Hemp seed oil began making its way onto my horizons in around 2006. Until this time, my store had been selling a small range of skin care, mainly Weleda, which I talked about in my previous article.
I was constantly researching, and speaking with customers, trying to find more ethical, natural and affordable brands to stock. I really can’t remember how I found Green Hemp, but thank goodness I did.From my first delivery, there was no turning back, and I would truly love to know how many of their soaps, creams, balms & shampoo I have sold and more importantly, I wish I had recorded the fabulous feedback I have received along the way.
Hemp personal care products are made using the oil from the hemp seed of the Cannabis sativa L plant. In the case of Green Hemp, the seeds are harvested 3 to 4 times per year and processed or “pressed” through a hydraulic press without using any heat source, hence the term “cold pressed”. Green Hemp only uses the first press oil, unlike many other hemp producers who use the inferior second and third presses. Additionally, the oil is never frozen and is all 100% Australian. The result is highest quality, food grade, hemp seed oil.
From here, the oil is used in various ways. Firstly, as pure hemp seed oil, bottled in amber glass bottles to protect its integrity. This hemp can be taken by mouth and is thought to assist with cardiovascular health, cholesterol, joint, bone and skin wellness, healthy cognitive function and the immune system! Why? Primarily because hemp seed oil is extremely high in essential polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) especially the omega 3s and omega 6s and including gamma linolenic acid (GLA). In fact the ratio of these in hemp seed oil is 3:1 which is ideal for all healthy operation of most of our bodily functions, particularly those mentioned above.
This unrefined oil has a nutty flavour, and can be taken straight (about a tablespoon per day is the recommended dose) or it can be used in salad dressings, added to smoothies or in cooking. However, the heating of the oil in cooking will cause it to lose some of its nutritional value.
The unrefined oil can also be used directly on the skin in the following ways:
For Acne – warm the skin using a face washer then massage a small amount of hemp seed oil into the area. Leave to rest for about 10 minutes, then wash off thoroughly with warm water. Do this every day for two weeks. This process draws out impurities, unblock pores, and help heal acne. Hemp seed oil is what is know as a dry oil ( it has a non cosmogenic value of 0) so therefore will not block pores. What is will do is draw out the sebum build up in the pores and help to heal any acne scaring.
Generally, for dry skin – massage into dry, cracked skin or scars everyday (best absorbed when the skin is warm, after a shower)
Some of the cold pressed oil is then refined to produce other skincare and haircare products. The refining process requires the oil to be filtered twice and deodorised resulting in a transparent, yellow, odourless oil. This oil is then combined with other natural ingredients to produce soaps, facial lotions, hand and body lotions, lip balms, shampoo and conditioner. As with the pure oil, these products are extremely moisturising and healing and I have anecdotal evidence from dozens of customers who tell me these products have helped with (if not healed completely) their eczema, psoriasis, acne, scarring, and many more conditions.
It is important to include here that the hemp plants used for seeds to make hemp seed oil cosmetic products does not contain tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the chemical that gets people “high” or cannabidiol (CBD), a chemical that has been used to treat everything from epilepsy to anxiety.