CBD Oil and Hemp Oil – Know the Difference
Many people have heard about CBD oil and hemp oil. There is much confusion about the two that many use the terms interchangeably. It’s easy to see why. The two products have many similarities.
Both CBD oil and hemp oil come from the same species of the cannabis plant, Cannabis Sativa or also known as hemp. Another similarity is that neither product causes psychoactive effects as they don’t contain any significant levels of Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).
Despite the similarities, they’re not the same thing. Having a better understanding of the key differences between CBD oil, hemp oil and hemp seed oil can help consumers choose the most appropriate product for them.
- Cannabis Oil Sources
CBD hemp oil and hemp seed oil may come from the same plant, but extracted from the different parts. CBD oil uses the entire plant. It gets extracted from its flowers, leaves, stems, and stalks. These parts are known to contain the highest concentration of cannabinoid content.
On the other hand, hemp oil only uses the seeds of the plant. This means that the properties of hemp seed oil won’t be the same as CBD oil properties. Hemp oil will not be the best option as a CBD source, as it is void of any cannabinoids. However, they contain many valuable nutrients that would be beneficial if incorporated into your daily health regimen.
- Different Extraction Method
Hemp oil is obtained using a process called cold-pressing. Cold pressing is a method used to preserve the seeds’ nutritious contents rather than separate them during extraction. The process is almost identical to making other sunflower seed oil or olive oil.
It uses a machine to press the seeds and extract the oil. If you’ve ever seen a cold press juicer or juice extractor, the process is nearly identical. This method helps preserves the raw, nutritious contents of the seeds.
Meanwhile, CBD hemp uses different extraction methods. Most companies typically use CO2 or solvent-based extraction. The golden standard is CO2 extraction, as it ensures that your CBD extract is potent and free of any toxic solvents.
After being extracted, CBD oil gets suspended in a carrier oil like MCT oil, grapeseed oil, and olive oil. Hemp seed oil is often infused with CBD oil so users can get the best of both worlds.
- Cannabinoid Content & Nutritional Value
CBD oil contains other cannabinoids besides cannabidiol, such as terpenes and flavonoids. Each of these has its benefits and contributes to what is known as the entourage effect. The entourage effect is the notions that cannabinoids and terpenes work together to provide a superior result.
Hemp seeds carry zero CBD. Users of hemp seed oil may not enjoy the benefits of the entourage effect. However, they can still receive the beneficial nutrients of fatty acids like linoleic acid (omega-6) and alpha-linolenic acid (omega-3). The hemp seed oil also contains protein, offers vitamin E and other health-enhancing minerals, such as calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, phosphorus, sulphur, and zinc.
- Comparing the Benefits of CBD oil and hemp oil
The compound in the CBD oil can enhance the overall well-being of individuals. It helps users maintain homeostasis or the chemical balance in the body by stimulating the endocannabinoid system and interacting with its core receptors known as CB1 and CB2.
The benefits of hemp seed oils are entirely different. Many experts believe that the omega-3s in hemp oil is beneficial for the brain, promote heart health, and improve immune function. The Gamma-Linolenic Acid (GLA) are typically being used to support the growth of the user’s hair, skin, and nails.
The Consequences of the Mix-Up
There aren’t necessarily any repercussions in your health if you accidentally purchase or use one instead of the other. However, it can become a problem if you’re trying to reap the maximum benefits of CBD oil. A hemp seed oil won’t deliver your CBD needs.
Worst of all, many brands trying to cash in on the popularity and CBD trend will sell hemp seed oil falsely claiming that their products contain CBD when they provide none. Some brands are calling hemp seed oil Cannabis sativa oil, which is deceiving.
CBD oil and hemp seed oil are two completely different compounds, marketing them as the same thing isn’t just inaccurate. It does a disservice to consumers who are expecting certain benefits that they won’t get from the other.
How to Know Which is Which?
Now that you understand some of the key differences between the two, it’s imperative that you know what you’re buying. It’s a total waste to pay so much for hemp oil when it’s falsely marketed as a CBD product.
Determining one product over the other isn’t difficult at all. All you need is to read the label. Since companies are obligated by the law to specify the ingredients of their products, you can quickly determine if you’re buying CBD oil or hemp oil.
It’s probably safe to say that you’re looking at CBD oil when the label doesn’t include “hemp” specifically. For instance, if the label consists of “hemp oil” or “hemp seed oil,” then the product is most likely hemp seed oil. Watch out for words like “cannabis seed oil” or “cannabis Sativa seed oil,” as these are the scientific names for hemp oil.
However, it’s safer to choose a reputable company that is already well-established in this industry to avoid getting scammed by questionable business entities.
Love CBD is a small family-run CBD shop that offers high-quality cannabis oil, establishing a leading brand for CBD capsules, balm, and sprays in the UK. Visit us at www.lovecbd.org.
We hope that you enjoyed reading our article discussing the differences between CBD oil and Hemp oil. If you would like to read similar articles to our CBD oil and hemp oil blog, please follow the link.