Hemp seed oil vs. CBD oil: don't fall for this shady marketing trick

CBD and hemp seed oils are often marketed as the exact same thing, but they are very different.  They are two different substances that come from the same plant but one contains CBD while the other one doesn’t.  It may sound like a minor detail, but it actually makes a big difference when it comes to the health benefits associated with hemp. CBD is also much more expensive to produce than hemp seed oil.

Unfortunately, some shady companies play on the fact that consumers are not aware of the differences so you really need to educate yourself on the differences between hemp seed oil and CBD.  Read on to find out how. 

 

What are the differences between Hemp seed oil and CBD oil?

The main confusion lies in the fact that hemp seed oil is made from the seeds of the hemp plant while CBD oil is derived from the whole plant including the plant’s flower -  where all the cannabinoids, terpenes and flavonoids are present.

Below is a table which outlines the main differences between hemp seed oil and CBD oil

	CBD oil	Hemp seed oil
Source	Leaves and flowers of hemp plant	Seeds of hemp plant
Produced	via Co2 extracted	Cold pressed seeds
CBD & THC	High concentrations of CBD and up to .3% THC	No CBD (or miniscule) and no THC
Ingredients	Rich in cannabinoids, terpenes, flavonoids and other co-nutrients	Rich in essential fatty acids, vitamin E, magnesium, protein and omega 3’s, 6’s.
Price	Expensive	Cheap
Uses	Tinctures, oils, capsules, pastes and creams are among its most popular uses	Similar to olive oil, used  in foods and dressings. Sometimes as ingredient for skin creams

How to tell the difference between hemp seed oil and CBD 

Make sure you look at the ingredients at the back of your product. You are looking to see:

CBD extract/oil or Hemp extract to make sure there is CBD in the product. 

What makes it often confusing for customers is that hemp extract (the actual CBD) is often mixed with hemp seed oil as a carrier oil. 

As long as you are seeing the CBD oil or hemp extract, you are assured you are getting the right CBD product. Of course, it would be a good idea to check the Certificate of Analysis also. 

You can see the Endoca raw oil, it shows both CBD and hemp seed oil: 

 

Hemp seed oil benefits

While hemp seed oil or hemp oil may lack CBD, it still has a significant number of health benefits:

Hemp oil promotes healthy skin.

A study done in 2005 compared taking olive oil with hemp seed oil for atopic dermatitis and concluded that dietary hempseed oil improved clinical symptoms of atopic dermatitis, reducing dryness and itchiness.

Hemp oil is a great source of many essential nutrients

Hemp seed oil contains just the right balance of omega 3 and 6, as well as magnesium, protein and vitamin E.

Magnesium is a really important mineral to be consuming and we encourage everyone to educate themselves on how to choose a good magnesium supplement 

If you do not consume enough magnesium or omega rich foods, hemp oil might be a great addition to your daily diet. 

Hemp oil is antibacterial

A study done in 2017 also showed that hemp seed oil has some antibacterial properties. 

Conclusion

Hemp seed oil and hemp extract (CBD) are often marketed as the same thing but they are very different.

Make sure you check the ingredients and/or certificate of analysis to see that there is CBD or hemp extract in your product before buying it.