Different Types of Hemp Oil and CBD Oil

It can be a little confusing when purchasing hemp oil or CBD oil, as there are many different kinds available. Read on to learn about the different types.

If you haven’t been living under a rock for the past few years, then you’ve heard about the rising popularity of CBD and hemp oil.

And if you haven’t, welcome to the party – the CBD market is expected to skyrocket by 2020.

Of course, there’s not just one type of oil out there. Keep reading to find out about what hemp and CBD oil are, their benefits and the types of oil that could help you.

What is CBD Oil and Hemp Oil?

Before we get ahead of ourselves: what are hemp and CBD oil?

Well, for starters, they’re not actually the same thing.

CBD vs Hemp: What’s the Difference?

There’s CBD oil, hemp oil, and CBD hemp oil. Let’s break it down.

CBD, or cannabidiol, is a cannabis compound with little or no THC (for those who are late to the show, that’s the part of cannabis that gets you the typical marijuana effects).

This makes it appealing for those who want the benefits of cannabis without the side effects that come associated with it, especially patients looking for pain treatments.

Hemp is a different animal (or plant), though it is related to CBD. Hemp is a non-psychoactive variant of the cannabis plant (like CBD) and is part of the same cannabis species, Cannabis sativa. However, hemp and CBD come from different strains of the plant, which means they’re genetically distinct.

The big difference between the two is that while both are low in THC, hemp oil has almost no CBD content, which makes it functionally useless for medical purposes. CBD, as evidenced by the name, has a high CBD content.

Effects of CBD and Hemp

As we’ve said, CBD and hemp have different properties, which means they’re going to have different effects.

As we’ve also said, hemp has little to no CBD to speak of, which makes it useless for medical purposes that CBD is used for – namely, pain relief.

CBD acts on the body’s endocannabinoid system, which regulates things from mood to appetite to pain regulation and immune response.

Benefits of CBD

Gotta get those cannabidiols.

CBD oil, which contains high levels of CBD, is best known for its pain-relieving properties, as well as its success as a muscle relaxant. This is especially helpful for cancer patients, patients with immune disorders, seizures and more.

It has also been used for patients with Parkinson’s disease, specifically to treat the related depression, stress, lack of appetite and pain that come with the disease. Or, in patients with schizophrenia, various strains can be used alongside psychiatric medication to manage depression and stress.

And, in case you haven’t made that conclusion yet, some strains can be used to help manage some symptoms of clinical depression.

Benefits of Hemp Oil

Then, there’s hemp.

You might be wondering what good it is if you can’t use it for the usual ailments that CBD is used for.

Actually, hemp is used in ways you haven’t considered yet.

For one thing, hemp has a number of antioxidants and vitamins packed in it, plus all the amino acids (actually, all of them). Alongside the low CBD and THC content, that makes hemp a good (if unorthodox) way to slip in all that extra good stuff without getting high in the process.

The oil also contains 14 grams of fat per serving, only one of which is saturated, which makes it a great substitute for animal fats like butter and lard to cut down on your risk of high cholesterol and heart disease.

Plus, it contains several factors that actively lower your cholesterol levels, like sisterol, or tocopherols, which have antioxidant properties which protect your cells from damage and degeneration.

And there’s a 3-to-1 ratio of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, which helps reduce your risk of cancer, inflammation and blood clots.

If you’re feeling really off the wall, you can even make use of the nutty flavor to saute vegetables (pro tip: don’t fry them, as hemp loses its flavor and quality anywhere north of 160 degrees Fahrenheit).

So while hemp isn’t a pain reliever, it is all kinds of good for you, which is more than worth your time.

Where to Buy It and What to Look For

Now, it’s high time for a real talk about hemp and CBD oil.

Laws regarding hemp and CBD are in flux at the moment. In 2016, the DEA classified CBD as a Schedule 1 drug, which means it has no recognized medicinal purposes and a high potential for abuse.

So although it is technically legal in some states, the apparatus for buying CBD and hemp is still up in the air. Your best bet is to check your state’s laws on buying and possession first, then buy from a licensed dispensary.

Types of Hemp Oil

No such thing as one oil fits all.

Really, the type of oil that suits you depends on what you want the oil for in the first place. That will change what goes into the oil and, thus, what effects you’ll get out of it.

We go through six types of hemp oil here. These can come in a variety of forms, from a straight oil to a tincture to a salve or a capsule.

Again, it depends on your personal preferences and what you want that oil to accomplish for you.

Here are six oils to consider the next time you go shopping.

Refined Hemp Oil

Refined oil is, as you might guess, clear and colorless. It’s been bleached and deodorized, which grants it a much longer shelf-life than its unrefined counterpart.

Tragically, the refining process also strips the oil of many of the vitamins and antioxidants hemp is usually packed with. Which makes sense when you realize that it’s used for body products, lubricants, fuel, even plastics.

Unrefined Hemp Oil

Then, there’s unrefined hemp oil.

Unlike refined oil, this stuff has a color and a smell. Nutty, to be exact. It has all the benefits of hemp, but if it smells funky after you just bought it, you can assume that the can was in storage for a while.

CBD Hemp Oil

Basically, the combination of all the good stuff.

Unlike your usual hemp, this oil includes a high concentration of CBD with all the usual benefits that go along with hemp.

This means the oil has all the benefits that go along with your typical CBD oil, including relief for seizures, multiple sclerosis, and chemotherapy recovery.

Unsurprisingly, this is one of the fastest growing sectors of the hemp industry.

Hemp Essential Oil

It’s hemp, but a little more…essential.

Unlike other oils, the essential oil is derived from the upper leaves and flowers, which captures a strong therapeutic aroma. Fair warning, though – this stuff isn’t cheap. It takes about fifty pounds of hemp to produce just one ounce of essential oil.

All that for no THC or CBD anywhere.

That said, the oil works wonders to relieve stress in the central nervous system. It’s sweet, peppery, and earthy, and it does a great job of relieving stress.

Because the oil itself is so pricey, you’re more likely to encounter it in candles or therapeutic oils in low doses.

Organic vs Nonorganic Oil

The organic versus nonorganic fight continues, even outside of Whole Foods.

Here’s the scoop. Hemp has a lot of great properties for your health. But like any other plant you consume, you have to consider what chemicals went into growing it (if you’re the type to worry about things like that).

If you’re antsy about the process that went into getting that hemp oil in front of you (translation: chemicals galore) then you might want to look for hemp products that are certified organic. At a minimum, make sure you’re buying from a seller or dispensary that you trust.

Medicinal Oil

A refresher, for those who haven’t been paying attention: regular hemp doesn’t have any CBD, which means it isn’t particularly useful, medicinally speaking.

Medicinal oil does have CBD (otherwise, you aren’t getting the benefits that come along with it) so pure hemp oil doesn’t qualify as medicinal oil.

The extraction process is important here because you want an oil that’s high in cannabidiols, so your best bet is an oil made using supercritical CO2 extraction.

As a rule, with medicinal oil, you’ll want to buy your oil from a trusted dispensary that put their oil through lab tests first – don’t gamble with your health on cheap oil from who-knows-where.