Copaiba vs CBD Oil

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Have you seen the CBD vs copaiba oil debate about which is better? CBD oil sellers say it’s CBD all the way, and essential oil reps say “no, way–COPAIBA is where it’s at.”

Well, I’m going to set the record straight with a detailed analysis of both products to help you cut through the marketing hype so you can have the facts before you spend any more of your hard earned money.

copaiba oil and cbd oil for copaiba vs cbd oil collage

Both CBD oil and Copaiba oil have been getting a lot of attention these days. People are excited (with good reason) about the benefits that they are seeing from these products, but it has led to some confusion about which is better–and it’s also led to a lot of marketing hype.

Now, buckle up and make sure your thinking caps are on straight, because this post is going to get technical.

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Benefits of CBD Oil

CBD-rich hemp oil is all the rage these days and is touted as being a help for many health issues and other concerns.

Personally, our family has seen AMAZING results with CBD oil.

Truly, what has happened has literally been nothing short of miraculous and I’ve been thrilled to help some of my readers (and local friends) see great results as well.

Here are some of the benefits that we’ve seen personally and heard about from others:

  • My son used to have panic episodes VERY regularly, and has had almost NONE since starting on CBD oil
  • More restful sleep
  • Improved organization skills and motivation
  • Brain fog lifted
  • More focus
  • Improved energy
  • Relief of head tension
  • and more

Clearly, this is a health revolution.

However, there is some confusion in the marketplace that needs to be addressed.

I Love Essential Oils

First of all, if you’ve been on my blog for any time at all, you all know that I LOVE essential oils and have been using them for a long time.

We use them pretty much every day–from lavender for sleep, this DIY cough essential oils blend, and we also love this DIY Thieves® blend, and I use these essential oils for hair growth every day. Clary sage is another essential oil that I use often for hormonal help and these Essential Oils for Adrenal Fatigue work great as well. Almost too many to name!

Suffice it to say that I. love. essential. oils.

But something is going on in the essential oils world that needs to be addressed and it has to do with copaiba essential oil and how it is being compared CBD.

Why Compare CBD vs Copaiba War?

In a nutshell, CBD oil has become a super hot product. People are hearing about the amazing benefits of CBD and as demand grows, so does supply. The market sees that there is money to be made and they are pursuing the profits.

Seriously–it seems like everyone (including essential oil companies) is selling CBD oil these days. However, some essential oil companies aren’t selling CBD oil, but they are jumping on the bandwagon in a different way.

They say that they have something even better than CBD oil–and that something is copaiba oil.

Some essential oil reps and companies are claiming that they have an essential oil that is WAY better and “more powerful” than CBD–and that it’s less expensive too.

These claims have created a lot of confusion about CBD vs. copaiba oil.

In fact, it’s gotten so confusing that I’ve even seen people say that they are using CBD, when what they are using is Copaiba Oil.

The truth is that CBD and copaiba are not the same thing.

Just like I have attempted to clear up other issues like is stevia safe and is erythritol safe and the issue of xylitol and tumors, and the rumors about rotten Costco coconut oil, today I’m going to address the CBD vs. Copaiba Oil issue.

But before we get to the comparison, here are some terms that you need to know.

What Is CBD Oil?

To start with, CBD oil is not an essential oil. CBD stands for cannabidiol, which is a cannabinoid.

The endocannabinoid system is a series of cell receptors that respond to certain kinds of agonists (something which initiates a physiological response when combined with a receptor). There are two primary cell receptors that comprise the endocannabinoid system (ECS)–Cannabinoid Receptor 1 (CB1) and Cannabinoid Receptor 2 (CB2). The keys, or the things that unlock these receptors are cannabinoids.

CBD oil is either CBD rich oil extracted from industrial hemp, or an oil made from CBD isolate in a carrier. The word “isolate” sounds like the word “isolated”, and CBD isolate is just that–CBD only–while the CBD rich oil that is not made from isolate is full spectrum, meaning it is (typically) complete with the other cannabinoids and terpenes that are naturally parts of hemp.

What Is Copaiba Oil?

Copaiba is an essential oil derived from the resin of the copaiba tree. The copaiba balsam is processed to make copaiba essential oil, much like other plants are distilled to make essential oils.

Essential oils are not like olive or coconut oil, but they are oils distilled from plants. For more information on this, read Essential Oil Facts.

