Hemp Oil vs. CBD Oil?
In your search for CBD products, you’ve probably also seen hemp oil products advertised. It’s important to be able to distinguish between hemp oil and CBD oil. While the two are derived from the same plant, they are made from different parts of the plant, and they also have significantly different uses.
Hemp Oil
Hemp oil is derived from the hemp seeds found in what is known as industrial hemp. Hemp seeds have very little CBD and only trace amounts of THC, and the seeds actually contain a significant amount of oil, making it easy to extract. Hemp seeds—and hemp oil—are also well-known for their nutritional value. The seeds are high in Omega-6 and Omega-3 (two important fatty acids), as well as in vitamin E. Because of this, hemp oil can be a great addition in the kitchen, since it can be used as a cooking oil or in salad dressings. Hemp oil is also found in several cosmetic products, like shampoo, soap, or lotion. This is because the vitamin E content helps replenish and revitalize skin and hair. Finally, hemp oil has several other uses, including as a base for plastics (instead of petroleum), in the production of eco-friendly paints (again, instead of petroleum), and, similar to other vegetable oils, as a bio-diesel fuel—it’s even been used as a wood varnish.
CBD Oil
CBD oil is also derived from the hemp plant, except it is pulled from the flowers, leaves, and stalks of the plant. In contrast with hemp oil, it has a much higher concentration of CBD, with still only trace amounts of THC (Note that the THC concentration in CBD products must be below 0.3%). CBD oil has not been proven to have the nutritional value of hemp oil, but people who use CBD oil say that it may supply a variety of potential benefits. Like hemp oil, CBD oil can be found in some lotions or other cosmetic products. However, CBD oil is not used for cooking or for any industrial uses like hemp oil. CBD oil is primarily used for its potential medicinal benefits, and so comes in a variety of products.
Now What?
So now you know the difference between these two oils. With this newfound understanding you can identify that CBD oil and hemp oil are related but are different products with differing use cases. In fact, hemp oil, being low in any form of CBD content is often used as a carrier for CBD so that it is better absorbed by the body and so that the product also includes these essential nutrients only found in the hemp seed. When you see these two ingredients, you can now feel more comfortable with what you are purchasing. Understanding the ingredients is half of the battle in making sure that you are buying the best product for your own individual needs.
Stay Soothe!