CBD oils are products that have been gaining popularity lately. CBD-based oils offer a number of health benefits, but only when they are obtained in the right way and contain the optimal amount of cannabidiol. CBD oil is obtained from hemp seeds, with a process called extraction. This is a procedure that requires proper execution and being very careful in order to get the final product of satisfactory quality. Below we share with you more about this method and explain which is the best extraction method for CBD oil.
What are cannabidiol (CBD) and CBD oil?
Cannabidiol is one of the active components of hemp, which is widely used today due to its beneficial health effects. This is just one of the many active substances found in this plant. You have probably also heard of THC, which is another active component of hemp. The main difference between CBD and THC is that CBD is not psychoactive and does not lead to an altered state of consciousness.
CBD oils are oils that contain extracted cannabidiol, in a form in which it can best exhibit its beneficial properties. Once found in the body, it comes into contact with the receptors of the endocannabinoid system and gets into action. This substance is quite similar to the substances that are naturally synthesized in our body, which kind of explains its beneficial effects, as well as why CBD oil has become so popular and wanted.
If we want to make the most of the potential of CBD, it is necessary to isolate it, that is, to separate it from all other substances found in hemp, but which are not useful to us. For this purpose, it is necessary to use optimal extraction methods.
What does cannabidiol extraction include?
Extraction of cannabidiol involves the isolation of this ingredient from hemp, the type that contains the highest percentage of CBD (Cannabis sativa). CBD is extracted by various methods and concentrated in the form of an oil, and then used for various health purposes. As we mentioned, cannabidiol is just one of the many ingredients found in hemp. Therefore, it is very important to use precise and specific extraction methods, in order to reduce the risk of extraction of other ingredients that do not serve us, and also increase the quality of CBD oil.
What is the best extraction method for CBD oil?
Here are some of the most common methods used for CBD extraction:
1. Solvent extraction
Solvent CBD extraction involves a method that requires the least budget, and also does not require complex apparatus and procedure. It involves the use of a liquid that serves as a CBD solvent. This liquid is most often ethanol or butane. In contact with parts of the plant that contain CBD, it will dissolve in the liquid, ie. cannabidiol will flow from solid material to solvent. After that, all that remains is to evaporate the solvent and add the oil, which gives a concentrated form of this ingredient.
The big disadvantage of this method is that not only CBD is dissolved in solvents, but also other substances, including chlorophyll, which can give a very bitter aroma to the final product. These are not high-quality products and we do not recommend using CBD oils obtained in this way.
2. Supercritical and subcritical extraction using CO2
Extraction of CBD using CO2 involves a method that is very sophisticated and clean. It enables precise isolation of CBD, while reducing the risk of contamination with undesirable substances from hemp to a minimum. In this extraction method, CO2 is released through the plant under pressure, whereby CBD is collected. This is also the most expensive method, but it is considered the best and most useful, because a high yield of isolated substance is obtained. There are two subcategories of this method:
- Supercritical extraction
The supercritical method involves the application of very high pressure and high temperature, in order to convert CO2 into supercritical form. In this form, CO2 has the properties of both gases and liquids and extracts CBD very efficiently, without changing its structure. After the extraction is complete, the solvent and CBD are separated in a separator. This process requires complex equipment, which significantly increases its cost, but at the same time is very precise and provides a final product of high quality.
- Subcritical extraction
Subcritical extraction uses slightly lower pressure and temperature, which provides isolation of even those fine and sensitive compounds that evaporate at high temperatures or decompose under high pressure conditions. This method takes a bit longer, but provides some additional benefits.
3. Extraction by using olive oil
And finally, there is another method that is easy to perform, so often a DIY project is a CBD oil enthusiast, but it does not give a high-quality final product because it gives a low yield and is easily spoiled. It involves the extraction of CBD using olive oil. The process is based on chopping hemp and heating it, after which the plant is subjected to extraction by olive oil. When heated, the ingredients are converted into a form that is easier to insulate. Although the method is quite simple, it does not provide a satisfactory result, so we do not recommend you to CBD oils obtained this way.
If you are looking for high quality CBD oils that will provide you with maximum health benefits and minimal risks, we suggest you check out https://www.praktischarzt.de/ratgeber/cbd-oel/testsieger and learn more about the best CBD oils on the market.
Conclusion: CBD oils are gaining in popularity nowadays due to their health benefits. However, if we want to ensure that the use of these products is efficient and safe, it is necessary to make sure that the oil is obtained in an optimal way, or in other words: that the appropriate extraction method is used.
The best extraction method for obtaining CBD oil is certainly the method of extraction using CO2, because it is the least toxic, and a high yield of active substance is obtained. Although it is more pricey, its price is justified by the use of quality equipment and obtaining the final product of satisfactory quality.