What Is Beta-caryophyllene (BCP)?

Beta-caryophyllene (BCP) is a component of both CBD oil and Copaiba oil.

People touting that Copaiba is better than CBD oil focus on Beta-caryophyllene (BCP) which is part of both CBD oil and copaiba oil.  Say “Beta-caryophyllene” with me. Or maybe don’t.

While many in the essential oil business talk about BCP as if it’s a cannabinoid, it is not–Beta-caryophyllene is actually a terpene. Terpenes are aromatic organic compounds–meaning that they have a smell.

Side note, while many essential oils are known for their strong smells, and terpenes are responsible for the fragrance in essential oils, even though copaiba oil is rich in some terpenes, copaiba oil has a gentle smell, so don’t expect to be overpowered by it.  ??eliminate??

BCP is also found in clove, rosemary, melissa, essential oils. This is of interest since clove essential oil is often touted as a help for dental issues and is used by many mainstream dental practitioners to help with dental discomfort including sore gums. What is odd, is that it’s also found in feces and saliva. Ewwww…

Pinterest collage for CBD oil vs Copaiba post

CBD vs Copaiba Myths

So let’s get this sorted out.

Following are the arguments that need to be addressed regarding the comparison of CBD and Copaiba Oil.

Myth: Copaiba is better because it has more Beta-Caryophyllene (BCP)

BCP Isn’t Really a Cannabinoid

In my post on Is Coconut a Nut?, we talked about how coconut is a nut, fruit, and a drupe (yeah, you’ll have to read the post to learn about that). In a similar manner, BCP can be classified as both a terpene and a cannabinoid, but it’s really a terpene.

Those on the Essential Oil side might tell you that BCP is a cannabinoid, and then those on the CBD side will tell you that BCP is a terpene. Technically BCP is a terpene, but it can be referred to as a dietary cannabinoid because of its action on the endocannabinoid system.

Copaiba oil does, in fact, contain a significant amount of BCP–typically around 55-60%, while CBD-rich hemp oil usually contains between 2 and 30%.

Essential Oil companies are touting that copaiba oil as a far superior solution to CBD, because…get this...it has WAY more of one of the terpenes found in the cannabis plant: beta-caryophyllene (BCP). But note–that is just one component.

CBD Oil’s Other Components

Yes, Copaiba Oil has more BCP than CBD Oil has. However, full spectrum CBD oil has a lot of things in it that Copaiba doesn’t have.

This is like saying that oranges are better than blueberries since oranges have way more vitamin C than blueberries. But we all know that there are other things in blueberries that make them beneficial for good health.

CBD oil (provided it is not made from isolate), has many other beneficial components in it that contribute to what is called the “entourage effect”–meaning that they each help the other parts work better. Those parts include cannabinoids, bioflavonoids, and other terpenes.

Copaiba Oil’s Other Components

On the other hand, Copaiba oil is not just made up of BCP alone. Copaiba oil has other beneficial compounds in it as well–namely copaene, bergamotene, and humulene which have benefits. But wait, CBD oil has humulene and bergamotene too. The moral of the story here is that both have benefits and the main arguments being made aren’t the whole story.

Higher Bioavailability of Certain CBD Oil

While it’s true that there is more BCP in Copaiba oil then in CBD oil, this doesn’t take into account the fact that there are certain CBD Oils that have a much higher bioavailability. Nano technology and water solubility greatly increase the bioavailability of the components of CBD Oil as such, these CBD oil benefits would clearly outpace that of copaiba oil.

At this point, it seems from research that CBD Oil’s health applications are much wider than those of Copaiba Oil.

Myth: Copaiba Oil’s Direct Receptor Interaction Is Preferred

Direct action on 1 receptor is not necessarily better than indirect action on both.

Those who argue that Copaiba is better than CBD oil state that BCP works directly on the CB2 receptor, where CBD only has indirect action on both CB1 and CB2 receptors. (source)

CBD is an Allosteric Modulator

Furthermore, CBD performs complex actions on the body. CBD is known as an allosteric modulator, meaning that it can enhance or inhibit how a receptor transmits a signal by changing the shape of the receptor it’s acting on.

This is a chemical phenomena which has extensive benefits. Additionally, CBD actively stimulates vanilloid, adenosine, and serotonin receptors. It is a completely gross misrepresentation of nearly 30 years worth of data to insinuate that CBD is not beneficial due to its inability to directly stimulate cannabinoid receptors.

