Hemp as an Alternative to Current Choices of Wellness

Hemp has taken the health and wellness industry by storm, especially in recent years. Although it has been used in many cultures for centuries owing to its health and healing benefits, only recently has it made its way into the large-scale health and wellness industry.

Hemp seed oil serves as a popular remedy for many ailments, and has replaced traditional pharmaceutical drugs. More and more people are now looking into alternative choices for wellness.

Hemp – Short History

The use of hemp as a medicinal compound was first dated back to about 2737 BC when it was included in the world’s oldest pharmacopoeia, the ‘Pen T’s ao Ching’, which originated in China.

Hempseed oil was extracted and formulated into a tea, which was used for pain management. Moreover, it was also used as an ointment to manage skin rashes.

By the 1800s, hemp was being produced on a very large scale in the United States, along with other forms of cannabis, like marijuana. Hemp became incorporated into dispensaries as a medicinal extract that was used to relieve different ailments.

However, with the rise in the use of hemp, there was an increase in the use of marijuana for recreational purposes, especially in the neighboring Mexico. Thus, when Mexican immigrants entered the country in the early 1900s, the US feared that the recreational use of marijuana would spread to the Americans too and would be detrimental for their health.

In 1913, an official law was passed against the use of marijuana, which saw a decline in the production of hemp and cannabis in the country.

It wasn’t until 2014 that the Farm Bill was passed and the cultivation of hemp became legal, but under strict protocols.

Hemp Seed Oil and CBD– An Introduction

The hemp plant is usually cultivated for 2 purposes: to get hemp seed oil and to get CBD oil. The hemp plant is part of the cannabis sativa plant family, but contains little to no THC, a substance that has psychoactive properties and makes you “high.”

Hemp seed oil is the oil obtained from the seeds of the hemp plant. It doesn’t contain any CBD. However, it’s rich in nutrients like fatty acids, vitamins and minerals, which is why many consider hempseed oil as a “superfood.”

On the other hand, CBD oil is extracted from the stalks, flowers, and leaves of the hemp plant, which have a high CBD content.

CBD is short for cannabidiol, and it’s chemically a cannabinoid that influences the human body and can produce beneficial effects.

Both of these have enabled the use of hemp as an excellent alternative to current choices of wellness.

The Use of Hemp Seed Oil as an Alternative to Current Choices of Wellness

Hemp seed oil is extremely nutritious and has a lot of health benefits. It’s been incorporated into many products in the health and cosmetic section. Here are some of the potential benefits of hemp seed oil:

1. Hemp seed oil is good for your heart!

Hemp seed oil is rich in omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, both of which are great for heart health. These fatty acids could decrease the “bad” cholesterol in your blood. This, in turn, could reduce your chances of getting coronary artery blockage and heart attacks.
Moreover, hemp seed oil contains a high level of the amino acid arginine, which makes nitric oxide. Nitric oxide, in turn, dilates blood vessels. This could regulate your blood pressure and prevent hypertension!

2. Hemp seed oil is one of the very few sources of GLA.

Gamma Linolenic Acid (GLA) has anti-inflammatory effects and is effective in reducing symptoms for a number of diseases and disorders including arthritis, diabetes, and PMS. It’s also great for your skin!

Moreover, GLA suppresses your appetite and can significantly aid weight loss. For those of you who find it hard to keep your cravings under control, you should definitely try consuming hemp seed oil regularly!

In addition, hemp seed oil also has a lot of fiber in it, which also helps in weight loss by keeping you full and satisfied.

3. It’s infused with a lot of minerals and vitamins

Hemp seed oil has a long list of minerals and vitamins! These include magnesium, potassium, phosphorus, vitamin E, niacin, vitamin B6, folate and thiamine. In addition, it contains many other micro-nutrients that your body needs. These vitamins and minerals are essential for vital body functions like regeneration, repair and growth.

This is why hempseed oil is considered a “superfood” by many!

4. It’s great for your skin

Hemp seed oil could be extremely beneficial for your skin. It’s found in numerous cosmetic products including creams, lotions, lip balms and even shampoo.

