From Dirt to Delivery: Why Science Is Finally Catching Up to Hemp Roots
Keith Floyd – April 2026
If you’ve ever looked at a hemp plant, you probably noticed the tall green stalks and leaves. But what about the roots hidden in the soil? For a long time, most farmers and big companies treated those roots like trash and tossed them away. At Cedar Gulch Farms, we’ve always seen things differently. We grow hemp in rich, organic, living soil on purpose — because We believe the roots hold real value. We carefully harvest them to make small-batch hemp root salves and lip balms that people actually use on their skin every day. Now, brand-new science is backing up what traditional users have known for centuries. A 2024 study published in the journal Frontiers in Pharmacology took a close look at hemp roots.
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pharmacology/articles/10.3389/fphar.2024.1465136/full
Researchers tested roots from the same hemp variety grown two different ways: in real soil and in hydroponic (water-based) systems. Here’s what they discovered: Hemp roots fight inflammation. The extracts helped calm overactive cells that cause swelling and discomfort — the kind of redness or soreness you might get from dry skin, minor irritation, or everyday wear and tear.
They’re packed with antioxidants. Just like the antioxidants in blueberries or green tea, compounds in the roots help protect cells from damage caused by daily life, pollution, and stress.
Soil makes a real difference. Soil-grown roots showed stronger anti-inflammatory effects and higher levels of helpful polyphenols than the hydroponic ones. In some tests, the soil extracts clearly performed better at protecting cells and reducing inflammatory signals.
The scientists also found unique compounds in the roots — things like certain phenolic compounds and nitrogen-containing molecules — that aren’t the same as the CBD you hear about in the leaves and flowers. These give the roots their own special properties. For Cedar Gulch Farms, this study is exciting because it validates using the whole plant instead of throwing away what seems like “waste.” People have used hemp roots traditionally for burns, sore joints, and skin issues for thousands of years. Modern labs are now showing why those old remedies made sense. When we make our hemp root salve and lip balm, we start with roots grown right here in healthy soil at Cedar Gulch Farms. That means you’re getting the version the study found worked best in the lab — the soil-grown roots with better anti-inflammatory power. We are not claiming these products are miracle cures. But if you’re looking for a simple, plant-based option to soothe dry lips, irritated skin, or just give your skin a little extra daily protection, the science is finally catching up to what many of us who work with the whole plant have believed all along. Science is showing that sometimes the most valuable parts of the plant are the ones hiding underground.
Have you tried our hemp root salves before? We’d love to hear how it worked for you.
