A Little Bit About Hemp: It Really is The Solution
Hemp allows us to be innovative and create new commodities for the marketplace. It can transform industries that are generating massive amounts of pollution and destroying our resources.
Hemp History and Fashion
Cultivated around 8000 BC in Mesopotamia, spreading as far as Asia in 6500 BC, hemp is one of the largest agricultural crops in the world. It has been used as a fiber for centuries and has a rich horticultural history. This Asian herb has one of the strongest fibers, making it more durable. It is far more water-efficient than cotton as it uses 90% less water to harvest. Hemp’s landscape has changed in today’s world and it is returning to many industries.
The fashion industry now offers many variations of hemp fabric, such as hemp silk, hemp suede, and hemp tuile. This biodegradable fabric is very eco-friendly compared to cotton and synthetic fibers. One of the best qualities of this plant is the fact that it is hypoallergenic and does not irritate the skin. In addition, the fabric ages beautifully and only gets softer with every wear and every wash. Hemp wears in, not out.
Benefits of Hemp
This plant has an enormous amount of benefits, so its use and cultivation are greatly encouraged. The inclusion of hemp in the fashion industry is versatile, but it has a myriad of other uses.
Due to its hypoallergenic properties, it has been used to produce foods, oils, soaps, and even beauty products. Hemp seeds have little to no allergens, making them suitable for those who suffer from food allergies. These seeds are also a great source of protein and essential fatty acids that are needed in our daily diets, including Omega 3 and 6. Not all plants offer the same antibacterial and antimicrobial properties as hemp. Found in the cannabinoids present in the crop, these properties are proven to help us fight off pathogenic bacteria. This benefit can be seen in the use of hemp oil. Its use is known to inhibit the activity of the bacteria staphylococcus aureus.
Another benefactor of this viable crop is that it serves as an extraordinary bio-remediator. This means that it pulls toxins from the soil the same way a sponge would; eliminating the need for insecticides and pesticides that are harmful to the environment. As a soil regenerator, hemp removes contaminated metals from the soil and cleans it from radiation exposure.
Is Hemp the Devil’s Lettuce?
Although hemp is cannabis, it is important to know that hemp is not marijuana. They may be from the same plant family, but hemp is the sober cousin. It contains a paltry of 0.3 percent THC, while marijuana can contain up to 20 percent THC. That’s a drastic difference! If you were hoping to get high from hemp, you’ll need to call her cousin Mary Jane instead!
Using this extraordinary plant we are given the ability to develop and produce new products for the marketplace. Hemp can transform industries in a multitude of ways and it offers modern-day solutions to common problems. Hemp really is the solution!
