The hemp plant is a variety of Cannabis Sativa L and is an extremely versatile plant which can be used for many purposes. Hemp plants have been used for centuries for a variety of purposes because the four main parts of the plant (bast fibers, hurds, or shives, leaves and flowers, and seeds) are each useful in their own right. The fibers from the hemp stalks can be used to make clothes, paper, textiles, rope and even building materials as well as burned for fuel. The flowers can be smoked, much like the flowers of other Cannabis varietals. Leaves of the hemp plant contain cannabinoid properties and can be used to derive CBD oil and the seeds of a hemp plant can be used to produce hemp seed oil. Oftentimes, consumers who are interested in the medicinal and nutritional benefits of hemp can get the two oils produced by the hemp plant, CBD and hemp seed, confused and think that the two are entirely interchangeable. Nothing could be further from the truth. CBD oil is extremely different from hemp seed oil, though both contain properties which can be extremely beneficial for human consumption.
CBD Oil vs. Hemp Oil
Often contained in small glass containers, CBD oil products can be listed as hemp-derived CBD oil, full-spectrum hemp extract and CBD isolate. Both hemp and marijuana plants are sources of CBD oil. On a molecular level, there is no difference between the CBD oil derived from hemp plants and that extracted from marijuana plants. The oil from the leaves and flowers of the hemp plant contains cannabinoid compounds that have been found to aid with many negative physical and emotional symptoms such as inflammation, joint pain, insomnia and anxiety among others.
The confusion that arises for many people, particularly those who are just beginning the journey of learning about how CBD products can improve their lives, is that because CBD oil is derived from a hemp plant many people refer to it as “hemp oil”. The term is technically correct when referring to CBD rich oil, but it also refers to hemp seed oil which is an oil derived specifically from hemp seeds that can be used in food for its high nutritional value. Hemp seeds are rich with protein, vitamins, fiber, minerals and a mix of healthy fatty acids from omega-3 and omega-6. It can be used to cook with or included in a healthy diet in items like salad dressing. Hemp seeds themselves can also be included in a healthy diet in their raw form as an addition to granolas or smoothies.
While each oil product of hemp plants certainly provide a multitude of benefits when consumed, they are most certainly not interchangeable. Hemp seed oil is primarily used as a dietary supplement to provide long term benefits, and while CBD oil does certainly provide effects that accumulate over time many users of CBD also rely on the immediate benefits they see from the use of CBD oil.
So What is CBD oil?
CBD oil is derived from both hemp and marijuana plants, which are two different varieties of cannabis plants. In the United States, CBD products are extracted from Cannabis Sativa L which is a specific type of plant that has a THC concentration of nor mare the 0.3%. By contrast, marijuana, which has been legalized in many states, has a THC concentration of more than 0.3%. Keep in mind that this value varies from country to country. The UK for example defines the legal concentration of THC to be classified as a controlled substance at 0.2%.
There are several different versions of CBD on the market and some don’t have any THC at all. Because some people are drug tested for work, like truck drivers and teachers, there are CBD products on the market with no THC called THC-free distillate and CBD isolates. While THC products are certainly useful for users who want to completely avoid compounds that are still considered schedule 1 drugs in the United States, there is research to show that the “entourage effect”, or the fact that CBD in conjunction with a small amount of THC is the most effective and useful variation.
If you are a new consumer of CBD products just doing initial research, or a long time advocate for the physical and psychological effects of the oil derived from hemp plants, it is crucial that the oil you order from reputable suppliers will supply the results you are seeking. Hemp oil is an all encompassing term that can apply to both CBD oil and hemp seed oil and both have their own space in a healthy lifestyle. Spend some time doing research, and find the best product for you, so that you can see a good end result.