CBD oil is an in-demand product. Although, initially, only a handful of people knew about it, but eventually, the product took over the market. People also consider CBD oil as a health supplement.
The article below carries all the information you require in order to have a better understanding of CBD oil.
EVERYTHING ABOUT CBD OIL
CBD is a unique “cannabinoid” compound that you can find in oily resin of a cannabis plant. The resin concentrates on the dense clusters of the cannabis flower, which is also known as “buds.” Trichomes are mushroom-shaped particles that cover the buds and produces the CBD oil.
Trichomes are glands that contain different compounds, including tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), CBD, and many other compounds of aromatic nature.
These trichomes provide ultraviolet radiation and heat protection to the plant. Additionally, the oil has insecticidal, antibacterial, and antifungal properties that discourage predators, and the resin stickiness provides an extra layer of defense from bugs.
The oily resin protective layer carries components that are advantageous for humans. CBD and THC compounds have shown promising results in managing and treating numerous diseases.
You can extract CBD oil from the resinous trichomes of the cannabis plant. There are numerous types of cannabis plants, and the quantity of CBD available in the trichomes depends on the nature of the plant. Low resin is industrial marijuana. It is legally known as Cannabis and has shallow THC levels. This plant has fewer trichomes and produces less oil.
However, the majority of the high resin strains are full of THC and carry very little CBD. It is essential that you choose an appropriate plant to be able to extract sufficient amounts of CBD oil.
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TRICHOMES
Trichomes are fragile and break off easily. Even slight rough handling can cause the trichomes to fall. You need to manually remove the resinous trichomes in order to make “kif” (hashish powder) or hashish. It is common to melt the trichomes to turn the resin in a slab. This slab is known as rosin, and you can smoke or ingest it.
You can only extract the compounds with the help of CO2. In addition, changes in pressure or temperature allow fine-tuning of the CBD extraction process.
When the pressure drops, you will be able to see a waxy, golden in color, crude, and CBD-rich substance separating from gas and depositing into the collection vessel. The golden oil then undergoes a ‘winterization process’, which refines and purifies the extract, and increases its value and quality. The plant wax is filtered out, which creates a clean, safe, CBD-rich free of chlorophyll oil.
CO2 extraction requires special equipment and expertise but is less dangerous in comparison to other forms.
EXTRACTING CBD OIL USING ETHANOL
Using Ethanol in the extraction of medicinal compounds such as Cannabis is a standard practice in many cultures.
U.S. Pharmacopeia, In 1854, suggested the use of “Indian hemp,” which are tinctures made of Ethanol for the treatment of numerous diseases, such as depression, muscle spasm, hemorrhage, pain, and neuralgia.
These tinctures, with an unpleasant smell, before the introduction of the Marihuana Tax Act of 1937, were a standard part of health care in America.
The bill later prohibited the use of all types of cannabis usage. However, homemade tinctures continued to serve as an underground vintage medicine, especially in Latino communities that were marginalized.
Recently, Ethanol has once again become a popular medium for the extraction of Cannabis and CBD oil. A tincture developed using an extract of Cannabis is powerful in contrast to the first flower. However, an intensive version of a similar tincture will be much more powerful.
In recent times, it is common to use non-toxic grain alcohol to create a powerful CBD-rich oil of high-quality. These ouls are often suitable for oral dosage.
Ethanol extracts that are available in dispensaries are usually known as Full-Extract Cannabis Oil (FECO) or Rick Simpson Oil (aka RSO). RSO or FECO are made by soaking cannabis flowers in Ethanol. These flowers are then strained and agitated.
After gently heating the residual oil, you will see a highly diluted goo mixed with cannabinoids, as the remains. Unfortunately, since the mixture is extremely thick, it can become challenging to dose it with accuracy.
The mixture is usually sold in needleless plastic syringes to aid in the administration and dosing. For the dose to work, it must contain a complete spectrum of cannabinoids that were extracted. It means that a little quantity of THC can be found in the ethanol extraction. Hence, the patients are suggested to avoid ingesting a dose more significant than a grain of rice. It is essential that you start from a lower level and take things slow.
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Extraction of CBD Oil using Hydrocarbon
You can use many different hydrocarbon solvents in order to extract Cannabidiol from Cannabis. Using these have significant advantages, but great disadvantages as well when you compare it with other methods of CBD manufacturing.
With proper implementation, this extraction method can turn out to be extremely useful for separating terpenes and cannabinoids from unnecessary cannabis components. It is capable of preserving the plant’s therapeutic attributes and its unique scent.
Potent cannabis concentrates developed from hydrocarbons may look like a brittle candy, ear wax, or tree sap in texture. The end product has a glass-like appearance and is called “shatter.” You can inhale it by using a vaporizer with a high temperature or a “dab rig.”
However, hydrocarbons are neurotoxic solvents and are incredibly flammable. If you do not remove these solvents from extract, it can damage your health– especially if you have a weak immune system.
Additionally, inadequate manufacturing processes, leaving toxic waste such as hydrocarbons, are known to be a cause of deadly explosions.
How can you make CBD oil by yourself?
Using flammable solvents to extract CBD oil at home is highly discouraged. There are numerous ways, which are much safer than using these solvents.
According to a study in 2013, Arno Hazekamp and Luigi L. Romano were able to evaluate the purity and efficacy of five extraction solvents, such as olive oil, naphtha, and Ethanol. The researchers were able to compare the solutions and concluded that using olive oil with cannabinoids was better for terpenes extraction.
Extraction using Olive oil is simple, safe, and straightforward. Additionally, it is cost-effective, and you can complete the process by yourself. Once you heat the plant matter in an oven, the cannabinoids will get decarboxylated. It will also turn CBDA into CBD and THCA into THC.
You need to steep the leaves and the flower in the olive oil; sift, strain, and lastly, separate the oil from the herb. Since the oil is perishable, you need to store it in a cool, dark place. It will keep the oil away from turning rancid.
You can also use lipid solvents such as MCT (Medium-chain triglyceride) oil, coconut, or avocado to extract the CBD from the plant. Additionally, hemp seed also acts as an excellent solvent for extraction and mixes with CBD without any problems.
Many companies claim that their CBD is made of hemp seeds. Hemp seeds are rich in protein and are a great source of omega-three fatty acids. However, they themselves do not contain any THC, CBD, or any other cannabinoids.
You can find some traces of cannabinoids in the oil extracted from hemp seeds. It is possible if the covering isn’t rinsed thoroughly, you remove it before the extraction process.
NONREGULATED CBD OIL PRODUCTS
We would like to emphasize on the fact that “hemp oil” and CBD oil are different. Although there are a few companies that are producing products of low quality by adding CBD extract in hemp seed oil to spike the product, they are not the same as CBD oil. These products do not have the components that a pure CBD oil has.
Unfortunately, many manufacturers label their products as CBD oil and create a false assumption in the eyes of the customers. It is imperative that you conduct your research before trusting these products because they can be extremely dangerous for your health.
A lot of states have legalized Cannabis for medical and recreational purposes. You can obtain a better CBD oil through licensed dispensaries in such countries, and make use of their safety standards to protect yourself.
