What is Hemp Used for Medically?
CBD is one of the byproducts we can get from hemp plants. But did you know that the hemp plant has various health benefits for us? Hemp seeds alone are worth looking into for healthy living. The question is, what is hemp used for medically?
What is hemp used for medically? There are plenty of uses for hemp, from industrial to medical, and it is time we unlocked that power. We aren’t all botanists, so, understandably, there is some hesitancy regarding hemp plants. But any educated botanist will tell you that hemp plants are not the same thing as cannabis plants.
They are in the same family, that is true. But not all plants in the same families produce the same things. For example, the coconut is produced by a palm tree, but not all palm trees have coconuts. In fact, coconut palm trees won’t even grow in places like California.
They need a specific climate to grow and thrive, but there are millions of palm trees in California, just not coconut palms. Now apply that same idea to cannabis Sativa plants, and you will find a similar scene. The hemp plant is a variety of the cannabis Sativa family of plants and is mainly used for its fiber.
The majority of hemp plants will not produce the things we think of when we hear “cannabis.” But there is more to hemp plants than just the fibers we can get from them and use for rope, clothing, paper, and so much more. We are capable of reaping health benefits from hemp plants that won’t require the extraction process needed to produce CBD oils.
What is hemp used for medically? We must understand the terminology before we can discover the benefits.
Hemp Plant, Hemp Seed Oil, CBD
We can all understand that hemp plants grow from hemp seeds. However, they are two different things, and their chemical makeup differs significantly. The hemp plant itself, meaning the stalks and leaves, is used for industrial purposes like rope, textiles, clothing, paper, plastics, and more.
The hemp plant most companies use for medicinal or industrial purposes is known as the industrial hemp plant; think coconut palm trees and regular palm trees. Those same stalks and leaves are where we can extract CBD oil as well. The seeds can be broken down into different oil or even consumed whole.
However, the seeds do not contain CBD, proving the chemical makeup of the seeds and the plants are different. We now know what industrial hemp plants, hemp seed oil, and CBD are and how they differ from one another. But what is hemp used for medically?
The hemp plant itself will have similar health benefits as CBD since that is where CBD comes from. But we can focus on the seeds to get more medicinal uses.
Hemp Seed Oil and CBD Oil Similarities
A few health benefits of hemp seed oil are similar to CBD oil. For example, hemp seed oil can reduce stress thanks to the B vitamins and magnesium in the seeds. Those two nutrients affect the neurotransmitters in our brains which helps with stress management.
You will also be able to use hemp seed oil to help with skin conditions, thanks to the fiber and omega-3 fatty acids found in hemp seeds. Anti-inflammatory properties help hemp seeds relieve pain, rheumatoid arthritis, and more inflammatory-based issues. But there is still more to the hemp seed than just the same health benefits as CBD.
PMS Symptom Reduction
Women will significantly appreciate a natural and safe way to deal with PMS and menopause symptoms. Women who suffer from premenstrual syndrome may have elevated levels of prolactin, a hormone that aids in milk production. However, some women may also have a sensitivity to prolactin which could make dealing with PMS very uncomfortable.
Hemp seeds contain gamma-linolenic acid or GLA. Our bodies turn GLA into prostaglandin E1 during the digestion process. E1 will reduce the effects of prolactin. One study showed that women who take 1 gram of essential fatty acids in combination with 210 mg of GLA saw a reduction in PMS symptoms.
What is Hemp Used for Medically? | Heart Health
Simply eating hemp seeds may reduce your risk of heart disease thanks to the arginine amino acid. Arginine is turned into nitric oxide in our bodies, a gas molecule that dilates and relaxes blood vessels. That relaxing lowers blood pressure, thus reducing the risk of heart disease.
This process has been studied, and 13,000 people participated in a study that proved the body’s reaction to increased arginine consumption reduced heart disease risk. Further studies showed that hemp seeds specifically might reduce blood pressure and even decrease the risk of blood clots.
Skin Disorders
What is hemp used for medically? It can be used for skin disorders. Skin disorders are no fun to deal with; they create confidence issues that could lead to depression and anxiety. Did you know that two of the most common skin disorders, eczema, and psoriasis, are caused by the immune system?
Luckily, we have ways of balancing the immune system by consuming omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids. Hemp seeds are a good source of both of those omega-fatty acids. Studies show that hemp seed oil improves the presence of fatty acids in the blood, which could reduce eczema symptoms.
Aiding Digestion
Fiber is one of the essential nutrients our bodies need to help digestion. Soluble fiber becomes a gel-like substance in our bodies. The gel is exciting but what is more interesting is that the gel provides nutrients to bacteria in our guts, good bacteria. This bacteria helps with digestion and keeps us regular.
That same fiber may also reduce blood sugar spikes and keep cholesterol levels under control. You can see why fiber is so essential for our health. What is hemp used for medically? Studies have shown that hemp seeds contain 20% soluble fiber and 80% insoluble fiber.
The insoluble fiber is what helps makes sure food and waste pass through our systems adequately, so both are necessary.
Plant-Based Protein
Vegans would be happy to hear that there is another source of protein besides animals. Hemp seeds contain similar amounts of protein by weight as beef or even lamb. For example, 30 grams of hemp seeds provides us with 11 grams of protein. Hemp seeds also contain amino acids, which make them complete protein sources.
Another plant-based complete protein would be quinoa. But there is one thing that makes hemp seed protein far better than any other meat alternative. Hemp seed’s digestibility is considered to be very good. That means you will get more protein from digesting 30 grams of hemp seeds than you would 30 grams of grains, nuts, and legumes.
Strong Bones
What is hemp used for medically? It can be used to strengthen bones. We often think of calcium when we think of nutrients that support bone health, but magnesium plays a role as well. One study showed that people who consume more magnesium have higher bone mineral density.
That bone mineral density will help reduce the risk of fractures and even osteoporosis. Hemp seeds provide us with 210 milligrams of magnesium. This means that hemp seeds are a good source of magnesium and could aid bone health.
Weight Management and Energy
Carbs. There was a time when carbs were not that big of a deal. We would count calories instead and hope that led to weight loss or even just weight management. But low carb diets have helped push carbohydrates into the spotlight. The goal of a low-carb diet is to reduce the intake of carbs so that our body will enter ketosis.
Ketosis is when your body essentially burns fat to use as energy. But what if you could convert those carbs more efficiently and use them for energy? A better question would be, what is hemp used for medically? Hemp seeds contain thiamine and manganese.
Thiamine helps our bodies break down carbs so our bodies can use them for energy. Manganese is a mineral that breaks down starches and sugar in the body. That means that hemp seeds help with weight management on two fronts, breaking down carbs for energy and increasing levels of manganese for breaking down sugars and starches.
