Hemp Oil Uses: The Complete Guide
We live in a society that is constantly reaching for the next level of peak health and appearance, using only naturally effective methods.
No pressure, right?
Despite this never-ending climb,
one little plant is paving the way for people to reach their health and
wellness goals: hemp. Hemp oil is a nutty and flavorful oil that is extracted
from the stalks or seeds of the hemp plant. There are different uses for each
type of hemp oil, each offering its own array of uses and unique wellness
benefits.
Three powerful uses for hemp
Hemp oil’s benefits are so
bountiful and unmistakable that scientists studied it in-depth even while it
was banned in most of society, including the U.S. Thankfully, the 2018 Farm
Bill completely cleared the air and legitimized hemp’s legality by separating
it from its notorious cousin, marijuana. Both are from the cannabis family, but
hemp doesn’t get you high. There’s no doubt more benefits
will be discovered, but for now, let’s jump into what hemp oil has already
proven.
Hemp seed oil uses for cooking
Hemp seed oil offers a healthy
alternative to vegetable oil, canola oil, or butter. Its delicious nutty flavor makes
it perfect for sautéed vegetables or meats, salad dressings, or dipping in
bread. The main reason for swapping popular oils for hemp seed oil, is because
of the wellness benefits it offers. It’s very high in essential fatty acids
(EFAs), with a perfect 3:1 ratio of omega-3 and omega-6. As the name suggests,
EFAs are essential for human health.
Another nutritious benefit of
hemp seed oil is its content of insoluble fiber, protein, and array of minerals
such as potassium, magnesium, iron, zinc, and calcium. These nutritional
benefits make hemp a great choice for anyone, including vegetarians and
diabetics. Aside from being extreme healthy, hemp seed oil is a delicious and
flavorful alternative to vegetable oil and butter.
There is one catch. Using hemp
seed oil to cook has some limitations. Mainly, it can smoke at low
temperatures, so it should not be used for frying or deep-frying.
The other thing to keep an eye
out for with hemp seed oil, is if it is being sold as either hemp oil or CBD
hemp oil. Hemp seed oil does not contain cannabidiol (CBD) like hemp oil does.
Therefore, hemp seed oil is much less expensive than CBD hemp oil or commonly
referred to as CBD oil.
CBD hemp oil uses for health
Hemp oil is a loose term often
used to talk about oil from any part of the hemp plant. It’s vital to
distinguish the different types, so this next one is typically called CBD hemp
oil or more commonly, CBD oil.
Oil extracted from the mature
stalks and flowers (NOT the seeds) of the hemp plant contain an incredible
compound called cannabidiol, or CBD for short. CBD interacts with the
Endocannabinoid System to support a healthy balance throughout the body.
Studies have shown it has potential for concerns related to anxiety and
inflammation, with virtually zero side effects.
The benefits of CBD hemp oil
don’t stop there. It’s also packed full of important vitamins and minerals that
are important for your daily regimen. Most CBD oil supplements also feature the
therapeutic benefits of plant terpenes.
It’s worth noting the potential
medical uses for CBD hemp oil that are being studied. CBD research topics
include inflammation, anxiety, PTSD, sleep, and much more.
Hemp oil uses for skin
Believe it or not, the benefits
and uses of hemp oil are not limited to food or supplements. Hemp oil is
becoming increasingly popular in cosmetics including lotions, shampoos,
sunscreens, lip balms, and other skin products.
Hemp oil is rich in vitamins A
and E, which act as antioxidants that heal the skin. It also contains fatty
acids that keep the skin hydrated, and calcium to keep it smooth. For these
reasons, it’s becoming wildly popular for rashes and dry skin. We’re starting
to see hemp seed oil added to products like moisturizers and lips balms as
well.
However, it’s still fairly
uncommon to find skin care products made with CBD hemp oil. The skincare
benefits of CBD are nothing short of amazing, particularly for inflamed muscles
and joints.
