What is Hemp used for?
I will keep this simple. Hemp is a plant called Cannabis but so is Marijuana. Hemp is a ‘cousin’ to its feistier relative, Marijuana.Once upon a time, all cannabis was called Hemp. Today we refer to the varieties that contain little to no THC, as Industrial Hemp, and the varieties that contain high amounts of THC as Cannabis or Marijuana.
Industrial Hemp is known for its seeds or it’s trichomes on the flowers, it’s fiber (Bast) and the hurd (or Shiv). There are different varieties, some are shorter plants producing more seeds, but less fiber/hurd. Others produce fewer seeds but grow tall, and therefore are a greater source of fiber/hurd.
The fiber and Hurd are used in making fabric, rope, insulation, paper, a type of ‘plastic’, and even construction concrete! Every part of the plant can be used and turned into useful products.
The seeds are used in food, eaten raw, ground up as meal, made into milk substitutes, as a protein source in shakes and other food. The seeds are pressed into oils, which are used as salad dressings, and food supplements. The oil is also used in non-toxic paints and inks.
The flowers, as in Marijuana also, contain the rich Cannabinoid oils. These oils can be further concentrated into one of its medicinal components which is known as CBD or Cannabidiol. Cannabidiol is one of 113 known components in Hemp, however CBD makes up to 15% of the seed’s unique chemical components. Cannabidiol is also known as a phytocannabinoid.
Phytocannabinoids are the spark that gets our bodies’ central nerve system working and functioning well. Our Central nerve system is responsible for our appetite, mood, memory, inflammation control, immune system and pain sensation. Phytocannabinoids protect and repair nerve pathways, to the brain and the body, making them vitally important for diseases like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, strokes, accident trauma, and HIV dementia.
Industrial Hemp also contains a trace amount of THC (Tetrahydrocannabidol), at a minuscule 0.3%. THC is the chemical component that gives the brain a euphoric or ‘high’ sensation. Like CBD, THC shares most of the medicinal benefits but has an appetite INCREASING affect and is effective for nausea too. Hemp, with only a trace amount of THC, has no euphoric or high sensation for users.
Here’s a short video showing you how Hemp is harvested by Hemp farmers. The first part of the harvest is the flower buds at the top of the plant, followed by the stems.
How is CBD used?
Tinctures– concentrated liquid preparation of CBD and alcohol. The amounts of CBD in tinctures vary from 100mg to 1000mg. Tinctures are measured with a glass dropper, and recommended dosage would be by the drop. Placing the recommended amount of drops under the tongue, holding it there as long as you can, is the most effective.
Concentrate– sold in oral syringes containing the highest concentration of CBD of any product. These products are meant to be taken under the tongue as well, for maximum efficacy.
Capsules– gelatin based capsules that contain CBD concentrate in varying amounts. They are of course meant to be swallowed. Typical concentration per capsule is 25mg.
Topically– as in lotions, ointments, lip balm and so on. Topical products are indicated for psoriasis,acne,inflammation and pain. Topical products should contain nano technology, encapsulation, or micellization of CBD so that it can pass through the skin.
Spray– diluted CBD concentrations often mixed with other products, meant to be sprayed into the mouth. Applications are usually 1-3 sprays into the mouth daily.
Vaping-using special CBD vaping juice, the product is inhaled (like smoking) into the lungs for beneficial medicinal effect. Vaping pens or e cigarettes are used.
Finally, more countries are recognizing the health benefits of Hemp and Marijuana, both members of the Cannabis family. CBD or Cannabidiol is the star player but is supported by many other chemical components of the these plants.
What is CBD and how does it affect the body?
Here is what I have gleaned from a variety of online sources
“Cannabidiol, known as CBD,is one of more than 100 naturally occurring cannabinoids in CANNABIS (Hemp & Marijuana), CBD oil supports one of the most important receptor-based systems in our body. It also provides an abundance of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.
Unlike THC and medical marijuana, CBD is non-psychoactive. Meaning there is no euphoric high with CBD.
