What Does Hemp Oil Do?
What does hemp oil do?
Hemp oil, or hemp seed oil, is a type of vegetable oil made from cold-pressing the seeds of the hemp plant. Hemp is a type of cannabis or marijuana plant that’s bred with very low THC content. Hemp oil is most often used in topical beauty and body products like lotions and cosmetics and for a handful of other purposes including in food preparation and as a health supplement.
Hemp oil has a nutritionally ideal balance of the polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) omega-3 and omega-6 as well as vitamins and antioxidants. This has made it a common feature on health food store shelves for years. Plus, most people who use hemp oil topically find it to be gentle on the skin while the fats within the oil provide moisturizing benefits without clogging pores or causing irritation or breakouts.
What does hemp oil not do?
When discussing hemp oil, it’s perhaps most important to distinguish it from other cannabis goods. First and foremost, hemp oil is not psychoactive and does not contain the same chemical properties as other marijuana products.
While hemp seed oil is produced from a strain of the cannabis Sativa plant, hemp contains very little, if any, THC – the psychoactive compound responsible for the marijuana “high.” The hemp plant contains other cannabinoids such as CBD and CBN. However, the hemp seeds themselves from which hemp oil is derived do not usually contain a significant amount of any cannabinoid.
Because hemp oil is not a significant source of CBD or other active cannabis ingredients, consumers seeking to enjoy the potential therapeutic effects of marijuana-derived products should consider alternative options to hemp oil like CBD oil. It is, for all intents and purposes, a plant-based vegetable oil with some great dermatologic and nutritional benefits. Hemp oil is not currently subject to any legal restrictions and it is not a drug.
Cannabinoids in hemp seed oil
Cannabinoids are a specific set of compounds found within cannabis responsible for a myriad of psychological and physiological effects. Despite the fact that hemp seed oil does not contain high levels of cannabinoids, its association with the cannabis plant is often leveraged by retailers marketing products containing hemp oil. This is further complicated by the fact that recently-published research suggests that very small amounts of non-psychoactive cannabinoids are detectable in hemp oil (but not enough to make hemp oil unsafe for consumption).
Nonetheless, savvy consumers should be wary of misleading marketing tactics and learn to pay close attention to ingredients lists when evaluating hemp seed oil and other similar-sounding cannabis-derived products including CBD oil.
For example, hemp oil lotions will often have a marijuana leaf logo or icon on the bottle, even though the product itself is derived from seeds and contains no cannabinoids.
Hemp oil uses and benefits
Hemp oil for skincare
The following beneficial properties for the skin arise from hemp seed oil, whether used in its pure form as an extracted oil or as an ingredient in a skin product such as a cream or lotion:
- Moisturizes dry skin
- Controls the overproduction of oil in oily skin
- Reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles
- Reduces inflammation and redness
- Helps control acne, eczema, and psoriasis flare-ups
- Gently and effectively removes makeup
- Supports overall skin health via Vitamins D and E and essential fatty acids
Non-comedogenic properties
In addition, many products containing hemp oil focus on its non-comedogenic properties. Non-comedogenic is a term that describes topical skin products that do not tend to clog the pores on the face (clogged pores lead to blemishes and breakouts). Moreover, hemp oil is chemically similar to an oil produced by healthy skin on the face called linoleic acid. Linoleic acid is responsible for giving the skin on the face its natural glow.
When the body’s production of linoleic acid is out of balance, a different oil called oleic acid is produced in response. Oleic acid is thicker, clogs pores, and is a major cause of acne. For this reason, a hemp seed oil regimen for the breakout-prone face can simultaneously moisturize and nourish the skin while reducing the production of pore-clogging oils.
Moisturizing properties
Hemp seed oil is considered humectant, which means that it retains and attracts moisture once applied to the skin. Humectants are commonly used in skin care products because of their potent ability to draw moisture into dry, cracked, and damaged skin. Their unique chemical properties allow for moisture from the oil to penetrate deep into the skin and not just sit on top of it.
Hemp oil for makeup removal
Hemp oil is a gentle but effective option for makeup removal. Unlike some makeup removal methods, the use of skin-friendly plant oils should not require a significant amount of scrubbing and therefore does not irritate the skin. As an added benefit, hemp oil’s rich supply of fatty acids and anti-inflammatory properties make it an ideal option for makeup removal among those with dry or sensitive skin.
Dietary supplementation for skin health
Ingesting hemp oil – whether as a supplement or by using it in cooking – may actually indirectly benefit the skin, especially for those suffering from chronic dermatologic conditions.
