The Science Behind
Hemp is an incredibly versatile plant – fibre from the stalks is used to make clothes and rope, the seeds are used for food, and for thousands of years people have used the plant for its health benefits. Hemp went out of favour in the last century and only in the past few years have we re-discovered the amazing pharmacopoeia of beneficial compounds the plant naturally offers us. ElleVance have expanded that knowledge to provide new ways to help families live long active lives.
How does Hemp work?
Hemp is not a mystery substance. Despite its reputation as a cure-all, there is hard science behind how and why it works.
The hemp plant contains naturally occurring compounds called phytocannabinoids, with as many as 200 identified to-date. These interact with the endocannabinoid system found in all mammals. An important characteristic of the hemp plants is a lack of T H C – this is the phytocannabinoid that is psychoactive. Do not worry, hemp cannot make you high.
All mammals, including humans and pets, make molecules called endocannabinoids that attach to cellular receptors found throughout the body and brain, turning up or down different biological systems. Researchers have shown how endocannabinoids can modulate functions as diverse as sensation and inflammation, mood, sleep and appetite. The endocannabinoid system helps keep the body in balance – a process call homeostasis.
Phytocannabinoids from hemp interact with our endocannabinoid system in a similar way. A quirk of nature maybe – but a beneficial one. Hemp phytocannabinoids can even stimulate the body to produce more endocannabinoid receptors. This may explain why ElleVance could work better over time – giving improved results if taken on a regular basis.
Are all Hemp Plants the same?
No – Hemp plants can differ significantly based on the relative amounts and mix of different phytocannabinoids, terpenes and flavonoids that they naturally produce. These different hemp plants are called cultivars.
It’s very important to know that your product comes from a farm where they have used the very best cultivars, where they know how to maintain the same cultivar over many harvests, and where they grow under consistent conditions. This is crucial to ensure the phytocannabinoid content of the plant does not change over time – to ensure the product you buy each month remains the same.