What is a Hemp Flower?
Everything You’d Like to Know About Hemp Flower
Cannabis has been known in many cultures all over the world ever since the dawn of history. Its role in human life is difficult to overestimate! To modern people, this plant is mostly associated with either recreational or medical use of cannabis buds (flowers). However, hemp can be useful in many ways apart from that. We’re going to discuss such aspects:
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Types of cannabis and how they differ What industrial hemp can be used for Medical benefits of hemp flower How hemp buds can be consumed |
Marijuana vs. Hemp: what’s the difference?
Cannabis is a species spread in most regions of our planet, recognized by its specific foliage and scent. This plant is believed to have originated from South and Central Asia. Technically speaking, both marijuana (aka reefer, pot, weed) and hemp are cannabis. The difference lies in their chemical contents as well as usage:
- Hempis mostly legal because it doesn’t cause any intoxication. On the other hand, it has for centuries been one of the best materials for making ropes and other tissues. Clothes made from hemp are healthy and pleasant on the skin! Multiple ways of hemp being helpful to humankind will be outlined further.
- Marijuana was banned about a century ago for political reasons. Unlike hemp, it contains chemicals that influence mammals’ nerve system causing sensations of pleasure and well-being, sometimes accompanied by a change in perception (not long-lasting). It has been smoked and eaten since at least 2,500 years ago.
In simple terms, marijuana is cannabis that people consume to get high because it contains tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) – it alters your perception. Hemp can be used either for purposes of industry, or as a source of cannabidiol (CBD) – this substance has medical value that we describe below.
What is hemp flower and why are we talking specifically about buds? Because like any other plant, cannabis uses buds for reproduction, concentrating bioactive substances in them to attract insects and animals, who will help the plant to be pollinated. That is why leaves or branches not efficient either for recreation or medication.
What Can Hemp Offer
Well, you probably know that hemp is a source of fiber that tissue can be made of. But what else?
- Hemps seedsare a healthy food additive rich in vitamins (A, B, C, D, E, P), polyunsaturated fatty acids omega-3 and omega-6 as well as micro- and macroelements. Including this seed in your diet is associated with numerous health benefits!
- Paper production based on hemp instead of trees not only saves trees, but also avoids toxic chemicals that are necessary for bleaching paper made from wood.
- Hemp seed oilis commonly used in skin health industry: body lotions and face creams.
- Unlike some other crops (for example, sunflower), regular cultivation of hemp enrichens the soilrather than depletes it.
A Closer Look at Marijuana
Now that the main idea about hemp is clear we can talk about cannabis that humans have been consuming in different ways for centuries. Imagine that your friend invites you for a first-time smoke. What if they said: “We’re gonna chill a bit, so I bought Indica. Don’t plan too much afterwards”. Would you totally get it? If not, let’s get a basic idea of how Indica is different from Sativa – these are the two main types of pot.
- Cannabis indica is mostly native to eastern countries: India, Afghanistan and Pakistan. However, Indica samples can be found in Africa, Nepal and Jamaica as well – although Sativa is more typical to those places. Indica plants are originally shorter, with broader leaves and bigger buds (clusters of flowers that are smoked), they tend to produce large amounts of resin to protect themselves against sun radiation. When it comes to smoking, Indica buds cause a strong relaxation and analgesic effect, making it hard to move actively or communicate.
- Cannabis sativa is a resident of tropical regions like Colombia, Thailand and Mexico, Nepal and Jamaica. It can also be found in Kazakhstan and Africa. Sativa plants are taller, mostly of a darker coloring, their floral mass is fluffy. Sativa is known for fancy smells (fruity or flowery), but it can also have an intense, not too pleasant smell (Skunk strains, for example). When consumed, Sativa most often relieves fatigue and promotes activity – in a healthier way than coffee.
Health Benefits: Can Hemp Flower Heal People?
