8 Surprising Hemp Oil Benefits That You’ve Never Heard Of
By now, you’ve no doubt heard about CBD or hemp oil at least once. It seems like almost every newspaper and TV show is talking about it.
Or maybe you’ve spotted it in the wild. Perhaps a few stores have started offering it in your area.
The amount of CBD oil and its use is exploding. Experts say that by 2020, the market could reach a staggering $2.1 billion in sales nationwide.
Curious about hemp oil benefits? Whether you’ve used it before or you’re just starting out, this list of eight surprising benefits is sure to help you.
What Is Hemp Oil?
Before we get into the eight surprising benefits of hemp oil, let’s talk about what it is and where it comes from.
Cannabis has a long history, from its origins in South and Central Asia to across the globe and back. People have been using this herb for its many healing benefits for thousands of years.
There are two main strains of cannabis: indica and sativa. Indica is known to relax and calm the mind, while sativa stimulates it.
The hemp used in hemp oil comes from the sativa strain.
Can You Get High Using It?
Let’s address one of the biggest questions about using hemp oil: can you get high?
While both strains of cannabis contain the psychoactive component THC, they also contain CBD or cannabidiol. Cannabidiol is the extract that holds many of the medicinal properties of the plant.
Legally, hemp oil and CBD oil brands must contain less than .3% THC. The amount is negligible, so you won’t feel any kind of “high” effects taking hemp oil.
Ready to find out how to use it? Keep reading!
1. Manages Anxiety
In this hectic, fast-paced world, everyone could use a little help when they feel overwhelmed or stressed out. Probably one of the most common uses for hemp oil is the management of anxiety and depression.
There are a few reasons why this may be.
Hemp oil can help with lowering cortisol, the stress hormone. It also can help reduce your “fight or flight” instincts that kick in and make you feel anxious.
2. Recover from a Tough Workout
Like to hit the gym? A protein-packed smoothie or banana and peanut butter on a rice cake are still great choices to help with recovery, but you should also try hemp oil.
When you “feel the burn”, your muscles are repairing themselves from the stress of working out. Hemp oil can take down inflammation — and more.
Besides THC and CBD, hemp oil has another element called cannabigerol (CBG). CBG might help reduce tension in the body and allow your muscles time to recover.
3. Hemp Oil and Epilepsy
Studies are still being conducted but early research points to CBD oil to be useful in decreasing epilepsy.
When used medicinally to treat epilepsy, patients report a significant decrease in incidents. Early results show an over 50% reduction of epileptic attacks in over half of the patients surveyed.
That being said, take your health seriously. Talk to your doctor about incorporating hemp oil into your treatment plan.
4. Pain Management
You don’t have to be an athlete to feel sore at the end of the day. Sitting in cars for long commutes or offices for extended periods of time takes a toll on the body.
If you’ve been in an accident or have a chronic disease, your pain is compounded.
Hemp oil could be a more natural way to manage your pain. Early signs of topical or ingested hemp oil reducing inflammation and aiding your immune systems show promise.
Click to learn more about using hemp oil to reduce pain and more.
5. Heart Healthy
Omega-3s have been popular for a while, but there are also Omega-6 and -9 essential fatty acids. They all show up in hemp oil and in ideal ratios.
Why do you want this powerful trio? They’re a type of good fat that aids in keeping your heart healthy.
Find Omega fatty acids in foods like tuna and olive oil, but also supplement your diet with hemp oil.
6. Alzheimer’s Possibilities
While hemp oil is not a cure, there could be a possibility that it could help reduce the risk of contracting Alzheimer’s disease.
Hemp oil is an antioxidant. That means it fights DNA-damaging free radicals to keep you feeling healthy.
There have been some studies done in mice that show promise in using CBD oil to prevent some of the side effects of Alzheimer’s. Tests haven’t been done on humans yet, but it can’t hurt to add a few more antioxidants to your life!
7. Hemp Oil for Weight Loss
Remember the fatty acids we mentioned before? Those are the benefits of hemp oil for weight loss.
Here’s why:
- Good fats make you feel fuller for a longer amount of time.
- Hemp oil can help raise your metabolism.
- The protein in hemp seeds and oil can reduce your appetite.
Eat healthy, exercise, and try hemp oil to make those stubborn pounds budge.
8. Hemp and Hair
If you want lustrous locks, add hemp oil to your beauty routine. Here are some of the many benefits of hemp oil for hair:
- Moisturize your scalp by massaging a little bit of oil into it.
- Stimulate hair growth with hemp oil’s beneficial proteins.
- A happy scalp produces stronger hair; prevent breakage by using hemp oil.
Both ingesting it and using it topically will help make your hair shiny, strong, and soft.
More Hemp Oil Benefits
Were you surprised by some of the items on this list? Which ones did you think were most beneficial for you and your lifestyle?
There are many more hemp oil benefits to discover. Scientists are making breakthroughs every day and people just like you are using it to treat everyday issues.
Ultimately, do your research to find a high-quality hemp oil. Although it’s safe to take over the counter, always talk to your doctor if you are taking various medications.
Did you find this article insightful? Want to learn more about how to improve your health?
We update our health blog with lots of interesting and timely articles all the time. Check back every day and live your best life!
