Hemp oil, what is it and what does it do? What is it used for? And what are the significant side effects of hemp oil? Well! Hemp oil is also known as hemp seed oil. It is often extracted by cold-pressing hemp seeds. Unrefined and cold-pressed hemp oil is often dark to clear light green. And its flavor is nutty. You can understand it as darker the color, grassier the flavor.
It is clear and colorless if you talk about refined hemp seed oil with little flavoring. Refined hemp seed oil is often used in body care products. Apart from refined hemp seed oil, another type of hemp seed oil is known as industrial hemp seed oil. And it often gets used in inks, paints, lubricants, fuel, and plastics.
Apart from this, hemp seed oil gets used to produce shampoos, soaps, and detergents. The hemp seed oil has a ratio of 3:1 (Omega-6 to Omega-3 essential fatty acids). It also gets used as feedstock for the large-scale production of biodiesel. So, these were some of the usages and benefits of hemp seed oil.
Now, let’s talk about some of the potential side effects of hemp oil in detail!
Lower Your Heart Rate
One of the significant characteristics of hemp oil is that it lowers your heart rate. Now it can benefit those suffering from high rates, but it is not suitable for people with normal blood pressure. In that regard, what can you do to avoid this situation? Consider avoiding hemp seed oil, especially if you have a normal blood pressure rate.
And according to the Mayo Clinic, low pressure can become extremely dangerous sometimes. Symptoms of low blood pressure include confusion, weakness, dizziness, blurry vision, mood swings, and low motivation. So, after the intake of hemp seed oil, if you witness these symptoms, you should contact your doctor immediately.
- It can lower your blood pressure.
- Low blood pressure is dangerous in some cases.
- Excessively low blood pressure can even cause death.
- Symptoms include blurry vision, lack of interest, confusion, and weakness.
Makes You a Bit Lazier
Another side effect of hemp seed oil is that it makes you feel lazy, or sleepy. It can be a good thing for some people but not for others. Especially if you are taking hemp seed oil at the beginning of the day and you have a lot of things to do, you may feel lethargic. Because hemp seed oil might create dizziness, you might ultimately suffer some lack of focus.
This lack of focus, sleep mode, and laziness will not allow you to accomplish your tasks effectively. In this scenario, you must focus on the time of the day you take hemp seed oil. So, take hemp seed oil only when you plan to rest or have an easy routine. On the other hand, it is suitable for people who have difficulty sleeping. Because it helps promote quality sleep, and might greatly benefit from this benefit. But overall:
- It might make you a bit lazy.
- Take it in your free time.
- Avoid intaking hemp seed oil during your busy hours.
- It promotes sleep so consider taking it before bed.
Upsets Your Stomach
Another side effect of hemp oil is that it can upset your stomach sometimes, however, it does not happen often. When you take the oil, your natural endocannabinoid system reacts with the hemp extraction. If you are new to tanking these elements, your digestive system may struggle to identify the oil and it might upset the stomach and possibly cause loose bowel movements. Dosage is another important factor. If you are taking too much hemp seed oil it can upset your stomach. So, pay proper attention to the intake amount to avoid taking excessive amounts. In general:
- It can upset your stomach.
- It can cause loose bowels.
- Excessive dosing can irritate your stomach.
Negatively Impacts Your Liver
Another side effect of hemp seed oil is that it can negatively affect your liver, especially if you have any type of liver disease. There are so many reasons behind this. This research explores excessive amounts of hemp seed oil on mice and as a result, they realized that it impacts their liver negatively by producing toxicity. It is assumed the same might occur in humans as well.
However, research done with adequate and moderated doses have not shown evidence of liver damage in humans. Be sure to understand the correct dosage for your body weight. Avoid hemp products if you have a compromised liver. Consult your doctor prior to commencing a hemp regiment.
Overall:
- Hemp oil is capable of impacting your liver negatively when taken in excess.
- Dosage has a major impact on efficacy.
- Discuss with your physician before taking hemp oil.
The Bottom Line
The bottom line is that hemp seed oil has various benefits, but when abused, can have negative effects. It can lower your heart rate, which can sometimes be very dangerous. It can make you lazy and can sometimes make you even lose your focus. Hemp oil can possibly upset your stomach and can cause loose bowels. And above all, it can negatively impact the liver, for those who are already compromised. To avoid all these issues, you should consult your doctor and use hemp oil as directed.
