origin

Hemp belongs to the hemp family (Cannabaceae) and is one of the oldest cultivated plants in the world. It originates from Central Asia and has been spread worldwide by humans over the years. A distinction is made between common hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) and Indian hemp (Cannabis indica Lam.). Hemp is a highly versatile, renewable resource. Almost all parts of the plant are used for a wide variety of purposes: seeds, leaves, flowers, and fibers.

The fibers are used in paper, cosmetics, and clothing production. Hemp is also used as a lightweight and durable material, for example, as a component of bandages and for the production of ropes and sails.

While the leaves and flowers are used as a stimulant, hemp seeds have enjoyed great popularity as a food for many centuries due to their high content of high-quality protein and polyunsaturated fatty acids. The seeds contain approximately 22-25% protein, 35-37% carbohydrates, and 30-35% fat, as well as a high proportion of fiber, vitamins, and minerals. To produce hemp seed oil, the hemp seeds contained in the shelled hemp nuts are cold-pressed at approximately 40-60°C. Higher temperatures (hot pressing) would destroy some of the valuable ingredients.

Since misunderstandings often arise regarding hemp products, it should be clarified at this point that a fundamental distinction must be made between so-called "industrial hemp" varieties and hemp as a medicinal or intoxicant. Whether a hemp plant falls under the Narcotics Act depends primarily on the THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol) content, which is the psychoactive substance in hemp and must not exceed 0.2% if a plant is to be classified as industrial hemp. Industrial hemp is v.a. about the variety “Cannabis sativa”.

Benefits and mode of action

The special thing about hemp oil is the high proportion of healthy, unsaturated fatty acids, which amounts to approximately 70%. These include the nutritionally valuable polyunsaturated fatty acids such as: alpha-linolenic acid (an Omega 3 fatty acid), linoleic acid (an Omega 6 fatty acid), palmitic and stearic acid, and Omega-3 fatty acid. These fatty acids, the so-called "essential fats," cannot be produced by the body itself and must therefore be obtained through food. They are particularly important for normal heart and brain function as well as energy and oxygen balanceWhile Omega-6 fatty acids are also found in numerous vegetable oils, Omega-3 is a so-called “marine fatty acid” that v.a. is found in fatty cold-water fish such as salmon. For vegans and vegetarians, hemp seed oil is therefore a good alternative for consuming valuable omega-3 fatty acids.

Also important vitamins, minerals and trace elements are other components of hemp seed oil. These include vitamins E, B1 and B2, the minerals phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, calcium and sodium, as well as the trace elements iron, manganese, zinc and small amounts of copper. The ingredients of hemp seed oil have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, which are particularly attributed to alpha-linolenic acid.

An in vitro study published in 2016 on antioxidant effect of hemp seed oil postulates that v.aThe polyphenols it contains could be responsible for its strong antioxidant properties.The abstract of the study states:

"The aim of this study was to characterize the polyphenolic compounds and antioxidant activity of cold-pressed seed oil from the industrial hemp variety Finola (Cannabis sativa L.). Various methods were used to evaluate the in vitro antioxidant activity of Finola hemp seed oil (FHSO). The results showed that FHSO exhibited high antioxidant activity, measured by DPPH radical (146.76 mmol TE/100 g oil), inhibited β-carotene bleaching, quenched a chemically generated peroxyl radical in vitro, and demonstrated high iron ion chelating activity. FHSO contains a significant amount of phenolic compounds, including 2780.4 mg quercetin equivalent/100 g total flavonoids. Our results suggest that the significant antioxidant properties of finola seed oil may generally depend on the phenolic compounds, especially flavonoids such as flavanones, flavonols, flavanols, and isoflavones.“ Source: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/ptr.5623

Legal consumer information

German and European law seeks to protect consumers from supposedly misleading claims of effectiveness. The statements made here refer to the original Ayurvedic and TCM texts. This ancient knowledge, handed down over thousands of years, is based on experience passed down from generation to generation. It is not intended to claim that the products described here have an effect in the sense of Western medicine. All products are dietary supplements; they are not medications and have no medical effect. If you are ill and require medical care, please consult your doctor or pharmacist.