One example is that CBD is a positive allosteric modulator of the GABA-A receptor (helps the GABA receptor work better) and is a negative allosteric modulator of the CB1 receptor, so that one doesn’t get psychoactive effects when using CBD.

The CB1 receptors are mostly located in the brain but also throughout the body, while CB2 receptors are in the immune and GI system mainly, but also a bit in the brain.

Myth: There are 70 Studies on Copaiba Oil So It’s Better

The above is something that has been pointed out by a certain MLM Essential Oil company.

Well, there are loads of peer-reviewed studies on CBD as well.

Myth: CBD Oil Has a Lot of THC in It and Will Get you High

Fact: CBD Oil Isolate has no THC in it.

Full Spectrum CBD Oil that is sourced from industrial hemp has little to no THC in it and has no psychoactive effects.

Now, it is the truth that even a small amount of THC could possibly result in a false positive drug test result, depending on the sensitivity of the test. CBD Oil without THC should not do this ever. One thing to remember is that poppy seeds and some other foods and OTC medications, can also result in false positive test results.

Usage Safety Concerns

Most essential oil experts agree that you should not use essential oils internally unless you are under the care of a physician or aromatherapist. And make sure you read about essential oil emulsifiers before making anything with Copaiba oil.

In fact, there is actually a study on rats showing that ingesting copaiba essential oil increases bilirubin and can cause liver damage. (source)

Yes, go ahead and put Copaiba in your diffuser, or dilute it and apply it topically. But please don’t ingest it.

Most CBD oil, on the other hand, is meant to be ingested. You can use CBD oil topically in a salve, or you can vape it, but most people like using it orally, typically in capsule form or as sublingual drops. But please speak with your physician before trying CBD oil in any form, particularly if you are taking medications. You might wish to do this before using Copaiba Oil as well.

Is Copaiba Cheaper than CBD oil?

Quite possibly. It all depends on how much of each product you need and how you will use it and of course if it works for you. Cheaper doesn’t mean anything if it doesn’t work.

My son sees great benefits using a very small amount of CBD oil. So far, we haven’t seen much benefit using copaiba oil, but we haven’t done much experimenting.

I don’t know of any federal or state regulations regarding copaiba oil. There are some regarding CBD oil, but typically that is only for CBD oil that is sold in stores and/or that has more than .3% THC.

Why Not Try Both?

My question is–why does this have to be “my oil is better than your oil” fight at all? Why not try both?

For you, CBD oil might work better than Copaiba Oil or vice versa.

In fact, Copaiba Oil is supposed to help amplify the effects of other essential oils and has been said to amplify the effects of CBD oil as well. So both is almost always going to be better than using only one.

Personally, from everything that I have read (and it’s been a lot)–I think that CBD oil is the way to go. But every one is different. No need to get into a huff about this–just try them and see what you think!

If we’re going to argue about this, what’s next–a war about which is better–avocados vs oranges?

I say try them both and enjoy the benefits of each. Instead of perpetuating the CBD vs Copaiba war, let’s understand the benefits of both and consider using both for a comprehensive formula to improve wellness.

Where to Buy CBD-rich Hemp Oil and Copaiba Oil

This is a tough question because it’s hard to know who to trust. There are so many places to purchase both CBD oil and Copaiba oil, you want to make sure that you are buying pure versions of each.

Purity is crucial, especially if you’re going to be using these on a daily basis.

There is a lot of monkey business going on in the CBD oil industry, as well as in the essential oil industry. Actually, the truth is that there is a lot of nonsense going on in every industry–food, personal care, essential oils, and more. It’s so hard to know who to trust!

I spend a lot of time doing research for my family (sometimes it feels like too much), because I don’t want to spend our hard-earned money on junk and well, we’ve been taken before and I’m pretty fed up with it.

Essential Oils: If you’d like to try the oils that my family is using, you can go to this series where I started a search about where to buy our essential oils from (the final post is here).

CBD Oil: There’s a lot to sort through about this as well. I encourage you to really do your own research about quality companies to purchase from but this post about our CBD Experience might be helpful and has some brands listed at the end.

I do my best to stay on top of these industries, and I’m always doing research, so stay tuned–you can learn more about me and subscribe to update here.

