If you’ve been taking marijuana for more than a month, whether for medical or recreational reasons, you may have heard of the hemp oil vs CBD oil debate.
As the cultivation and usage of medical marijuana is now legalized in several countries, it’s not surprising to see issues involving the numerous products derived from the cannabis plant.
Hemp Oil vs. CBD Oil
- The Root of the Issue
- Difference in CBD Content
- Factors Behind the Difference
- Why Knowing the Differences Matters
The Root of the Issue
Olive oil remains among the most popular oil products in the world thanks to its well-known health benefits. While cannabis oil isn’t likely to be as widely used, it enjoys a rise in demand for its therapeutic properties.
The problem is that not all oils derived from cannabis are created for recreational and medical uses. Some hemp oil products, in particular, are intended solely for industrial use.
However, as terms like hemp and marijuana get used interchangeably, many assume that hemp extract oil and CBD oil products are the same. This causes problems as there is a big difference in the content of the two.
When it comes to health benefits, CBD oil is surely more beneficial than its hemp counterpart. Nevertheless, hemp oil is also useful as a raw material for personal care products, plastic, paint, and biofuel.
Difference in CBD Content
As they’re from the same plant, hemp and cannabis oils contain cannabinoids—compounds found in cannabis that act on specific brain receptors. Two of the most talked about cannabinoids are THC and CBD.
The psychoactive effects from cannabis use are mostly from the plant’s THC content. The benefits of CBD isolate, on the other hand, include managing pain, reducing inflammation, decreasing epileptic seizures, and improving cognition, among others.
Both of the aforementioned oils have low levels of THC, which is a good thing because having high levels of such cannabinoid is banned in many countries. In terms of cannabidiol content though, CBD oil has more.
Factors Behind the Difference
Growers and scientists made it possible for the two cannabis oil products to have different contents and effects despite being from the same plant (and even from the same Cannabis sativa species).
They do this by making various strains that feature varying levels of pure CBD and THC contents. Aside from strains, however, the part of the plant used in the oil production is another factor.
Also known as hemp seed oil, hemp oil is derived from the seeds of a cannabis sativa plant, more specifically the industrial hemp plant. In contrast, CBD products like cannabidiol oil can be taken from the flowers, leaves, and stalks of Cannabis sativa plants grown for their health benefits.
Why Knowing the Differences Matters
In case you missed it, there’s an emerging form of dietary supplement out there known as MCT oil. It’s processed from coconuts, but it’s not exactly the same as the common coconut oil.
The MCT oil is for those who want to supplement their ketogenic diets. Those who aren’t into the said diets won’t likely enjoy and benefit from the use of this product.
The same goes with the hemp oil vs CBD oil issue. If you’re after chronic pain management, cortisol reduction, or testosterone breakdown prevention, you should go for CBD oil as the benefits of hemp oil are limited.
