Cannabis Hemp really can provide all the basic necessities of life: food, shelter, clothing and medicine. It has been said that "anything made from a hydrocarbon can be made from a carbohydrate."
Hemp is from the same plant as marijuana -- Cannabis sativa L. There are over 400 strains of Cannabis Hemp bred for various uses. The term "Hemp" refers to the industrial use of the stalk and seed. "Marijuana" refers to the use of the flowers as a medicinal or recreational drug. Intoxication requires high levels of THC Tetrahydrocannibinol. Industrial hemp contains less than 1.5% THC. By contrast, medicinal hemp contains 5% to 15% THC.
The plant itself is easy to grow in temperate climates, and requires good soil, fertilizer and water, but no pesticides nor herbicides. A hemp crop is usually harvested in 120 days after reaching a height of 10 to 15 feet. The stalks are then broken down into various grades of raw materials useful for industry.
The hemp seed is correctly known as an achene--a nut covered with a hard shell. Hemp seed is used for people and animal food, medicinal preparations, and industrial use.
The whole seed contains roughly 25% protein, 30% carbohydrates, 15% insoluble fiber, Carotene, phosphorous, potassium, magnesium, sulfur, calcium, iron and zinc, as well as vitamins E, C, B1, B2, B3, and B6. Hemp seed is one of the best source of Essential Fatty Acids with a perfect 3:1 ratio of Omega-6 Linoleic Acid to Omega-3 Linolenic Acid, good for strengthening the immune system. It is also a good source of Gamma Linoleic Acid (GLA), which is otherwise available only from specialty oils like evening primrose or borage oils. Whole seeds are made into: snack bars, cookies, burgers and porridge, or they may be roasted and consumed alone or in a trail mix. Wild and domestic birds love hemp seeds.
Hemp seed contains 30% oil, one of lowest in unsaturated fats, making it good for lowering cholesterol levels and strengthening cardiovascular systems. The oil has a pleasantly nutty flavor. Among the foods made with hemp seed oil are: sauces, butter, condiments and pesto.
Processing of hemp seed oil starts with drying the seeds to prevent sprouting. Hemp seeds imported to the United States or Canada must be heat sterilized at 180 F to prevent further sprouting. The seeds are then pressed and bottled immediately under oxygen-free conditions. Hemp seed oil is very fragile, is not suitable for cooking, and must be kept refrigerated in dark, air-tight containers.
The meat of the seed is also highly nutritious and versatile as a seed "meal" and may be made into hemp milk and cheese, ice cream and burgers. Left over from pressing the oil is press "cake" high in amino acids and edistin protein. Press cake is a high protein animal feed. It can be pulverized into flour to make breads, pastas, and cookies.
Throughout history, hemp has provided a nourishing food supply to many cultures around the world. In Asia roasted hemp seed is eaten as a snack, like popcorn. In Russia hemp butter was used as a condiment by the peasant folk. Hemp seed was eaten by Australians during two famines in the nineteenth century. The most famous hemp seed consumer is Buddha himself, who ate them during his fast of enlightenment.
Other non-food uses for hemp seed oil are: lamp
lighting, printing, lubrication, and household detergents, stain
removers, varnishes, resins and paints. In this area, hemp seed oil
is similar to linseed oil.
One of the most valuable parts of the hemp plant is the fiber, commonly referred to as "bast," meaning that it grows as a stalk from the ground. Other fibers such as sisal, manila hemp and jute are mistakenly referred to as hemp, yet only Cannabis sativa is considered "true hemp." Among the characteristics of hemp fiber are its superior strength and durability, and its stunning resistance to rot, attributes that made hemp integral to the shipping industry. The strong, long bast fiber is extracted from the stalk by a process known as decortication. Hemp fiber contains a low amount of lignin, the organic glue that binds plant cells, which allows for environmentally friendly bleaching without the use of chlorine. In composite form, hemp is twice as strong as wood. All products made with hemp fiber are biodegradable.
