Hemp Oil vs CBD Oil – Know the Difference
July 26, 2021
by Ma Raim
Hemp oil and CBD oil are becoming the more popular natural remedies to treat everything from chronic pain to anxiety and insomnia. But what is the difference between hemp oil and CBD? While both compounds are derived from the same plant, there are actually a number of key differences that make them unique. Most notably, hemp oil has been processed through high-heat extraction methods which can damage many of its beneficial properties.
Hemp oil and CBD oil are terpenes with analgesic, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer and antioxidant properties. Many people use hemp oil products to treat diseases like cancer or epilepsy. But what is the difference between hemp oil and CBD?
1. What is CBD?
Cannabidiol, better known as CBD, is a non-psychoactive compound found in the cannabis plant. It does not produce an intoxicating effect, unlike its sister compound, THC. CBD has undergone scrutiny in several countries, even though it is known to have been used for years as medicine to treat a range of conditions.
CBD doesn’t produce a high in the typical sense - instead it sends you into a calm and sleep-inducing state. Whether you find yourself in need of pain relief or anxiety control, CBD oil can help. Studies have discovered multiple benefits tied to CBD, from cardiovascular health to reduced inflammation. In fact, CBD appears to be so effective at minimizing the harmful effects of conditions like arthritis and psoriasis that researchers have begun to theorize that it may actually work differently than traditional drugs.
2. Hemp Oil: Processing & Chemical Composition
Hemp itself has a number of incredible benefits. Hemp seed oil is manufactured from varieties of Cannabis sativa that do not contain significant amounts of THC - the principal psychoactive element present in the cannabis plant which gets you high. Hemp oil is the oil that comes from the seeds of the hemp plant. The manufacturing process for hemp oil typically includes cleaning the seed to 99.99% and then pressing the oil. Hemp oil is generally grown from the female cannabis plant and is different from marijuana and CBD. Legally sold hemp oil is confirmed safe to consume for its medicinal benefits if it contains less than 0.3% of THC.
3. Are Hemp and CBD Oil Both Legal?
In the US, CBD was made legal in all 50 states while hemp oil had to wait. In Canada, CBD and Hemp Oil can be legally sold if in compliance with the Cannabis Act. CBD products remain strictly regulated and are only legal when sold in compliance with the Act and its regulations. The Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018 (also known as the 2018 Farm Bill) finally removed hemp as a Schedule I substance and reclassified it as an “agricultural commodity” in the USA. CBD on the other hand comes from the cannabis plant as an extract containing less than .3% THC, so it found its way through legalization more easily.
4. Get High Using Hemp Oil, Not CBD
If you buy CBD oil online or in a dispensary, it’s unlikely you’ll find amounts of THC above the legal limit. Scientific research doesn’t definitively link CBD and THC, but the use of both compounds during different stages of the cannabis plant’s life cycle appear to play a role.
People looking for a more natural (and low THC) alternative are often better served by hemp oil. But unlike cannabis, hemp in its natural form isn't usually smoked. To consume it, you’ll have to soak it in a solution or blend it with other ingredients to make it into a liquid. Oils work by creating a barrier between your skin and the external environment, preventing any components from evaporating or transferring to the air.
CBD is the non-psychoactive extract of the hemp plant and it is used for medicinal purposes, while hemp oil is a cooking oil that is made from hemp seeds and it is not used for medicinal functions.
5. Health Benefits of CBD
While many believe that CBD is both utterly useless and glorified weed, there’s a significant number of studies affirming its real medical value. As compared to THC, CBD can have a greater therapeutic benefit. Adults using CBD have reported experiencing less cognitive impairment just 30 minutes after a dose of CBD. This can be detected in a mass testing sample using non-invasive methods. Which is to say, there are actual ways to deduce how effective CBD really is by just looking at mass amounts of products containing CBD which come from reputable companies.
Ultimately, CBD oil and hemp oil are two distinct options that both have their pros and cons. Hemp oil has its own set of benefits, which may be well suited to soothe dry skin or support heart health over a period of time, but CBD oil offers certain advantages that hemp seed oil can't match.
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