The cannabis market has grown to over 26.5 billion dollars in the past year, and is expected to continue to grow to over 32 billion by the end of the year. A part of this increase in cannabis sales is due to the wide variety of products available for every preference. That, combined with the increasing legality for cannabis across the United States, it is no wonder the market is constantly expanding.
Out of the entire cannabis catalogue, we want to go over a kind of product that may confuse many. This product is commonly known by the umbrella term, hemp oil, and unless you carefully read the labeling, you may have one of two very different items in your hands. Hemp oil can be broken down into two different categories: hemp seed oil and cannabidiol (CBD) oil, and like many products, the differences are in the fine print. In this article, we want to go over these differences between hemp seed oil and CBD oil, and better inform you in knowing what to look for in hemp products to better understand whether or not one is right for you.
What is Hemp Seed Oil?
The difference between hemp seed oil and CBD oil is defined by where it is extracted from within the hemp plant. To start, hemp seed oil is exclusively extracted from, you guessed it, hemp seeds. Hemp seed oil is highly nutritious with a nutty, earthy flavor, and contains an abundance of fatty acids like omega-3. Because of these unique properties, hemp seed oil is used for several applications ranging from skin care to cooking.
Hemp seed oil is still tested to contain less than 0.3% THC by weight to be considered hemp as stated by the 2018 Farm Bill, as hemp seed oil may still contain trace amounts of THC, as well as CBD.
How is Hemp Seed Oil Made?
The hemp seeds are collected from the buds of hemp plants, and extracted from a cold press. Once extracted, it is then stored in a cool dark place until it is ready to be further refined to produce a clearer, less viscous oil, or packed and sold as is.
How is Hemp Seed Oil Used?
As previously mentioned, the applications for hemp seed oil are practically endless. Because of its richness in both flavor and nutrients, it is commonly used as a culinary ingredient for dressings and non-cooking oils. Do not use this oil for frying, as it has a low flash point, making it highly flammable due to its fat content. Trying to take hemp seed oil as is? That is completely fine! You can also take it orally as a dietary supplement. Aside from cooking and eating, hemp seed oil is also used for skincare, as it may retain skin moisture and vitality.
Aside from human consumption, this oil is also useful industrially. Paints, varnishes, and linoleum, are some of the few products made with hemp seed oil due to its drying properties.
Potential Benefits of Hemp Seed Oil
The essential fatty acid content of hemp seed oil allows it to potentially benefit several areas in overall health and wellness. The omega-3 and omega-6 contained in the oil contributes to improving healthy skin, cardiovascular health, regulation of blood pressure, chronic pain, and inflammation. The magic behind hemp seed oil does not stop there. A nutritional profile also shows that hemp seed oil is also filled with antioxidants, carotene, calcium, sulfur, iron, magnesium, potassium, phosphorus, and zinc. From all of these nutrients, it is no wonder this oil is sold everywhere from gas stations, to pharmacies. However, like the cigarettes at the gas station and the prescription drugs at the pharmacy, too much of anything can lead to risks and side effects.
Potential Risks and Side Effects of Hemp Seed Oil
We know that hemp seed oil is an incredibly fatty substance, which like all fatty foods, can lead to an upset stomach. Consuming too much hemp oil may cause nausea, vomiting, and mild diarrhea. When trying anything for the first time, it is best to take a small dose, wait a couple hours, and see if that amount was right for you. Aside from the health related side effects, there are other precautions we must warn you before using hemp seed oil.
We must mention once again that hemp seed oil’s high fat content makes it highly flammable, and can also pose an issue on shelf life. Try to keep your hemp seed oil in a cool dry place, never near an open flame, and in the refrigerator especially when opened. Stale hemp seed oil that isn’t stored properly may taste and smell rancid due to the exposure to oxygen.
It should be safe to say that you now have a pretty good knowledge of hemp seed oil. When you browse online or in the store and stumble across some hemp oil, you can check the list of ingredients and know that if it contains hemp seed oil, you know what to expect. What about CBD oil? If we check the list of ingredients in any hemp oil and it includes CBD, it is best to do your due diligence on knowing what CBD is before you decide if that hemp oil is right for you.
What is CBD Oil?
CBD oil is any hemp oil that contains the active ingredient, CBD. CBD, is not a mixture, but an isolated molecule extracted from hemp plants, not seeds. Unlike hemp seed oil, CBD on its own contains zero nutritional value and hardly any flavor. However, when compared to hemp seed oil, CBD oil also has similar potential health benefits. CBD is a cannabinoid, and all cannabinoids react with our endocannabinoid system within our body. When reacting with cannabinoids like CBD, our endocannabinoid system influences our body to undergo mental and physical changes to better regulate cardiovascular circulation, depression, anxiety, and chronic pain and inflammation. When CBD is advertised, it can take many forms. In its rawest form, CBD can take the shape of a solid crystal, powder, or viscous oil. When people talk about CBD oil, they can either mean pure CBD in its oil form, or CBD mixed with a fatty solvent like coconut oil to make a more utilized product.
How is CBD oil made?
CBD is extracted from the stalks, leaves, and flowers of cannabis plants. By undergoing various extraction methods, CBD is distilled from both hemp and marijuana to its most potent level. Raw CBD is usually distilled to its oil form, which can then be turned into a crystal or powder. With raw CBD, we can mix it into different products without any change in flavor. CBD oil products are made by mixing CBD with various carrier oils like coconut oil, vegetable oil, olive oil, butter, and of course, hemp seed oil. These carrier oils act as a solvent for CBD, and allow it to form a consistent mixture due to their high fat content. Depending on which carrier oil you use to mix CBD will determine how you will be applying CBD as a product.
How is CBD Oil Used?
Now that you know what CBD oil is, and how it can be easily misinterpreted, it is important to know the wide variety of CBD products out there. Some of the most popular types of CBD products containing CBD oil are edibles like gummies or beverages, and tinctures like our CBD oils.
At Mints, we provide CBD in several ways. If you would like it on its own, we have CBD isolate available in a powder form. This isolate powder is pure CBD, and is perfect for mixing into any fatty mixture to make your own hemp oil. We have also taken the liberty of mixing our isolate with coconut oil to make a premixed CBD oil that is ready to use orally. Lastly, we have also mixed our CBD into hemp seed oil, giving you the best of both!
Potential Benefits of CBD Oil
Many studies have been taken to determine the health benefits behind CBD. Because CBD is found to be reactive with our endocannabinoid system, we have found CBD to put our bodies into a state of homeostasis, in which we are able to regulate our mood, temperature, cognitive function, and muscle repair.
There is a ton of research put into CBD and its benefits. Some of which include treating chronic pains, seizures, anxiety, inflammation, digestion, stress, and insomnia. Despite the countless studies behind CBD, more research is required to further validate these health benefits. On the same coin, there has also been tests to see if there are any risks behind CBD as well.
Potential Risks and Side Effects of CBD Oil
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) poses several health risks behind consuming CBD in any for. These risks and side effects include decreased liver function, increased risk of drowsiness when combined with other substances such as alcohol, and potential gastrointestinal issues. Like the benefits behind CBD, the risks also require more research.
It is easy to see how CBD oil and hemp seed oil can be confused with each other, especially when the products on the shelves label both of them as hemp oil. Once again, it is important to note the list of ingredients in all hemp oil products to see whether they contain CBD, hemp seed oil, or both. Until there is more regulation over the labeling of these type of hemp products, it is important to stay informed on what these different ingredients do to best improve our health and daily living.
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