CBD and Hemp Essential Oils; Stop the Confusion! - Essential Oil Academy

CBD and Hemp Essential Oils; Stop the Confusion!


Over recent years, we’ve seen a steep increase in popularity of CBD oil and hemp essential oils. Not surprisingly along with it came misinformation and confusion.

And because of all the confusion, our goal here is to finally offer you a good article that clarifies the differences in an easy to understand, digestible way.

We are adding this article from a neutral point of view. We neither advocate nor discourage their use. Rather, we want you as an essential oil professional, to be informed on the basics. This is a specialty area of essential oil study that is not otherwise included in our certification course. Here is enough information for you to decide if it's a topic of interest for you.

Both of these powerful essential oils can bring a wide variety of health benefits including reduced levels of stress and anxiety, improved sleep, reduced pain and better digestive health. Users of these two oils even report a vast improvement in overall health and happiness.

However, there's a great deal of propaganda surrounding CBD oil, hemp essential oil and those oils which contain THC/Marijuana. Here are some of the questions we regularly hear:

Are CBD oil and hemp oil the same thing?
Aren’t they the exact same thing as the drug marijuana?
Won’t they get you high?
Are hemp essential oil and hemp seed oil the same thing?

Today we’re here to set the record straight and clear up the confusion about CBD oil, hemp essential oil, hemp seed oil and cannabis oil/THC/marijuana.

We’ll explain what each of the oils are and give you more information on each of their main benefits, uses or anything else you need to know. We’ll also include details on their legality, so you know where you stand with the law.  Remember, laws are ever changing so what we have here is the latest information we could find, BUT by the time you read this, things could have changed … so check your local and state/province laws to be sure.

With the information here, you’ll be able to better understand the differences between these oils and make healthier choices for yourself and your clients.

What is hemp essential oil?

Hemp essential oil (Cannabis sativa) is extracted from the upper leaves and flowers of the hemp plant.

Also known as cannabis essential oil, it has a sharp and slightly spicy fragrance. It blends well with other essential oils. It is defined as a middle note and beautifully complements citrus, spice, floral and mint essential oils. 

It doesn’t contain THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) so it won’t get you high. Nor does it contain detectable amounts of therapeutic CBD. 

However, it does contain active ingredients known as myrcene and beta-caryophyllene which are great anti-inflammatories. You might be familiar with these compounds as they’re also present in Ylang Ylang, Black Pepper and Melissa (Lemon Balm) essential oils.

It’s also one of the most expensive essential oils in the world, taking over 50 pounds of the plant to make just an ounce of the essential oil.

[To clear up any confusion, it’s also worth mentioning that hemp essential oil is not the same as hemp oil or hemp seed oil. Hemp oil is a carrier oil sourced from hemp seeds and it’s rich in omega 3, magnesium and vitamin E.]

What are the health benefits of hemp essential oil?

Like all essential oils, hemp essential oil can naturally support many of the body’s systems and provide a wealth of health benefits. Here are some of the main benefits.

1. Hemp essential oil helps reduce pain.

Hemp essential oil is a popular treatment for headaches, migraines and other severe pain. This is because it contains natural muscle relaxants and sedatives which will help those tense muscles relax and soothe any discomfort.

2. Hemp essential oil helps reduce stress.

The calming effects of hemp essential oil can help the user feel less stressed or anxious when life gets hectic. They’ll feel more relaxed, more balanced and able to manage the most overwhelming of situations.

3. Hemp essential oil helps improve sleep.

If your client struggles to fall asleep, stay asleep or wakes early, hemp essential oil could be an excellent solution. The active compound myrcene acts as a sedative and muscle relaxant, helping to reduce stress, allowing the user to unwind at the end of a long, hard day, also increasing REM sleep.

4. Hemp essential oil promotes a healthier appetite

Hemp essential oil help regulate levels of a hormone called leptin which is associated with appetite regulation. If your client is looking to gain weight, this is an ideal essential oil.

What is CBD oil?

CBD oil is an oil extracted from the whole plant and flowers of the hemp plant. As the name suggests, it contains a high concentration of CBD, but again, none of the psychoactive THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) that can get users ‘high’ when they use marijuana.

CBD and Hemp blog image

What are the health benefits of CBD oil?

CBD oil is an anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, antipsychotic, anticonvulsant, antiemetic and an anxiolytic and can be used to treat a wide range of health conditions including inflammation, sports injuries, epilepsy, anxiety, schizophrenia and other health conditions. (Also see image above.)

  • CBD oil helps regulate your endocannabinoid system

CBD oil can help regulate a system in your body called the endocannabinoid system and help it to function smoothly. This system is linked to fertility, pregnancy, appetite, pain, mood, immune function, gut health and memory. Studies also suggest that it could help treat multiple sclerosis.

  • CBD oil helps to reduce pain

By reducing the activity of the neurons associated with pain, CBD could help relieve discomfort and pain without any apparent side effects.

  • CBD oil boosts gut health

By helping to balance the endocannabinoid system in the body, CBD oil also helps to boost the amount of healthy bacteria in the gut, thus promoting better overall health. It also appears to boost metabolism and healthy digestion and improve the health of the gut-brain barrier.

  • CBD oil promotes better sleep

Many people take CBD essential oil to help them fall asleep more easily, sleep more deeply and wake feeling more rested.

  • CBD oil can help reduce anxiety

CBD oil also reduces anxiety, helping to treat anxiety disorders, panic disorders, OCD, social anxiety and post-traumatic stress. It’s even said to help calm the nerves before public speaking or interviews so it’s a useful natural treatment if you struggle like this.

Is CBD oil legal?

The legality of CBD oil varies depending on your location and continues to change. We advise that you seek up-to-date information from your state or province if you want to use CBD oil. At the time of writing (July, 2019), it is legal to buy CBD oil in all 50 US states if you have a doctor’s prescription for medical use.

Here is an additional article at WebMD about Marijuana, Hemp, CBD.

What about cannabis oil/marijuana/THC?

Cannabis oil is the unprocessed extract from the entire marijuana plant. It contains a combination of CBD and THC.

THC is the psychoactive ingredient present in marijuana which gets the user ‘high’. It’s considered by the government to be the same as marijuana and is considered a class 1 drug by most US states.

Unlike CBD or hemp essential oils, you will test positive on a drug test if you use THC/marijuana or cannabis oil.

As you can see, CBD, hemp essential oil, hemp seed oil and THC/marijuana/cannabis oil are very different from each other and vary in their legality. That’s why it’s so important to understand the differences before you consider using them.

Want to learn more?

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