How is CBD Oil Made? The Technology Behind It

 

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What is CBD?

CBD has been making waves in the health industry for the past few years. It has made its rounds in the medical field and, based on numerous research, actually contains properties that help in the treatment of some conditions. 

CBD (cannabidiol) is a cannabinoid found in hemp plants. Hemp plants contain about 0.3% or less of THC; and unlike its infamous, euphoria-inducing sibling, THC, CBD is a non-intoxicating compound that has been shown to help reduce swelling in acne, inhibit excessive sebum production, and has proven help lessen the symptoms of epilepsy even in anti-epilepsy drug resistant patients . Pets such as dogs and cats can also use CBD to reduce stress and anxiety. Click here for more information and get the best CBD oils for your dogs at discounted prices https://www.healthcanal.com/best-cbd-oil/dogs

How is CBD Oil made?

CBD oil is perhaps one of the most common ways to consume CBD. CBD is extracted from the hemp plant and processed to produce CBD oil. 

Farming

The start of the extraction process is planting and breeding hemp plants. Modern technology has allowed hemp growers to breed hemp plants that have high levels of CBD and very low levels of THC (below the legal limit set by the federal government.) Young hemp plants are grown from seeds, planted outdoors with ample space in between them to mature properly. 

Extraction processes

Once the plant has matured and the flowering tops harvested, the extraction process can begin. There are many ways to extract CBD from hemp plants. 

Supercritical CO2 extraction

The supercritical CO2 extraction method is the gold standard in CBD extraction. 

In this process, the plant material is first compressed at low temperature. Supercritical CO2 (CO2 that has been liquified due to high pressure) is then passed through the plant material. The resulting crude extract is the most pure among the extracts harvested through other methods of extraction. The extract also requires less processing afterwards because of its purity. 

This process of extraction requires expensive equipment. As a result, it is mostly companies who can afford the equipment that use this method of extraction. 

Hydrocarbon extraction

This is an earlier form of extraction where they use light hydrocarbons to extract cannabinoids. Isopropyl alcohol, butane, or acetone were the most common solvents used in this process. 

The chosen solvent is passed through finely ground hemp until the fats and nutrients have dissolved. The mixture is then filtered to remove fiber and undissolved cellular materials. The liquid is then heated inside a vacuum to remove the solvent and leave behind the oils that contain CBD. 

This is a cheap method of extracting CBD, but it is also very dangerous. This method runs the risk of leaving behind toxic, carcinogenic residue in the oil. This method also wastes around 10% of the CBD that hemp plants contain. 

Oil extraction

Another way to extract CBD is by using olive or coconut oil. This is the simplest method that has been used for centuries. The hemp plant is first finely ground and then heated slowly. After heating, it is then steeped in olive oil or coconut oil. This allows the cannabinoids to bind with the olive or coconut oil. 

The resulting oil will not be as potent as those achieved by other methods, but this is a safer and inexpensive way of extracting CBD. This method is so simple you can even do it at home.

CBD oil — final product

The oils extracted using the processes mentioned above are then mixed with a carrier oil. The carrier oil can be hemp seed oil, olive oil, or MCT oil; or they can be added to other edibles like gummies and hard CBD candies. 

Author profile:

Heather Smith is the Communications Manager at Sunday Scaries. She’s a composed copywriter and content strategist. She’s also a CBD advocate, promoting a healthy lifestyle free of stress and scaries.