Hemp Seed Oil for Arthritis

Hemp seed oil has been called nature's most perfectly balanced oil by Udo Erasmus, writer of Fats That Heal  Fats that Kill. It is a rich source of essential fatty acids, in fact it is the richest  known source of EFAs in the plant kingdom. Hemp oil is a rich source of Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs) - Omega 6 linoleic , Omega 3 alpha linolenic and Gamma Linolenic acid (GLA) that are important for optimum health in the body. EFAs cannot be produced by the body itself and are vital for the structure and functions of tissues in the body.

Hemp seed oil is superior to flax oil because it's fatty acid profile is better balanced. It contains Omega-6 and Omega-3 EFAs in a 3 to 1 ratio and it also contains close to 2% GLA which is a major active ingredient in evening primrose and borage oils, the latter having the highest percentage of GLA.It is the presence of these fatty acids in this particular ratio that helps improve skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis and acne.
Hemp oil may also benefit other inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, osteoporosis, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.

Comparing the benefits of hemp seed oil to flax oil Udo Erasmus reports that if flax oil is used long-term, it creates an imbalance in w6. He uses his own case to explain his point when he mentions:" While it took me 2 years to end up with thin, papery-feeling skin that dried and cracked easily,w6 deficiency could develop in as short a time as 10 to 16 months of exclusive use of flax oil".

Hemp seed oil does not pose any problems for long-term use, unlike flaxseed which if too much is taken can actually produce deficiency symptoms of Omega-6.This may be an unlikely scenario for most people since so much Omega-6 fats are consumed, however, some people may be of the mindset that more is better, and this is not the case.

Read more:Wheat grass for Arthritis

Reference: Erasmus,Udo. Fats that Heal, Fats that Kill. Piblished: Alive Books, Vancouver Canada,1994.

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