CBD Oil vs Hemp Seed Oil - What is the difference?

 In the last couple of years, there has been a lot of publicity, talk and hype around CBD Oil and Hemp Seed Oil. Of course, the cannabis or “weed” culture infringes on the whole issue and with perceptions, assumptions, rumours, stigmas and even simple miscommunication the differences between CBD and hemp seed oil have been lost or at least very confused.  What are the differences between the two and what are they good for are still questions that constantly asked.

The Source Plant

Part of the “confusion” around CBD and hemp seed oil comes from the fact that marijuana, cannabis and hemp are all same family of plants.  Cannabis sativa is a plant that grows all over the world and it’s health benefits have been utilised for thousands of years. Marijuana is just a slang word for cannabis while hemp is the name given to cannabis with little to no THC.  This means hemp seed oil and CBD oil do not give you the stereotypical high and that has to constantly be made clear.

CBD Oil

CBD oil has become extremely popular and is very different from hemp seed oil, although hemp seed oil can contain trace amounts of CBD and other cannabinoids. CBD Oil is extracted primarily from the flower or bud of the plant as it goes through an extraction process from which the essential compounds are separated to create a powerful oil with many natural health benefits. There two extraction processes used, either ethanol extraction or CO2 extraction.

Hemp Seed Oil

Hemp seed oil is exclusively from the seed of the hemp plant.  Using a process that is similar to that of producing olive oil,  hemp seeds are cold-pressed to extract a nutrient-rich oil that has a nutty taste.  Hemp seed oil, while used as a health supplement on its own is commonly used in foods and cosmetics that today are often marketed using a cannabis leaf design which perhaps leads to a hint of more confusion. Hemp seed oil does not contain THC and will not make the user high.

CBD Oil: Benefits

There is some overlap in the benefits of CBD oil and hemp seed oil and yet there are many differences. The benefits, primarily medical and health, can be traced back to the ancient Chinese and only today, with a more medically aware global population, is the cannabis plant being looked at as seriously as it should. CBD especially has many benefits which despite not all being clinically proven are of growing interest to the medical world and pharmaceutical companies.  However, the list of benefits of CBD oil is considerable and now that legislation has been passed in many countries to legalise the growing of cannabis and hemp these benefits are becoming easier to access.

• Pain Relief
• Reduction of Stress, Depression and Anxiety
• Control, Management and Reduction of high blood pressure
• Treatment of Acne and other skin disorders
• Control of Heart and Cardiovascular disorders
• Cancer treatment management
• Treatment and suppression of neurological disorders such as epilepsy

 A lot of research is being done into the benefits of CBD in the medical world. One of the most prominent areas of research is in the treatment of cancer. In conjunction with conventional cancer treatments such as chemotherapy, CBD oil is showing improvements in recovery rates and is also helping to relieve the side-effects of chemo such as pain and vomiting.  Research is also being undertaken into the treatment of diabetes, cancer cures and mental or neurological disorders that are all showing positive results. There are no real side-effects with CBD, or rather the side-effects are drastically reduced with only a handful of cases of mild diarrhoea, changes in appetite and mild drowsiness.

Hemp Seed Oil Benefits

Hemp seed oil is no where near as expensive as CBD oil as it does not have the level of therapeutic benefit. However, that doesn't mean it's not an incredible superfood packed with vitamins, minerals and healthy fats! Hemp seed oil is a great oil to supplement or spread over a meal to enhance the nutrition profile. The general health benefits of hemp seed oil include:

• Excellent skincare and treatment of acne and other skin conditions.
• Extremely healthy for the brain as hemp seed oils is rich in omega fatty ccids
• Good for preventative heart health
• Mild and sustained pain relief – good for Arthritis
• Good muscle relaxant

Summary

Overall CBD Oil and hemp seed oil can both very beneficial for daily wellbeing. CBD is considerably more concentrated and does offer a wider range of deeper benefits, especially for those suffering from any medical or mental disorder. Hemp seed oil is perhaps a more general supplement that supports good health.