One research study examined the therapeutic effects of hempseed oil on a cohort of patients with atopic dermatitis, a chronic inflammatory disease that can be managed, but not cured. The study authors concluded that “dietary hempseed oil caused significant changes in plasma fatty acid profiles and improved clinical symptoms of atopic dermatitis.”
Another study in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology demonstrated the efficacy of omega-3 fatty acid supplementation in the treatment of psoriasis. While the study concluded that fish oil is the most promising option for treating psoriasis, hemp seed oil is rich in omega-3s, and might be a viable alternative, particularly for those seeking a plant-based supplement.
Of course, anyone wishing to use hemp seed oil in the treatment of a health condition should do so in consultation with their doctor.
Using hemp oil in the kitchen
When it’s prepared for use in culinary applications, fresh, cold-pressed hemp oil has a green hue and a nutty flavor that is sometimes compared to sunflower seeds or walnuts. The darker the color of the oil, the more earthy and grass-like the flavor tends to be. Most health food stores sell bottled hemp oil for food preparation, and it can even be found at a few big-box grocery retailers.
Because of its low smoke point relative to other vegetable oils (the temperature at which the oil starts to burn off and the flavor is negatively affected), hemp oil is not well-suited for frying. Instead, it is most often used in a variety of uncooked applications including:
- Salad dressings
- Sauces
- Hummus
- Pesto
- Smoothies
Hemp oil nutritional benefits
Fatty acids
One of hemp oil’s most prominently-touted dietary benefits is its high omega-3 fatty acid content. Omega-3s have been researched extensively and shown to improve mental health, aid eyesight, and lower the risk of cardiovascular disease among a host of other benefits. In fact, the American Heart Association recommends two servings of fatty fish per week to ensure adequate consumption of omega-3s.
For vegans, vegetarians, and others who want to avoid fish while ensuring they reap the full benefits of omega-3s, hempseed oil is a potential plant-based alternative.
Omega-6
It is important to note that hemp seed oil contains omega-6 fatty acids in a healthy ratio to omega-3s. Omega-6 fatty acids are necessary for the body to function optimally, but unlike omega-3s, they actually increase inflammation. While inflammation is usually seen as undesirable (and is indeed the underlying destructive process at play in autoimmune disorders), moderate inflammation plays a vital role in helping the body fight heal and fight disease.
Prior to the modern Western diet, omega-6 acids were generally balanced and offset by naturally occurring anti-inflammatory ingredients, including an abundance of omega-3s in fish, seeds, and nuts that our pre-industrial ancestors consumed as part of their natural diet.
Nutritionists and medical professionals cite chronic inflammation and the disproportionally high ratio of omega-6 acids in the Western diet as a major source of disease in the industrialized world. Hemp seed oil’s ratio of omega-6 fatty acids to omega-3 fatty acids is about 3:1, which is considered ideal. For reference, that same ratio in the typical American diet is about 16:1.
Plant-based protein
Over a quarter of the calories in a given serving of hemp seed oil are calories from protein, and it’s higher in protein than many of its close plant seed oil cousins including chia seed oil and flaxseed oil. Plus, the fatty and amino acids that are abundant in hemp seed oil help the body to properly break down, utilize, and absorb all of the available protein in the oil.
Vitamins and minerals
Hemp seed oil is a rich source of several vitamins and minerals including:
- Vitamin E
- Potassium
- Magnesium
- Phosphorous
- Zinc
Vitamin E is an antioxidant, which means it protects and repairs cells throughout the body. Because of its restorative and healing properties, it is added to a wide range of skincare products. But it has a similar benefit when ingested in food, slowing or preventing degenerative and cell-damaging activities in the body.
Finally, key minerals present in hemp seed oil including potassium and magnesium are essential to proper organ functioning, controlling blood pressure, and other vital purposes.
Hemp oil vs. CBD oil
Following the passage of a 2018 bill that lifted the restrictions on producing hemp for retail and commercial purposes, CBD has shown up in a swath of consumer products. However, even though they are derived from the same plant, CBD oil and hemp oil are not the same thing.
What is CBD?
CBD is one of over a hundred unique chemical compounds called cannabinoids that are found in the cannabis plant. The most well-known cannabinoid is tetrahydrocannabinol or THC, and it’s also the most psychoactive and responsible for getting marijuana users high.