Extracted from the bark of the stalk, this type of fiber is called "long" because it stretches the entire length of the plant. The length of the fiber enhances the strength and durability of the finished goods. Hemp can grow to 15 feet or more, making it excellent for textile production. Hemp is most similar to flax, the fiber of linen products. By contrast, cotton fibers are approximately 1-2 mm in length and are prone to faster wear. Hemp fiber also has insulative qualities that allow clothing wearers to stay cool in summer and warm in the winter. Long hemp fiber is used in twine, cordage, textiles, paper, webbing and household goods.
The short fibers, or "tow," are the secondary hemp fibers. While not as strong as the long fibers, the tow is still superior to many other fibers. Tow is extracted from the long fibers during a process called "hackling," a method of combing and separating the fiber from hurd. Short fibers are used to make textiles, non-woven matting, paper, caulking, auto bodies, building materials and household goods.
The hurd is the woody material found in the center of the hemp stalk. The hurd is rich in cellulose, a carbohydrate that can be made into paper, packaging and building materials, as well as plastic composites for making skate boards and auto bodies.
As long ago a 450 BC the Scythians and Thracians made hemp linens. The Chinese first used hemp for paper making in 100 AD. Hempen sails, caulking and rigging launched a thousand ships during the Age of discovery in the 15th Century. The American Declaration of Independence was first printed on rag papers that undoubtedly contain hemp.
Hemp biomass as a source of fuel is the most under exploited, yet potentially the biggest industrial use of the plant.
Hemp stalk are rich in fiber and cellulose with potential for use in the generation of energy. The hemp stalk can be converted to a charcoal-like substance through a process called pyrolysis, and used for power generation and to produce industrial feed stocks. Auto giant Henry Ford was a pioneer in the pyrolysis process, and operated a biomass pyrolytic plant at Iron Mountain in Northern Michigan.
Hemp as an auto fuel is another potential use. Almost any biomass material can be converted to create methanol or ethanol, and these fuels burn cleanly with less carbon monoxide and higher octane. In fact, the diesel engine was invented to burn fuel from agricultural waste yet ended up burning unrefined petroleum. Hemp seed oil can be refined to produce a type of hemp gasoline.
The medicinal use of cannabis hemp is only now being understood and applied in spite of the fact that the herb has been a folk remedy for thousands of years.
The consumption of cannabis flowers, or buds, through smoking or eating is used to treat a number of ailments:
Historically, Indian doctors have used bhang (a preparation of cannabis, honey and milk) for the treatment of all kinds of ailments. In the mid-19th century, Dr. William O'Shaughnessy helped introduce cannabis, or bhang, to western culture. This spawned a whole slew of over-the-counter cannabis medications marketed by Squibb, Parke-Davis, and Eli Lilly. Queen Victoria herself used cannabis medicine for menstrual cramps.
One of the most enduring characteristics of cannabis as medicine is its inherent lack of toxicity. There has never been a recorded case of death from cannabis overdose in the thousands of years it has been used by mankind.
Hemp has been a part of the Chinese pharmacopoeia for the past 4,000 years. Ancient Chinese folk remedies call for hemp seed use to improve the "chi" or stamina of the body; to cure neurologic impairment due to stroke, urinary disorders, and blood deficiency.
Externally, hemp seed preparations promote the healing of sores and dry skin. Traditional hemp oil formulas were applied topically to treat abscesses, boils, pimples and swellings. Currently marketed products include lip balm, moisturizers, shampoos, conditioners, soaps, salves, perfumes, liniments. These hemp seed oil mixtures do the same for the skin and hair that the oil does for the diet.
Nutritional/Medicinal Guide to Hemp Seed by Ken Jones, Rainforest Botanical Laboratories.
The Hempseed Cookbook by Carol Miller and Don Wirtshafter, Ohio Hempery.
The Great Book of Hemp by Rowan Robinson, Inner Traditions International.
Hemp: Lifeline to the Future by Chris Conrad, Creative Xpressions.
Hemp Today edited by Ed Rosenthal, Quick American.
Journal of the International Hemp Association.
International Hemp Association.
HempWorld--The International Hemp Journal, Hemperial Productions.