Hemp has changed the wellness world. Here is everything you need to know about Hemp, CBD, and the products made from them.
Table of Contents
What is the difference between Hemp and CBD?
What is the difference between THC and CBD?
The FDA has approved Hemp but not CBD, what does that mean?
What does “full-spectrum” and “broad-spectrum” mean?
What are the benefits of Hemp Extract?
What is Hemp Extract?
Hemp extract is the naturally occurring botanical oil extracted from the cannabis plant. The cannabis plant is pressed, and the pale green oil is extracted. Once the oil is isolated and purified it’s commonly called pure hemp seed oil, or industrial hemp seed oil. Hemp seed oil is full of beneficial organic compounds and its therapeutic properties have been known for centuries. Now hemp seed oil has been rediscovered by the wellness community and its popularity has grown to include countless products and supplements like hemp face masks, shower gels, and even personal lubricants.
Hemp Extract or Hemp Extract Oil are different names for pure hemp seed oil, the primary ingredient in both Hemp and CBD products. Pure organic hemp seed oil is approved by the FDA for over-the-counter use and contains a unique mixture of natural plant-based compounds that combine to produce multiple therapeutic and medicinal benefits.
What’s the difference between Hemp and CBD?
There are different ways of extracting oil from the cannabis plant. Hemp seed oil is harvested by pressing the seeds of the Cannabis Sativa plant into an unrefined greenish oil. There is little to no CBD in the seeds, and the oil is used mainly for a wide variety of therapeutic, cosmetic, and nutritional products, as well as industrial uses not associated with wellness.
When hemp oil is extracted from the entire hemp plant, including the stalk, leaves, and flowers, a specific compound called CBD is present. CBD is an abbreviation for Cannabidiol, one of many compounds in the cannabis plant called cannabinoids. Essentially the only difference between Hemp and CBD products of the same type is the presence of the single cannabinoid that gives CBD products their namesake, Cannabidiol. This is why often you will find a hemp and a CBD version of the same product – they are identical save for the CBD version contains Cannabidiol.
In the wellness industry products that contain CBD usually say CBD prominently, while those with no CBD are referred to as Hemp Products. Again, the only difference is the presence or absence of the one compound, Cannabidiol. You will notice that Hemp products (without CBD) have all sorts of health benefits associated with them, while the same CBD products have almost no benefits associated with them. This is because of the current status of CBD products with the FDA. More on that below.
What is the difference between THC and CBD?
Cannabis is the plant that you may think of when you hear about the drug Marijuana. Marijuana is actually a separate species of the Cannabis Sativa plant. The Marijuana species of Cannabis contains a compound called THC, the Hemp species of Cannabis does not.
The cannabis plant contains over 100 chemical compounds and is grouped according to the presence or absence of specific chemical compounds including THC and CBD. In the marijuana species, THC is present. THC stands for tetrahydrocannabinol and is the chemical compound that causes a psychoactive “high” historically associated with Cannabis. It is found in higher amounts in the marijuana plant.
Substances containing THC have psychoactive properties, but Hemp and CBD products do not, and using them will not result in the emotional “high” associated with marijuana. Cannabis products that contain THC are also controlled substances tightly regulated by state laws. Products that contain THC are sold in some states in regulated dispensaries but generally, THC-containing products are legally and commercially distinct from wellness products made from hemp extract. Products made from hemp extract are not regulated by laws and are completely legal to use and purchase. They’re also sold “over-the-counter” which means no medical prescription is needed to purchase them from stores and online retailers. Likewise, CBD products are 100% legal to purchase in the US.
The FDA has approved Hemp but not CBD, what does that mean?
Another fundamental difference between Hemp and CBD products is essentially all Hemp products have been approved by the FDA for over-the-counter use, while products containing CBD have not. This important distinction means both are still legal to buy and use, but the therapeutic benefits of CBD, whatever they may be, are not approved or endorsed by the FDA. Until the FDA gives CBD the same broad approval for therapeutic use as Hemp, retailers of CBD products are hesitant to make any sort of claims as to how they will benefit users.
This is why you hear so little about the actual therapeutic benefits of CBD. The FDA does not allow medical or therapeutic claims to be made about supplements they have not approved for over-the-counter use. This does not mean that CBD products have no therapeutic or health benefits, it means that research is ongoing, and retailers are waiting for approval before listing the numerous benefits of CBD.
While we wait for the FDA to approve CBD products, it’s important to remember two facts. First, CBD products are nearly chemically identical to their Hemp counterparts, so it’s reasonable to assume you will get the same health benefits, plus whatever therapeutic benefits CBD may offer as well. Second, CBD products are 100% completely legal and millions of people are using them and reporting a multitude of benefits.
What does “full-spectrum” and “broad-spectrum” mean?
When learning about hemp extract and products made from hemp, you may hear the terms “full-spectrum” and “broad-spectrum”. Full-Spectrum is a term that means the product in question contains compounds from the entire cannabis plant, including THC. The term full-spectrum arose as a way to describe and market products that contain THC, and distance them from the negative connotations of Marijuana and drug use. Cannabis extracts with THC are regulated by law, so it’s important to know when you hear the term “full-spectrum” the product has all the benefits associated with hemp but also contains THC, which may result in a psychoactive “high” and may show up on drug tests.