With so many amazing vitamins,
minerals and compounds, CBD hemp oil is a natural defense against dry, aging or
sore skin.
Popular types of CBD hemp oil products
CBD hemp oil can be added to your diet in many ways, such as edibles, pure extracts, and even flavored tinctures. Edibles are available as gummies, chocolates, and more. Pure extracts are straight CBD hemp oil with no added ingredients. Finally, tinctures are liquid extracts from the hemp plant and come in many flavors. These liquid drops are a great way to enhance your diet and supplement your nutrition.
If you are just starting out with CBD hemp oil, our CBD Oil Buyer’s Guide is a helpful place to figure out which product type to start with.
Where does hemp oil come from?
Hemp oil can come from the seeds,
stalks, or flowers of the hemp plant. Depending on which part it’s extracted
from, it creates different types of hemp oil. Hemp oil that comes from the
seeds is rich in nutrients, vitamins, and EFAs. It does not contain
cannabinoids, like CBD. When hemp oil comes from the stalks
or flowers, it contains a blend of cannabinoids (CBD, CBDa, CBN, CBC, CBG),
terpenes, and other phytonutrients.
Difference between hemp oil and CBD oil
Sometimes there’s a major
difference between hemp oil and CBD oil, and other time they mean exactly the
same thing. It’s all about the context.
Hemp oil can refer to the oil
extracted from any part of the hemp plant, even though we know there’s a huge
difference between them. Both are, technically, “hemp oil.” It makes sense to
use this term in either situation, but then how do we know what we’re actually
getting?
If you buy a “hemp oil” salve
with the hope it’s going to soothe sore muscles, fingers crossed it contains
CBD or the benefits probably won’t meet your expectations. Find out how many
milligrams of CBD or “hemp extract” are in it before buying.
Full Spectrum Hemp Oil vs CBD Isolate
Hemp oil can be considered “full
spectrum” or sometimes called “broad spectrum” when it contains not only CBD,
but also all the other plant parts in hemp.
CBD isolate is what you get when
all plant matter and “full spectrum” characteristics are stripped away, leaving
only CBD. CBD isolate should not be considered hemp oil, though it may be
derived from hemp because it is only CBD and does not contain the other plant
nutrients.
Make sure you do your research on
the product to verify if it is in fact CBD oil or hemp seed oil. If you’re
looking for a CBD oil salve, it’s a good idea to ask the manufacturer for lab
test results to verify how much CBD is in it.
Hemp oil benefits
Hemp oil is considered a
superfood thanks to its wide scope of nutritional and health benefits. Keeping
in our important theme of separating the two types of hemp oil, let’s look at
the benefits of each separately.
First up is hemp oil from the
stalks of the plant, which contains several uniquely powerful compounds.
This type of hemp oil offers the
benefits of cannabinoids. A wide range of cannabinoids can be present in hemp
oil, like CBD, CBDa, CBC, CBG, CBN. By a long-shot, however, CBD is the most
abundant of the group. Cannabinoids interact with our endocannabinoid system to
support important functions in the brain, central and peripheral nervous
system. This system aims to keep us in homeostasis, so it must have a tight
hold on inflammation, anxiety, and stress.
Another benefit of hemp oil comes
from the terpenes. While that may be an unfamiliar word, you’re most likely
already familiar with their benefits. Terpenes are found in all plants, they
are the reason for the benefits popularly associated with essential oils, like
peppermint oil (terpene = mentha piperita).
Not only do terpenes attribute to
the plant’s aroma and flavor, but the therapeutic properties also play a major role in
the benefits of hemp oil. When cannabinoids and terpenes are working together,
they enhance the benefits in what’s known as the entourage effect.
Bottom Line
Hemp oil is a natural product
that offers a multitude of uses to support health and wellness. This versatile
oil can be used in cooking, supplements, or skincare and provides a multitude
of added nutrition. With so many different options for use, hemp oil can easily
become part of a nutritional program that can help users improve and maintain
their overall health.
This article originally appeared
on MadeByHemp