How the human body interacts with the world sounds like quite a mundane topic, or is it? We see with our eyes, hear with our ears and so on. Basic stuff, really. But what about substances that affect our body and even cause changes to it? Discussing internal human physiology is probably not what you were looking to do today, but let’s try a simplified version of it! This piece will try to talk and educate you about hemp and its various benefits.
What is Hemp?
By now, we all must have heard of the term hemp. As can be inferred from its botanical name, Cannabis sativa, it belongs to the same species as Cannabis. Compared to hemp, though, Cannabis has much higher concentrations of the psychoactive compound THC. Policies regarding the growth and sale of products containing it varies around the globe. Cultivating and using industrially acceptable hemp is legal in India and the market has been growing as of late. The plant can be and is used for a variety of purposes. From cosmetics and clothes to food supplements, hemp has been gaining traction in several commercially essential industries.
Aurvedic View of Cannabis sativa
Now, this might surprise most people, but hemp seeds have been used in Ayurveda for the longest time. The seeds are a great source of Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids (great for your heart), rich in proteins (helps in rejuvenating the body and promoting growth) ad fibre content (aids in digestion). Hemps seeds are considered tamasic in nature, i.e. having a heavy and grounding influence on the body. It gets slightly tricky here as consuming excessive quantities of the seeds (or any other tamasic foods) results in lethargy, laziness and inertia. They are best suited for use during the winter. The seeds help nourish your body and relax your mind.
Several ancient texts like the Atharva Veda and the Sushruta Samhita talk about the sacred and medicinal nature of the hemp plant. Even beyond Ayurvedic formulations, hemp use was quite widespread in medieval India. Warriors and soldiers used it before battles; cooks added it into unique dishes but most importantly, many medicinal systems used it to treat a wide range of diseases.
As a side note, hemp seeds are great when added to your favourite fruit smoothies. It imparts a little substance and a lot of richness to any food it is added into! In addition to enhancing the texture and taste of your favourite foods, hemp acts as a good source of various vitamins, minerals and nutrients that help in growth and development. It also boosts your heart health and functioning as well lowers the risk and effects of inflammation.
While we are on the topic of fruit shakes, we thought it might be the right time to introduce you to our Ayurvedic fruit juice range, the Amrutam Sharbat range. You can find it in various fruity flavours that help your body stay cool during the summers and keep you fresh. To read more about them, check out the article titled Sharbats: History and Modern Interpretations.
Hemp and Hair: A Match Made in Heaven
This may come as another surprise, but hemp oil has quite an impressive list of benefits attached to its resume. Cold-pressing hemp seeds release an unrefined oil. It is purified to obtain a clear, light green, nutty oil with multiple health benefits. However, the oil is primarily used for hair growth. While a clear understanding of the mechanism has yet to be identified, researchers state that the presence of fatty acids contributes to its efficacy. The fatty acids, along with the proteins and vitamins in the oil, helps promote new hair growth.
This one benefit alone should have gotten your attention, but it does not just stop there. Not only does hemp oil (and products that contain it) stimulate new hair growth, not only does it heal damaged hair and moisturize it; it also helps to reverse frizz caused by split ends. Believe us when we say we know how hard-to-deal-with frizzy hair is! Yet again, although the exact method of action is not well-understood, research indicates that these effects are partly due to hemp oil’s impact on the skin, specifically the scalp. That’s right! Yet another thing hemp oil is good at. It moisturizes the skin and the scalp, prevents wrinkles and combats acne.
A few other hair benefits are mentioned below
- prevents excessive water retention in the hair
- reduces hair fall by moisturizing the scalp and the roots directly
- thickens hair and promotes new hair growth
- heals split ends and damaged hair to help with frizzy hair
- lends a youthful shine to your hair
As mentioned previously, hemp oil also affects the scalp and can help control oil secretion to keep your hair grease-free for longer. The oil can even be used directly on the skin to deal with dry and itchy skin.
Now that you have read so much about hemp and what it can do for your skin and hair, why not try out the Kuntal Care Do-It-Yourself Hair Spa with Hemp.
