Is Hemp Good For Skin and Hair?
Submitted by Beauty Brains Blog
Mary Jane muses: My friend said you can get high if you wash your hair with a whole bunch of Alterna hemp shampoo and turn up the water really hot. Is that true?
The Right Brain’s dis-jointed reply:
Sorry to disappoint you MJ, but the hemp seed oil that Alterna uses is free of THC, the active ingredient in pot that gets you high. But you might be consoled by the fact that recent studies indicate that there are cannabis-like substances that may actually improve the condition of your skin.
Stoner skin care?
According to CosmeticsDesign, researchers from Hungary, Germany and the UK believe that our bodies produce a natural version of THC, the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana. Not only are these chemicals similar to THC but they also help keep our skin looking young and healthy. It sort of makes sense: If marijuana plants product THC to protect themselves from pathogens, then similar compounds could have a related effect in the human body. At least that’s the theory of researcher Gerald Weissmann who says: “…our own cannabinoids may be necessary for us to maintain healthy skin.” Whoa!
This work on these “endocannabinoids” is slated for October publication in the journal of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology, which you can also find on my nightstand sandwiched in between Cosmo and Glamor.
How do cannabinoids work?
The scientists theorize that the endocannabinoids may regulate lipid production and could be an important tool to treat sebaceous gland related problems like acne and dry skin. They also said “Dude, do you have any more of those brownies??” (Sorry, couldn’t resist that one.) But seriously, the researchers believe that topical skin creams containing endocannabinoids are a real possibility.
By the way, speaking of Alterna, they’re not the only ones who are high on hemp. Burt’s Bees in the US and Neal’s Yard Remedies in the UK have recently launched hemp seed products.
