Today, we’re going to compare hemp extract vs. CBD. Most people think that hemp extract and CBD are synonyms. While both terms have to do with the cannabis plant, they cannot be more different.
Medical hemp products are extremely complex and versatile substances. They can affect your body in numerous ways. At the same time, they might also cause minor side effects. No matter which product you wish to buy, it is very important to purchase it from a reputable source such as Airmid Hemp Extracts.
In this article, we will compare hemp extract vs. CBD, what makes them different and what makes them similar.
What is hemp extract?
Hemp extract is a more comprehensive term out of the two. It refers to all the substances that we get from the hemp plant. In practice, it is commonly used for medical hemp oil.
In its most basic form, CBD oil has all the cannabinoids, terpenes, flavonoids as the hemp plant. The liquid is not processed in any way, shape, or form. We call this product full-spectrum CBD oil. Through additional distillation, we get broad-spectrum CBD oil and CBD isolate. All of these 3 can be regarded as hemp extracts.
Keep in mind that full-spectrum CBD oil is extracted from leaves, stalks, and buds. On the other hand, we can also extract oil from the plant’s seeds, and this is referred to as hemp seed oil. This product has certain nutrients like omega fatty acids, but it doesn’t have cannabinoids as full-spectrum CBD does.
While hemp seed oil is also a hemp extract, we will disregard it for the purpose of this article. People usually don’t refer to it when using the term “hemp extract,” but instead, they mainly use it for CBD-rich items.
Other cannabidiol products such as CBD capsules, gummies, and e-juice are created by infusing one of these 3 oils into a specific vessel or an object. While these products carry the same properties as the underlying oil, these cannot be regarded as extracts.
How do companies get hemp extracts?
Nowadays, most companies extract oil by utilizing advanced CO2 extraction. Aside from that, you can also utilize alcohol extraction and some other methods. However, CO2 extraction is the best process that will give you the purest substance.
As mentioned, the extract is full-spectrum CBD oil. This oil is processed into other types of oils or infused into other items.
When you’re buying infused products such as creams, lotions, edibles, and vapes, it is very important to check the label. These products will have numerous other ingredients that can tweak their impact. Among others, you need to pay special attention to CBD concentration, as well as the concentration of other cannabinoids.
Keep in mind that hemp extracts cannot have more than 0.3% THC making them completely safe for human consumption.
What is CBD?
CBD or cannabidiol is one of the numerous cannabinoids that we get from hemp. It is a very potent wellness substance that can be used for numerous ailments and for improving how the body works.
As you’ve noticed, all these products are labeled as CBD items. This is because cannabidiol is their focal point and the strongest chemical out of the bunch. However, depending on the product, they might also have other cannabinoids such as THC, CBC, CBG, and so on.
CBD concentration can vary based on the hemp strain that was used for extraction. Certain products will have more than 20% of cannabidiol with trace amounts of other chemicals. While these other cannabinoids are often neglected by the users, each one of them has potential therapeutic properties.
One of the more notable cannabinoids is THC. Often labeled as nothing more than a psychoactive chemical, the substance can lead to several wellness improvements. However, you need to use it very carefully as it can lead to some nasty side effects.
Hemp extracts vs. CBD: What is the relationship between them?
So, CBD is a chemical compound commonly found within hemp extracts, while hemp extracts are oils that we get from the plant.
Every hemp extract on the market will have CBD, except for hemp seed oil. Usually, the concentration of cannabidiol within these products will be very high, sometimes exceeding 20%.
While, in theory, you can create medical hemp products without CBD, no one is willing to do this because the whole usage of hemp would be rendered pointless. We use this plant precisely because of its high CBD content, and there is no reason why we would try to eliminate it.
Oftentimes, people use these two terms interchangeably. As mentioned, “hemp extract” can be used to describe several hemp products. Although the phrase “CBD” refers to the chemical substance cannabidiol, people often use the term to describe the whole product line.
This is why there is a common misconception that “CBD” and “hemp extract” are the same thing.
How can CBD and hemp extracts affect your body?
Generally speaking, all hemp products have a similar impact on the body. There will be some differences based on the specific chemical composition of a strain, as well as the dosage. For example, certain companies create items that emphasize sleep improvements while there are also products meant to relieve pain.
Anyway, cannabinoids are meant to stimulate cannabinoid receptors within our bodies. They are a part of the larger endocannabinoid system, which is responsible for numerous functions like stress, sleep, mood, focus, and so on.
CBD, in particular, is a chemical meant to increase your alertness. Users describe it as an uplifting substance. Interestingly enough, it is a chemical that might reduce stress levels, and provide uninterrupted sleep.
Given that this is the main substance of every hemp product, their benefits will mainly revolve around cannabidiol. However, depending on the concentration of other cannabinoids and terpenes, these improvements can be tweaked a bit.
For example, products that have a lot of THC can be much better for dealing with inflammation and pain. Furthermore, they might also be great for improving your sleep. In most cases, the best way to tell how an item will work is by trying it out yourself.