The Difference Between CBD Oil vs. Hemp Oil

The difference between CBD and hemp is that CBD is one of over hundred a naturally occurring compounds that hemp plants produce. CBD, short for cannabidiol,  is a molecule produced on the flowering buds of hemp plants. Once ingested, CBD interacts with your body’s endocannabinoid system. Hemp is a legal term for cannabis plants that produce flowers that contain less than 0.3% delta-9 THC by dry weight, this does not constrain the overall amount of other forms of THC. CBD-rich cannabis plants and grain cannabis— grown for fiber and seed— fall into the hemp category.

What is CBD Oil?

CBD oil is made by extracting the resin from the mature CBD-rich hemp flowers. That CBD extract is then mixed with a carrier oil like MCT coconut, olive, and hemp oil.

What is Hemp Oil?

Hemp oil, sometimes called hempseed oil, contains little CBD content. Hemp oil is made by cold-pressing hemp seeds into a culinary oil that’s rich in omega acids, beneficial fats, and vitamins B and D.

How Does CBD Oil Work vs. Hemp Oil?

One of the biggest differences between CBD oil vs. hemp oil is in how each interacts with your body. CBD oil contains cannabinoids that interact with your endocannabinoid system. Hemp oil, on the other hand, shouldn’t contain any cannabinoids.

How does CBD oil work?

The science is still currently out on how exactly CBD interacts with your endocannabinoid system. We do know that, unlike THC, CBD does not bind with your CB1 receptors.

Some theories put forward about how CBD oil works with your endocannabinoid system include:

• Inhibiting the uptake of inflammatory molecules

• Activating receptors that help regulate pain

• Increasing the activity in your serotonin receptors which moderates:

• Sleep

• Anxiety

• Perception

• Nausea

• Sociability

How does hemp oil work?

Hemp oil is much more straightforward than CBD oil. Because hemp oil is a cold-pressed culinary oil, we can definitively say that the main benefits of hemp oil come from its high polyunsaturated fatty acids content. Specifically three:

1. Linoleic acid

2. Alpha-linolenic acid

3. Gamma-linolenic acid

These fatty acids can be beneficial to users in a number of ways, including:

• Improving and rejuvenating your skin

• Lowering your blood pressure

• Promoting heart health

• Reducing inflammation

• Supporting a healthy pregnancy

The Takeaway: CBD Oil vs. Hemp Oil

Both CBD oil and hemp oil are derived from the same plant. CBD is extracted from the resinous flowers and leaves from CBD-rich hemp plants, while hemp oil is pressed from raw hemp seeds.