The explosion in hemp related products over the past year or so often makes it difficult to determine exactly what product you are buying. You may go to the store and see terms like CBD oil, hemp extract oil, hemp oil, or hemp seed oil. What does it all mean and what exactly are you paying for?
HEMP SEED OIL
The truth is there is a very big difference between CBD oil and hemp seed oil. Let’s take a look at exactly what hemp seed oil is. Hemp seed oil, also sometimes called “hemp oil”, is derived from the seeds of the hemp plant only, where there are no cannabinoids present. The oil is rich in healthy omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, so it can help with your skin.
Hemp seed oil is similar to products like sunflower oil or jojoba oil in that it is a cold-press extract from the hemp seeds. The omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids and antioxidants in the oil mean that it has beneficial properties particularly as a skin moisturizer and skin softener. One of the unique benefits of hemp seed oil is that it is able to moisturize skin without clogging pores or creating oily skin.
Hemp seeds and hemp seed oil are also used in cooking and have been for decades. It’s not uncommon to find it in health food stores or as an additive to your favorite smoothie.
The defining difference between hemp seed oil and CBD oil is that there is simply no CBD in this product. Cannabidiol (CBD) occurs in the leaves, stalks, and flowers of the hemp plant. Since hemp seed oil is created from the seeds of the plant there is no CBD content in this product.
CBD OIL
Cannabidiol, otherwise known as CBD, is one of the active ingredients in the cannabis or medical hemp plants. CBD oil is also sometimes known as hemp extract oil. As mentioned earlier, CBD occurs in the flowers, leaves, and stalks of the hemp plant. This means that in order to have CBD oil the product must be produced from that part of the plant. While CBD is a component of the hemp plant, by itself it has no psychoactive effects that cause a “high” because it does not contain any THC.
CBD oil has been shown to have many positive benefits for those dealing with pain, inflammation, anxiety and depression, cancer-related symptoms, neurological disorders, heart and vascular disorders, diabetes, substance abuse, skin conditions such as acne, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), and much more.
The human body has an endocannabinoid system that receives transmission signals from endocannabinoids in the body. CBD produces many beneficial effects on the human molecular pathway. As a matter of fact, there are more than 65 molecular targets of CBD in the body. A CBD-rich product with little THC can convey many benefits without having a euphoric or dysphoric effect. In order for CBD to work properly, CBD should be the main substance in any CBD product that you purchase.
WHY DOES IT MATTER WHAT I BUY?
Both CBD oil and hemp seed oil are wellness products so you won’t be physically harmed if you purchase one or other. However, your wallet definitely can be harmed if you purchase the wrong product. There are, unfortunately, retailers that are presenting hemp seed oil as if it has CBD in the product or has similar effects. Unfortunately, since there is no CBD in hemp seed oil you won’t derive any of the benefits that CBD offers from this product. Additionally, CBD oil is generally more expensive to create and thus retails for a much higher price than hemp seed oil.
Yes, these products both come from the same plant, but they have totally different makeups and benefits to the body. If you are tricked into buying a hemp seed oil product that is making claims that it is a CBD product you will pay more than you should and will not receive the benefits you are looking for.
To ensure that you aren’t falling into a trap like this it is key to check the products label. If you are looking for the benefits of CBD it is important to make sure the product you are purchasing clearly states that it contains CBD. You will be a more informed consumer if you do this and you will be helping the CBD industry weed out the bad apples that are misleading customers. This is a win for everyone involved.