Have you used CBD Oil or Copaiba Oil?
Please share your experience in the comments.

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42 Comments

  1. Wow…I feel like this is a very down to earth informative article. You are definitely living up to your websites name. Wholesome!

  2. Thank you so much for this well-written and informative article! I was doing some research on where to purchase Copaiba oil besides one company i sometimes use. That is how I came across your article.

    I never knew there was a debate on CBD vs Copaiba. I personally use Copaiba, as I find it to be gentle. I have never tried CBD, though I know people who swear by it. Maybe when it becomes FDA approves, I’ll consider trying CBD. I am just concerned that it will negatively interact with some of the medications I am currently on. My RA doctor knows I use essential oils and hasn’t said anything negative against them.

    I diffuse Copaiba and Lavender oil at night to help me sleep :).

    1. Thanks for the kind words! Of course check w/ your physician about any medical contraindications. The information is pretty well available online as well.

    1. Hi there. Do you mean safety concerns? I don’t see any reason why someone couldn’t use both but please speak w/ your physician if you have any concerns specific to either of them.

  3. Thank you for mentioning not to take Copaiba internally. I tried it after seeing other sources that recommended it, but it caused major intestinal upset!

  4. Adrienne, thank you so much for your well researched and written article. I think becoming educated on all aspects of this emerging industry is critial. I have been using full-spectum organic CBD products for over a year. I first used them to manage anxiety while having an MRI, then later for pain following shoulder surgery and a broken arm. I now use it for my on-going arthritis pain and to help me sleep. To go through all that I’ve gone through with almost no prescription pain meds is my miracle! I haven’t tried Copaiba oil but have several deTerra friends who have suggested it to me. Now I have a better idea of why!

    1. You are so welcome and thank you for the kind words! So glad to hear that you are doing well considering!

  5. Yes! I use both copaiba and CBD extract. They work great together. I absolutely love your post here and I’ve been saying the same things for months so THANK YOU! I’m an advocate for doTERRA and also for CTFO. Both mom’s I know but both have great product. I use a copiaba, lavender and CBD pain rub together on my neck and shoulders. I have degenerative issues in my neck and spine along with a bulging disc in my neck and between my shoulder blades. I used to suffer horrible headaches before I started this regimen along with PT and Massage therapy.
    So all I need to say is Hallelujah! My condition is chronic and will never go away completely but I, am headache free. Thank you again, great article. Kelly

  6. I use a high quality CBD oil that has changed my family’s life for the better. My friend, (name deleted by blog owner), sent me this article to read. I gave her a bottle of my CBD oil to try. After reading your comparison I feel like taking both CBD oil and copabia oil would be beneficial. If I could only afford one however I’d choose CBD oil. There is a lot of low quality CBD oil out there so research it before you buy it. If you want to try the one I use you can text or call me (phone number deleted by blog owner). Now I’m going to order the Copabia ? Thank you

    1. Hi there. I am sure you can understand that I don’t allow people to promote their companies or side hustles on my blog. Does HempWorks encourage you all to do such a thing? I sure hope not. If you come back (which I hope you do), please refrain from dropping information so people can contact you. Thank you.

      1. My apologies for mentioning my affiliate’s companies. My intention was jus to be transparent in the product I use. Thanks again, great post. Kelly

        1. No problem. I didn’t approve your comments quickly mostly b/c I have been busy but I do take care that people aren’t using my platform for self-promotion. Thanks for the kind words!

  7. Excellent article! Thank you for breaking everything down so we can understand it simply?CBD for the win and I swear by it?My aunt has Parkinson’s and it helps here immensely! Many people I know take cbd and also can say it actually works! Essentially Oils always have their place but it cannot replace cbd oil.

  8. Thank yooou for this amazing & detailed blogpost! I googled CBD vs. Copaiba and this came up. I just started combining Young Living Copaiba (topically & difusion) with CBD Oil (brand name removed by blog owner) (ingested – approx. 30mg a day ) I’m excited to see the results!!

  9. Love the end of this article: why not try both? 🙂
    That’s how I feel about a lot of things. We don’t need to hate on perfectly good products because a company or group told us to.

    1. Thank you so much, Michelle. I personally do think that the CBD oil is most likely going to have the most benefit for most people but again, everyone is different!

