Common Misconceptions About Hemp Oil

With the rise in popularity of hemp oil and its therapeutic benefits, it’s easy to get sucked into many of the myths and common misconceptions surrounding the oil. In many instances, the internet only fuels the flames behind a great number of those common mistruths, leading many consumers to have the wrong ideas about an oil with immeasurable therapeutic and holistic benefits.

 

Misconception Number 1: Hemp Extract Products containing THC are solely recreational and have no therapeutic benefits.

Medical and common literature has led consumers to believe that hemp extract is not a psychoactive substance, meaning that it will not alter one’s psychological or physical functioning. However, since hemp extract does have calming, anti-craving, mood-elevating, anti-anxiety, and anti-psychotic effects, how can it be said that it does not have altering effects? The answer to this question is simple: hemp extract truly can be considered psychoactive. It is not, however, intoxicating or impairing to anyone who uses it.  

It is false to assume that hemp extract is the only medicinal part of the hemp plant, and that THC, because of its psychoactive nature, should only be taken for recreational purposes. The truth of the matter is that hundreds of clinical trials have shown that THC does, in fact, have medicinal properties. So not only is THC recreational, it is also medicinal. The same cannot be said, however, for hemp oil since it does not come with the same pleasurable effects that THC does after consuming it. Studies have confirmed that hemp extract does not have any euphoric or craving-causing effects.

Even though hemp oil does not produce the same euphoric effect as THC, there are still many wonderful reasons to pass that vape pen around. Users of hemp extract are more apt to feel focused, more relaxed, and stress-free after just a single dose.

 

Misconception Number 2: Hemp extract will make you sleepy.

Contrary to popular belief, hemp extract is not sedating. Studies have shown that hemp extract is actually stimulating. Those same studies have also demonstrated that hemp extract can counteract THC’s sedating effects, delay sleepiness, and reduce the common hangover effect associated with THC. In fact, even hemp extract doses as high as 600 milligrams failed to make healthy study participants feel sleepy. Unfortunately, this common misconception about its extract may also stem from the fact that some varieties of hemp that contain elevated levels of hemp extract often simultaneously contain remarkable levels of the sedating terpene myrcene. Despite the fact that hemp extract is stimulating, users often report having no trouble falling and staying asleep while on the oil. That said, there are hemp extract products available containing melatonin.

 

Misconception Number 3: A little hemp extract goes a long way.

Some people live by the old adage, “A little goes a long way.” This is not true, however, in the case of hemp extract usage. When a hemp extract product does not contain elevated amounts of THC, then it is okay and sometimes recommended to use higher doses of hemp extract.

What’s the reason for this, you ask? Simply put, when you compare THC and hemp extract milligram for milligram, hemp extract has much less of a potency associated with it for relieving the symptoms of the issues that you are trying to get a handle on. A good example of this can be seen in a patient who is seeking to alleviate pain while calming anxiety.

This patient will only need 3 to 5 milligrams of THC in order to obtain their desired effect but will need a dosage of 30 to 200 milligrams of hemp extract in order to achieve the same results that they do with the much lower dose of THC. It should also be noted that the ways in which hemp extract and THC relieve symptoms will vary greatly, as will individual responses to the two products in general.

Interestingly, scientific studies that used pharmaceutical-grade hemp extract in an effort to treat seizures, anxiety, and schizophrenia required dosages of hundreds of milligrams of hemp oil. Considering the costs of some hemp oils on the market today, this type of dosage would be financially prohibitive for consumers. There is hope, however. Many patients were able to obtain relief and felt more focused, stress-free, and awake after orally taking just a small 2 to 20 milligram dose of hemp oil.

 

Misconception Number 4: All hemp extract derivatives are created equal.

The fact of the matter is that one molecule of hemp extract is the same no matter where it derives from. The overall effectiveness of hemp extract, however, depends greatly on where it is extracted from.

There is evidence that hemp extract from plants cultured for medical purposes is more effective due to the fact that a larger amount is needed to obtain a sufficient source of the extract when taken from just hemp, while there is also an elevated chance that there will be contaminants in the final product. In addition, a recent study proved that only a mere 31 percent of 84 hemp extract products bought and sold online were accurately labeled by manufacturers.

The best benefits of hemp oil are found in products that were directly derived from the plant, and not entirely from hemp. When hemp extract is used in conjunction with THC, it will only serve to enhance THC’s therapeutic effects, while simultaneously reducing its adverse effects. This magic combination has proven to have a remarkable paid reducing effect on those suffering from discomfort and inflammation.

In order to cut down on the confusion as well as eliminate the chance of buying a product that is not pure or of high quality, it’s best to seek out hemp oil that is locally grown and regularly and thoroughly laboratory tested and that are acquired legally through a medicinal hemp program. As with any product, consumers are encouraged to ask questions about any hemp extract product’s testing and quality control results regardless of whether that product is hemp-derived or not.

 

Misconception Number 5: The only way that hemp extract will work is if it directly activates its receptors.

Our endocannabinoid system is always working in all of our organs and tissues and helps us to properly respond to illness and injury. This specialized system is also responsible for restoring balance on a cellular level and is a prime bullseye for therapeutic therapies including herbs, lifestyle changes, and drugs for any and all diseases. Many gastrointestinal, infectious, psychiatric, neurologic, metabolic, and inflammatory conditions are healed through the endocannabinoid system.

The endocannabinoid system can be stimulated without the use of cannabis. hemp extract without the presence of THC goes a long way to relieve pain, nausea, anxiety, inflammation, and seizures.  THC turns on cannabinoid receptors within the endocannabinoid system in order to restore balance on a cellular level. The misconception comes in when people think that hemp extract does the same thing for the body as THC.

Hemp extract will not stimulate CB1 or CB2 receptors, but instead will actually lower their activity level. This causes a decrease in THC’s effects and the endocannabinoid’s communication with the CB1 receptor. Hemp extract, however, can also increase cannabinoid signaling, through indirectly so. In order for this to happen, it prevents the breakdown and overall transport of the endocannabinoid, anandamide.

In fact, a recent clinical study demonstrated that patients with schizophrenia who took 800 milligrams of hemp extract a day had marked increases in their anandamide levels over a 28-day span. Cannabinoid science, though rich with information, is also paradoxical and confusing at times. Most people who read cannabinoid science studies come away not knowing if taking hemp extract will stimulate their endocannabinoid system or put it on mute. The short answer is that this will depend on what you are trying to accomplish in taking hemp oil and the amount of it you take each day.

Misconception Number Six: It’s legal to sell and take hemp extract in all 50 states.

Even though hemp extract is sold everywhere, from online to your local health food stores, and is taken by hundreds of individuals seeking to reap its well-documented health benefits, the Drug Enforcement Agency, or DEA, does not consider hemp extract to be legal. According to the Controlled Substances Act, hemp extract is considered to be a member of the tetrahydrocannabinols group.

Moreover, the Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, has ruled that hemp extract cannot be looked upon as a dietary supplement because it has recently been “authorized for investigation as a new drug for which substantial clinical investigations have been instituted and for which the existence of such investigations has been made public…” This quote, sadly, has been found within letters that the FDA sends to hemp extract retailers who sell their products online.

Most likely, there is little to no danger of legal action to those who regularly take hemp extract as part of their daily health routine. Sadly, makers and sellers of hemp extract products need to be careful and watchful of legal ramifications.

Now that most of the major misconceptions surrounding hemp extract have been cleared up, the next logical and important step is to begin researching which companies sell the purest and highest quality hemp extract based products to suit your personal needs while still getting all of the oil’s wealth of benefits.