Hemp oil is known for its positive and healthy benefits. It contains 75%-80% polyunsaturated fatty acids, which is great news for our health and well-being. As we continue to learn about all the benefits of hemp oil, it’s also becoming more widely available across the U.S.
Under the 2018 Farm Bill, hemp was legalized for sale and use as an agricultural product, which opens new possibilities for ways to use hemp oil for therapeutic purposes. The benefits may be more extensive than you might think. But, first, let’s look at what hemp oil is and how it compares to hempseed oil.
What Is Hemp Oil and How Does It Compare to Hempseed Oil?
Hemp oil is extracted from the hemp flower and leaf, while hempseed oil is derived from the hemp seed with no trace of cannabinoids. Here’s a quick breakdown, so you’ll be able to see the difference for yourself.
- Hemp oil is high in THC and CBD, with therapeutic effects.
- Hempseed oil is high in omega-3, gamma linolenic acid, and omega-6—a combination that has shown to improve brain function with anti-inflammatory effects.
Some products combine both hemp oil and hempseed oil to deliver the best possible effects, but it’s still important to understand the difference between the two and where each is derived from.
What Are the Top Benefits of Hemp Oil?
Hemp oil is increasingly popular, because of the range of benefits associated with it. It has been shown to deliver positive effects to numerous ailments, including anxiety, epilepsy, inflammation, and heart disease.
Research continues to uncover new ways that hemp oil can positively influence your health and wellness. Here are just a few of the top benefits associated with hemp oil.
Reduces Seizures
Studies have demonstrated the positive benefits of hemp oil for those individuals who experience seizures, particularly where the seizures have been resistant to other treatments.
Improves Heart Health
Research shows that arginine in hemp oil can positively affect cardiovascular function, with some evidence to suggest that eating foods that are high in arginine could even reduce the risk of heart disease. Hemp oil may help reduce high blood pressure, which is a positive development for heart health.
Reduces Inflammation
Studies show that the omega-3 in hemp oil appears to reduce the effects of inflammation in individuals with cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and/or even asthma. Those anti-inflammatory effects combined with some of the other positive benefits appear to be effective for those individuals who have been unable to find relief from other more traditional methods.
Helps with Digestive Issues
Hemp oil is also used to help with digestive issues, particularly in those individuals who have sensitive stomachs. It could help with symptoms associated with pain and discomfort as well as mitigate the more inflammatory effects of bloating or swelling when used appropriately.
Reduces Anxiety
Hemp oil has shown to positively affect anxiety and stress. With nearly 33% of Americans experiencing anxiety, it’s important to find effective methods of relieving not only anxiety but also depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, stress, migraines, and PTSD. The positive effects also range from the reduction in skin temperature and blood pressure to a calming effect.
Improves Skin Disorders
Hemp oil is popular for use as a topical application, with studies indicating that it can have positive benefits for skin disorders like acne, eczema, dermatitis, and other conditions, particularly in cases where other types of creams and lotions have been ineffective. The elastin and collagen appear to work to prevent wrinkles while helping improve the skin’s moisture retention.
Positively Affects Multiple Sclerosis
In studies, hemp oil has reduced the pain associated with multiple sclerosis (which affects the spinal cord and the brain) and also to provide positive benefits for the spasticity associated with MS.
Helps with Chronic Pain
Studies show that hemp oil may offer positive pain-relieving effects to those individuals with all sorts of other conditions beyond MS. The amino acids in the hemp oil appear to help with the symptoms of pain for those diagnosed with cancer, arthritis, fibromyalgia, menstrual pain, Lyme disease, Crohn’s disease, and a range of other ailments.
Improves Insomnia
Hemp oil helps to improve the effects of insomnia, which typically allows you to sleep better. Of course, many of these other painful and/or uncomfortable symptoms might make it harder to sleep. So, it’s a multi-pronged benefit for individuals. It helps with insomnia while also helping to reduce the effects of other ailments you might be experiencing.
With such a wide range of positive side effects and benefits, it’s clear that hemp oil is a positive addition to a regular regimen to improve health and wellness.
FAQ:
Is it true that hemp oil is good for you?
If we examine the pros and cons of hemp oil, there is clear evidence to suggest that it has positive therapeutic effects.
Is hemp oil the same thing as CBD oil?
Hemp oil is not the same thing as CBD oil. In fact, CBD oil is just one extract derived from hemp oil.