  10. Thank you! What are your thoughts on patch vs the water-soluble oils? I have done a little research and like the fact that your body absorbs small amounts throughout the day whereas the oil absorbed through your mucus membranes last about and hour and a half? I guess my thoughts are that if this patch can actually be absorbed through the layers of skin, that we would almost have to take the oil form every couple of hours to compare?

    Yes, I have heard of the Wahls Protocol as well as the Swank diet 🙂 I’m starting out with baby steps.. trying to get rid of processed foods. My diet (minus my chocolate obsession and some unplanned lunches), is pretty much a whole foods vegan diet right now. And i’m knocking on wood (and saying a prayer) as i say this but I don’t have any MS issues other than the side effects from the medication I was taking.

    1. Hi again and you’re welcome. I spoke w/ the MD that I work with re: this topic and he said that is can be another delivery method for sure and has slower absorption but might not be as helpful….I think it would depend on the product and that it might not deliver enough of the active ingredient. I’m still asking for more info. I think it’s really going to depend on the oil product’s bioavailability when comparing these products. Glad to hear you are doing well overall!

  11. Love this post! Although this is slightly off the subject, I have found myself SO confused by all the choices for CBD oil and which the body can actually absorb to get the full benefits. I have recently started using CBD oil (I have used two different oils: Ojai Energetics Full Spectrum Hemp Elixir and also Pure Kana CBD Oil) and have recently purchased the Zija CBC Patch. I should add that my purpose is anti-inflammatory. I have MS.

    1. Hi there – thank you! It is totally confusing. I think this post should help you on some level. I’m happy to help more if need be. The nano and water-soluble oils are really well absorbed and then purity is of utmost importance. Sorry for what you are dealing with. Have you heard of Terri Wahls and her protocol?

  12. I have found both CBD and Copaiba to be very helpful in various ways to me. They do affect our bodies differently and I think one can benefit from using them concurrently . I first started using copaiba for pain. I have a blend I make with a few other essential oils and dilute in roller ball with coconut oil . For a few days I was taking copaiba orally and I did feel the difference in my pain level however I decided to stop taking it internally as one I was breastfeeding and two I just didn’t feel right taking it orally. I will say however that I felt more of a difference taken orally then applied topical, but topically is still pretty strong when combined with other oils at managing pain. At that same time I was taking CBD oil, I tried various brands, I felt some worked better than others, however the relief in pain level wasn’t as high as I would have liked, but it helped with other areas like anxiety. I have now found a CBD oil brand that I like and is clean and I feel that it does make a difference in helping with the pain especially when I apply the topical sports gel. It shouldn’t be one or the other why not have your cake and eat it too?

  13. Thank you for the info. I use Copaiba and clove (diluted) on my son’s gums to help him handle the 2 year molar pain. Should I rethink this?
    Any other suggestions?

      1. You mentioned a recent study that copaiba should not be ingested due to possible liver damage. I’m sure my son swallows a little after I put it on his gums. Wasn’t sure if that would be harmful.

        1. Oh that makes sense now. I would think that that is way too little of an amount to be concerned about. And interestingly this study shows that it’s beneficial to the liver: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23842934

          It does seem to me that the amount in that study is 1.5 g/kg but I’m not sure about that. That would be a huge amount of copaiba oil. As such, seems like more information is needed. However, internal use of essential oils is typically not recommended outside of the parameters that I mentioned.

          I have this post on sore gums that might help as well but keep in mind the young age of your child, please. https://wholenewmom.com/natural-remedies-for-gum-infections/

  14. For me it just comes down to what works. I am Doctor of Chinese Medicine and have a company that makes topical products for muscles and joints. I tried formulas with and without copaiba and it made no difference. I even put straight copaiba oil on my painful neck and noticed zero relief.

  15. I really hoped I had found an accurately informational site, but you lost me at cannabidiol being an endocannabinoid. It’s a phytocannabinoid, not an endocannabinoid. CBD is produced by plants, not the body.

    1. Hello Michelle. What you found is someone who made a mistake. We all make them. It’s fixed now. I hope you found the comparison of copaiba and CBD to be a bit helpful–thanks for the heads up! I have been swamped with all kinds of things and spent many hours on this post going back and forth b/t articles and commentaries and studies and things got mixed up. Thanks again!

    2. Our bodies actually produce cannabinoids. They also come from plants. Studies have been done that have found breast milk to be chock-full of cannabinoids.