Many of you might be asking whether hemp oil and hemp seed oil are the same thing. Can you use either one of them to treat conditions that cannabis and cannabidiol (CBD) or tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) are believed to treat? Do they have the same medical benefits?
Let’s see and find out!
What is hemp seed oil?
Hemp seed oil is produced by pressing hemp seeds together until they excrete natural oils. And because only the seeds are used in the process, this oil does not contain CBD, THC, or any other cannabinoids that are found in most other parts of the hemp plant, including the leaves, the flowers, and the stalks.
However, this does not mean that hemp seed oil does not have its own list of health benefits. In fact, hemo seed oil has a high nutritional value.
For one, hemp seeds are considered one of the best sources of protein. They are also very rich in essential amino acids, Vitamin E, and fatty acides Omega 3, 6 and 9.
What is hemp oil?
Hemp oil, on the other hand, is the oil extracted from the leaves, flowers, and stalks of the hemp plant. It has an abundance of cannabinoids, or the natural active ingredients associated with cannabis.
The hemp plant normally has very high CBD content and low or zero THC. This means that hemp strains are mostly used for industrial and therapeutic purposes than recreational.
In contrast, marijuana strains are very high in THC and are cultivated mainly for recreational purposes. THC is the psychoactive ingredient in cannabis and is what creates the high.
What’s more, the cannabinoids found in the hemp plant interact with our endocannabinoid system, which enables our body to function at an optimal level.
Hemp root oil
To avoid further confusion, there is also another kind of oil extracted from hemp. It is called hemp root oil.
The roots do not contain THC but there is evidence that they have CBD. Hemp roots also contains the terpenes friedelin, epifriedelanol, and pentacyclic triterpene ketones. Friedelin is believed to have hepatoprotective or liver-protecting and antioxidant effects. Meanwhile, epifriedelanol has been demonstrated to possess anti-tumor properties. Several pentacyclic triterpene ketones, on the other hand, are believed to cause apoptosis in cancer cells, as well as reduce pain, inflammation, and bacterial infection. The roots also possess diuretic and immunomodulatory properties.
Several alkaloids have also been identified in hemp roots. These are the alkaloids piperidine and pyrrolidine, which can be toxic in high doses, but have been found to have medical benefits in smaller doses. Piperidine, for one, is used as a chemical ‘building block’ for different drugs, especially those involved in psychiatric medicine. Pyrrolidine, on the other hand, is also used as building block for racetams, which is a class of stimulant drugs.
The roots also contain small quantities of choline and atropine. Choline is a dietary nutrient that is thought to be crucial in the maintenance of healthy cell membranes. Atropine is known as a way to relax the eye muscles and dilate the pupil. It also has bronchodilatory properties and is used to up the heart rate during medical resuscitation.
Is there a way to combined the benefits of hemp seed oil and hemp oil?
Yes, there is. To take advantage of both the benefits of hemp oil and hemp seed oil, you can utilize the entire hemp plant. The pure oil extracted from all parts of the hemp plant — seeds, leaves, flowers, and stalks — is called full-spectrum hemp oil.
Full-spectrum hemp oil contains CBD, THC, and other cannabinoids like cannabinol (CBN), cannabigerol (CBG), and cannabidiolic acid (CBDa). It also has essential vitamins (A, C, E, and B complex), minerals, protein, fatty acids, fiber, beta-carotene, chlorophyll, flavonoids, and terpenes — all working synergistically to encourage homeostasis, or balance in our health.
The minerals found in full-spectrum hemp oil include magnesium, calcium, potassium, zinc, iron, and phosphorous. These minerals are very essential in a wide variety of bodily functions, as well as in nerve function, matabolic processes, bone development, and blood, skin, and hair health.
Meanwhile, the protein found in hemp is essential in building and repairing tissues. Full-spectrum hemp oil also has the nine essential amino acids and the fatty acids that help maintain heart and cardiovascular health.