Confusion has spiked between both hemp and cannabis oil. It’s been a hot topic lately in our medical and health industry due to the increase of cannabis-derived products now becoming available on the market.
You’ve probably heard of many terms being thrown around, like hemp oil, hemp seed oil, and CBD oil – all of which we’ll be covering in this article, along with the many benefits of Hemp Oil and whether or not it contains CBD (the compound commonly sought out for its many therapeutic benefits.)
What is Hemp Oil?
In the United States, hemp oil refers to oil extracted from the stalk of the hemp plant. Hemp is a variety of Cannabis sativa that contains less than 0.3% of THC. Hemp oil should not be confused with it’s other attention grabbing headline cousin, hash oil, as they are entirely different.
Hash oil is extracted from the Cannabis flower and contains a large amount of tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC.
Hemp and Cannabis: What’s The Big Difference?
Distinguishing between hemp and marijuana can be genuinely confusing, especially with all of the misinformation going around and keywords being wrongly termed. We’re going to begin with a simple fact: hemp and marijuana come from the same species of plant. If you’re thinking Cannabis sativa, you’re absolutely right.
The significant difference between these two is the concentration of cannabinoids that they contain. There are over hundreds of different natural compounds in hemp and marijuana, but we’re going to focus on two of the most prevalent.
Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the main active ingredient of cannabis, when consumed in large concentrations, can induce psychoactive feelings of being “high” or “stoned”. Often found in marijuana varieties.
Cannabidiol (CBD) is the other major active ingredient in cannabis and is not psychotropic. Often derived from the hemp plant to contain large concentrations of Cannabidiol, and less than 0.3% or zero THC for its therapeutic benefits.
Does Hemp Oil Contain CBD?
The hemp variety naturally contains high amounts of CBD and is very low in THC. In other words, hemp is the complete opposite of it’s counterform, cannabis. To put it into retrospective, hemp contains less than 0.3% THC, whereas cannabis usually contains 5% to 10% or more THC.
Different Types of Hemp Oil
Hemp Seed Oil is extracted from the seeds of industrial hemp, and the only plant used to produce this type of oil. This oil contains no cannabinoids, like CBD or THC. It is generally legal in most countries and found in the food market and often combined with olive or coconut oil. Hemp seed oil is primarily extracted for its nutty taste, and healthy fatty acid profile of Omega 3 and Omega 6.
Hemp Oil is extracted from the stems, leaves and buds of the hemp plant. It contains cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids – all beneficial to the oil’s therapeutic benefits. Legally, hemp oil is produced to contain only less than 0.3% THC, and higher amounts of CBD.
CBD Oil is an oil extracted from CBD rich hemp strains and contains rich amounts of CBD but lacks THC content. It is often combined with hemp seed oil or other carrier oils to facilitate ingestion. CBD oils are non-psychoactive and are often used as additives to foods, beverages, or simply administered under the tongue.
Why All The Fuss: Hemp Oil Benefits
- Epilepsy CBD has been used by patients with epilepsy for decades for its anticonvulsant properties which attach to the brain neurons and inhibit the flow of ions in neurotransmitters.
- Anxiety CBD oil has shown itself to significantly decrease activity in the limbic section of the human brain, responsible for our “Fight or flight” response.
- Alzheimer’s Disease CBD has neuroprotective properties which work to aid prevent the further progression of Alzheimer’s disease and provide significant decrease in accompanied behaviors like delusion, irritation, aggression, agitation, and more.
- Pain CBD has significantly beneficial anti-inflammatory properties which aid in reducing chronic and acute pain like arthritis, multiple sclerosis, fibromyalgia, and many other conditions due to its fatty acids content.
- Pimples, Redness, Breakouts The omega 3 content not only reduces inflammation of the skin, but it can also reduce the redness often brought on by pimples and possibly prevent future breakouts. It is not recommended to apply Hemp Oil as a topical solution due to its comedogenic properties, like most natural oils.
- Skin and Hair
Anti-Aging: Hemp CBD oil improves the overall composition of the epidermal lipids in the skin, improving both the overall look and feel of your skin’s health.
Moisturizer: The natural moisturizing properties work not only for the skin, but for the hair too – especially if you have dry and frizzy hair. It can also be used for dehydrated, dry and tired skin and nails.
Water Resistance: After we shower, our skin often looks dull afterwards. This is because of the reverse osmosis effect caused by water, which makes the skin lose its nutrients. Hemp oil improves the skin’s ability from reverse osmosis in both the skin and hair. - Maintains Hormonal Balance
Hemp contains gamma-linolenic acid, when convererted, becomes a protective hormone prostaglandin PGE1 that aids in the regulation of hormones and also supports menopausal health. - Diabetes
Hemp oil can be an excellent supplement to help lower blood sugar levels. - Heart Health
The linolic acid from hemp oil can also lower cholesterol levels and prevent saturated fat from building up in the arteries, reducing the risk of heart disease.
Finding Quality Hemp Oil
If you want to buy CBD Hemp Oil online, you should opt for quality and safety. Hemp oil should be derived from 100% natural and organic hemp plants only and free from the use of pesticides and herbicides. Another factor to consider is the producer’s transparency to provide a Certificate of Analysis (COA), where you can check the quality and contents of the oil to ensure that you are getting the proper amount of CBD concentration and that it is free from traces of THC. Checkout VitaLeaf Natural’s PurCBD+ Full Spectrum Phytocannabinoid Oil. They also have a convenient CBD Dosing Calculator for you to quickly and accurately find out the right dosage per weight.