The cold-pressed, unrefined oil of the hemp seed is one of the most nutritious and well-balanced oils in the world. The oil is composed of a 3:1 ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 essential fatty acids, which have excellent emollient and conditioning effects in the skin. Its specific composition is 80% total essential fatty acids, with 55% being linoleic acid (omega-6), 22% alpha-linolenic acid (omega-3), 11% oleic acid (an omega-9), up to 4% gamma-linolenic acid (an omega-6), up to 2% stearidonic acid (an omega-3), with the rest (myristic acid, palmitic acid, steric acid, etc.) being of varying minor concentration. These essential fatty acids are responsible for the oil’s ability to moisturize the skin and calm inflammation.

Hemp and hemp seed oil have been used for thousands of years for both culinary and medicinal purposes, with the earliest known records coming from the Ming Dynasty in China. It is packed with nutrients such as carotene, phytosterols, phospholipids, calcium, magnesium, sulfur, potassium, iron, zinc, and phosphorus. It is a source of complete protein, containing all twenty known amino acids, including the nine essential amino acids humans need. It also contains Vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, B6, C, D, and a high level of chlorophyll (giving the unrefined oil its characteristic green color). Even though it is extracted from hemp (cannabis) seeds, it should be noted that commercial hemp seed oil contains virtually no THC and its use in both cosmetics and food is universally approved in all countries.