What is Cannabis Essential Oil and How Do You Use It?

Let's take a look at what is cannabis essential oil and how do you use it? Essential oils are a solution of aromatic chemical compounds extracted from plants for aromatherapy purposes. Many cannabis consumers aren’t aware that they can infuse cannabis essential oil into their diffuser, cosmetics, or topicals. Marijuana essential oil contains the essential terpenes that are responsible for the plant’s herbaceous and earthy scent.

Essential oils from cannabis offer consumers a distinct blend of scents that can be introduced into a person’s daily routine. While many have touted the health claims of essential oils, the studies remain inconclusive about their effects on specific health conditions. Keep reading to find out more about cannabis essential oil, its benefits, how to use it, and where to buy it.

What is Cannabis Essential Oil?

Essential oils from marijuana are  commonly made from industrial hemp plants, a thinner and a non-intoxicating variety of the Cannabis sativa species. The essential oils from hemp are extracted through steam distillation of the input material, which could range from flower buds to stems to leaves. Hemp essential oil has a strong, herbal, and mildly spicy aroma.

Essential oils from cannabis vary by strain type and terpene concentration. The majority of these oils, however, contain a high percentage of myrcene and beta-caryophyllene, two of the most commonly found terpenes in marijuana plants. Terpenes are non-intoxicating and feature unique aromatic notes of fruit, spice, herbs, and more. Other terpenes found in essential oils include:

• Terpinolene
• Alpha-Pinene
• Alpha-Caryophyllene
• Beta-Pinene
• Beta-Ocimene

Hemp Essential Oil vs. Cannabis Oil

Cannabis/hemp essential oil does not contain a significant amount of CBD or THC. In fact, most hemp essential oil products contain below 0.01 percent cannabinoids based on lab analysis. As mentioned previously, cannabis essential oil only contains the essence of the plant’s scent, which are its signature terpenes.

Hash oil, also known as cannabis oil or concentrate, does contain a high concentration of the psychotropic THC compound or CBD compound. Cannabis oil is extracted from either freshly harvested or flash-frozen marijuana flower buds. They are specifically bred to produce high levels of THC or CBD. When purchasing cannabis essential oil, ensure that the term “essential” is included.

Cannabis Essential Oil Benefits

Essential oils are often used as an alternative treatment option for multiple health conditions. Some studies have shown that inhaling the aromas from essential oils can stimulate areas of the limbic system involved in emotions, smell, and memory. For this reason, many consumers report feeling relaxed after inhaling essential oil aromas for a few minutes every day.

One recent and small study on the effects of cannabis essential oil on the brain tested this product on five healthy volunteers. According to lab analysis, the essential oil mainly contained myrcene and beta-caryophyllene. The subjects reported feeling “energetic, relaxed, and calm.” Researchers confirmed that inhalation of the essential oil affected brain wave activity and the autonomic nervous system.

How to Use Cannabis and Hemp Essential Oil

Marijuana essential oil should be diluted into a carrier oil of your choice (olive, sweet almond, jojoba, argan, sunflower, or more). Make sure to store your hemp essential oil in a cool, dry, and dark place to reduce terpene oxidation. Terpenes such as myrcene can oxidize quickly and turn a viscous consistency.

Essential oils are not ingested like cannabis oil. Instead, essential oils can be inhaled for aromatherapy or absorbed into the skin when used with a carrier oil. One of the easiest ways to use a cannabis essential oil is to add it into an oil diffuser, a device that gently releases the odor into the air.

You can also inhale the scent directly from the bottle or from a cotton ball, while making sure that you don’t let the undiluted oil touch your skin. The steam method requires you to drop a few drops in a bowl of hot water and placing a towel over your head and the bowl. You can close your eyes and inhale for a few minutes.

Hemp Seed Carrier Oil

Marijuana essential oil also differs from hemp seed oil, another commonly sold product in the hemp market. Hemp seed oil, also called hemp oil, is traditionally made by cold-pressing hemp seeds and does not contain THC. Hemp seed oil, however, makes a great carrier oil for an essential oil-based topical. Hemp seed oil can also be used for cooking.

Where and How to Buy

Cannabis oil can be purchased from many online retailers. These new oils can be hard to find at brick-and-mortar locations. Shopping for marijuana essential oils online has never been easier. When shopping online ensure that the company you’re buying from has a lab report on their website. Lab reports show consumers important information such as the following:

• Source of hemp
• Distillation date
• Terpene concentration
• Batch number

Marijuana essential oil delivers aromatherapy lovers a new and exciting scent to introduce in their regular rotation. Now, you can mix cannabis essential oil with frankincense, cardamom, rose, or any of your favorite scents. Let your imagination run wild with the seemingly endless combinations of scents possible.  We are so glad you know the answers now to your question, what is marijuana essential oil and how do you use it?

To learn more about cannabis essential oil make sure to enroll at the top cannabis training school.