Hemp Extract: What Is It and How Does It Work?

As the name implies, hemp extract is a substance that is extracted from the hemp plant. They are famous for their high CBD concentration, but they also have other valuable chemicals such as cannabinoids and terpenes.

Although they were illegal for the longest time, the world’s governments are now changing their stance on medical hemp. You can buy these products from numerous reputable stores such as ours – Airmid Hemp Extracts.

In this article, we will talk more about hemp extracts, their potential benefits, and their drawbacks. Enjoy!

What is hemp?

For the longest time, hemp was recognized as an industrial plant. We used it to make ropes, textiles, chemicals, and various other items. Nowadays, it is usually mentioned as a medical species.

Hemp is a part of the cannabis genus. There are 3 different cannabis species: hemp (Cannabis Indica), marijuana (Cannabis Sativa), and auto-flowering cannabis (Cannabis Ruderalis).

Most people put marijuana and hemp in the same basket, although they have different chemical composition. While both are full of cannabinoids and terpenes, hemp is characterized by its high CBD (medical substance) content, and marijuana is often used for its THC (psychoactive substance).

Almost every CBD product is made from hemp. They can’t have more than 0.3% THC. Given its low amount of THC, you won’t experience psychoactive effects when using these items. Furthermore, they are regarded as safe by the World Health Organization.

What is hemp extract?

The term “hemp extract” refers to the oils that we get from the hemp plant. Companies utilize CO2 extraction or a similar method to extract full-spectrum CBD oil from stalks, leaves, and flowers. The second, less popular, hemp extract is hemp seed oil that we get by cold-pressing the plant’s seeds. 

Although hemp seed oil is full of omega fatty acids and other valuable nutrients, most people are interested in CBD. For the purpose of this article, we will focus on cannabidiol oils as the prevalent hemp extract.

Full-spectrum CBD oil is one of the 3 medical hemp oil types. We also have broad-spectrum CBD oil and CBD isolates. We get these two by further processing full-spectrum oil (through distillation, to be precise).

Here are some of the main characteristics of these oils:

  • Full-spectrum CBD oil

This is the most common cannabidiol product on the market. You can find it in almost any store. The reason why we call it full-spectrum is because it has all the same cannabinoids, terpenes, and other chemicals as the hemp plant. Nothing is omitted. Experts believe that by using all these substances together, you’re able to achieve the “entourage effect.” In other words, the cumulative effect of all these chemical compounds will be better compared to the potential effect if you were to use these substances separately. 

  • Broad-spectrum CBD oil

Broad-spectrum cannabidiol is the rarest of all 3 product types and the least popular. It has all the same cannabinoids and terpenes as full-spectrum CBD with the omission of THC. Because of that, the product is great for people who don’t want to expose themselves to this substance. Keep in mind that, whether you use broad or full-spectrum, you shouldn’t experience psychoactive episodes.

  • CBD isolate

As the name suggests, CBD isolate has only one substance, and that’s cannabidiol. You will often see companies refer to it as pure CBD. The liquid is great for all those who want to focus on cannabidiol. Needless to say, this has its advantages and flaws. While CBD is usually considered the most potent medical cannabinoid, we shouldn’t neglect the potential benefits that come with the use of full-spectrum CBD oil.

It is hard to say which one is optimal for your organism. The best thing is to try all of them and see for yourself.

The potential benefits

There are a lot of potential advantages of using hemp extracts.

Unfortunately, medicinal hemp products are often misrepresented. Some people still refer to them as potentially dangerous items, while hemp companies talk about CBD as one of the most potent substances.

Truth is somewhere in between. While CBD is definitely safe and can harmonize your internal processes, we cannot expect miracles from it.

This is a potent chemical that may improve the body’s functionality, promote sleep, reduce stress, and address some other minor issues. Here are some of the benefits you might experience when using CBD oil:

  • Increase in energy and better focus

A lot of people take CBD in the morning to prepare for daily challenges. According to a lot of users, the chemical can increase energy and improve your focus.

  • Providing uninterrupted sleep and reducing stress

Stress reduction and better sleep often go hand in hand. Cannabidiol is especially great in the evening, before going to bed. It will help you relax and unwind. While it doesn’t have a direct impact on sleep, nor will it put you to sleep, it might improve it by relaxing your body and mind.

  • May reduce minor muscle soreness and fatigue

CBD oil can also be used as a topical. When you apply it to sore muscles, it might reduce fatigue and improve the functionality of the tissue. Furthermore, the substance can be used by professional athletes, according to the World Anti-Doping Agency.

  • Affects appetite, regeneration, protection, and other internal processes

Experts believe that cannabidiol is able to interact with the endocannabinoid system. This system is likely responsible for numerous internal processes, including pain, mood, sleep, regeneration, reproduction, appetite, etc. So, by using this chemical compound, you might harmonize numerous functions.

The potential side effects when using hemp extracts

The majority of health organizations, as well as CBD consumers, perceive hemp extracts as safe products.

However, they might still cause a few side effects. Some of the potential issues include dry mouth, diarrhea, stomach irritation, skin irritation, change in blood pressure, change in appetite, drowsiness.

Keep in mind that most of these problems can be addressed by simply stopping their use. If they do persist, make sure to contact a medical professional.