Hemp Oil and Its Medical Applications
Cold pressing the cannabis seeds produce an excellent oil. With a pleasant flavor, its balanced composition of fatty acids makes it a dietary supplement that can prevent and improve various diseases.
The main goal of a marijuana grower is to prevent his plants from producing hemp seeds. To achieve this end, male plants are eliminated, avoiding that they pollinate female plants, in this way the plants do not invest their energy in the production of seeds and larger buds are obtained with a higher concentration of resin.
If pollination is not avoided, the plant produces a large number of seeds or hemp seeds, these do not contain cannabinoids, so they do not have the usual narcotic or medicinal applications of cannabis. Despite not being useful to use, hemp seeds have traditionally been a food source for both humans and other animals, and it also has multiple medical applications, both today and in historical references.
Components of hemp seeds and their oil
Hemp seeds are made up of fatty acids, proteins, carbohydrates in the form of digestible fiber, sugars, vitamin E, calcium, iron, and sodium. The oil is made up of various fatty acids and vitamin E.
Hemp oil has not only a very balanced composition of essential fatty acids, but it also contains two complex fatty acids, which are rare and essential for a correct diet, such as alpha-linoleic acid (ALA) and gamma-linoleic acid (GLA).
During the last decades, medicine has been discovering the importance of fats in the diet in the genesis and development of various diseases, mainly cardiovascular diseases. Today we not only know the importance of cholesterol but terms such as good or bad cholesterol, saturated or unsaturated fats, are part of popular knowledge. The latest innovation in this field, appropriately exploited by advertising, are omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids.
Our body needs to ingest certain fats called fatty acids, essential to make a series of essential substances for its proper functioning. A deficit or imbalance in the intake of these essential fatty acids or a congenital defect in the metabolic pathways of their transformation is the cause of various diseases and functional disorders such as dermatological disorders, rheumatoid arthritis, cardiovascular diseases, osteoporosis, etc.
Medical applications of hemp seed oil
The medical applications of hempseed oil are all those conditions related to a deficit related to omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids. The scientific explanation is that an enzyme deficiency makes it difficult to convert linoleic acid to gamma-linoleic acid, an extra contribution of GLA would improve the symptoms of the disease.
This hypothesis has been tested experimentally with good results. Daily doses of AL and ALA equivalent to 25ml have been shown. of hemp oil reduce both LDL (bad cholesterol) and global cholesterol levels. Below we cite those diseases in which it has been proven that a supplementary intake of gamma-linoleic acid results in the improvement of the symptoms. Let's remember that hemp oil is one of the few plant sources of this essential fat.
Atopic eczema and psoriasis. Both diseases are characterized by the high loss of water through the skin, due to a decrease in the activity of the sebaceous and sweat glands, with which it becomes dry and brittle. Furthermore, in the case of atopic eczema, patients suffer from intense itching, mainly at night. A daily supply of 20ml of hemp seed oil orally over a period of twelve weeks noticeably improves the condition of the skin. The application in these cases of ointments or ointments made from hemp oil is also beneficial in these cases.
Acne. Skin creams containing omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids, such as hemp oil, for their anti-inflammatory properties are useful for the therapeutic treatment of acne.
Cardiovascular disease. 25ml of hemp oil daily quickly reduces both LDL (bad cholesterol) and global cholesterol levels. Another study showed that consuming omega-3 fatty acids significantly reduced the risk of cardiac arrest among heart attack survivors. It is recommended in cardiovascular patients to replace saturated animal oils and fats with hemp seed oil.
Rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory bowel diseases. The benefits of supplemental AGL have been proven in rheumatoid arthritis. Also, a supply of omega-3 fatty acids has an anti-inflammatory effect in chronic bladder infection, ulcerative colitis, and Crohn's disease.
Premenstrual syndrome. A daily dose of 150-200 mg GLA, equivalent to 5ml of hemp oil over a twelve-week period, significantly improved related symptoms.
How to use hemp oil
In all cases, it is necessary to ingest it orally and in the case of dermatological diseases, topical application is also interesting.
Hemp oil has a pleasant flavor, reminiscent of walnuts. In the case of treatment of diseases, the doses always range from 5ml in the case of the premenstrual syndrome to 20ml in the case of eczema and psoriasis, 25ml in cardiovascular diseases or excess cholesterol and up to 30-35ml in the case of arthritis. rheumatoid. You should always consume it raw because it is not an oil suitable for cooking.
5ml corresponds to a soup spoon without overflowing, if we fill it to the full it can contain up to 10ml. It may be sufficient to replace the vegetable oil that is normally consumed with hemp oil, for example in salads or other dishes where the oil is used in cold. If it is not enough, take the corresponding tablespoon along with meals.
To prepare a hemp oil ointment you have to mix half a liter of hot hemp oil with 20gr of pure beeswax, of course, melted. Mix well and let cool. This hemp oil ointment will be helpful in treating atopic eczema, psoriasis, and acne. It also has cosmetic applications as it has moisturizing, emollient and lubricating properties.
