Hemp oil, known for its nutritional qualities, can be used to treat a variety of medical conditions. The oil, extracted from the seeds of the hemp plant, has been used as both food and medicine since Neolithic times and is known to be rich in both omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids which can help promote cognitive function as well as maintain healthy skin. Studies have shown that cannabidiol, present in hemp oil, can reduce inflammation in animals and there is evidence that the anti-inflammatory properties of this plant-based oil were known to Chinese medicine from the fourteenth century onwards.
Diseases that have been linked to inflammatory disorders include eczema, heart disease, multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis while bowel disorders such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are caused by inflammation of the lower intestine. Redness, heat, swelling and pain are the main signs of inflammation while other symptoms include appetite loss, chills, fatigue and headaches. Essential fatty acids that are present in hemp seed oil, such as omega-3, may reduce inflammation due to their ability to inhibit the production of cytokines and eicosanoids. These molecules, released as part of the body’s immunological response to infection, are a major cause of inflammation.
How Hemp Oil Helps Inflammation
It has been observed that the use of hemp oil, in conjunction with evening primrose oil and hot foods such as chilli peppers, is effective at treating some of the symptoms of multiple sclerosis. The study, conducted by Tabriz University in Iran, has given hope to those who suffer from the illness by offering a means of managing the symptoms of the disease. It is thought that neurological damage, caused by the immune system attacking myelin-producing nerve cells, may be a cause of multiple sclerosis and that the consumption of hemp seed oil may protect the nervous system from an adverse immunological response.
The symptoms of eczema, an inflammatory disease of the skin, may be relieved by the oral consumption or topical application of hemp seed oil. Essential fatty acids that are present in the oil are known to promote good skin health, being of use in the treatment of other skin conditions, and to decrease the inflammation that is the underlying cause of eczema. Heart disease, resulting from damage to the cardiovascular system that is caused by inflammatory disorders, may be prevented by the regular use of hemp seed oil alongside other healthy lifestyle choices.
