What’s the Difference Between Hemp Oil and CBD Oil?
It’s not uncommon for CBD oil and hemp oil to be interpreted as one and the same. With such an extensive range of oils derived from the cannabis family of plants on the market, making sense of the exact composition of any given product can be tricky.
However, there’s a clear and importance difference between hemp oil and CBD oil that buyers should be aware of, as they offer complimentary but different benefits to users.
CBD Oil
CBD is an abbreviation of cannabidiol – one of the most prolific compounds found in the cannabis family of plants. In varying concentrations, CBD is present in almost every part of the plant, including its flowers, leaves, stalks and stems. Manufacturers who make UK-legal CBD products create them from Sativa L plants, also known as industrial hemp, as this is legal to cultivate in Europe and has naturally ultra-low levels of THC – the psychoactive cannabis compound responsible for getting users ‘high’ with illegal cannabis. CBD is a purely beneficial compound with no psychoactive properties whatsoever. Most “CBD oils” are actually whole plant extract from Sativa L that contain just minute trace levels of THC that are insufficient to have any psychoactive effect. Completely THC free oils can be made with additional heating and filtering processes for people who may be concerned about super-sensitive work-related tests or any interations with medication.
The popularity of CBD is due to user reports of success in its use as a supplement for those suffering from aches, pains, sleep disorders, skin conditions and to help with stategies for combating stress and anxiety. When CBD is ingested, it interacts with the body’s endocannabinoid system which is now understood to have wide-ranging effects on neurological functions, inflammation and mood regulation. Initial scientific research has been focussed on the use of cannabinoids for treatment of epilepsy and the licensing of cannabis oil has been in the news recently. Ongoing studies into the effects of CBD suggest that this all-natural extract acts has wider potential as an effective anti-inflammatory and analgesic product, but no products are yet licensed, partially due to the high costs of the blind testing programmes required for NICE approval. UK suppliers of non-medical supplements, whilst getting rave reviews from their users, may not legally make any claims for theraputic effects, or publish user comments that make medical claims, so potential buyers must decide from their own research whether CBD oils sold as supplements will be of use in their healthy living regime.
Hemp Oil
Historical records show that hemp seed oil has been used for many centuries for a variety of purposes. While CBD oil is produced by way of carbon dioxide using the whole plant, hemp oil is a cold-pressed extract from seeds. This is why the two products have completely different properties and applications, despite originating from the same basic plant.
Hemp seed oil – also known as cannabis sativa seed oil – is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants and other beneficial compounds. However, it doesn’t contain any CBD. Hemp oil is a popular ingredient in the manufacture of various topicals and food supplements, having been identified as both an effective moisturizer and a product of outstanding nutritional value. Since its benefits are complimentary to the whole plant extract containing CBD produced by Supercritical CO2 extraction, hemp seed oil is often used as the carrier oil for it – perfect as the extract is oil soluble – but potentially confusing.
Why the Mix-Up Matters
As for why all of the above matters, it’s simply case of knowing what goes into the products you purchase. If you were to accidentally buy hemp seed oil instead of CBD oil (or vice-versa), it’s not going to do you any harm, but you will not receive the benefits of CBD oil by buying and using hemp seed oil products. However, most sellers will clearly mark hemp SEED oil as such.
The main confusion has been due to the use of “Hemp Oil” as a term for whole plant extract or CBD oil suspended in Hemp seed oil by some manufacturers to try and avoid bans on selling CBD products affecting some online shops and payment systems. This is to comply with USA law and some other countries regulations, not because CBD is harmful in any way.
At first glance, it can be difficult to understand how much CBD there is in the product you are buying. Responsible manufacturers will make their labelling clear but it is important to carefully read the ingredients, study the composition of the product and consider the manufacturer. You should be certain whether the milligrams of CBD shown on the label is for the whole bottle or per drop, and whether the per drop value given is for the CBD content only or for the CBD extract per drop of which CBD is a proportion.
Good manufacturers will make the type of oils and amount of CBD in their oils clear on their website and will also be happy to chat to you by email, social media or telephone to help you to decide what is the right CBD dose for you. They can also guide you as to whether a suspension in hemp seed oil or another oil such as MCT, or perhaps CBD capsules, paste or isolate are the best choice for you.