There’s a lot of jargon in the CBD world. Between endocannabinoids, terpenes, and decarboxylation, it’s amazing anyone knows what we’re saying. Even the simpler words have been known to cause confusion. For example, hemp is the plant from which CBD oil is derived, but there’s a difference between CBD oil and hemp oil. Confused? Read on.
What They’re Made Of
The key to understanding the difference between CBD oil and hemp oil is understanding how they’re made and what they’re made of. Cannabidiol (CBD) is a substance found inside the stem, leaves, and stalk of the hemp plant. To get it, the hemp is put through a chemical process called extraction, which is when the CBD is extracted from the plant. After the CBD is extracted, the rest of the plant—the stem, leaves, et cetera—are also removed.
Hemp oil, on the other hand, is also called hempseed oil because instead of being made with the plant itself, it’s made with the seeds of the hemp plant. The extraction method is more mechanical than chemical, only requiring a seed press machine to pulverize the seeds and then extract the oil from it. This oil doesn’t usually contain any kind of CBD.
Benefits
CBD users are often targeting a specific ailment, such as insomnia, anxiety, focus, inflammation, or certain illnesses. However, studies about CBD’s role in relieving such ailments are still ongoing. Since hempseed oil doesn’t contain CBD, it’s not usually associated with these benefits. However, hempseed oil does have its own separate nutritional benefits. Hempseed oil is a good source of polyunsaturated fatty acids such as Omega-6 and Omega-3; in other words, it contains “good fat,” which is beneficial for nutritional purposes and hair care. They’re also good sources of protein, vitamins, and minerals such as iron, calcium, potassium, and zinc, to name a few. They’ve also been known to treat skin conditions such as enzyme and acne.
How They’re Used
Even though CBD and hempseed oil are used for different purposes, they’re often used in similar ways. Both oils can be taken by mouth, used in cooking, or rubbed into the skin. Hempseed topical creams and CBD topical balms and creams are used a little differently, though. CBD creams are used mostly for body aches or for moisturizing, while hempseed oil can also be used for makeup removal, nails, and hair.
