What Is Hemp Seed Oil Used For?
The hemp plant (cannabis sativa L) is related to the marijuana plant, but it contains virtually no THC (the ingredient that makes people "high" when ingested or smoked). Industrial hemp is harvested for its fibers, seeds and seed oil.
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History
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For more than 5,000 years, hemp has been grown for its seeds and the oil from those seeds. For many centuries, hemp was one of the largest cash crops in the world. Rudolf Diesel, the inventor of the diesel engine, reportedly fashioned a car to run on hemp oil in the early 1900s.
Function
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Refined hemp seed oil is used in soaps, detergents, shampoos and many other personal care products. As an unrefined oil, it is perfect for salad dressings, spreads and dips. It also can be taken alone daily as a dietary supplement.
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Features
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Hemp seed oil is one of the richest sources of essential fatty acids (EFA) in the plant world.
Misconceptions
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The hemp plant and products derived from it, such as the oil, have less than one percent toxicity, which means that it has little, if any, of the intoxicating properties of the marijuana plant, whose oil has a much higher concentration of THC.
Benefits
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Hemp seed oil has essential EFAs and has the ability to promote better health, according to Udo Erasmus, Ph.D.,an author and expert on natural health issues. According to Erasmus, the health benefits, especially for the heart and the immune system, are immeasurable and should be taken seriously. However, research into these claims has been limited because the federal government outlawed industrial growth of hemp in the 1940's.
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