Hemp is an incredibly versatile plant with hundreds of potential uses, if not thousands. CBD and cannabinoids are just one possible thing that can come from hemp, specifically CBD oil or full spectrum hemp oil pressed from the buds or flowers. Another source of oil from the hemp plant is the seeds, which can be pressed into hemp oil, also known as hempseed oil. So what is the difference between CBD oil and hemp oil?
Are Hemp Oil and CBD Oil The Same?
While hempseed oil (or hemp oil) and full spectrum hemp oil/cbd oil are both oils, there are no cannabinoids in hempseed oil. That is because nearly all the cannabinoids in the hemp plant are in the flowers or buds of the plant, not the seeds or stems. Since hempseed oil is made from the seeds of the hemp plant it is naturally free of cannabinoids like CBD. So if there are no cannabinoids in hempseed oil what is in it?
Hempseed Oil
Hempseed oil has been around for decades and it is a food ingredient, and while hempseed oil does not contain CBD or other cannabinoids, it does contain a large amount of Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids, two healthy unsaturated fats which contain amino acids.
Scientific studies suggest that Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids can soothe inflammation and ease dermatitis. Research has also shown that Omega 6 can have major benefits for people trying to lose weight, especially if consumed with the right balance of Omega 3, and it just happens that hemp has the perfect 3:1 ratio. The linoleic acid and oleic acids in hemp oil also may possess anti-aging effects.
CBD Oil vs Hemp Oil: Is there CBD in Hemp oil?
When the oil is pressed from the buds or flowers of the plant, rather than the seeds, then it will be rich in cannabinoids, including CBD. When most people are talking about cannabinoid-rich hemp oils they say “CBD oil,” but that is not always an accurate statement anymore, as many hemp products are full or broad spectrum products. While the dated term “CBD oil” implies just the presence of CBD, and no other cannabinoids, the selling point of broad and full spectrum products is their addition of the full (or nearly full) range of cannabinoids and other chemicals in the hemp plant like CBG, CBN, THCv, THCa, and over a hundred others.
What Does Full Spectrum CBD Oil Mean?
First, what is the difference between full spectrum and broad spectrum CBD? “Full spectrum” means is that the CBD product contains the full spectrum of cannabinoids, including THC, though legally to be hemp that THC must remain below 0.3%. Even at those very low levels, some residual benefits from the THC could be noticed, but there is absolutely no chance of euphoria (feeling high). Broad spectrum is a similar concept, they contain a wide range of cannabinoids, except broad spectrum products do not contain any detectable THC. Despite their lack of THC, broad spectrum CBD products do still include the full range of other cannabinoids, terpenes, alkaloids, and flavonoids.
Since hempseed oil and full spectrum hemp oil are different ingredients made from different parts of the hemp plant, it is possible for a product to include both, and many topical hemp products do.
The Entourage Effect and CBD Oil
The reason people are increasingly turning to broad or full spectrum hemp products is because of something commonly known as the Entourage Effect. Simply put, the Entourage Effect says that the more cannabinoids and other chemicals you have working together the stronger the benefits. Since it was first identified, numerous articles have been released supporting the Entourage Effect.
While many studies have been released supporting the existence of an Entourage Effect, there has also been a study showing an absence of an Entourage Effect between THC and some terpenes. Despite the wide consensus that the Entourage Effect is real, there is some debate around if “Entourage” is the right word to use, with some experts preferring the term “Ensemble Effect.”
At the core of the debate is the idea that an entourage implies one molecule is the leader and the others are following along, whereas an ensemble, like with music, depends on all component parts to harmonize and function properly.
Why Does Water-Soluble CBD Matter?
Just like using a full spectrum hemp elixir product takes CBD to the next level, using water soluble colloid delivery allows you to take your full spectrum experience to the next level by increasing bioavailability. Our bodies are not perfect for processing CBD and other things, and bioavailability is what amount of something, like CBD, is actually available to your body after you ingest it.
A big way to increase the bioavailability and the speed at which CBD and other cannabinoids take effect is by using water soluble CBD with nano-encapsulation technology. The patented water soluble colloid delivery in the products in Ojai Energetics’ CBD Starter Kit allow for people to reach an effective dosage of cannabinoids using significantly less oil. Beyond CBD and cannabinoids, colloidal technology improves terpene delivery and allows for ingestible products that actually feel like strains.
