Is Hemp Oil the Same As CBD Oil?

If you are exploring the world of CBD oil, you probably bumped into something called “hemp oil.”  Since CBD oil is usually extracted from hemp, you may be wondering to know the difference between hemp oil and CBD oil.

Although they both come from the same plant, hemp and CBD oil are different things. Hemp oil is extracted from the hemp seeds, while CBD comes from the hemp flowers, stalks and leaves. You cannot find CBD, THC or any cannabinoid in the hemp oil, and therefore it doesn’t have the same effect on our body as CBD oil.

What is Hemp oil

First of all, what is hemp? Hemp is a strain of cannabis plant which contains a minimal amount of THC and a high level of CBD and other cannabinoids. Unlike marijuana, the sister from the cannabis family, hemp will not make you high.

The extraction of the hemp oil happens in a way most of the seed oils are extracted. It is cold-pressed, which means that seeds are pressed and crushed into tiny particles, which releases the oil. That is the best way to extract seeds oil because it saves most of the beneficial ingredients since there is no processing

The Nutritional Value of Hemp Oil vs CBD Oil

Hemp oil doesn’t contain cannabinoids, but it has other beneficial components such as:

• vitamin E
• proteins
• essential fatty acids
• omega 6
• minerals

With cold-pressing, all these precious ingredients are saved, and we get the product that we can use in many different ways. Hemp oil can be mixed with food, skincare products and other cosmetics or just eaten straight.

Although it’s generally safe, you should take certain precautions when using it.

Side effects of hemp oil

Hemp protein, which hemp seed oil is rich with, can lower blood pressure. Also, there is not much information on how hemp seed oil can influence pregnancy, breastfeeding and children. There are not many risks of using hemp oil, but it is wise to discuss it with your doctor.

Benefits of Hemp Oil

Since hemp oil is not the same as CBD oil, it has a different effect on our bodies.

Hemp oil may help with:

• hormonal balance
• immune system
• skin health
• improving cognitive function

The abundance of nutrients such as vitamins and other beneficial bioactive compounds makes hemp oil a valuable nutritional supplement. However, there are some advantages of using full-spectrum cannabis products such as CBD oil.

What is CBD Oil

CBD oil or cannabidiol is a cannabinoid that can be found in the cannabis plant. CBD is usually extracted from hemp by processing its flowers, leaves, and stalks.

There are many ways for extracting CBD from hemp, such as:

• solvent extraction
• olive oil extraction
• supercritical CO2 extraction.

The last one is mainly used in big-scale production, and it requires professional equipment and experts.  CO2 extraction is the most advanced way of getting CBD from hemp, and it gives the best results when it comes to saving active ingredients.

Effect of CBD Oil

Cannabinoids have a unique feature – they are binding with cannabinoid receptors in our body.  These receptors are part of our endocannabinoid system, which is influencing psychological processes such as:

• mood
• appetite
• sleep
• pain

The Endocannabinoid system maintains the homeostasis of the body, and CBD can help with it. CBD connects with CB1 and CB2 receptors in the endocannabinoid system. Also, it connects with other receptors, which are activated by the neurotransmitter serotonin. The overall effect of CBD is the relaxation of nerves and muscles, which can be beneficial for various conditions.

Benefits of CBD Oil vs Hemp Oil

Although it’s still under the eye of scientists, some possible benefits of CBD have emerged from studies.

CBD may be beneficial for treating:

• anxiety
• pain
• insomnia
• epileptic seizures
• inflammation

CBD has become a popular natural substitute for painkillers and sleeping pills, and it comes with almost no risks. However, there are some side effects you should be aware of.

Side effects of CBD

Studies showed some side effects of CBD oil, such as:

• fatigue
• nausea
• diarrhea

Anyway, if you take CBD oil with precaution and avoid big doses, you will most likely not have any problems. There is no lethal dose of CBD that scientists know of, and it is considered safe to use. However, you should check with your doctor about possible interactions between CBD and the medicines or supplements you take.

The legality of CBD oil

CBD is not yet labelled as a medicine but a food supplement. It is legal in most countries, as long as it doesn’t have more than the legal amount of THC (usually 0.3%). Is hemp oil the same as CBD oil when it comes to legality?

On the one hand, yes. Hemp oil shouldn’t contain more than the legal amount of THC. However, hemp oil has almost no THC anyway.

CBD oil requires much more procedures to be sold on the market, and the extraction is more delicate since it needs to remove some amount of THC.

Hemp itself is legal to grow in many countries, with special permission. It is used for many other things besides producing CBD and hemp oil, such as clothes, building material, paper, etc. The potential benefits of hemp and its products made it popular for exploitation.

Is hemp oil the same as CBD oil? – The final words

Hemp seed oil and CBD oil are extracted differently. Also, they interact with our bodies in different ways.

If we speak about potential health benefits, CBD so far has shown to be more beneficial than hemp oil. However, hemp oil is very nutritious and suitable for a long-term addition to the everyday diet.

Both hemp and CBD oil will not make you high. The psychoactive effect of cannabis sativa plant is happening because of THC, which CBD oil and hemp are lacking. Although hemp oil and CBD oil are not the same, they have significant potential in the wellness world.

They are getting more popular day by day, and future studies should fortify hemp’s place in medicine.