The Whole Hemp Plant: From Food to Wellness and Everything in Between
One plant, many uses — and a lot of confusion to clear up.
Hemp has been used by humans for thousands of years — as food, fibre, fuel, and more recently, as a powerful tool in natural health. But with so many conversations swirling around CBD, THC, and “medicinal cannabis,” it’s easy to forget how incredibly versatile the hemp plant is as a whole.
This post is a balanced look at hemp in its entirety — the seeds, stalks, flowers, and everything in between — and how each part plays a different role in nutrition, wellness, and industry.
The Seeds: A Nutritional Powerhouse
Hemp seeds are the edible heart of the plant, and they don’t contain cannabinoids like CBD or THC. But what they do contain is incredibly valuable:
Complete protein (with all 9 essential amino acids)
Omega-3 & Omega-6 fatty acids in an ideal ratio
Vitamins and minerals like magnesium, iron, and zinc
Natural fibre (especially in the hull)
You’ll find hemp seeds in:
Protein powders
Cold-pressed hemp seed oil (great for salad dressings)
Granolas, smoothies, and health bars
Pet supplements and skincare bases
Important distinction: Hemp seed oil is different from CBD oil. It comes from pressed seeds, not flowers, and while it’s packed with nutrients, it doesn’t contain cannabinoids or provide the same therapeutic effects as extracts.
The Stalks: Strong, Sustainable Fibre
The stalk of the hemp plant gives us some of its most practical and planet-friendly uses. It’s tough, renewable, and incredibly fast-growing — making it a sustainable alternative to many synthetic or resource-heavy materials.
From the stalks we get:
Textiles (like your favourite hemp tee)
Rope and twine
Building materials (like hempcrete)
Paper
Bioplastics and compostable packaging
While not directly related to health or wellness, this part of the plant is key to hemp’s reputation as a regenerative crop — restoring soil, requiring less water, and supporting carbon sequestration.
The Flowers and Leaves: Where the “Medicine” Comes In
The flowering tops of the hemp plant are where you’ll find the highest concentration of cannabinoids (like CBD, CBG, and small traces of THC), along with terpenes and other active compounds.
These parts are used to create:
CBD oil, tinctures and capsules
Broad spectrum and full spectrum extracts
Topicals and balms
Medicinal cannabis products (when THC is present in higher amounts)
Vape oils or dry flower (where legally prescribed)
These compounds interact with the endocannabinoid system (ECS), which plays a role in regulating mood, pain, sleep, and immune function.
Why this matters:
This is where the line between food and medicine starts to blur — especially as more people turn to hemp extracts for issues like anxiety, chronic pain, sleep, or inflammation. But it also brings legal and regulatory challenges, particularly in Australia.
Hemp vs Cannabis: It’s All One Plant (Mostly)
Let’s clear up a common point of confusion — because it comes up a lot.
Hemp and cannabis both come from the same species: Cannabis sativa L. The difference isn’t the plant itself, but how it’s grown, classified, and regulated — mostly based on how much THC it contains.
In Australia, the legal definition of hemp refers to cannabis plants that contain less than 1.0% THC. These low-THC varieties are typically cultivated for their seeds, stalks, or CBD-rich flower — and don’t have intoxicating effects.
But here’s where we like to bring it back to something fun and familiar:
Think poodles vs pitbulls — very different dogs, but both under the “canine” banner.
Same goes for hemp and cannabis — they’re all part of the same plant family, just with different traits and purposes.
Some are bred for their fibre and food value (hemp), while others are bred for higher THC and therapeutic uses (medical cannabis). So while the species is technically the same, the outcomes — and regulations — are worlds apart.
The hemp plant isn’t just one thing. It’s nutrient-rich food, sustainable fibre, and for many, a source of therapeutic support through its natural cannabinoids.
Understanding this full spectrum — not just of CBD or THC, but of the plant’s many forms and functions — helps bring clarity to an often-misunderstood industry.