CBD oil and hemp oil (also called hemp seed oil) have garnered enormous attention in the wellness product market in recent years. Both offer health benefits, but CBD oil and hemp oil are not the same, contrary to popular belief. So, you may be wondering, how are CBD oil and hemp oil different? Let's explain it in detail.
Hemp, a Multi-Purposed Plant
Hemp is a plant that has been used for centuries to make ropes and fabrics, but it is also used to make paper, bio-plastics, insulation materials, and even biofuels. On the other hand, you can obtain two types of oil from the plant through the different extraction and processing methods: hemp oil and CBD oil.
What Is CBD Oil?
CBD (cannabidiol) is one of the main compounds in hemp flowers, and it is also present (in a lesser proportion) in other parts of the plant. Hemp plants are processed to obtain a concentrated CBD extract to take advantage of this compound. This extract can then be used to make CBD oil using three extraction methods:
· The solvent (alcohol) extraction method: the fastest, cheapest, and easiest method. Let the hemp soak in ethanol and heat it until it evaporates. Heating highly flammable substances is a hazard, making it a controversial process. In addition, the final product contains chlorophyll, which produces a bitter taste in the oil.
· The olive oil method: This is a simple method of producing a lower potency concentrate. You have to heat a mixture of olive oil and decarboxylated hemp. The oil is then stored in a cool, dark place, but it can easily spoil.
· CO2 extraction: supercritical CO2 must be passed through dried hemp to extract the CBD.
While the first two can be done at home, the third requires considerable resources. However, it is the safest and most effective method because it retains all the natural benefits of hemp and does not have unnecessary ingredients, such as waxes or chlorophyll.
Advantages of CBD Oil
Once the extraction process has been done, CBD oil is obtained with many potential benefits:
Nausea
Neuropathic pain/ Pain
Anxiety
Sleeping problems
Skin Issues
Inflammatory disorders
Chronic arthritis
Epilepsy
And More!
It must be made clear that CBD oil is not a cure for any disease, and you should always consult your doctor when taking or stopping a supplement or medication.
What Is Hemp Oil?
Once we know what CBD oil is and its characteristics, it is helpful to understand how it differs from hemp oil. This is extracted from seeds, unlike CBD oil that was extracted from flowers or other parts of the plant. Hemp seeds do not contain CBD, so the oil obtained from those seeds will not contain CBD in any case.
Another big difference between these oils is the manufacturing process, CBD oil requires the use of solvents, olive oil, or CO2, and hemp oil only involves the pressing of hemp seeds. After cleaning the seeds, traditional producers use an oilseed press to extract the oil, which is 49% of the weight of the seeds.
You can do this process at home if you have a manual press, although it is complicated and usually produces less quantity. The best pressing is cold because the oil obtained has more natural benefits. Its color is green (opaque or lighter) with a nutty flavor, but once refined, the oil practically loses its color and almost all its flavor.
Advantages of Hemp Oil
· An essential source of nutrients: For those concerned about their health, hemp seeds are a plant-based source of energy, with protein accounting for 25% of their total calories.
· Healthy skin: Due to its vitamin E, it helps balance cholesterol and hormones and contributes to skin health.
· Bone maintenance, detoxification, mental health, and cognitive function: Due to the phosphorus content (1100 mg of phosphorus per 100 g).
· At the industrial level: It is used to make fuel, plastics, ink, paints, and even wood varnish.
· Relief of anxiety, stress, kidney problems, and heart: Thanks to the potassium content in hemp seeds. Offering 900 mg per 100g, potassium is the third most abundant mineral in the human body.
· Muscle aches and prevention of migraines: Hemp seeds are a source of magnesium, playing an essential role in increasing energy and relieving muscle pain.
· Improve the nervous system: Thanks to the vitamin B1 and B2 that hemp seeds contain. These vitamins are essential for hair, skin, eyes, mouth, liver, and energy production.
In the same way as BCD oil, hemp oil should not replace medications that a professional may prescribe, nor will it cure diseases.
Differences between CBD Oil and Hemp Oil
CBD oil and hemp seed oil are difficult to compare as they are different products that offer different benefits. For example, CBD oil involves a complex extraction process, while hemp oil extraction is more straightforward, as we have explained. CBD may help fight anxiety, inflammation, pain, and even sleep problems, and hemp oil contains essential fatty acids, protein, and other essential nutrients. CBD oil produces specific physiological changes, and hemp oil offers a high content of critical nutrients, as we have said, and is very popular as a culinary ingredient and cosmetic product.
It is not a matter of choosing one or the other; both oils have unique functions and effects. It is important to know what you are purchasing. Often consumers purchase hemp seed oil thinking they are purchasing CBD. They then wonder why it doesn't work for them. Always know what you are purchasing, how many milligrams you are purchasing, the ingredients in the product , & always ask to see the COA. A quality CBD brand tests their products. It's a big red flag if they can not show you testing. Be good to your body & your wallet, Research is key. Don't waste money paying high prices for CBD when its hemp seed oil. We encourage questions and are always reachable, Please do not hesitate to reach out to our hemp experts with any questions or concerns. Be Well.