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The Difference Between Hemp Oil and CBD Oil

Hemp oil vs CBD
It’s important for both patients and medical professionals to know the differences.

Plant-based treatment options in Australia

With plant-based medicines becoming a popular alternative treatment option in the Western world, understanding the difference between the available products is important for both clinicians and patients alike.

Two of the most well-known medicinal plant-based products are CBD oil and hemp oil (otherwise known as hemp seed oil).

While both come from the same genus of flowering plants, the two products are entirely distinct from one another and are not used for the same purposes. Similarities exist, but ultimately they differ in form and substance.

People often get confused when thinking about CBD oil or hemp oil. Many still believe the terms are interchangeable. There is, however, a clear difference between hemp oil and CBD oil.

The difference between hemp oil & CBD oil

CBD oil vs hemp oil
How Hemp and CBD oils are made, and their effects are very different.

Both products are used globally for a wide variety of reasons. Some of the key differences between the two products are:

Hemp Oil

  • Hemp oil is made by cold pressing the seeds of a Sativa plant.
  • The seeds do not contain CBD but have an extensive range of nutrients, fatty acids, and chemical compounds that may prove beneficial.
  • The product contains omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids, gamma-linolenic acid, and other nutritional antioxidants.
  • It is high in vitamin B and vitamin D.
  • There is no THC or CBD present in Hemp Seed Oil, and it will not cause an intoxicating effect.

CBD Oil

  • CBD is one of the two main active ingredients found in medicinal plant-based treatments.
  • The product uses the stalks, flowers, and leaves of the plant in production.
  • The compound is extracted and infused with a carrier oil and/or other ingredients such as artificial flavouring.
  • It can can come in three formats: full-spectrum, broad-spectrum, and CBD isolate.
  • It is non-psychoactive and will not impair mental or physical functions.

What is hemp oil used for?

Hemp CBD oil
Hemp oil is omega-rich and has many uses.

The range of potential uses of hemp seed is widespread, some of the most common being:

  • Dietary Supplements: Hemp Seed Oil is often added to nutritious snacks due to its high content of unsaturated fatty acids and essential amino acids.
  • Skin Creams: The highly nutritious nature of the product may make it especially beneficial for the skin.
  • Flavour Enhancer: Occasionally the product is used purely as a flavour enhancer in different foods.
  • Industrial Uses: The drying properties of hemp seed oil are used in paints, varnishes, and even plastic flooring.

Hemp Seed Oil is omega-rich and can help the body metabolise fat while providing a host of other nutritional benefits. It contains antioxidants, carotene, phytosterols, phospholipids, calcium, magnesium, sulphur, potassium, phosphorus, iron, and zinc.

What is CBD oil used for?

Difference between hemp oil and CBD oil
CBD oil has been used as a plant-based medicinal treatment.

CBD oil is mainly used as an alternative treatment option to aid in the relief of symptoms of several chronic conditions. To qualify for a CBD prescription you must meet the following requirements:

  1. The patient must have a chronic condition.
  2. CBD must not be the first form of treatment, and conventional medicine must have so far failed to work.
  3. A medical practitioner must deem it clinically appropriate in the patient’s circumstances.
  4. The medical practitioner must have the necessary commonwealth and State approvals.

CBD oil can only be legally accessed with a prescription from an authorised medical practitioner. Unregulated and untested products may contain harmful substances and bacteria, and should be avoided at all costs.

The different types of CBD oil

The three most commonly available products are:

  • Full Spectrum: All naturally occurring chemical compounds found in the plant are used in the oil, including trace amounts of THC.
  • Broad Spectrum: Most of the source plant is used and the resulting product contains several compounds, but the THC compound has been carefully removed.
  • Isolate: The product contains CBD in isolation and none of the other naturally occurring chemical compounds are used.

Legally acquired products will outline the active ingredients and all the relevant information on the packaging.

How does CBD interact with your system?

Hemp oil CBD
There may be some interaction between CBD and your serotonin receptors.

The limited research suggests that the compound works by slowing down the breakdown of endocannabinoids that already exist within your body.

CBD seems to interact with dopamine receptors, opioid receptors, and serotonin receptors. Exactly how it interacts with the brain is still a contentious topic.

As research continues to expand, scientists should soon have a clearer understanding of how CBD impacts each of these receptors present in humans.

The non-psychoactive nature of the plant-based treatment means you won’t get high, and the compound will not bind to the receptors in the same way that THC does.

Summary

When considering CBD oil vs hemp oil, there are a few important distinctions to make. Hemp seed oil is made by cold-pressing hemp seeds, while how to extract CBD oil from hemp is a very different process.

Hemp is used for a variety of different health, dietary, and flavouring purposes. CBD oil serves as an alternative plant-based treatment option for the relief of various symptoms.

Some people use the term hemp oil to refer to both of the above products, so make sure to check the active ingredients to be sure of what you are getting.

For more information on the differences between the products, speak to one of our qualified plant-based treatment experts today.