CBD Cream Vs. Hemp Cream: Is There A Difference?

CBD creams are denser than other topicals since they have essential oil. Hemp creams are obtained from flowers, leaves, and the plant's stalk, whereas CBD creams consist of specific parts of the hemp plant, especially the leaves.

CBD creams are obtained from organic hemp, cannabis sativa, or marijuana. However, only hemp and cannabis CBD products were legalized by the 2018 Farm Bill. The plants have numerous elements, including tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabidiol (CBD), flavonoids, and terpenes. Hemp extracts are blended with other ingredients such as MCT oil and arnica to improve their effectiveness. Most people use CBD topicals such as creams due to their therapeutic benefits. Full-spectrum and broad-spectrum CBD topicals offer more than topical benefits. Notably, there is a slight difference between CBD cream and hemp cream as follows;

CBD Cream Vs. Hemp Cream

You might have encountered the two terms and found it difficult to differentiate them. Notably, the difference is slight. CBD cream has little hemp plant content, whereas hemp cream is enriched with hemp seed containing culinary oil. To obtain CBD cream, you must obtain cannabidiol from the organic hemp plant's leaves, flowers, and stalks. However, both CBD cream and hemp cream are safe for usage.

What is Pure CBD Cream?

The hemp plant has various elements used to manufacture CBD products. However, not all the elements are infused in the products. This results in the difference between isolate (pure) CBD, broad-spectrum and full spectrum. Pure hemp-based creams are manufactured using a single element of the hemp plant; CBD. Unlike full-spectrum and isolate, pure CBD limits you from entourage effect, the ability of a product to offer more health benefits because it has various elements working together. Pure CBD helps you avoid THC-related side effects. Cohen Joanna et al. (2012) noted that THC has intoxicating side effects than can easily result in poor memory, anxiety, and dizziness.

The Difference Between Hemp and Marijuana

Hemp and marijuana belong to the cannabis sativa family. However, marijuana-based CBD products were legalized in the US, and marijuana-based products were not. They have similar chemical compounds; terpenes, flavonoids, THC, and CBD. The difference lies in the potency levels of THC. According to Sawler Jason et al. (2015), the hemp plant has less than 0.3% THC levels, while marijuana THC levels exceed 10%. Due to its psychoactive side effects, the 2018 Farm Bill restricted its levels to below 0.3%.

Is CBD Cream Legal?

There are various factors determining the legality of CBD products, including creams. The 2018 Farm Bill legalized hemp-based products within the US territories. However, they limited THC levels to 0.3% to minimize the psychoactive side effects, which can easily result in anxiety or poor judgment. Therefore, CBD and hemp creams can only be legal if their THC levels are below 0.3%. Besides, the Farm Bill mandated states to determine the legality of hemp-based products. Due to the intoxicating side effects of THC in CBD products, some states restricted the products. Notably, only 38 states legalized hemp-based products. Among 10 others, CBD products are illegal in states like Tennessee and Texas, including for therapeutic benefits.

What are the benefits of CBD Cream?

You might be wondering why CBD creams are gaining popularity. Unlike most topical products, they are manufactured using organic elements and tested for potency and purity levels to ensure they are safe for usage. Some of the advantages of CBD creams are;

Offer Anti-inflammatory Effect

Inflammation is one of the main causes of skin diseases. Some inflammatory skin diseases are seborrheic, dermatitis, Eczema, and psoriasis. Various elements of the hemp plant contain anti-inflammatory properties suitable for working against such diseases. Besides, early aging can also be a result of inflammation. According to Baswan (2020), CBD has anti-inflammatory properties suitable for protecting the skin against inflammatory diseases and minimizing wrinkles on your face. However, it can only be effective if used at considerable potency levels.

Antioxidant Effect

The skin is the largest body organ. It is exposed to various environmental dangers, including UV rays, free radicals, and bacteria. UV rays and bacteria are harmful to the dermis and keratin. Keratins are the deepest cells under our skin for their protection. When tampered with, they can result in various skin conditions, including cancer. However, CBD cream offers you a solution and protects the skin from UV rays and free radicals. According to Atalay et al. (2020), CBD has antioxidative properties suitable for skin protection.

Antibacterial Properties

Bacteria cause some skin diseases. However, bacteria can make a skin problem last longer than expected. To minimize the spread of infection, CBD cream will work best. Terpenes and flavonoids are among the dominant elements in the hemp plant after CBD and THC. However, they are found in other plants such as fruits and vegetables. The two elements are used in multiple clinical trials for skin benefits. According to Arokiyaraj et al. (2009), terpenes and flavonoids have antibacterial properties suitable for preventing bacterial infections.

How To Apply CBD Cream

CBD creams can only be effective if they are applied appropriately. The human skin is often covered with oils, dead cells, and sweat. Accumulating either of them results in blockage of pores hindering penetration of active ingredients from the hemp plant. Therefore, it is important to shower first, preferably using hot water to remove such barriers. Besides, you can exfoliate 3 times a week. Exfoliation is the removal of dead cells and other contaminants covering your skin. Although our skin exfoliates itself, it leaves some dead cells. Consider applying CBD cream before bed or in the morning for maximum benefit.

Conclusion

CBD creams and hemp creams are nearly the same. They are all offered in full-spectrum, broad-spectrum, and isolate. However, to be effective, they have to be of quality. Before buying CBD cream for any purpose, confirm the list of ingredients to ensure they are all organic. Besides, the quality of CBD creams is determined using the lab results. Therefore, before buying any CBD topical, confirm it has been assessed for purity levels by an IOS-certified lab. Confirm the potency levels of THC and CBD to ensure they are contained to those labeled to avoid overdosing. Also, check on the purity levels to avoid overdosing unknowingly.

References

Arokiyaraj, S., Perinbam, K., Agastian, P., & Kumar, R. M. (2009). Phytochemical Analysis And Antibacterial Activity Of Vitex Agnus-Castus. International Journal Of Green Pharmacy (IJGP), 3(2).

Atalay, S., Jarocka-Karpowicz, I., & Skrzydlewska, E. (2020). Antioxidative And Anti-Inflammatory Properties Of Cannabidiol. Antioxidants, 9(1), 21.

Baswan, S. M., Klosner, A. E., Glynn, K., Rajgopal, A., Malik, K., Yim, S., & Stern, N. (2020). Therapeutic Potential Of Cannabidiol (CBD) For Skin Health And Disorders. Clinical, Cosmetic And Investigational Dermatology, 13, 927.

Cohen, J., Morrison, S., Greenberg, J., & Saidinejad, M. (2012). Clinical Presentation Of Intoxication Due To Synthetic Cannabinoids. Pediatrics-English Edition, 129(4), E1064.

Sawler, J., Stout, J. M., Gardner, K. M., Hudson, D., Vidmar, J., Butler, L., ... & Myles, S. (2015). The Genetic Structure Of Marijuana And Hemp. Plos One, 10(8), E0133292.