Like all cannabinoids, CBD interacts with your body through its native endocannabinoid system, or ECS. Present in all mammals, including humans, the endocannabinoid system is a complex signaling network responsible for creating and maintaining health by regulating Mood, Memory, Appetite, Pain, Immune response and Temperature
The endocannabinoid system is made up of cannabinoid receptors and substances called endocannabinoids, which are synthesized by the body on as needed. The cannabinoid receptors, found within the whole body, bind with endocannabinoids like lock and key.
When the endocannabinoids bind or interact with these receptors, they alter the release of neurotransmitters to relay messages between nerve cells. The endocannabinoid system uses endocannabinoids and cannabinoid receptors to make the adjustments to keep the many body functions in a reasonable state of balance.
Plant-derived cannabinoids like CBD, found in hemp and marijuana, imitate many of the biological actions of the endocannabinoids that are synthesized by the body. Like endocannabinoids, CBD interacts with the cannabinoid receptors as the endocannabinoid system works to keep your body and its functions in balance.
Cannabinoids bind with cannabinoid receptors to send chemical messages between neurons.
Now here it gets even more technical…..
The endocannabinoid system consists of two main specialized receptors – cannabinoid 1 (CB1) and cannabinoid 2 (CB2). CB1 receptors are primarily found in the brain and throughout the central nervous system, while CB2 receptors are located mostly in the immune system, spleen, and their associated structures.
These two cannabinoid receptors respond differently to different cannabinoids. THC is an agonist of both CB1 and CB2 receptors, but has a higher attraction for CB1. This means it binds directly with the two receptors and activates them.
CBD, on the other hand, doesn’t bind directly to either CB1 or CB2 receptors. Instead, it acts indirectly against cannabinoid agonists. This means that CBD sits less than perfectly inside the receptors, not activating them but effectively blocking THC and other chemical messengers from binding to those.
CBD also interacts with various other receptors throughout the body, such as 5-HT1A receptors, which are linked to serotonin, and the vanilloid receptor TRPV1, which functions as an ion channel.
CBD and the Entourage Effect-
First introduced by researchers in 1998, the entourage effect suggests that there’s a potential enhancing effect that occurs when whole plant cannabis oil that contains CBD as well as the rest of the plant’s natural constituents are consumed together rather than when an isolated CBD compound is consumed on its own.
It’s true that full-spectrum CBD hemp oil is abundant in CBD, but it also contains dozens of minor trace cannabinoids, as well as the following: Essential vitamins, Minerals, Omega fatty acids, Flavonoids, Chlorophyll, Terpenes, Fiber and Protein.
While scientists have been rightfully focused on the botanical effects of CBD over recent years, the entourage effect proposes that the other cannabinoids, terpenes, and other compounds found in hemp oil may work synergistically with CBD and contribute to the compound’s beneficial effects.”
What are the health benefits of CBD from Hemp?
CBD relieves pain and inflammation, and in many cases, also completely eliminates the pain that many suffer from in neuro-degenerative conditions like Multiple Sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease, strokes, Parkinson’s disease, and others.
CBD is being used in Cancer treatment, research is ongoing, but results are favorable showing reduction in pain, nausea and vomiting when chemotherapy is used. Some studies are showing that CBD slows the progression of many cancers. According to many testimonies, Cannabis in the form of Hemp or Marijuana, has taken their cancer disease to a remission status.
Research is difficult to do, when Governments have criminalized Hemp and Marijuana for so many years. As laws are changing, more research and more studies will be done. This will bring Cannabis into the spotlight and put many current harmful drugs on the back shelf.
There are so many health benefits of Hemp, that it would take me a year of writing to fully describe all of the healing benefits. My focus here is to keep it simple. The following is a testimony, one of so many online, of one family’s experience with CBD.
If you have the time, the video is about 5 minutes or so. It touched my heart and has reinforced my convictions that legalizing Cannabis in all its forms is vitally important.
to the page Marijuana
to the page Videos
