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Cold-pressed from hemp seeds, cannabis sativa seed oil is a bit of an all-star performer in the health and wellbeing world, with countless uses – from salads to skincare!
This nutritious oil has a plethora of health benefits, and is a key ingredient in all three of our bestselling products, including our Relief Balm and Relief Salts.
In this article, we take a closer look at some of the benefits of cannabis sativa seed oil – commonly known as hemp seed oil – and how best to use it.
What is cannabis sativa seed oil?
Native to central Asia, hemp is a familiar plant that plays a significant role in many industries, from skincare and textiles to food and drink.
It comes from the same family as marijuana, although hemp has a different biological structure. This means that hemp contains very little-to-no THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) and has no psychoactive properties. In other words, you won’t get ‘high’ from consuming or using hemp seed oil.
Within hemp plants, you’ll find leaves, flowers, stems, and seeds. These little brown seeds can either be hulled and used as hemp hearts (delicious on salads, cereals, and in smoothies!) or cold pressed to extract hemp seed oil, in a similar way to how olive oil is produced.
What are the benefits of cannabis sativa seed oil?
So, why all the fuss over the oil from this simple little seed? Because cannabis sativa seed oil has many scientifically-backed health benefits.
Here are three of the most widely reported:
1. Improved skin health
No bathroom cabinet should be without a bottle of cannabis sativa seed oil, as it can be a great ally in your battle against problem skin.
Acne, eczema, and even psoriasis – many conditions can be managed and treated by using hemp seed oil.
This is largely because the oil is made up of 75% omega-3 and -6 fatty acids, which have strong anti-inflammatory properties. This oil is therefore effective at combatting blemishes, soothing irritated red and puffy skin, and easing dryness.
It can be applied directly onto problem areas or taken as a dietary supplement. In fact, one 2005 study revealed evidence that dietary hemp seed oil improved the symptoms and appearance of eczema (atopic dermatitis) after 20 weeks.
Our uplifting WholyMe Relief Salts offer the benefits of cannabis sativa seed oil along with the full-body soothing properties of Epsom salts, frankincense oil, and arnica oil. Try mixing a few handfuls into your next bath!
2. Enhanced heart health
With such high levels of omega-3 and -6 fatty acids, it makes sense that cannabis sativa seed oil can have beneficial effects on our cardiovascular health, with potential cardioprotective benefits.
The oil is also high in the amino acid arginine – which generally contributes to a healthy cardiovascular system – and linoleic acid, which can reduce LDL cholesterol (i.e., the ‘bad’ cholesterol). The benefits of lower LDL include reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, and stroke.
It’s another reason to consider adding hemp seed oil to your diet. To benefit from this, you can ingest the oil on a daily basis (see below for details).
3. Effective pain relief
Another advantage of cannabis sativa seed oil is that it can help ease pain in the body, due to its strong anti-inflammatory properties.
There is a lot of anecdotal evidence for the pain-relieving properties of hemp seed oil, while science is backing this up. For example, one 2016 study suggested that hemp seed oil has an anti-rheumatoid effect on MH7A cells (which are associated with rheumatoid arthritis).
We use 100% organic cannabis sativa seed oil as just one of the many natural pain-relieving ingredients in our Wholy Me Relief Balm, along with organic arnica oil, rosemary oil, juniper oil, frankincense oil, and wintergreen oil. Together, this forms an award-winning balm that presents an effective way to relieve aching muscles and joints.
How to use cannabis sativa seed oil
You can use cannabis sativa seed oil in several ways and it all comes down to the issue you want to tackle.
For general health and cardiovascular health, consider taking 1 to 2 teaspoons of the oil each day (find it in your local supermarket). You can take it neat, or add it to smoothies, juices, cereals, or salads. It may impact your digestion if you are not used to it, so start by taking a small amount and increase the dosage accordingly.
For skin complaints, you can use neat cannabis sativa seed oil rubbed directly onto the problem area. Just be sure to test for any irritation on a smaller patch of skin first.
Finally, if you want to relieve pain, ingesting the oil may help reduce inflammation in the body, while you can soothe painful joints and muscles at the source by using a product like our Wholy Me Relief Balm.
