What Ayurveda Says About Hemp Seed Oil

A traditional and nutritional look at one of the oldest edible oils in the subcontinent.

Hemp seeds in the Indian tradition

Hemp is one of the oldest cultivated plants in the world, and its use in the Indian subcontinent goes back several thousand years. The seeds specifically have long been part of traditional diets in parts of the Himalayas, where they were pressed for oil, ground into flour, and used in daily food.

It's worth being clear about one thing: hemp seed oil is a food, not a medicinal preparation. It's pressed from the seeds of the plant and contains no active compounds beyond the fatty acids and micronutrients naturally present in the seeds. It's used the same way as any other nutritional oil — flaxseed, walnut, or olive oil, for example.

What's in hemp seed oil, nutritionally

Hemp seed oil is unusual among common edible oils because of its balance of essential fatty acids:

• Omega-6 (Linoleic Acid) — around 55% of the oil
• Omega-3 (Alpha-Linolenic Acid) — around 20%
• Gamma-Linolenic Acid (GLA) — a small but nutritionally relevant amount
• Vitamin E — a natural antioxidant that protects the oil itself

This Omega-6 to Omega-3 ratio (roughly 3:1) is considered close to the ideal ratio for daily human nutrition, and is one of the reasons hemp seed oil is often included in nutrition-conscious diets.

How it's traditionally used

Hemp seed oil is not for cooking. Direct heat degrades the fatty acid profile that makes it nutritionally interesting. Traditional and modern use both centre on cold applications:

• Drizzled over salads
• Added to smoothies
• Poured over cooked food after it's off the heat
• Mixed into cold sauces, dressings, and dips

A tablespoon a day is a typical daily amount.

Cold-pressed vs refined

Two things matter when buying hemp seed oil:

• Cold-pressed extraction. The oil should be extracted mechanically at low temperature, without solvents. Cold-pressing preserves the natural fatty acid profile and Vitamin E.
• Dark bottle, cool storage. Hemp seed oil is sensitive to light and heat. A dark glass bottle stored in a cool place preserves the oil's freshness.

Common questions

Is hemp seed oil the same as CBD oil?
No. Hemp seed oil is made from the seeds and is a food. It contains no CBD or THC. CBD oil is a completely different preparation extracted from the flower and leaves. Hemp seed oil is legally sold as a food in India under FSSAI, since November 2021.

Can I take hemp seed oil daily?
Yes. It's a food, not a supplement in the medical sense. A tablespoon a day is a common daily amount, similar to how someone might include flaxseed oil or olive oil in their diet.

Who shouldn't use hemp seed oil?
If you have an allergy to hemp seeds, or if you're on medication and unsure, please consult your healthcare provider.

Try our cold-pressed hemp seed oil

Ours is cold-pressed in India, bottled in dark glass, and FSSAI-registered as a food-grade edible oil. Made from Indian-sourced hemp seeds.

Explore: Cold-Pressed Hempseed Oil