It is rich in essential fatty acids and antioxidants, making it the perfect antidote for UV damage and acne-prone skin. It effectively moisturizes your skin and forms a protective barrier over it.

Hemp seed oil could also work against many skin conditions like psoriasis, dermatitis, eczema, and acne!

5. Hemp seed oil could boost your immune system

Hemp seed oil is nutritious and all of its nutrients boost your immune system. They strengthen your immune system so that you’re able to fight off bacteria and live a healthier life. Your immune system is the most important defense system that your body has against external pathogens and bacteria. Without it, you wouldn’t even be able to fight a common cold!

6. It’s great for your hair!

Hemp seed oil could improve your hair structure and make your hair look healthier. It also nourishes your hair from the inside out and keeps your strands nourished. For this purpose, you can also apply hemp seed oil directly to your hair or consume it to get its benefits. Make sure you wash the oil off a few hours after you apply it. Avoid leaving it overnight.

7. Hemp seed oil is great for your gut!

Hemp seed oil has anti-inflammatory properties and is great for gut health. It calms your gut and could reduce the symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease. Moreover, it improves gut health by encouraging the growth of “good bacteria” which keep your gut pH balanced and produce vitamin K.

If you face indigestion and any other gastric issues, you should try using hemp seed oil as a natural home remedy.

8. Hemp seed oil is great for your brain!

Hemp seed oil could boost your memory and improve your cognitive brain function. CBD, which is derived from hemp, has also been approved as a prescription medication for epilepsy. Moreover, it could be used to manage and slow the progression of other neurological disorders like Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s, multiple sclerosis, and many other disorders.

9. Could work like a charm for pain relief

Hemp seed oil could work as a great pain reliever for all types of pain. It can act like a natural painkiller and doesn’t have any of the traditional side effects that you face with therapeutic drugs. It could be used to treat sore muscles after a workout, joint pain, and other disorders that cause pain.

Thus, hemp seed oil is very beneficial to the body and contains a lot of macro and micro nutrients!

Now, let’s take a detailed look into the benefits of hemp seed as a superfood.

The Benefits of Hemp as a Superfood

A superfood is any food or drink that is rich in nutrients and minerals and boosts your health! Superfoods have a lot of nutrients packed in them. Thus, they have a very high nutrient density. Strawberries and blueberries are some examples of superfoods because of their high nutritious value. Similarly, according to many, hemp seeds could now also come under the category of a “superfood” owing to their high nutrient density. Don’t worry, though, hemp seeds aren’t psychoactive and won’t make you high!

Hemp seeds are nutritious, non-psychoactive and legal to consume across many states and countries in the world.

Here are a few benefits of hemp seeds that make it a superfood:

• High protein content – hemp seeds contain about 33% protein content! The protein content includes all essential amino acids that the body needs! Your body needs proteins to replace old, damaged tissues and to make healthy hair, nails and skin!

• Omega fatty acids – These are fatty acids that are good for your body. They prevent heart diseases, boost your immune system and are good for your eyes.

• Vitamins – Hemp seeds are rich in B-complex vitamins and Vitamins A, C and E. These vitamins are necessary for important body functions and to keep your body healthy!

• Source of minerals – hemp seeds contain iron, zinc, phosphorus, magnesium and potassium which are needed by your body to function properly. Zinc helps boost your immune system and keeps your brain active.

• Gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) – hemp seeds are a rich source of GLA, which helps reduce inflammation that’s involved in many chronic illnesses including heart diseases and brain diseases.

• Good source of fiber – hemp seeds, if taken in with their shells, are a great source of fiber that is good for your alimentary tract and helps keep you full!

So, what are you waiting for? Get hemp seed oil for yourself and experience these benefits for yourself. After all, you should take care of your body and your health every chance you get. Moreover, it’s an all-natural oil that doesn’t even have any side effects. It’s great for overall health and it’s extremely nutritious as well!

Benefits of CBD Oil

Now that we’ve covered one of the most important components of the hemp plant, hemp seed oil, let’s take a look into the effects of CBD, the other compound that the hemp plant is cultivated for.

Unlike hemp seed oil, CBD is not extracted from the seeds of the hemp plant. Instead, the stalks, leaves and flowers of the hemp plant are used to obtain CBD.

