Whenever any new products get hyped around social media, lots of misconceptions are bound to follow. With hemp oil and CBD oil being the latest rage, many are confused between them too. Some people refer to CBD oil as ‘hemp oil’, and others call hemp seed oil ‘hemp oil’. Hemp oil is used as the umbrella term for both hemp seed oil and CBD oil because both oils are derived from the hemp plant. Hemp seed oil and CBD oil are a lot different from each other. We are here to help you know what is the difference between hemp oil and CBD oil, in case you are planning on trying them out. Consider ‘hemp oil’ as ‘hemp seed oil’ for this article to avoid confusion.
The Basics
To make it easier to understand, there are three species of Cannabis plants that are cultivated – Cannabis sativa, Cannabis indica, and Cannabis ruderalis. Cannabis plants have cannabinoids as part of their chemical content. Research has found that cannabis plants contain over 120 cannabinoids in them, which attach to the cannabinoid receptors in the endocannabinoid system of the body and modify mood, memory, sleep, and appetite.1,2 Out of these cannabinoids, two are more extensively studied in humans, namely THC and CBD. THC or delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol is a psychoactive chemical, that is, responsible for making a person high, and thus is addictive. CBD or cannabidiol is a non-psychoactive chemical, and is not known to produce any psychoactive effects, and is known to be non-addictive in humans.3
Cannabis plants with less than 0.3% THC content are known as hemp plants, while those with more than 0.3% THC content are called marijuana.
Is Hemp Oil Same as CBD Oil?
This the most widely asked question, and the answer is no.
Two types of oils are extracted from the hemp plant or the Cannabis sativa plant. Hemp oil refers to the Hempseed oil and is obtained from the edible seeds of the hemp plant. It has numerous nutritional qualities,4,5
- High Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids or PUFAs
- Low content of unhealthy fats
- No cholesterol
- The ideal proportion of omega 6 and omega 3 fatty acid for humans
- Presence of all ten amino acids that humans require in their diet
- Rich in Vitamin D and B vitamins.
Hemp seed oil is used as a nutritional oil supplement, or in cloth and fiber manufacturing.
The flowers, leaves, and stems of hemp are also used to extract oil from them, which is rich in cannabidiol or CBD. Thus, the oil is known as CBD Oil. It is recently being promoted as a panacea for many medical ailments.
Moreover, CBD oil costs more than hemp seed oil due to the complex extraction process.
How to Use Hemp Oil and CBD Oil?
The use of both oils is intended for different purposes.
While the use of hemp seed oil is mostly focused on the nutritional supplement for another product or as part of the hair and skincare products, CBD oil can be used in the purified form as an ingredient of topical application products, or as part of flavored CBD oil tinctures that are available in a wide range of concentrations such as 1000 mg, 1500 mg, 2500 mg, and 5000 mg.
While CBD oil can be used as part of your smoothies or juices, hemp oil can be used either orally or topically.
Extraction of Hemp Oil Vs CBD Oil
As the name indicates, the hemp seed oil is extracted from the seeds of the Cannabis sativa plant, while CBD oil is extracted from the stalks, leaves, and flowers of the hemp plant.
How is Hemp Seed Oil Extracted?
The hemp oil usually refers to hemp seed oil. The seeds of the Cannabis sativa plant are edible and have 30-35% oil content. The oil is usually cold pressed because it is relatively unstable.
- Once the seeds are collected, they are threshed and winnowed manually or mechanically. This ensures that the plant matter is removed from the seeds.
- Oilseeds are then pressed at a temperature not higher than 120 degrees Fahrenheit with the help of an expeller screw press.
- Oil starts flowing through the canals, and the pulp is separated.
- The remaining quantity of oil in the seed cake is then extracted with the help of CO2.
How is CBD Oil Extracted?
The flowers, leaves, and stem are used for the extraction of oil rich in CBD. It can be achieved by three methods:
- Extraction by Solvent: This method uses ethanol, isopropyl, propane, butane, or alcohol to extract CBD. The parts of the plant are trimmed and added to a container, after which solvent is added to the material. Then the cannabinoids are concentrated in oil form by evaporation of the solvent.
- Extraction by Olive Oil: In this method, the plant materials are heated at a specific temperature for a desired amount of time, which activates the chemicals. Then olive oil is added and heated along with the plant materials. This helps in the extraction of cannabinoids.
- Extraction by CO2: This is an expensive method that uses an extractor machine with three chambers. In the first chamber, dry ice or solid CO2 is stored, which is then pumped into the second chamber where dried hemp plant parts are stored. When dry ice enters the second chamber, it takes the supercritical form (between gas and liquid state), which runs through the plant material to extract cannabinoids. Then finally the CO2 is pumped into the third chamber, where CO2 rises to the top and the extract is collected at the bottom.
Once the oil is extracted, it is purified through another step which removes any solvent, unwanted fats, chlorophyll, or waxes.
Another question that consumers usually ask is whether hemp oil has CBD in it. To answer, no. As the hemp oil is extracted from the seeds of the plant, which has virtually no content of CBD, it is safe to say that there is no CBD in hemp oil.
How To Know What To Buy?
Hemp seed oil or hemp oil is also marketed under the name cannabis sativa oil or cannabis sativa seed oil. Check the ingredients when buying CBD oil as it will cost you more and you can get cheated if you don’t know what to look for. Pure CBD products will be labeled as purified cannabidiol, or simply CBD.
Q: Is CBD oil made from Hemp?
Yes. CBD oil is extracted from the leaves, flowers, and stem of the Hemp plant.
Q: CBD vs Hemp Oil? Which one is better?
Ans It depends on how you are planning on using it. Hemp seed oils are usually used in culinary products, and CBD oils are used as drops to be absorbed directly into the bloodstream.
Q: What is the concentration of CBD in hemp oil?
Ans. The hemp seed oil has little to no amount of CBD.
Q: Can I use CBD and Hemp Oil together?
Ans. Yes. They are not known to interact with each other.
Q: Can CBD or Hemp interact with any other medication I may be taking?
Ans. Hemp oil is not known to interact with any medication. However, you need to consult your doctor before starting CBD oil as it has been shown to interact with various medications.
Q: Will CBD get me high?
Ans. No. CBD is not a psychoactive chemical. It will not alter your psychological state in whatsoever way.
Q: Are CBD tinctures safe to use?
Ans. They are easy and safe to use as per the recommended doses.
