Essential Oils and Cannabinoids

It is no longer news that industrial hemp remains the best source of high-quality cannabinoid extracts like CBD and CBG. This is because these compounds are mainly used for purely therapeutic purposes and thus, would need to be extracted from a plant source with low THC levels. Hemp is the ideal plant.

Knowing that hemp and marijuana are terms often used interchangeably to refer to cannabis plants, it can be difficult for users to distinguish between both plants in their search for pure CBD products. CBD oil benefits are well known in the cannabis community and are spreading quickly throughout the rest of society. CBG for pain is also becoming a popular reason to give hemp a try. CBD vs CBG? Hemp vs Cannabis? It can all be confusing for people new to CBD and CBG topicals.

To erase all doubts, we will discuss the difference between hemp and marijuana before venturing into the use of essential oils to enhance the effects of CBD.

Hemp vs. Marijuana

Primarily, the significant difference between hemp and marijuana can be linked to the concentration of THC found in them. THC or Tetrahydrocannabinol is the primary psychoactive element in cannabis, and it generally takes up about 30% of marijuana's plant content. Hemp, on the other hand, has a very low THC concentration. While hemp is grown to maximize the overall size of the plant, marijuana is cultivated to maximize the growth of flowers, and this leads to an increase in the THC concentration

What are Essential Oils?

Essential oils are plant compounds extracted to capture the essence of the plant; this means the unique scent and flavor of the plant. The extract usually contains therapeutic properties found in the plant. The methods of processing through which essential oils are extracted from their plant sources differ, ranging from mechanical methods to distillation. The extracted chemical is then combined with a carrier oil to create the finished product.

There are over 90 types of essential oils, each with individual health benefits and the most popular ones include;

• Lavender
• Frankincense
• Arnica
• Rose
• Chamomile
• Sandalwood
• Bergamot
• Peppermint
• Lemon
• Jasmine, etc.

Essential oils can produce their medicinal effects due to the presence of terpenes.

What are Terpenes?

Terpenes are naturally occurring compounds in plants which are responsible for their unique taste, smell and flavor. Since essential oils are extracts of a plant's major components, it makes sense that they would contain terpenes. The presence of terpenes in essential oils not only enables them to provide a range of health benefits but also allows the oils to interact with CBD. Terpenes are a major component in the delivery of CBD to the body.  The combination of terpenes and CBD produce a unified and more powerful effect on the body. 

CBD topicals and CBG topicals are becoming very popular for joint and muscle pain. Essential oils, CBD and CBG pack a powerful punch when it comes to managing pain.