Hemp seed oil has been in use for centuries around the globe. However, you shouldn’t confuse hemp oil with CBD oil, which comes from the same plant. Nor should you confuse any product made from hemp with marijuana. Marijuana comes from a different varietal of the cannabis plant and contains high levels of THC. Hemp seed oil comes from the seeds of the cannabis sativa L. plant. They contain virtually no THC or CBD.
No matter how much hemp seed oil you consume, you will never get “high.” At the same time, you might be surprised at the number hemp seed oil uses, most of which are health-related.
1. Hemp Seed Oil Can Help Keep Your Brain Healthier
Hemp seed oil is loaded with Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids, something your body and brain need plenty of. This amazing oil also contains gamma-linoleic acid (GLA), a compound that is known to help relieve depression and improve memory. The omega 3 fatty acids help to keep the brain’s cell membranes more fluid. This allows for a better flow of information between cells and assists in new cell production. This fluidity is directly related to memory, the more fluid, the more you remember.
2. Healthier Skin
For centuries hemp seed oil has been in use to help keep skin healthy. It is an excellent natural moisturizer. Today you can find hemp seed oil in many of the products we use daily, including:
- Cosmetics – added to help make the products flow better onto the skin
- Lotions – added to millions of bottles and tubes of lotions every year to help clean and refresh your skin.
- Soaps – helps to clean and nourish your skin while bathing.
- Anti-aging creams and lotions – the natural healing qualities of hemp seed oil used this way to help reduce inflammation and soothe the skin, reducing wrinkles and the effects of aging.
3. Healthier Hair
Research shows that adding hemp oil to your shampoo can help improve blood circulation and reduce your risk of infection. In doing this, the oil helps to stimulate hair growth by keeping your follicles healthier. It can also make your hair stronger and thicker while reducing hair loss.
You can also give your hair a hemp oil deep conditioning before you shampoo. If you suffer from dry, brittle hair, try adding a little to your conditioner. The fatty acids in hemp oil work with your skin’s natural oils to keep your skin moisturized. It can also help to reduce dandruff in much the same way.
4. Acne Be Gone
Ask any dermatologist, and they will tell you that acne occurs as the result of your body producing excessive sebum. Your skin creates sebum naturally, but overproduction tends to clog your pores. The area becomes infected as dirt collects, creating the pimples we see. Hemp oil can help to regulate your skin’s production of sebum. The cannabinoids in the hemp oil are responsible for this as they add to those that occur naturally in your body.
5. Reduced Symptoms of Atopic Dermatitis
Anyone who suffers from atopic dermatitis knows the redness and itchiness it causes. While it occurs most commonly in children, it can occur at any age. It is a chronic condition that flares up from time to time. But no matter when it occurs, the resulting redness and itching are miserable.
Adding dietary hemp seed oil to your diet will help add more omega 3 and 6 fatty acids. These fatty acids are essential to healthy skin. In a recent study that involved a small number of subjects, involving 20 weeks of treatment. At the end of the study, there was a noticeable reduction in symptoms.
6. Good for Arthritis
Hemp oil is very high in fatty acids, a variety of cannabinoids, and numerous other nutrients your body needs. It can be consumed as an edible or used topically. Consuming hemp oil helps your body to repair itself. Using it topically helps reduce inflammation and soothe the area affected by arthritis.
7. More Effective Sunblock
Most sunblocks contain heavy oils that may help to protect your skin from the sun’s UV rays. They typically leave your skin feeling oily or greasy. They can also block your pores and lead to acne.
Adding hemp oil to the other ingredients creates a sunblock that doesn’t leave your skin feeling gooey. Along with this, hemp oil moisturizes your skin while improving the effectiveness of the sunblock. It also helps to make the product much easier to spread.
However, not all uses for hemp oil are directly health-related.
8. An Excellent Wood Polish
Tired of those smelly furniture polishes that do more to make the air smell better than oil your wood furniture? Try mixing a little hemp oil and your favorite citrus oil together. You’ll soon find out it’s an excellent substitute for those unhealthy petroleum-based products. Just be sure you’re ready to buff your furniture to bring out the shine.
9. Hemp Seed Oil Used for Cooking
One problem with hemp seed oil is that it has a very low smoke point. This means it will start to burn at very low temperatures. If you were to use hemp oil to fry foods, they would most likely end up not tasting very good. This being said, try using it to add flavor to grain or rice salads as a drizzle. You can blend it into your favorite vinaigrette, mayonnaise, or pesto. Add a drizzle or two on your pasta dishes, smoothies, hummus, soup, or roasted vegetables.
No matter how you plan to use it to add flavor to your food, keep in mind you are adding an ingredient that is very good for your body.
10. Hemp Oil Uses Included Biofuels
Imagine if the exhaust coming from your car smelled like hemp instead of gas or diesel. Now imagine a fuel that is environmentally responsible and comes from a fully renewable resource. Got your attention yet? Hemp oil was being considered as the fuel for automobiles as far back as Henry Ford’s Model T. Ford originally designed his cars to run on hemp-based fuel. The 1937 Marihuana Act put an end to his plans.
Today, following the passing of the 2018 Hemp Farm Act, hemp is once again a legal crop in the United States. Scientists are currently working on biodiesel made from hemp oil. Hemp oil creates virtually no pollution. When formulated properly can be run in modern diesel engines without the need for modifications.