It’s a moot point. With some diseases, hemp can be truly a remedy. For example, Charlotte Figi was almost cured from a heavy cause of Dravet’s syndrome (a rare, severe form of epilepsy) with the help of cannabis. The disease wasn’t defeated completely, but she could lead a normal life due to marijuana medication – after traditional medicine failed! However, cannabis can mostly alleviate symptoms of diseases rather than cure people. Let’s talk about its main compounds responsible for that. But firstly, we’d like to answer a frequently asked question: does hemp have buds? Yes it does – it blossoms just like marijuana, the difference is in chemistry.
The specific substances that cannabis contains are called cannabinoids – there’s about 130 of them! Basically, two main components are studied in terms of therapy, namely tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD).
THC
The psychoactive compound, known as tetrahydrocannabinol, is what produces the typical “trippy” effect that marijuana is mostly known for. It does so by causing biochemical alterations in the parts of the brain responsible for:
- Movement coordination
- Sense of pleasure
- Memory
- Cognitive processes
Most commonly, weed with high concentrations of THC is attractive to the users wishing to get high. However, the compound is also known as a powerful bioactive agent that kills nausea, reduces pains, promotes appetite and helps relieve neurological spasms, it even fights the symptoms of multiple sclerosis! The medical powers of THC are being researched, but CBD is way more important in terms of medicine.
CBD
Contrary to THC, this chemical compound of hemp flower does not get you high. Instead, its excellent analgesic qualities produce a sense of “healthy euphoria”, alleviating or reducing all sorts of pains, from migraines and aches to mental anxiety and emotional depression.
Basically, you become extraordinarily tranquil, but your general mental state, intrapsychic dynamics and external behavior remain quite sober! For example, extensive research has confirmed that subjects under the influence of CBD strains perform well enough on the road and are hard to distinguish from sober drivers.
Instead of the “freaky” psychedelic experiences of its counterpart, CBD offers purely physiological positive effects, such as pain alleviation and neurological stress relief. No wonder it is favored by health-oriented consumers who care little for the psychedelic qualities of marijuana!
CBD has proven itself as an efficient means to preserve weight for patients struggling with AIDS or cancer. It also alleviates side-effects (often heavy) of numerous medications. Actually, the list of the benefits is long enough to explain why this plant has been appreciated and honored for thousands of years. Hemp used in industry contains CBD (and THC, too) in small amounts: you can find about 0.3 – 0.6% CBD in regular hemp flowers. However, nowadays special hemp stains rich in CBD are developed. Such hemp is prescribed and consumed because it:
- Relieves headaches, especially migraines
- Helps fight insomnia and enhances the overall quality of sleep
- Reduces anxiety and relieves stress
- Alleviates a large variety of neurological pains and spasms
- Helps in the treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome
- Is one of the best medicines for depression (in small amounts, though)
- Relieves chronic pains
- Facilitates treatment of several CNS disorders, most notably ADHD, MS, and Tourette’s
- Possesses palliative neuropsychological properties, applicable in the case of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, autism, cancer pains, psychosis and epilepsy.
How to Use Hemp Flower
Smoking remains the most common consumption method… but not the best one::
- Inhaling any smoke can have a negative effect on the lungs, alas.
- The effect doesn’t last for long.
- More than half of the product is wasted through exhalation.
That is why we would like to recommend some alternative ways to use hemp.
- Eating
This is by far the healthiest and most effective method, even though you might have to wait for the psychological effect a little longer. And physiologically, 100% of it goes to good use. You can spice food with it, make hemp tea or bake cookies. Alternatively, some people prefer to place it under the tongue and let it get absorbed into the bloodstream that way.
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Note: if you decide to add it to food, use little of other spices and oil and do not cook too long, keeping the heat low. |
- Vaping
Just as effective as smoking yet affects your lungs and throat much more easily. Vapes leave little or no smell. Besides, less bud is actually used: you save both your money and health!
Final Word
This was a very brief and general introduction, but we hope it will help you have a more interesting and healthier experience with hemp flower. We refer you to our blog for loads of facts on the subject. And if you have specific questions, feel free to ask us directly (see our contact details in the top right corner of the page).
38 y/o male chronic pain from plantar fasciitis for 2 years that interfere with sleep/.