CBD oil vs hemp seed oil

CBD oil and hemp seed oil – two trending skincare and health products in their own right. As they come from the same plant species, cannabis sativa, these two oils are often thought to be the same thing. In fact, some companies may purposefully market products as either CBD or hemp oil incorrectly to either get around regulations or to capitalise upon CBD’s modern ubiquity. However, these oils are certainly distinct. 

In this article, we discuss the differences between CBD oil and hemp oil and why these products are deemed useful.

Hemp seed oil

Often listed on packaging as cannabis sativa seed oil, hemp seed oil, as the name suggests, is obtained from hemp seeds only, meaning that hemp seed oil contains negligible amounts of CBD, if any at all.

Hemp oil is significantly cheaper than CBD oil as there are no discernible medical benefits to the substance, although this doesn’t mean hemp oil is useless. In fact, hemp seed oil has been used for years as an ingredient in skincare products due to its moisturising properties. These moisturising properties are likely due to hemp seed oil’s fatty acid make-up, with omega-3 and -6 contributing to this effect. With these properties, many consider hemp seed oil an effective treatment for skin conditions like eczema and consider it beneficial generally in skincare due to its comedogenic rating of zero (meaning moisturisation can occur without clogging the pores or leading to excess oil production). 

Additionally, hemp seed oil is believed to be anti-inflammatory due to the GLA (gamma linoleic acid) within it, leading to many suggesting that the substance can help with inflammation that occurs during menopause. This usefulness in aiding inflammatory conditions is something hemp oil shares with CBD oil. 

CBD oil

The rise of CBD oil in recent years has been inescapable. And it seems to be in everything. But what actually is CBD oil?

CBD oil is an oil obtained from the stalks, flowers and leaves of the hemp plant. This is where the cannabidiol in the plant is found. 

Much like hemp oil, CBD oil has strong anti-inflammatory properties, meaning it is viewed as a useful treatment for skin conditions like psoriasis, eczema and rashes. CBD also has a large number of antioxidants in its make-up, perhaps suggesting why it has been adopted in a huge number of skincare products as of late.

How to tell which oil you’re actually getting

While there is a problem in the current market whereby companies are trying to market products as hemp or CBD oil interchangeably despite the differences between the two, there is a way to tell which oil you’re actually getting in your product. Simply look at the packaging of your product and see which of these ingredient names is listed. 

• Hemp seed oil may be listed as: cannabis sativa seed oil. 
• CBD oil may be listed as: cannabidiol, PCR hemp extract (phytocannabinoid rich hemp extract) or full-spectrum hemp.            

Have you got any more questions about CBD oil or hemp seed oil? Let us know in the comments below or on our social media and we’ll get back to you with some answers. 

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We only recommend taking CBD or hemp oil following a consultation with a medical professional, and cannot and do not advise patients on the recreational use of any cannabis-based products. 

At Lyphe, our GMC registered specialists will identify the appropriate cannabis medicine care plan and products for patients following a comprehensive assessment which includes an in-depth evaluation of the main symptoms being targeted, current medications, pattern of symptoms and lifestyle factors such as safety-sensitive occupations. 

They will also monitor and adjust the medication on a regular basis to ensure the best effect with fewest side effects. There is also a carefully designed process in place to monitor patients’ well-being, with follow-up appointments after a week and then every month, for three months after receiving a prescription.

To book an appointment with on of our specialists click here.