CBD, on the other hand, has a gentler, calming effect on the brain, and its numerous physiological benefits are an active topic of research and debate. The science and medical communities are still gathering evidence on CBD’s therapeutic benefits, but many are convinced of CBD’s powerful healing properties and derive great benefit from using CBD oil and other CBD-infused products and supplements.
Read more about the emerging health benefits of CBD here.
How are CBD oil and hemp oil made?
Hemp oil is made exclusively from the seeds of the hemp plant, which contain little to no CBD or other cannabinoids. The seeds are cold-pressed in order to draw out the oil, and the oil may then be bottled in its raw form or purified and refined, depending on its intended use and desired flavor profile.
CBD oil, on the other hand, comes from different parts of the hemp plant including the flowers, leaves and stalks. Once the plant parts are harvested, CBD is chemically extracted from the various parts so that an oil containing a high concentration of CBD can be produced for consumers seeking CBD’s benefits.
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A dizzying confusion of terms
In the wake of the CBD craze that shortly followed the 2018 bill lifting prior restrictions on hemp production, some retailers have used the term “hemp oil” to refer to products that are actually CBD oil. Given this confusing approach and the fact that many of the claims and marketing tactics used in the CBD industry are not evaluated or approved by the FDA, consumer education is critical.
As a rule, true hemp seed oil will be much cheaper than CBD oil, and the bottle or packaging will not mention the presence of cannabinoids or CBD. CBD oil is also more likely to be found in a dispensary or sold online by companies that offer other marijuana-derived products, while hemp seed oil can be found in health stores and is sold by nutrition-focused and/or skincare companies.
What is hemp, anyway?
Hemp is a strain of the cannabis Sativa plant expressly grown for commercial and industrial purposes. Archeological evidence shows that hemp has been utilized by humans for thousands of years. It has been grown and processed for use as fiber, rope, mulch, canvas (the word canvas is derived from the word cannabis), insulation, construction, netting, and a variety of other applications.
Hemp fiber
Hemp fiber is made from two distinct parts of the plan–the bast and the hurd. The bast grows around the sturdy stalk of the hemp plant, and it has a linen-like texture. The hurd comprises the inner core of the stalk and resembles a softwood.
Furthermore, in nature, the bast and hurd work in tandem to give the hemp stalk and the rest of the plant its structure and strength, making hemp fiber a very useful material for a variety of goods. Components of the hemp plant can be used on their own or combined with other fibers like lyocell, silk or cotton to soften hemp’s coarse texture. Once it’s extracted and processed, hemp fiber is most commonly used for things like:
- Rope
- Bags
- Outer garments like dresses and trousers
- Shoes
Hemp as a building material
Hemp concrete (sometimes called “hempcrete”) is a hemp-derived building material made from hemp fiber blended with lime. Hempcrete is softer than many building materials (including traditional concrete), but it makes a great insulator and is fireproof. For this reason, hempcrete is used in some areas of the world for residential and commercial construction, particularly for non-loadbearing walls.
Because it’s good for insulation, it makes for an effective sound deadening material, which is often desirable in noisy urban areas. Also, its low density and relative elasticity make it far less prone to splits and cracks over time or from earthquakes.
Hemp and hemp seed oil’s legal status
In the United States, the federal regulation of hemp plants changed radically by the Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018 (also called the 2018 United States farm bill). This bill removed hemp from the list of controlled substances outlined by the Controlled Substances Act, which includes illicit drugs like heroin and ecstasy. The passage of the 2018 Farm Bill created a “green wave” of products containing CBD not currently regulated by any governing body.
Going forward, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will establish regulations for hemp-derived products including CBD oil. For now, the legal status of CBD remains murky at best, and we need more research to evaluate the safety and therapeutic benefits and risks associated with CBD.
Hemp seed oil got the FDA green light
The good news for hemp oil consumers? It appears that no regulatory restrictions are coming down the pike for products related to hemp seeds. In a statement on its website, the FDA wrote:
In December 2018, FDA completed its evaluation of three generally recognized as safe (GRAS) notices for the following hemp seed-derived food ingredients: hulled hemp seed, hemp seed protein powder, and hemp seed oil. FDA had no questions regarding the company’s conclusion that the use of such products as described in the notices is safe.
Food & Drug Administration, FDA.gov
In conclusion, hemp seed oil is a completely legal product with a range of nutritional and dermatological applications. If the stigma and legal restrictions around cannabis in the United States continue to ease, we may see a much wider adoption of hemp products including hemp oil.
