As its name suggests, this weekly column shares many snippets of life. Hence, lifestyle trends and fads are often the subject of discussion. Over the last couple of years, a growing trend in the field of alternative healthcare has been the advent of hemp-based supplements. Derived from the hemp plant, these supplements promise to heal without involving any chemicals or harsh medicines with side-effects, such as steroids.
They certainly seem a worthy alternative to chemical-laden products sold on the market, but are they truly beneficial to us? If yes, how are they better for us and what health problems do they address? These and other questions are probably uppermost in your mind if you are keen on trying hemp-based supplements.
According to Harshal Goel, CEO and Founder of The Trost, a Delhi-based company that exclusively manufactures a wide variety of hemp-based supplements, “Hemp utilises the power of Ayurvedic therapeutic attributes, reviving ancient remedies which are no longer in use in the modern Ayurvedic space. These are ancient organic medicinal remedies that use the curative powers of the cannabis plant.”
At its very core, therefore, hemp protein is much like other plant-based proteins but with more targeted results. Goel asserts that THC, the hallucinogenic ingredient found in marijuana, is not present in the portion of the plant that is used for hemp-based products instead. The hemp plant itself has an interesting history — this resilient plant can thrive in a range of environments, and its various parts can be used in many ways. History shows us that hemp seeds have been used as a food source for millennia. It was considered a rich source of protein, fibre, and medicine in parts of the Mediterranean, as well as in Egypt and Morocco for several centuries.
Most importantly, hemp products are a great source of amino acids, which the human brain uses to create protein. Usually these amino acids are obtained through diet, especially animal products such as meat, milk, and eggs. Hemp-based products, on the other hand, contain all the amino acids that one needs to repair muscle cells, and regulate the neurological system and brain function. This makes them an excellent animal-free alternative for protein.
Speaking about his company The Trost, Goel sets it apart from others in the same space because of their endeavour to use the best available seeds in manufacturing each of their products. They are also the only ones who use moisture proof packaging, to ensure the products are more effective. Their range is retailed on their website thetrost.com, under three categories – hemp nutrition, cannabis leaf extracts (CBD) and The Trost rollens. Hemp nutrition does not require any prescription, but the Trost Rollens and CBD oils require a prescription beforehand.
Hemp hearts are de-shelled hemp seeds which can be eaten raw or paired with any food supplement such as milk, smoothies, and salads; hemp powder is made from grounded hemp seeds and can be eaten raw or paired with water, milk, and smoothies; hemp seed oil is a 100 percent cold-pressed product made from hemp seeds, and can be paired with salads or used for cooking. The oil is known for soothing skin and hair and can be applied directly on the affected areas as well. Cannabis leaf extracts are used for various different ailments and are proven to be sound medical remedies for the treatment of chronic pain, migraine, sleep disorders, stress, depression, and Alzheimer’s, among others. They are primarily for internal use and the recommended use is a few drops under the tongue. Unique to The Trost is a product called rollens, which consists of smokable rolled cigarettes classified under Dhumyog which refers to smoke therapy in Ayurveda. Smoke therapy is used as a remedy for various ailments such as dyspnea, bronchitis, brain fog, migraine, chronic pain, stress, and depression to name a few.
In case you are wondering how to get a prescription to access these products, the easiest way is to consult a certified Ayurveda Siddha Unani (ASU) practitioner. It is at the expert’s discretion to prescribe the best suitable product or medicine for you after analysing your problems and symptoms. Be mindful of doing your due diligence before trying anything.
The writer pens lifestyle articles for various publications and her blog www.nooranandchawla.com. She can be reached on nooranand@gmail.com.