What is Hemp?

History Of Hemp

Many people hadn’t heard about hemp until the modern cannabis and CBD industries, but the truth is, hemp has been cultivated for its strong fibers for over 10,000 years. It was discovered in rope on pottery in ancient China, where it was also used in paper and bow strings, and later by physicians as an anesthetic. The Japanese and Arabs learned about it from the Chinese, and then hemp made its way to colonial America. George Washington and other founding fathers used to grow it.

In 1937, the United States implemented a restriction on the cultivation of hemp. The government legalized hemp again in 2018.

What Is Hemp?

Hemp comes from the cannabis sativa plant, historically for its industrial uses. Because there is very little THC in hemp, and high amounts of CBD, it can also be eaten without creating the psychoactive effects associated with the THC in cannabis.

Hemp Products

Some of the products that have been created from hemp include:

• Paper
• Biodegradable plastics
• Rope
• Textiles
• Biofuel
• Clothing
• Animal feed
• Paint
• Insulation
• Food

Hemp oil can also be used, along with the fibrous parts of the plant, to make oil-based paints, as an ingredient in creams and other beauty products, in plastics, and for cooking.

Hempcrete

Hempcrete isn’t a new invention. It was discovered in a bridge abutment that was built in the 6th century in France. Hempcrete is made with the fibrers of the plant as well as lime. The buildings made with hemp bricks are more energy-efficient than traditional building materials. It weighs much less than typical concrete, and is great for insulation, though not strong enough to build walls and foundations with.

Hemp Plastics

Hemp plastics are biodegradable, which is why companies like LEGO will be using it as an alternative to the petroleum-based plastics they’ve been using. An Australian company, Zeoform, has been using hemp to create biodegradable plastics for years.

Hemp Clothing

Denim giant Levi’s has created a cotton-hemp blend that they expect to take over all their jeans within the next five years. Citing the lower environmental impact that growing hemp has over cotton, they expect to have 100% hemp jeans that feel as soft as cotton.

Hemp In Food

Hemp isn’t just used to build things. It’s also highly nutritious. Hemp seeds are loaded with healthy fats, omega-3 and omega-6, protein, and magnesium. It can be found as a protein powder, made into milk and cheese, and the seeds are nutritious on their own.

Hemp seeds have health benefits, too. They’ve been found to reduce the risk of heart disease. With 25% of hemp seeds being protein, they’re also considered a complete protein.

Hemp For Your Skin

For your skin, omega-3 and omega-6 help to balance the immune system, and provide you with essential fatty acids for skin conditions like excema. As a topical, hemp and CBD products often help with itching and inflammation.

As always, if you have any questions about hemp, you can email us at info@kayaholistic.com or ask on your next trip in.