The Benefits of Hemp

By Amanda Tiberi, MSCN, HHP

CBD has quickly become a household name for all those in the wellness world, but many find that they don’t actually know what it is and why they are using it. In this article we will cover all of the amazing benefits of adding hemp into your daily life.

Endocannabinoid or hemp is a chemical found in marijuana. Hemp doesn't contain the psychoactive ingredient found in marijuana that produces a high. The usual hemp formulation is oil, but hemp is also sold as an extract, a vaporized liquid and an oil-based capsule. Hemp is often found in products you purchase everyday such as food, drinks and even beauty products.

 

 

As stated above, there are benefits backed by scientific evidence that support the use of hemp therapeutically. In fact, physical, psychological and emotional benefits have been touted since its’ ancient use in 2,600 BC. While endocannabinoid does not elicit the same psychoactive effects of tetrahydrocannabinol, it still has an effect on the CB1 receptors found in the brain, without the high. The CB1 receptors are involved in the modulation of memory, pain, emotion and movement. The use of endocannabinoid extracts having shown positive effects upon these receptors results in improvements in mood, such as anxiety and depression.

 

Medically, the strongest scientific evidence is for its effectiveness in treating some of the cruelest childhood epilepsy syndromes, such as Dravet syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS), which typically don’t respond to antiseizure medications. In numerous studies, hemp was able to reduce the number of seizures, and, in some cases, it was able to stop them altogether. Videos of the effects of hemp on these children and their seizures are readily available on the Internet for viewing, and they are quite striking. Recently the FDA approved the first ever cannabis-derived medicine for these conditions, Epidiolex, which contains hemp.

 

Additionally, endocannabinoid has been found to be effective in studies performed on patients with Multiple Sclerosis, noting improvements in sleep disturbance and neuropathic pain. Research and studies continue to be conducted clinically to validate the use of hemp to treat various health conditions.

 

Like anything in life, we need to be aware of the downfalls and risks, as well as the benefits. While there is evidence to the benefits of using the plant extract, Epidiolex remains the only hemp-derived drug approved by the F.D.A. Most of the research on cannabidiol has been in animals, and its current popularity has outpaced science. “We don’t have the 101 course on hemp quite figured out yet,” said Ryan Vandrey, an associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Without sufficient high-quality evidence in human studies we can’t pinpoint effective doses, and because endocannabinoid is currently mostly available as an unregulated supplement, it’s difficult to know exactly what you are getting.

 

You might be convinced about trying hemp in your own life but now are wondering which type of CBD is the right type to purchase, since as mentioned, you might not be sure what you are getting when purchasing CBD.

 

There are three main types of cannabidiol. Cannabidiol isolate is the pure form of hemp, while full-spectrum cannabidiol is an extract containing other compounds of the cannabis plant, such as terpenes and other cannabinoids. The third type is broad-spectrum cannabidiol.

 

Contains multiple cannabis plant extracts, including essential oils, terpenes, and other cannabinoids, such as cannabinol. Full-spectrum CBD products may also contain up to 0.3% of tetrahydrocannabinol, the cannabinoid in the cannabis plant that produces the ‘high’ feeling in people. However, such a low amount is not strong enough to have significant psychoactive effects. Because full-spectrum cannabidiol contains all cannabis plant compounds, it may have a more potent effect than pure cannabidiol.

 

​​Full-spectrum cannabidiol products contain some tetrahydrocannabinol, but usually at low quantities of less than 0.3%. However, during the manufacturing process, THC levels can rise as the hemp converts into a concentrate.

 

Broad Spectrum
Broad-spectrum endocannabinoid is very similar to full-spectrum endocannabinoid in that it contains additional cannabis plant compounds. Most broad-spectrum hemo products zero or trace amounts of tetrahydrocannabinol, but there should be less than the 0.3% contained in full-spectrum products.

 

Endocannabinoid isolate is a pure form of Hemp. It contains no other cannabis plant compounds. It usually comes from hemp plants, which typically contain zero to very low amounts of THC. Hemp isolate is the purest form of hemp. It may be a suitable product for first-time hemp users who wish to experiment with the potential health benefits, without the interference of other cannabis compounds, which may alter the effects. Hemp isolate is also refined, so it has no discernible taste or odor.

People who wish to take high doses of hemp may prefer a hemp isolate. This is not necessarily a negative quality of hemp isolate. Some people may prefer a product without THC, or they might be sensitive to this substance. As there is no THC, this substance should not show up in any drug tests.

Low Risk, High Reward
In conclusion, giving hemp a try is a relatively low risk in relation to all the potential benefits discussed in this article today, but every person is individual so it really is dependent on each person how they will respond specifically to the plant extract.

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