Despite CBD oils becoming ever more mainstream, there remains quite a bit of confusion regarding how it differs from hemp oil. Given that there is not much in the way of regulation or standardized labelling methods, it is quite common for manufacturers to use these terms interchangeably. It can be frustrating and quite confusing for newcomers to the scene, but it is important to be aware of the considerable differences between the two extracts.
So let’s take a look into what are the key differences between CBD oil and hemp oil.
What Is Hemp Oil?
There are various different kinds of hemp oil. Most of the time they tend to be extracted primarily from the seeds of industrial grade hemp. As these seeds contain barely any THC (around less than 0.01%), hemp oils are entirely legal and those that contain excessive amounts of psychoactive components must be labelled as such.
In the UK all cannabis derivatives must contain no more than 0.2% THC to be legal to produce or sell.
Sounds straightforward so far, right? Not quite! The confusion starts when also considering that hemp oil can also be extracted from other types of hemp and the sativa variety of marijuana plants. These can contain far higher levels of THC, and while popular in parts of the USA and Canada, are quite rare to find on our shores for the time being.
Regardless of how it is produced, there are quite clear indications that hemp oil is very good for our health.
It is incredibly nutritious and absolutely packed full of essential minerals, vitamins, and fatty/amino acids. This is why hemp oil is increasingly popular for cooking with as well as in cosmetic products such as skin lotions and creams. The one thing that it lacks, however, is any significant amount of CBD.
What Makes CBD Oils Different?
Instead of being extracted from just the seeds, CBD oils such as these make use of the entire plant including leaves, flowers, and stalks. Processed from industrial hemp that is naturally very low in THC, it also contains plenty of additional healthy cannabinoids when extracted.
Usually, CBD oil is refined to such as extent that it becomes an isolate – a near pure compound that also includes next to no residual cannabinoids. That may sound ideal, but there is increasing evidence suggesting the full or broad spectrum CBD oils that retain much more of these cannabinoids (as well as slightly more THC) is superior for potential health benefits.
Whichever style of CBD oil you opt for, the supplement is used to reinforce and ‘recharge’ our own endocannabinoid system and receptors. In this regard, it is just like any other health aid.
The potential benefits include anything from maintaining healthy sleep patterns through to pain management and controlling inflammation. Great as this sounds (and can be) avoid any company who makes speculative claims that CBD is automatically going to help with any specific health disorder.
At the moment there is no medical recognition of these potential benefits in the UK. So while CBD may indeed be beneficial and certainly isn’t going to do any harm, it is not a universal super remedy for all people and all illnesses!
Which Oil Is Best?
So in a nutshell, the key difference depends on what kind of result you are hoping for. Hemp oil is great for nourishing the body but contains barely any CBD.
On the other hand, CBD oils also serve as a health aid, but are generally far more concentrated and often retain far fewer cannabinoids (unless you opt for a full/broad spectrum variety).
You only need to take a look at the wide variety of strengths available of CBD oils and products to realize that there is a considerable difference in the amount of the core extract that they can contain.