Your Stories - Hemp/Omega 3

Hemp and I've never looked back! - Brendan, Belfast, Ireland

I am a 50 year old male and developed eczema in the lower legs about five years ago. In the first instance I went to my doctor and got the standard cream. He might as well have given me ice cream. About one year later I paid £100 and went private - more cream but this time with pads. This lasted for another two years. One day about three months ago I called into the Body Shop and asked the assistant if she could help me in any way. She suggested using Hemp Body Butter (yes from ice cream to butter) at £12.00 for the large tub I said OK and have not looked back since. The itching has stopped and I can see in some places were it is going away. I hope this will help someone. (August 2007) Contact Brendan

Hemp and Omega 3 - Sarah, Bristol, UK

This is my experience with getting rid of my eczema (which started 20 years ago) and has always been on either my wrists or hands and fingers.

Sunlight has always been massively beneficial to my eczema but not taken it away, and the only other thing that sorted it temporarily was drinking Chinese herbs twice a day (very expensive).

In November I started using Hemp Hand Cream from the Body Shop (which I believe has a reputation for helping eczema) and I also started using their hemp moisturiser on my face (twice daily) so that means that even when I am not putting hemp oil on my hands my body is getting some sort of dose of it. I believe that the argument is that hemp is rich in Omega 3s or whatever.

But also in January I started taking cod liver oil in addition to the evening primrose oil I've been taking for over six months.

So that means, I think, that I am now getting a good and consistent dose of different kinds of Omegas.

My eczema disappeared in early March. A tiny patch of it reappeared when I was away for a week in May and didn't take my oil capsules with me though during that time I did have the hemp face moisturiser twice daily.

So what does that mean? I think it's the Omegas that are doing the trick, and I would guess that it's the cod liver oil that is the most beneficial. I think that they took a while to kick in, and interestingly that is what someone else said to me without me mentioning it. (June 2007)

For more information about hemp products visit www.pureandgentleskincare.com

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