The CBD extract undergoes purification processes according to the type of CBD required. There are three main types of CBD:

1. Full-spectrum CBD

This contains all the compounds that are found in the hemp plant, including over 100 cannabinoids like CBD, CBC, CBN, CBG and even THC, the compound that causes a high in cannabis. However, the concentration of THC in this is very low and not enough to cause psychoactive effects. In addition, this extract also contains all other compounds present in the hemp plant like terpenes, fatty acids and other phytochemicals.

The benefit of using full-spectrum CBD is that it shows the Entourage Effect. According to this effect, cannabinoids and terpenes, when taken together, produce a greater overall effect than if their individual effects were summarized. This means that the cannabinoids and terpenes act synergistically and that a lower dose of full spectrum CBD would be more potent than higher doses of other forms of CBD.

However, a disadvantage of using full spectrum CBD is that it contains THC. Although the amount is very less and not enough to cause euphoria, it can still show up on a drug test. Thus, if your line of work includes regular drug testing, it’s a good idea to stay away from full-spectrum CBD and look into the other types available.

2. Broad-spectrum CBD

Similar to full-spectrum CBD, broad-spectrum CBD also contains most of the compounds present in the hemp plant. The only difference between the two is that broad-spectrum CBD is purified so that it doesn’t contain any detectable levels of THC. Thus, with broad-spectrum CBD, you get the entourage effect without getting THC.

It’s like getting the best of both worlds!

3. CBD isolate

CBD isolate is the most purified extract of the hemp plant and contains over 99% pure CBD. It doesn’t show the Entourage Effect because none of the other cannabinoids or plant compounds are present in it.

This form of CBD is great for those that are allergic to plant compounds and are looking for a purified version of CBD only.

How CBD Works

CBD is chemically a cannabinoid that acts on the Endocannabinoid System present naturally in the human body. The endocannabinoid system contains a network of receptors, messengers and enzymes, all of which are distributed throughout the body.

CBD works on the endocannabinoid receptors to produce its effects on the body. Moreover, CBD may also work on other ion channels and receptors in the body to produce its effects. More research regarding this aspect is still under way.

The Use of CBD as an Alternative to Current Choices of Wellness

All these three forms of CBD could produce the same effects as that produced by hemp seed oil. However, CBD oil may have some extra beneficial effects, which are listed below:

• CBD oil could be great for mental health

By influencing the endocannabinoid system, CBD could have certain effects on the brain that may cause anti-depressive and anxiolytic effects. Traditional drugs like SSRIs used to treat depression may cause a range of side effects like sexual dysfunction and weight changes, which could cause problems for the user. However, you don’t get these side effects with the use of CBD oil.

• CBD oil could be used to reduce general inflammation in the body.

Although acute inflammation is supposed to help your body wall off infections and help your body, when it goes into the chronic state, it can actually do more harm than good. Thus, CBD could be used to reduce inflammation throughout the body, which could help with a number of symptoms like GI issues, joint issues and others caused by excessive inflammation.

Does CBD have any Side Effects?

CBD is a safe compound to compound to consume and even use topically. It usually doesn’t have any side effects in most cases. However, each individual is different and some might be more sensitive to its side effects. These are very minor and could include diarrhea, weight changes, and a low blood pressure.

If you’re facing any severe side effect with the use of CBD oil or hemp oil, stop its use immediately and consult your physician before starting again.

Is Hemp Legal?

Yes, the cultivation and extraction of hemp has been made legal throughout many states and countries in the world. Hemp is grown under strict protocols and you need a license for this purpose as well. This allows the THC content to be tightly regulated.

However, you should still check with your local laws before purchasing any hemp products just to be on the safe side.

So, what are you waiting for? It’s time to look at hemp as an alternative to current choices of wellness! After all, it’s an amazing plant that has been around for thousands of years now. With the recent increase in the use of hemp and its legalization, it has become easier and easier to access and get hemp. Make the most of it while you can!

Moreover, make sure you purchase your hemp oil and CBD oil from reliable sources so that you’re guaranteed that they’re free of contaminants.

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