So many people have become interested in taking advantage of the benefits Cannabinoid (CBD) oil has to offer.  But when you’re just starting out and beginning to shop around it can be really confusing.  Lots of questions come up; what’s hemp oil, what’s hemp seed oil, are they the same as CBD oil, what are the benefits of each of these…

What are the key differences between CBD oil and hemp oil?  While they may both be derived from industrial hemp, CBD oil is more refined to contain significantly higher levels of CBD than hemp oil.  Hemp oil typically contains a low level of CBD along with a wide array of other compounds such as beneficial fats (omega 3 and 6 found in hemp seeds), fiber, and other cannabinoids besides CBD. 

The above answer is true in most cases, there are several scenarios where the differences between CBD oil and hemp oil may be much greater.  A lot of it has to do with terminology and the source of the various oils.  Both CBD and hemp oil have benefits and reasons people use them, below I try to break down the information more thoroughly so you can have all the facts and feel confident in your cannabis journey.

What is hemp oil

First of all, it’s important to know what hemp is.  Hemp is a member of the cannabis family.  But in order to be considered hemp, the cannabis plant must have less than 0.3% THC (the chemical in marijuana that gets people high.)  Hemp oil then is extracted from cannabis plants which contain very little THC.  Many hemp varieties have very little cannabinoid content of any kind.  The oil inside hemp can be extracted in several ways including CO2 extraction, ethanol extraction, and even using olive oil to dissolve/release the oil from the hemp.

The oil extracted from the hemp is what’s referred to as hemp oil.  It may contain some level of CBD as well as other cannabinoids.  While these other cannabinoids are less studied, it’s hard to say whether they are just as beneficial as CBD from a health standpoint.  It’s likely that over time as cannabis gains more general public support these other cannabinoids will become more studied and we’ll be able to know more about them.  Until then there are lots of people who use hemp oil and it appears to be very safe for most people.  Those suffering from Parkinson’s disease or low blood pressure should consult their doctor before starting to consume hemp oil.

What is hemp oil used for

Hemp oil is said to provide several benefits.  One of those benefits is in healing.  Hemp oil contains beneficial substances called terpenes that can help regulate the immune system.  These terpenes can also act as anti-inflammatory agents as well as anti-depressants.  Hemp oil also provides some incredible macronutrients like essential fatty acids, vitamins, and anti-oxidants.

As with CBD oil, if you’re new to cannabis products you should always start with low doses just to make sure you aren’t going to react funny to it.  Hemp oil is not going to get you high, but it’s still a good idea to take it slow at first until you know how your body responds.  Give each dosage level a week or so before bumping it up to the next level.  Always follow the directions on the product.  And if you have any concerns, consult your doctor before starting to consume hemp oil.

What is hemp seed oil

Hemp seed oil is exactly what it sounds like.  Each hemp plant produces tons of seeds.  The seeds are on the plant above ground.

Once they are harvested, the seeds may be dried and sold as whole seeds.  Or they may be processed to extract the oil from the seeds.  The oil is most commonly extracted by putting the seeds in a press which forces the oil out of the seeds where it is collected.  Watch the video below to see how this is done on an industrial scale.

Some quick related information… it takes about 22 pounds of seeds to produce 1 gallon of hemp seed oil.  And 22 pounds of seeds equals about 600,000 seeds.  So it takes a lot of seeds to produce any significant amount of oil.  These numbers can vary wildly depending on the variety of hemp being grown and the conditions its grown in.

Hemp seed oil

What is hemp seed oil used for

Hemp seeds do not contain CBD which means hemp seed oil doesn’t contain CBD either.   But that doesn’t mean that hemp oil doesn’t provide any health benefits.  One of the main things hemp seed oil is promoted for is its high levels of essential fatty acids.  Essential means the body needs it but it can’t produce it.  Hemp seed oil contains high levels of both omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids.  As part of my research for this article, I consulted a registered dietitian to pick her brain about the benefits of these essential fatty acids.

The first benefit she mentioned is that these fatty acids provide lots of support for brain function.  Both in helping the brain function better as well as in protecting the brain from damage.  Another benefit she mentioned is that these fatty acids help promote heart and cardiovascular health and function.  While she said there are many other benefits people talk about, she also said, “don’t get too carried away with the benefits of essential fatty acids.  They are important, but they aren’t a magic cure for everything.”  Probably good advice to remember.

Other possible benefits some people call out include:

• Improved immune system function
• Better hormone balance
• Improved mood
• Healthier skin, nails, and hair (for someone battling a receding hairline, this one caught my attention!)

Lots of potential benefits can come from the fatty acids provided in hemp seed oil.  But like my dietitian friend told me, have realistic expectations on this.  They are necessary, and they will help, but they aren’t the fountain of youth necessarily.  Our view is that hemp oil is a worthwhile nutrition supplement.

What is CBD oil

CBD oil may be extracted from any type of cannabis plant.  If it is extracted from marijuana it will likely contain significant levels of THC along with the CBD.  This could get you “high” or cause you to fail a drug test at work so you should always double check the source of the CBD oil you’re considering buying if either of these situations could cause you trouble.  Given the fact that THC can get you high and is not legal without a prescription in most states, most manufacturers of CBD oil don’t get it from marijuana.  Most manufacturers get their CBD from varieties of hemp, remember hemp must contain less than 0.3% THC, that naturally produce high levels of CBD.

In most cases, the CBD is extracted from hemp using a process called CO2 extraction.  While this process is fairly technical, it is also ideal because it leaves no potentially harmful chemicals that other extraction methods may use.  See the video below for a brief description of this process.

What is CBD used for

CBD oil is well known to have many health benefits.  In fact, just this year the FDA approved CBD as a medication for treating rare forms of pediatric epilepsy.  We wrote a blog post a while back about the many ways in which CBD can be helpful.  You can read that post here.  But here’s a quick list of all the things CBD may help with:

• Pain: CBD is very well known to help with chronic pain experienced by many people
• Anxiety
• Autism
• Depression
• Nausea
• Multiple sclerosis
• Cancer
• Alzheimer’s disease
• Parkinson’s disease
• Psychosis
• Inflammatory disease
• Rheumatoid Arthritis
• Bacterial Infection
• Inflammatory Bowel and Chron’s Disease
• Cardiovascular Diseases
• Diabetic Complications

The list is quite long.  For some people, it’s almost hard to believe.  But there is a scientific justification for each of these items on the list.  CBD effects the endocannabinoid system in our body.  This system plays a significant role in regulating the other systems in our body that are related to these diseases.  It’s pretty amazing that CBD can help with so many issues.

Final thoughts…

Hemp oil, hemp seed oil, and CBD oil all have real benefits for people.  This article was designed to give you a fairly brief review of each product and what it may be useful for.  Our opinion is that CBD oil, and hemp oil to a certain extent, should be looked at as more of a medicine with broad applications.  Hemp seed oil should be considered as more of a nutrition supplement.  Do your research and ask lots of questions.  As always, it never hurts to talk to your doctor about your health questions and particularly about using CBD and hemp oil.