10 Uses of Hemp Seed Oil

Copyright 2012 - Kris Heeter

Hemp oil or hemp seed oil comes from cold pressed hemp seeds of the plant Cannabis sativa.

Hemp seeds contain around 40% fat in the form of a high quality and nutritional oil.

The oil tends to be green in color and has nutty flavor.

Cannabis is often mistakenly thought of strictly as marijuana. Cannabis, therefore, has been assumed by many to be illegal in the United States.

Marijuana and the growing of Cannabus strains for the purpose of making marijuana has been illegal in the United States. However, growth of Cannabus for industrial purposes has been allowed with a DEA approved license.

The intoxicating drug properties of Cannabis sativa come from a resin caleed THC (tetrahydrocannabinol). This resin is produced primarily in the flowering tops of female hemp plants long before the seeds mature.

Cannabis is a very diverse plant species and there are hundreds of varieties that have different properties.

Strains of hemp grown for oil production have low resin content to begin with, and by the time the seeds are ready for harvest, resin production within the plant has dropped even further. The seeds are typically cleaned and washed before they are pressed to remove any remaining THC resin. As a result, no THC is found in the final oil product.

Industrial production of hemp oil is becoming more common especially in Canada and Europe. Given that hemp oil has no THC in the final product, hemp seed oil is legal in the United States.

The oil pressed from seeds has a high nutritional value. Most notably it is high in protein and has a 3:1 ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 essential fatty acids.

NOTE: hemp seed oil is different that “hash oil”. Hash oil (a.k.a. cannabis flowering essential oil) is made from the leaves and flowers of Cannabis and contains significant levels of THC. Cannabis flowering essential oil is illegal in the United States.

2 Apples
6 oz. of apple cider or apple juice
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/8 tsp each of allspice, ginger and ground cloves
2 oz. brown sugar
½ oz. Lemon juice
2 T Hemp Seeds
1 oz. Hemp Oil
10 oz of mayonnaise

Core and chop apples. Add hemp oil, lemon juice, apple cider, and brown sugar. Cook on medium heat. Add hemp seeds, allspice, cinnamon, cloves, and ginger. Cook for 10 minutes stirring constantly. Remove from heat (the mixture should be soft and mushy). Place the mixture in a strainer or colundar and push through until only seeds and skin left.

Cool the strained sauce, mix with mayo and serve on top of pork or salmon.

Hemp oil was commonly used by American ancestors. Traditional and modern day uses have included:

1. Salad Dressing and Cooking
2. Lotions
3. Wood Finish & Deck Sealer
4. Ink
5. Plastics
6. Soaps
7. Shampoos
8. Detergents
9. Fuel (biodiesel)
10. Paint

Not included on the list above is a more recent use that many have suggested: hemp oil as a cure for cancer.

There have been claims that hemp seed oil can cure cancer. While nutritionally, hemp oil is one of the best oils out there, using it as a means to cure cancer has not been tested to any large extent by the medical and scientific community.

Many anticipate this will continue to be a hot topic of interest and it will most likely be researched more in upcoming years.

Hemp plastic was very common in the early 20^th century.

Back in 1941, Henry Ford experimented with a plant-based plastic car that was made from hemp, sisal, and straw. Around this same time, American farmers were encouraged to grow hemp for the war effort during a campaign called 'Hemp For Victory'. Ford’s plastic car never quite made it into mass production.

These days, hemp oil is being used to make a biodegradable plastic used in many common household items: key rings, plastic boxes, bowls, and more. Plastic made from hemp oil is now being used again by U.S. and European car manufacturers. Henry Ford had the right idea, it just took over 50 years to see it come to use in large scale manufacturing.