Hemp Oil: What Is It and How to Use It
People are using CBD or hemp oil for all conceivable reasons these days, from skin health to managing anxiety. There are even some CBD-approved medications to control resistant forms of epilepsy in children or manage symptoms of multiple sclerosis.
Along with this, one should not forget that people also use cannabis for recreation.
Consumers often find it confusing to navigate the many different terms used to describe cannabis products. Sometimes, it becomes almost impossible to understand the difference between the two products.
So, is CBD oil and hemp oil the same? Well, maybe, but usually not. So, how to know when CBD oil and hemp oil are the same and when they indicate quite a different product? This comprehensive guide will clarify all the concepts so that consumers can always choose the right kind of products.
To start with, one must know that both hemp and marijuana are plants of the cannabis species. Marijuana, for example, contains high levels of mind-altering THC, making it popular for recreational use and the production of licensed medications. Authorities tightly regulate its cultivation.
On the other hand, hemp is a variety of cannabis low in THC. It is mainly used for industrial purposes, producing fiber, animal feed, and legal CBD oil. All the parts of this plant are usable. In contrast, both hemp seed oil and CBD oil come from legally cultivated hemp plants, which contain only trace amounts of THC.
What Is Hemp Oil & How Does it Differ from CBD Oil?
Since both CBD oil and products made from hemp come from legally cultivated low-THC cannabis, telling the difference between them can be confusing.
Let’s clarify: CBD oil is extracted from the hemp plant’s stalks, flowers, and leaves. In contrast, hemp seed oil is pressed solely from the seeds.
Because hemp seeds naturally lack both THC and CBD, oils derived from them contain no cannabinoids. However, to confuse consumers, many online sellers omit the word "seed," advertising products simply as "hemp oil." It’s important to know that in most cases, this term refers to hemp seed oil — a CBD-free product.
On the other hand, oils made from hemp flowers, leaves, or stalks are rich in CBD and other cannabinoids, qualifying as true CBD oil.
Consumers should remember that CBD oil contains measurable amounts of CBD and possibly other cannabinoids, while seed-derived oils do not — unless the label explicitly states CBD content.
For example, when browsing sites like Amazon, you might find products claiming "500,000 mg" or "1,000,000 mg of hemp extract." In most cases, this only reflects the quantity of hemp seed oil, not CBD. Manufacturers often highlight these large numbers to mislead shoppers into thinking the product is rich in cannabinoids.
The takeaway? When buying any CBD product, always check that the label clearly states the amount of CBD per bottle or per serving.
What Is Hemp Oil Used For?
When people talk about hemp oil, they usually mean hemp seed oil — a product that contains no CBD.
But then, why use it at all?
There are plenty of good reasons. You should view hemp seed oil as an entirely different supplement from CBD products. People value it mainly for its high omega-3 fatty acid content. Research shows it’s rich in polyunsaturated fats, with a healthy 3:1 ratio of omega-6 to omega-3, known to help lower inflammation and reduce the risk of metabolic disorders.
Beyond its fatty acid profile, this nutrient-packed oil is an excellent source of antioxidants, particularly various tocopherols. It’s especially high in γ-tocopherol, which may provide additional metabolic health benefits.
Thanks to these properties, hemp seed oil — much like fish or krill oil — can support heart health, help lower cholesterol, improve mental well-being, protect against neurodegenerative diseases, boost eye health, slow aging, and fight inflammation.
In short, it's an outstanding vegan-friendly option for those seeking more omega-3s and antioxidants in their diet.
Is Hemp Oil Legal?
It is essential to understand that hemp oil, which means hemp seed oil, is a completely different product from CBD oil. It would be good to visualize hemp oil as a healthy, vegan-friendly, edible oil. Thus, it does not share many traits with CBD oil, except that both are extracted from the same plant but from very different parts of the plant.
Europeans have traditionally not consumed CBD or various parts of the cannabis plant as part of a regular diet. Thus, regulatory bodies classify CBD and related products as novel food. Something Europeans started consuming after 15 May 1997.
On the contrary to CBD and related products, Europeans have used hemp industrially for ages, and they have also consumed hemp seed oil. Virgin hemp seed oil is not a new food product for Europeans, and it has been a part of the regular diet in some parts of the continent.
Since it is not novel to Europeans, it is naturally free of CBD and THC, which means that it is entirely legal to import, produce, sell, and consume hemp seed oil in the EU. Therefore, it does not pose any health threat to the population and is a healthy food product with many health benefits.
Does Hemp Oil Contain CBD?
In practice, hemp oil is just a short term used for hemp seed oil, which is naturally CBD free. It does not contain any cannabinoids. Like any healthy vegetable oil, it is rich in polyunsaturated fats having an excellent ratio of omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids, high content of tocopherols, and other antioxidants.
It may contain CBD in traces only due to cross-contamination. It may contain CBD if it has been added to it intentionally. Thus, if it does not mention the total CBD content, it means that it is CBD-free.
CBD oil also comes from hemp, but to differentiate the products, oil extracted from the stalks, leaves, and flowers is labeled as CBD oil, not hemp oil.
Moreover, it is worth understanding that extracting oil from leaves and stalks is completely different from seed oil from seeds. One may even extract seed oil through cold pressing or applying pressure. However, extracting oil from other plant parts needs the use of special techniques like CO2 extraction, hydrocarbon extraction, and more.
Does Hemp Oil Cause Weight Gain?
If someone uses hemp oil as a health supplement, it is not likely to cause weight gain, as one would consume only a few drops or milliliters of it a day.
However, quite like other healthy vegetable oils, hemp oil is safe to consume in more significant amounts. It is worth understanding that oils have twice more calories per gram than carbs or proteins. It means that consuming any oil in large quantities will ultimately lead to obesity.
Moreover, it is worth knowing that although it is a good source of omega-3 fatty acids, it is also rich in omega-6 fatty acids, which are more likely to cause weight gain when consumed in larger amounts.
How To Extract Hemp Oil from Seeds
Extracting hemp seed oil is quite simple. Manufacturers use cold pressing, applying massive pressure to the seeds to release the oil, all at room temperature.
The leftover material, known as hemp cake, is also put to good use. Producers turn it into food supplements and animal feed, thanks to its high protein, dietary fiber, and nutrient content.
Extracting oil from the seed is much simpler than CBD oil extraction from leaves or stalks. It is because seeds, once dried, mainly contain oil and have a very low moisture level. Leaves and stalks, on the other hand, had a low oil content and high moisture. Moreover, one needs to separate CBD from other oils. Thus, requiring the use of more specific techniques like CO2 extraction or hydrocarbon extraction, and so on.
Conclusion
To conclude, though both CBD oil and hemp oil are by-products of the same plant, nevertheless, they are entirely different products. Thus, manufacturers extract CBD or other cannabinoids mainly from cannabis plant leaves, stalks, and flowers. However, the source of hemp oil is the seeds of the plant.
Moreover, hemp oil or hemp seed oil is naturally CBD and THC-free. It is mainly a source of essential fatty acids like omega-3 fatty acids and thus has very different kinds of health benefits when compared to CBD oil. Additionally, extracting it, selling, and importing it is it is legal almost in all the nations. Unlike CBD oil, hemp oil is not a novel food, which means that starting a business does not require much documentation.
About us
At Essentia Pura, we specialize in manufacturing high-quality white-label and private-label CBD products, helping businesses launch their own unique CBD brands. With cutting-edge hemp extraction methods and a commitment to compliance and quality, we support companies in the nutraceutical, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries. Whether you’re looking for ready-to-market formulations or custom solutions, we’re here to help you succeed in the growing CBD market.