CBD vs THC vs HEMP OIL
What’s the Difference?
Cannabinoids are naturally occurring compounds that interact with receptors found throughout the body to achieve certain physiological effects.
Scientists have identified over 100 different cannabinoids in the cannabis plant, but the ones you'll most commonly hear about are delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD).
Humans, along with all vertebrates like dogs, cats, fish, and birds, produce endocannabinoids — neurotransmitters that bind to receptors and impact pain, mood, appetite, sleep, and a variety of other functions.
What you need to know is that THC tends to interact with the parts of your body that makes you feel "high," while CBD tends to interact with the parts that reduces inflammation.
Researchers have identified two receptors in the human body that respond to cannabis, known as CB1 and CB2. These receptors are part of the larger endocannabinoid system, which helps regulate hormone secretion to influence appetite, mood, and energy. Although CBD and THC have the same atoms, they're rearranged very differently. Because of that, it's a wildly different key going into the lock of each cell.
Basically, whatever affects CB1 receptors are more likely to have psychoactive effects because they affect the brain and spinal cord. Whatever affects CB2 receptors will likely affect the rest of your body, reducing inflammation without giving you the "high" feeling that marijuana brings. THC has an affinity to bind to CB1 receptors and trigger that euphoric "high" feeling.
Meanwhile, CBD has a stronger affinity to CB2 receptors, which is why it can reduce inflammation without being psychoactive. That's not to say that THC will exclusively bind to CB1 and CBD will exclusively bind to CB2. It's not like this molecule only reacts with that receptor, and it's only going to do its thing. CBD may still react with CB1 receptors and THC may still react with CB2 receptors, but both are way more likely to interact with the reverse.
So, what is the difference between CBD oil and hemp oil? Both can support our wellness goals, but the differences begins with the part of the plant that each come from, and end with the benefits of the products themselves. Hemp oil, now referred to as hemp seed oil, comes from hemp seeds and is a nourishing blend of nutrients, which is great for cooking or supplementation.
CBD oil, often called hemp oil, on the other hand, comes from hemp flowers, and interacts with our body’s endocannabinoid system to create an internal balancing effect. CBD oil is mainly used in the holistic or alternative wellness space to help balance the body’s internal systems, while hemp oil (now considered hemp seed oil) is mainly used in food and skincare products.