Hemp Oil vs. CBD Oil: What’s the Difference?

With its non-psychoactive health benefits, CBD is fast becoming a natural alternative for many health conditions. However, there’s a lot of confusion surrounding hemp oil vs. CBD oil.

Although both come from the cannabis plant, they are different in a big way. Keep reading for the real facts.

History of Hemp and CBD Oil

Before we get into the different oils that come from the cannabis plant, let’s take a quick look at its history.

Believe it or not, although CBD popularity is now on the rise, it’s nothing new. Cannabis plants have a long, rich history going back thousands of years. It was less than 85 years ago that cannabis became demonized and its practical use wiped from our recent memory.

The first recorded instance of medicinal use came from China in 2700 BC. Shen Nong reported using it for gout, rheumatism, and memory. Even older was a hemp rope found in Czechoslovakia dated to 26,900 BC!

What is Hemp Oil?

Hemp oil is a cold-pressed extract from the seeds of the hemp plant, sometimes called cannabis sativa hemp oil. Hemp oil is like other seed oils such as jojoba and sunflower oil.

You can find hemp seeds and oil and seeds in local health food stores and even some grocery stores. Products containing hemp are abundant as well. Some examples are skin care products, health food smoothies, and even cooking oil.

But, does hemp oil have CBD in it? The answer is no. However, it is nutritious; full of antioxidants, Omega–3, and Omega–6 fatty acids.

Benefits of Hemp Oil

Like we mentioned above, many products include hemp oil, and for a good reason. Nutrition-wise hemp seeds are a superfood, and their byproducts provide:

• Antioxidants
• Essential Fatty Acids
• Chlorophyll
• Essential Amino Acids (all nine)

If you’re looking for nutritional benefits without CBD, choose a good hemp oil. On the other hand, if you’re a person looking for the medicinal benefits of CBD, you won’t get them from hemp oil alone.

What is CBD Oil?

For CBD oil, the flowers and leaves of the cannabis or hemp plant are used. Cannabidiol (CBD) is one of the many active compounds found in the cannabis plant.

Extracting the desired compounds from the plant using either CO2 or ethanol produces CBD oil. It is then further refined to include or exclude certain compounds. The result is either isolated, broad-spectrum, or full spectrum CBD oils.

In places where marijuana isn’t legal yet, stick to CBD products with a THC level of .03% and less. In that amount, a cannabis plant gets categorized as hemp by the federal government.

Benefits of CBD Oil

Throughout history, cannabis use for analgesic and anti-inflammatory purposes prevailed. With more recent studies, we continue to realize the multitude of benefits that CBD can provide. Among them are:

• Sleep Support
• Appetite Regulation
• Stress Relief
• Mood Enhancement
• Joint Support
• Brain Focus
• Brain Health
• Neuroprotection
• Pain Reduction
• Reducing Inflammation

Expect to see more studies evolve as the cannabis industry undergoes legalization.

Types of CBD

There are three main kinds of cannabis oils. It’s the range of cannabinoids in each that defines its type.

Full Spectrum Cannabis Oil

The full spectrum variety includes all the natural compounds within the plant. These include:

• All Cannabinoids
• Terpenes
• Essential Oils

They all work together to increase their therapeutic benefits. Full spectrum CBD oil provides higher levels of relief and is more effective than CBD isolate alone. A word of caution: this type of CBD oil may be illegal in your state since it also contains THC.

Broad Spectrum CBD

Broad spectrum CBD falls in-between isolate and full spectrum. It contains all the compounds of the original plant, except for THC. Broad spectrum CBD oil is THC-free.

CBD Isolate

As the name implies, in an isolate, CBD gets extracted and isolated from all other compounds. CBD isolate is CBD in its purest form. It comes from hemp flowers and leaves.

Reading Product Labels

To get the benefits and product you expect, read labels with care. With hemp producers trying to cash in on the cannabis oil craze, some hemp oil product labels may make it sound like they are CBD products when they’re not. Unknowing consumers face disappointment when they don’t get the results they were expecting.

Product labels containing the following wording come from hemp seeds and do not have CBD in them:

• Hemp Oil
• Hempseed Oil
• Cannabis Sativa Seed Oil
• Virgin Hemp Oil

If you want legitimate CBD products, make sure the label states that the product contains CBD.

Certificate of Analysis

You can also ask for the company’s Certificate of Analysis (CoA). After a third-party lab tests a CBD product for quality, they issue a CoA to the manufacturer.

A CoA will tell you:

• How much CBD is present.
• If the percentage present matches the amount claimed.
• Distinct compounds that are present: cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids.
• Are there any chemical solvents, pesticides, or microbes present?
• This third-party lab testing is how the CBD industry self-regulates since the FDA does not regulate it yet.
• Having a CoA lets the manufacturer’s set themselves apart as legitimate.

Hemp Oil Vs. CBD Oil: What’s the Bottom Line?

Now that you know the facts about hemp oil vs. CBD oil, you’re prepared to navigate the market like a pro. Remember to pay attention to labels and ask questions before buying if the ingredients aren’t clear.

Have more questions about CBD products? Contact us, we’d love to help!