By Keira Collin
If you’ve been following the nutritional supplement and health news, then you have surely heard of all the latest studies linking hemp oil with pain relief and reducing inflammation. In fact, this is one area where marjoram, basil and ginger shine! In addition, it has also been linked to reducing cholesterol and lowering the risk of heart disease.
So, what does all of this mean for those suffering from chronic pain and inflammation? The oil extract from the hemp plant appears to have some sort of “healing” properties. It seems to help reduce pain from various conditions and diseases, including arthritis, heart disease, osteoarthritis, menstrual pain, migraines, lower back pain, tennis elbow, rheumatoid arthritis, and much more.
You may be asking, how does Hemp Oil helps inflammation, especially when most people take pain killers such as ibuprofen (like Motrin) to relieve muscle and joint pain. Well, while there isn’t a drug currently available that contains the complete therapeutic healing properties of hemp, they do contain ingredients that are very similar to it. For example, basil has a similar antioxidant activity to pure hemp seed oil. Both plants fight free radicals and reduce inflammation and pain. They can be taken daily as an oil supplement or in capsule form.
The anti-inflammatory effect of hemp seed and oil extract may be the key to its pain-relieving potential. In recent years, the body has learned to increase the production of certain chemicals to counter inflammation. One of these chemicals is called prostaglandin, which is basically a natural pain regulator. When the body produces more prostaglandin, the pain sensors are less active and the inflammation response is slowed.
So, what are the specific uses of hemp oil for arthritis? The two main uses seem to be in the treatment of chronic pain and the prevention of future inflammation. In addition to decreasing joint and muscle pain, the oil extract seems to have some beneficial effect on the immune system and on the body’s ability to heal itself. For instance, it seems to boost the effectiveness of a common natural antibiotic, although further studies need to be conducted to verify this. However, people with arthritis seem to respond well to it and many believe it to be a lifesaver for those who take oral anti-inflammatory drugs.
As you can see, hemp oil may not be a miracle cure-all, but it does possess some impressive qualities. It has proven benefits for those with both acute and chronic pain, in fact, many claim that they have had pain relief from arthritis directly after taking it. In addition to reducing inflammation and improving the immune system, it also seems to help increase tissue repair and the growth of new cartilage.
