Hemp oil vs CBD oil – what’s the difference between these two oils?
The terms “hemp oil” and “CBD oil” are often used interchangeably. Yet, they refer to very different products, each having a unique set of benefits for your health.
That being said, knowing the fundamental characteristics of each will improve your understanding of how the oils can benefit your health.
So what are hemp oil and CBD oil, how are they different, and which oil is better for you?
Keep on reading and find out!
What is Hemp Oil? Defining Hemp Seed Oil
Hemp oil, also known as hemp seed oil, is more of a nutritional dietary product than a therapeutic one.
Here are some key things to know about this botanical product and what distinguishes it from its popular counterpart, CBD oil.
Unlike CBD oil, hemp oil isn’t particularly known for its cannabinoid content alone. Instead, the hemp plant is more widely appreciated for its advantages as a food product and an agricultural commodity.
For example, until the late 1800s, hemp seed oil was the most commonly used lighting oil. This oil was also used to make soaps and paints alongside many medical applications.
Its applications are impressively varied, despite coming from only one tiny part of the cannabis plant.
Where Does Hemp Oil Come From?
Hemp oil is made from pressing the seed from the hemp plant. This entails a multistage process involving the following practices:
Careful Handling and Preparation of the Hemp Seeds
Seeds are stored at 8-10% moisture, to be later separated from other plant materials, cleaned, and dried. Finally, they’re dehulled (separated from the outer shell) and cooked to release the oil and break down proteins.
Oil Extraction
Many different techniques exist for extracting oil from hemp seeds. Among the most common are solvent extraction using hexane (a significant constituent of gasoline) and mechanical extraction using a screw press, which is not preferred in the US because of its lower yield.
Oil Refining
The extraction process yields crude oil, which may still have “undesirable compounds” in the finished product. In order to get rid of those, the final refining process is performed.
In short, making hemp seed oil only concerns hemp seeds and no other parts of the plant.
Benefits of Hemp Oil
The benefits of hemp seed oil mainly lie with its abundance of omega-3 and omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids. These compounds have been proven to be highly advantageous for cardiovascular health.
Additionally, hemp seed oil is known to be an “exceptional food” source, made up of about 20-25% easily digestible protein and roughly 30-35% highly unsaturated food oil.
Other nutrients include dietary fibre, vitamins, minerals, and phytosterols (compounds from plant cell membranes that help manage cholesterol).
What is CBD Oil?
CBD oil is a popular cosmetic and medicinal cannabis-derived product. It’s well-known for its analgesic (pain-soothing) properties, available without the “high” associated with cannabis containing THC.
Its chemical profile is distinct from that of hemp oil, despite having come from the same plant.
Here are some of CBD oil’s most notable traits to clarify the differences between these two wellness products.
Getting to Know CBD Oil
CBD oil is available as a topical or consumable product with a wide variety of therapeutic and medical uses. Additionally, CBD doesn’t come from the seeds but from the stalks and leaves.
Because of this difference in manufacturing, CBD oil may have a higher chance of having THC in it. Still, cannabinoids can also accumulate on hemp seed hulls before processing, so both oils have this characteristic in common.
Where Does CBD Oil Come From?
CBD oil comes from the cannabis plant. However, instead of seed-pressing, manufacturers can extract CBD oil through:
- CO2 extraction: Using CO2 under extremely high pressure and low temperatures to isolate pure, medicinal CBD oil.
- Ethanol: This entails using high-grade grain alcohol to extract CBD oil for vapes and similar products derived from the cannabis plant.
- Extra virgin olive oil: This is more of an infusion than an extraction. Yet, it’s the cheapest and safest, especially for beginners.
Benefits of CBD Oil
Along with alleviating pain, scientists have also confirmed CBD oil’s ability to stop or reduce seizures. This trait is why CBD is FDA-approved as Epidiolex.
In addition, CBD oil is used to help individuals recover from opioid addiction.
For example, recent research shows that CBD oil might help people avoid relapsing when they encounter something that triggers memories of their past opioid use, particularly heroin.
Additionally, Brent Bauer, M.D., internist and research director for Mayo Clinic Integrative Medicine program says, “There are many intriguing findings in pre-clinical studies that suggest CBD and hemp oil have anti-inflammatory effects and may be helpful with improving sleep and anxiety.”
Hemp Oil vs CBD Oil: What’s the Difference?
Although they both come from the same cannabis plant, CBD and hemp oil’s advantages are notably different.
Hemp oil benefits physical health more directly, while CBD oil is best for alleviating medical symptoms.
Plus, the process of making hemp seed oil is drastically different from that of CBD oil. This product comes from the seeds instead of other plant materials.
Since CBD has a different chemical profile than hemp seed oil, it faces stricter legal restrictions and is even illegal in some states. This is partly because it’s often available as full-spectrum CBD (whole plant) or broad-spectrum (retaining most cannabinoids and terpenes) products, leading to more regulatory complexities.
Hemp Oil vs CBD Oil – What’s Better?
There are a few contextual markers you can use to choose wisely when pitting hemp oil vs CBD oil.
Hemp oil is packed full of nutritional benefits, including omega fatty acids, protein, vitamins, and minerals. So if you’re looking for a health boost and have no significant need for alleviating specific medical symptoms, hemp oil is the best choice for you.
Alternatively, if you’re looking for medicinal support, CBD oil is the best option. CBD products are excellent sources of analgesic properties, in addition to their anti-anxiety, anti-seizure, and sleep-supportive qualities.
If you decide to give CBD oil a try, check our CBD tinctures. Hooti Extract’s CBD tincture is a concentrated CBD product with high CBD content and virtually no THC . Our tinctures come with a built-in dropper so you can accurately measure out your dosage and take your cannabis on the go.
Simply measure out how much product you would like within the dropper, place it under the tongue for a minute, swallow and enjoy!
Happy medicating!
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