“Broad-Spectrum” means the product has everything BUT the THC, an important legal and commercial distinction from Full-Spectrum products. Broad-Spectrum products still contain all the naturally occurring ingredients found in the Cannabis plant, including essential vitamins, minerals, Omega fatty acids, flavonoids, chlorophyll, and terpenes – but all traces of THC have been removed, making it completely legal to buy and use. You cannot get high from broad-spectrum products, and they are not controlled by the same laws and restrictions. If you don’t want any psychoactive effects or traces of THC in your system, but still want all the possible ingredients found in the cannabis plant, this is the choice for you.
What are the benefits of Hemp Extract?
The therapeutic, medicinal, and health benefits of the hemp plant have been known for hundreds of years among cultures across the world. Hemp has been used for generations as a natural healing remedy, nutritional supplement, and medicinal ointment. Recently its popularity has exploded as the wellness community embraced Hemp extract as a natural and holistic treatment used in balms, lotions, tinctures for everything from pain to beauty products. The surge in the popularity of hemp extract coincided with FDA recently approving hemp products for over-the-counter therapeutic use. Now products made from hemp extract can be found everywhere in the health and wellness marketplace, sold by both traditional stores and online sellers.
The Cannabis Plant is unique in how many naturally occurring therapeutic compounds it contains. Hemp extract and hemp seed oil are full of beneficial compounds like fatty acids, antioxidants, omega 3s, moisturizers, and anti-inflammatories. These natural ingredients combine to offer an amazing array of health and therapeutic benefits to various parts of your body. Here are the main benefits of hemp extract and how they affect various parts of the body.
Pain Relief
Among the foremost benefits of Hemp extract is its use as a natural ingredient in an over-the-counter topical pain reliever. Hemp extracts such as hemp seed oil contain numerous anti-inflammatory compounds that may help to reduce inflammation in the tissue.
The family of hemp and CBD products applied to the skin for recovery is called topicals. When rubbed on the skin, the anti-inflammatory compounds in over-the-counter pain relief topicals penetrate the skin to reach the muscles and joints below, reducing inflammation of connective tissue, relieving the pain associated with arthritis, backaches, muscle, and joint pain. Users of hemp over-the-counter pain relief and CBD topical products prefer them as a more natural recovery alternative. Hemp pain relief topical products are non-addictive and do not have any negative side effects.
Skin Health
Along with its anti-inflammatory properties, Hemp extract is full of skin rejuvenating compounds that deeply moisturize and renew dry skin. It cleanses impurities, promotes healthy skin, and may help inhibit skin bacteria, all while hydrating and nourishing your skin. It is found to help with skin issues caused by excessive oil or dryness of skin by moisturizing without clogging pores which helps to balance out oily and dry skin.
Hemp extract is also full of nourishing vitamins as well as omega-6 fatty acids which act as a powerful anti-inflammatory that encourages skin growth and cell generation that can help reduce signs of aging which include lines and wrinkles. Because of its abundant skin-benefiting properties, an entire family of hemp-based beauty products has evolved to include hemp versions of nearly every type of beauty product including lotions, body washes, face masks, face cleansers, feminine products and more.
Muscle Tension & Exercise Recovery
Over-the-counter Hemp extract products not only can help muscle soreness, but they also may help the tension and tightness associated with muscle stress.
The therapeutic compounds in hemp seed oil have an anti-inflammatory effect & may aid in recovery after a workout or exercise. Exercise and other strenuous physical exertion cause microscopic damage to muscle fibers. Over-the-counter Hemp pain relief may help with soreness and helping the body recover faster after exercise. Many athletes and fitness enthusiasts use hemp supplements before and after workouts as a recovery aid.
Overall Wellness
The external uses of hemp extract are just the beginning. Hemp extracts such as pure hemp seed oil promote overall bodily wellness and equilibrium, both internally and externally. They contain an abundance of nutrients that are internally beneficial and help overall health. As a nutritional supplement, products made from hemp extract contains numerous essential vitamins like A and E and are rich in omegas and antioxidants. While hemp extract offers both internal and external wellness benefits, remember to use hemp products as directed. Products like lotions and topicals should be used externally only, while hemp-based dietary supplements and sublingual tonics are specifically designed for internal use.
Now you know! What’s next?
If you’ve read this far, you’re now a hemp extract expert. You know more than most people about this exciting family of wellness products. Cannabis and the products made from it have changed the way we think about the way natural remedies can benefit our health and lifestyle. The next step is to find the Hemp and CBD products that are right for you. A great place to start is Uncle Bud’s Hemp & CBD Product Quiz. This interactive quiz will help you find the hemp product perfect for you. Try it out here:
Uncle Bud’s Hemp has built its reputation on creating and selling high-quality, pure, premium Hemp-derived products. Our Hemp and CBD products are lab tested to ensure purity, potency, and quality.
The CBD content in milligrams is listed on every product label. While we can ensure the purity and maximum-strength potency of our proprietary CBD oil, we make no medical or therapeutic claims on any CBD product. Uncle Bud’s avoids medical or therapeutic claims in order to maintain complete integrity, transparency, and trust with our customers.
All Uncle Bud’s Hemp products are proudly made in the USA.
Disclaimer:
UncleBudsHemp.com articles are intended to provide helpful and informative content about the benefits of Hemp Seed Oil and CBD products. Readers are advised to do their own research and make decisions in partnership with their health care provider. Nothing you read here should be relied upon to determine a course of treatment for any medical issue. All content found on the UncleBudsHemp.com Website, including text, images, audio, or other formats were created for informational purposes only. Uncle Buds makes no claims as to the medical efficacy of any products. The site and its content are provided on an “as is” basis.