6 Phenomenal Benefits and Uses of Cannabis Essential Oil

Ever since the Hemp Farming Act of 2018, on a federal level, legalized industrial hemp that has a THC concentration of no more than 0.3%, the cannabis industry has been booming. In fact, the industry as a whole is said to reach up to $130 billion by the year 2024, a 181% increase from 2019. Now, with that reality also comes the rise of spearheading products like cannabis essential oil for natural pain relief and anti-inflammatory properties. But the important thing to cover before jumping into the benefits and uses is the differentiation between cannabis essential oil, hemp seed oil, and CBD oil.

What is the difference between hemp oil, hemp seed oil and cannabis essential oil?

To start, hemp and cannabis are exactly the same. That means cannabis essential oil, hemp seed oil, and CBD oil all come from the same cannabis plant. Hemp seed oil is a cold-pressed extraction from the seeds, used for food or has a carrier oil. It is considered one of the best and most nutritious oils for human health. CBD oil and cannabis essential oil are both extracted from the flowers, leaves, and stems. CBD oil comes from a solvent or supercritical CO₂ extraction, while cannabis essential oil is a steam distillation extraction. Furthermore, the most crucial factor to note is that cannabis essential oil does not contain cannabinoids such as THC and CBD, as cannabinoids are not water-soluble and cannot be extracted through a steam distillation process. This means that cannabis essential oil can be used without any risk of getting high.

Cannabis essential oil features active chemical compounds such as terpenes, with myrcene, beta-caryophyllene, pinene, linalool, limonene, humulene, and carene, being the most famous and powerful of them. Cannabis essential oil acts as a potent anti-inflammatory and contains strong relaxing, antifungal and antibacterial elements, all of which unlock a slew of advantages to anyone who leverages it.

1. Powerful Anti-inflammatory

Starting out with cannabis essential oil being an anti-inflammatory, this is one of the leading reasons why so many people leverage this resource. Terpenes, such as myrcene, beta-caryophyllene, and linalool, are well-known and proven to have anti-inflammatory effects on the body. The oil itself contains terpenes that hold novel agents that reduce joint pain, skin inflammation, and muscle tension.

To use cannabis essential oil to relieve muscle, joint, arthritis, or skin inflammation, apply a few drops mixed with a preferred carrier oil to the affected area. Just make sure that when not in use, the oil is stored in a cool, dry, and dark place to reduce the risk of terpene oxidation.

2. Enhances Mind and Body Relaxation

Another significant reason why cannabis essential oil is so popular is due to its profound mind and body relaxation effects. One study demonstrated that people who utilized cannabis essential oil regularly felt much more energetic, relaxed, and were impressively calm. Because of this anxiety and stress-relieving outcome, this oil also becomes a catalyst to boosted mental wellbeing, productivity and has been linked to helping those with insomnia sleep much better.

Tip: To use cannabis essential oil for this reason, use a diffuser to inhale the aromas to stimulate the limbic system, which is the area of the brain that influences emotions and memory.

3. Helps Remediate Skin Irritations

Believe it or not, cannabis essential oil does more than support internal body functions; it also is a fantastic remedy for skin irritations such as eczema and psoriasis. Part of the reason why this is excellent for skin health is due to the presence of terpenes which are anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antifungal.

By applying the cannabis essential oil with a carrier oil to the irritated skin areas, it absorbs and works to rehydrate the skin with its moisturizing advantages and help the skin naturally re-regulate its oil production. In turn, one can expect to not only have skin that becomes rejuvenated from irritations, but will also not have to face clogged pores (which can cause acne) since the oil itself does not overstimulate the skin’s natural processes.

4. Contains Rich Antifungal and Antibacterial Compounds

Another iconic advantage to cannabis essential oil is that it is packed with rich antifungal and antibacterial compounds. This means that those who have any type of finger or toenail infection, suffer from athlete’s foot, or have jock itch can find redemption after applying this oil to the designated area. For some more insight, a fungal infection, also known as mycosis, usually results in severe itching, bumps, rashes, redness, and skin scaling because the body’s immune system is unable to fight against it on its own and attacks the skin cells instead. So, by using cannabis essential oil, it helps the body eliminate the fungal infection that it cannot get rid of on its own.

Fun Fact: Most of the antifungal properties in cannabis essential oil come from its terpenic composition. In addition, when cannabis essential oil oxidizes fungi cells, they are rendered incapable of multiplying or growing anymore.

5. Amazing at Reducing Respiratory Inflammations

It may sound strange that cannabis essential oil can soothe respiratory inflammations and help those with chronic asthma or sinusitis, but it indeed does. Whether it be applying topically onto the chest area or inhaling the aroma, the anti-inflammatory compounds that have been showcased throughout this article can lower tense, closed airways to make breathing much easier. It does not take long to feel the sedative effects of this oil, and with that relaxation and reduction of inflamed airways, it all equates to much more seamless breathing.

6. Reduces Feelings of Depression

Mental health is a considerable concern in today's day and age. Though anyone feeling depressed should always seek professional support, understand that cannabis essential oil may be able to help ease the burden. According to WM, researchers have found that myrcene, limonene, and beta-caryophyllene found in the cannabis essential oil are linked to increasing serotonin and dopamine levels, which are both chemicals that affect mood. In short, leveraging cannabis essential oil can help change the composition in your mind by activating the sympathetic nervous system to release “happy” chemicals, thus reducing feelings of stress, depression, and anxiety.

Conclusion – High in Demand for A Reason

All in all, cannabis essential oil is a wonderful, natural solution that is able to help remediate an abundance of concerns, both directly and indirectly. Ranging from skincare, mental boosting to improving life quality through pain relief, this oil is an exceptional agent that is worth giving a shot. In the end, there is a reason why cannabis essential oil is one of the leading resources on the market today – because it works. Between the proven health and wellness benefits in conjunction with the ongoing studies highlighting more ongoing evidence, it has all positioned cannabis essential oil to be a driving health asset and shows no signs of slowing down on that trend any time soon.

Written by Amber Dean