not everyone will respond the same to the use of hemp oils for this purpose. But it certainly doesn’t hurt to try.
Unlike many pharmaceutical medications typically used to treat anxiety or depression, like benzodiazepines, hemp oil doesn’t have addictive properties and other side effects. And many people do report improvement in their overall mood with the use of hemp oils.
For similar reasons, it has also been helpful for some people suffering from PTSD.
5. Improves Quality of Sleep
If you suffer from insomnia or you just often have trouble getting restful sleep, you know that it can take a serious toll on your health. Hemp oil has been effective for some people in initially falling asleep and extending the longevity of restful sleep throughout the night.
6. Alleviates Nausea
Many people have found hemp oils to be helpful in alleviating nausea. This is in large part due to the way that CBD interacts with serotonin receptors. For some people, hemp oil can even be more effective in treating nausea than the prescription drugs they’ve tried.
This is why some people undergoing chemotherapy prefer CBD oil to their prescription medication for treating nausea caused by their chemo treatment.
7. Can Improve Appetite
Of course, we all know that the use of cannabis causes hunger. However, without the effects of THC (the psychoactive drug found in marijuana), CBD and other cannabinoids found in hemp oil can increase your appetite while stimulating digestion.
Some people have found it effective in helping to establish a regular healthy eating regimen.
8. Reduces Acne
Acne is a very common condition, affecting 9% of the population. Fortunately, hemp oil has been shown to be a great help in reducing the effects of acne.
The vitamins and omega 6 found in hemp oil are effective at moisturizing and oxygenating the skin, which keeps it healthy. Those properties and the anti-inflammatory effects of CBD work in conjunction to reduce acne outbreaks.
Hemp Oil Uses and More for Your Health
We’ve looked at hemp oil uses for your general health and skin care. We’ve explored uses for improvement and treatment of specific health concerns. So how will you use hemp oil?
Maybe you could use a sleep aid to get on track with a regular sleeping routine. Or maybe you could use another vegan-friendly source of protein in your diet.
Whatever you do, don’t stop improving on your health and wellness now. Read more and learn more about healthy living.
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