For countless generations, mankind has grown hemp plants for many reasons, such as food, health care, and textile products. Hemp is purported to be one of the first plants men farmed for nutritional and therapeutic reasons.

Around 10,000 BC, folks in old China show up to have begun cultivating hemp. According to historical documents, hemp reached Europe around 2,000–2,200 years ago after spreading over Asia.

Not only does hemp has a rich history, but it also has great respect in the eyes of today's modern men. Despite the fact that hemp comes from the cannabis family, it has little to no intoxicating effects, making it unique for therapeutic benefits. 

This article will talk about this miraculous herb and its benefits. 

Are Hemp and other Cannabis Species the Same?

Hemp differs from other cannabis strains primarily in their growth, application, and, most notably, the quantities of the ingredient delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Take note that  THC Is the compound responsible for the intoxication often associated with marijuana. Click Here to learn about Hemp vs Marijuana.

 If a cannabis plant specie contains less than 0.3 percent Psychoactive cannabinoids THC on a dry weight level, it is classed as a hemp plant. Many other cannabis plants, on the other hand, have 5–30 percent THC.

Moreover, you might be astounded to know that almost 480 phytochemicals such as cannabinoids, terpenes, flavonoids, etc., are found in the Cannabis sativa plant. Among these, more than a hundred chemicals are cannabinoids or phytocannabinoids.

Certain cannabinoids, most notably THC, are psychoactive, which means they can make you feel "intoxicated." 

Although hemp plants have mild THC content, they could be plentiful in non-intoxicating compounds like cannabidiol (CBD).

It is worth mentioning that both THC and CBD are the starring ingredients of the cannabis plant. Moreover, these two have been the most extensively studied cannabinoids thus far, and these potentially have a lot of medical significance.

How to Identify hemp plants?

All cannabis plants in their natural habitat might seem the same, but they appear differently when farmers cultivate them for specific reasons. According to some individuals, the cannabis plant cultivated for hemp making has the following features:

  • They will have thinner leaves mainly centered at the top part of the plant
  • The hemp plant might grow as high as 20 feet and have tiny sprouting or leaves underneath the plant's upper end to enable Long stems to enrich with natural hemp fibers
  • Hemp plants have excellent yield since they grow close together 
  • These species can grow under varied conditions while requiring minimal attention

What are the Uses and Benefits of hemp plants?

Hemp houses a lot of nutrients that can assist with different ailments. 

Healthy fats

Omega-3 fatty acids and omega-6 fatty acids are essential for general well-being, and the hemp plant is enriched with them. The hemp plant is home to primary omega 3 fatty acids that are:

  • Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA)
  • Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)
  • Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA)

An organic supplier of high ALA is hemp seeds and hemp seed oils. An average man needs 1.6 grams of ALA daily, whereas a woman needs 1.1 g, as per the NIH. Hemp seeds provide 1.3 g of ALA per 15 grams, more than enough for you.

Hemp additionally includes a particular omega-6 fatty acid known as GLA, which is found in much higher concentrations in hemp oil.

These essential fatty acids can help with:

  • reducing symptoms of osteoporosis 
  • Elevate heart health
  • Minimize symptoms of skin problems like eczema and dermatitis

Hemp seeds also include sterols that aid in lowering cholesterol levels by eliminating fat accumulation in the arteries.

Antioxidants and protein 

Hemp additionally comprises a range of antioxidants or substances that defend cells from oxidation and possibly assist in minimizing the risk of melanoma. The flavonoids, tocopherols, terpenes, and terpenoids are the ingredients that serve as antioxidants.

Hemp seeds are also high in protein and comprise all Ten necessary amino acids. As a result, hemp seeds and hemp seed-based items are a healthy supply of nutrition for vegans. Hemp powder may also be included in energy powders.  Hemp seed milk is also an eco-friendly option to cow milk some less eco-friendly items like almond milk.

Magnesium

Hemp is an excellent producer of magnesium, with 15 grams of hemp seeds containing 105 milligrams (mg).

Magnesium is required for several bodily functions, notably food metabolism and the production of fatty acids and enzymes. It also aids in transferring muscular information and movement and muscular rest.

Magnesium insufficiency has been linked to type 2 diabetes, metabolic disorders, cardiovascular disease, and osteoarthritis, particularly in elderly people.

Environmental benefits of hemp plants

Do you know that after the Chornobyl power plant blast, hemp plant was used to decontaminate the land for farming? Since hemp is a bio-accumulator, it can suck all the contaminants from the ground and work as a first-class cleaner for soil. 

Hemp plants have strong, dense roots that can assist minimize land degradation and the loss of acreage that comes with it.

Hemp's roots can also pull ingredients from down in the ground, including dangerous toxic metals, and convert them into safe organic material. Hemp is effective at recovering, strengthening, and decontaminating or "purifying" soil because of these properties.

Hemp is particularly good at capturing and storing carbon, or taking carbon from the atmosphere and converting it into botanical stuff, because of its rapid growth. 

A single acre of hemp plants can absorb up to Fifteen tons of Carbon gases.

Besides being a bio-accumulator, hemp farming is more economical, eco-friendly, and adaptable than many other plants. Hemp farms produce 600 percent more than flaxseed and 250 percent more than cotton when grown for textile fabric. The hemp plant may also flourish in various environments and grows swiftly.

Hemp plants congest the canopy as they develop, blocking the sunlight from hitting other vegetation. Hemp can also thrive without large amounts of insecticides, antimicrobials, and chemicals that other plants need.

Hemp is distinct from other types of cannabis, notably in its production, application, and THC content. Hemp has a wide range of applications, and its cultivation is more ecologically sound than that of many other plants.

More investigation is required. However, certain portions of hemp, like the seed, are high in nutrients, and compounds like CBD may offer several medical advantages.