Introduction

Hemp oil (hemp seed oil) is produced by pressing hemp seeds, from the Cannabis sativa plant. It is often mistaken for hash oil, made from the Cannabis flower as well as cannabis oil (CBD oil), which is extracted from the flowers, leaves and stems of the plant. Both hash oil and CBD oil have varying amounts of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is compound responsible for the plant’s psycho-active effect. Hemp seed oil, however, does not contain significant amounts of THC, and is widely used for its health benefits without the intoxicating effects of medical marijuana (1).

Physical and Chemical Characteristics

Cold pressed, unrefined hemp oil is dark to clear light green in colour, with a nutty flavour. The darker the colour, the grassier the flavour. Refined hemp seed oil is clear and colourless, with little flavour. It is primarily used in body care products- soaps, shampoos and detergents.

49% of the weight of the hemp seed is made up of its oil that contains omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids. It is also rich in the phytocannabinoid compounds, known as THC and CBD. In the United States, Hemp or Cannabis sativa extracts with a THC concentration less than 0.3%, are excluded from medical marijuana rules (1).

Hemp Seed Oil Fatty Acid Profile

Source: 2

Health Benefits of Internal Use

Hemp seeds are used as nutritional supplements as they are a rich source of essential fatty acids, fiber, and antioxidants, which help in protecting the body from inflammation and improves repair and recovery of damaged cells or tissues. It has shown benefits when used for migraines, chronic pain conditions like rheumatic arthritis, depression, and anxiety. It has been known to help with premenstrual symptoms (PMS) as well as menopause.3 In 2018, the FDA approved a clinical study for a CBD formulation called Epidolex that can be used for the management of 2 severe seizure conditions.(3,4)

Skin and Hair Care Benefits

Hemp seed oil can reduce the amount of sebum or natural oils produced in the skin. Excessive sebum build-up is a common cause of acne , and controlled production of sebum can improve skin breakouts. It is also used for its antibacterial and antifungal properties which protects the skin from infections (5).

A recent study evaluated the effect of hemp seed oil on acne vulgaris, a common form of acne or inflammation on facial skin, most often caused by a bacteria called Propionibacterium acnes. The results revealed that the oil did have anti-bacterial properties that reduces the growth of acne producing bacteria and limits the inflammation on the skin, while improving the generation of collagen for skin elasticity. The linoleic acid and oleic acid present in hemp seed oil can reduce fine lines and wrinkles and protects the skin from other signs of ageing (6).

Another study revealed the ability of hemp based oil to improve skin conditions like dermatitis, eczema or psoriasis , that may leave skin scars (7).

Conclusion

Hemp seed oil is known for its various health benefits as an anti-inflammatory and antibacterial agent and is widely used in topical skin formulations as well as an active ingredient in various skin care products for its healing and soothing properties.

References

1.VanDolah HJ, Bauer BA, Mauck KF. Clinicians' Guide to Cannabidiol and Hemp Oils. Mayo Clin Proc. 2019; 1851

2. Ref : https://extension.okstate.edu/fact-sheets/hemp-seed-oil-properties.html

3. Hilderbrand RL. Hemp & Cannabidiol: What is a Medicine?. Mo Med. 2018;115(4):306-309.

4. Ref: https://www.gwpharm.com/

5. Oláh A, Tóth BI, Borbíró I, et al. Cannabidiol exerts sebostatic and antiinflammatory effects on human sebocytes. J Clin Invest. 2014;124(9):3713-3724. doi:10.1172/JCI64628

6. Jin S, Lee MY. The ameliorative effect of hemp seed hexane extracts on the Propionibacterium acnes-induced inflammation and lipogenesis in sebocytes. PLoS One. 2018;13(8):e0202933. Published 2018 Aug 27. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0202933

7.Palmieri, B., Laurino, C., & Vadalà, M. (2019). A therapeutic effect of cbd-enriched ointment in inflammatory skin diseases and cutaneous scars. La Clinica Terapeutica, 170(2), e93–e99.