One reason that it can be difficult to see the difference is that CBD hasn’t been used in a mainstream setting long enough for standardization to be established. It can take years for regulatory systems to be developed and the industry has not yet reached that point.

Luckily, however, there are a few points you can look to for answers.

Extraction Process

Before putting your trust in a CBD product, it is good to consider how the cannabidiol oil is extracted from the cannabis plant. There are several methods that manufacturers use to extract the oil, with some being much more rudimentary than others. Unfortunately, one of the most popular methods used by some of the lower end brands is a heavily involved process involving toxic components. This process comes with a slew of potential risks that buyers should be aware of. The CO2 extraction method is a much safer, yet highly technical process using sophisticated equipment. While this is one of the most sought after extraction methods used by higher quality CBD manufacturers, it is not something that should be attempted by an unskilled professional. However, the processes of ethyl-alcohol or olive oil extraction are relatively simple enough that one could safely and easily make their own CBD oil at home with proper instruction.

Consider the Source

It is also important to look at the source of the CBD. Naturally, the health of the plant will have a direct impact on the quality and effectiveness of the cannabidiols derived from that plant. Location is another key factor in the quality of the product. Hemp plants grown in the United States are generally most optimal, as the standards for farming, requirements for agricultural certification, and soil quality are much higher than in other countries. Since hemp plants are highly absorbent of anything and everything contained within the soil it is being grown in, US derived plants are much healthier, as the soil that farmers are required to grow their crops in are highly nutrient-dense and tend to contain lower levels of harmful chemicals and/or pesticides.

THC Content as an Indicator

Looking at the THC levels in the CBD oil is another way to see how well it was processed. THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, is the component in marijuana that gives the user a ‘high’ or euphoric sensation. Manufacturers using the best methods will have very minimal amounts of THC in their CBD oil. The legal range for THC content is 0.3-0.5%, as these are low enough levels that there should be little to no psychoactive effects; anything over this range could also equate to a substandard product. The strain of the plant that CBD is being extracted from is also of great importance. Strains with a higher CBD content and lower THC levels are the most favorable.

Full Spectrum, Whole Plant, or Isolate

Another indicator of quality is how much of the plant is used for production. Traditionally, CBD oil has been extracted from the entire plant, but it is becoming more common these days to use only portions of the plant. CBD is most frequently extracted from hemp plants, while THC is more highly concentrated in the flower or ‘bud’ of a marijuana plant. The benefit of using the whole plant is that there are a host of other cannabinoids, flavonoids, and terpenes that work in conjunction with cannabidiols providing better results and effects. CBD oil products that use the entire plant as a source are labeled as ‘Full Spectrum’ or ‘Whole Plant’. Alternatively, if you’re in need of a product with little to no traces of THC due to legality or personal preference, then a ‘CBD Isolate’ would be the better choice, as it is derived solely from hemp plants and is usually 99% pure.

What’s in the Mix?

Checking the ingredients in your CBD oil is another way to ensure that you are getting the best quality product. If it contains a list of hard to read chemical ingredients, you should take this as a warning to steer clear. Nevertheless, there are some additives that can actually enhance the specific properties that you’re using CBD oils for. Just a couple of examples of these would be adding melatonin for aiding in sleep and vitamin B12 for increased pain relief. As a general rule, the most complimentary additives should be natural ingredients and not harsh chemicals or preservatives.

Types of CBD Oils

There are three well-known types of CBD oils, a fact which many users are unaware of. These are Raw, Decarboxylated, and Filtered. So, what are the differences and how do you tell them apart? Raw oils are generally darker in color, ranging from a very dark green to almost black. This is because once the CBD has been extracted from the plant, no further purification is conducted. This results in higher levels of chlorophyll, terpenes and plant matter contained in the oil. Decarboxylated oils are very similar in appearance and structure to raw oils, as they also range from a darker green to almost black color. However, these oils are put through a process called ‘decarboxylation’ which means that the plant is heated at low temperatures for several hours in order to reduce the acidity of both CBD and THC. Lastly, filtered oils – the most common among products on the market today – are much lighter due to being put through both the decarboxylation and filtering processes, resulting in a light golden color.

Consider the Science

Don’t forget to check the science. As with anything medical, the more information you have the better. Low-quality CBD oil manufacturers will often not provide any actual scientific proof that their oils are as pure and effective as they say they are. Trustworthy CBD products, on the other hand, will typically provide a Certificate of Analysis along with 3rd party lab results and other important information so that you can see what you are buying. These results often include any harmful contaminants that may have been found during the testing process. As we mentioned before, CBD oil used for medical purposes is still a bit young in the grand scheme of things. Because of the age of the industry, some reputable brands still don’t provide their lab results; however, it is becoming something that customers expect from their CBD manufacturers.

The Wrap Up

As you can see, there are many factors that go into creating a high-quality CBD product and sadly, there is a wide variety of low-quality, unsatisfactory products out there. This can make finding the right CBD oil seem like a daunting task, but luckily, there are also many high-caliber products on the market today. There are also lots of ways to be certain that you are choosing the best CBD oil for your needs, at the best quality – it just takes a bit of time and research, which you should come to find is worth it, in the end.

The post Understanding CBD Quality appeared first on CBD MEDS.

Where does CBD come from?

Cannabinoids are extracts of the cannabis plant. It is indeed the most abundant among the components of the plant, accounting for up to 40% of the extract. Additionally, other major components of the cannabis plant’s extract include tetrahydrocannabinol and terpenes. They all play a tremendous role in therapeutic management of quite a number of medical conditions. While THC is responsible for the ‘high’ effect people get from cannabis, CBD does not have any psychotropic effect. THC is majorly explored for its anti-epileptic attributes. Comparatively, CBD is well-known for its anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.

Role of free radicals in ageing

Although CBD has a lot of therapeutic applications, its use as an anti-aging agent has gained a lot of attention lately. The ability of CBD anti-aging creams is made possible because of the anti-oxidant property of CBD. Usually, the body produces oxidants and free radicals as a by-product of inflammatory reactions.

Most of the reactions are carried out by the body’s immune system in response to foreign pathogens. Ironically, the immune system is also responsible for clearing out the free radicals generated while the fight against the pathogens is ongoing. Also, it is common knowledge that the skin is the most exposed to pathogens of all bodily organs.

Of course, these oxidants are toxic to skin cells, and this is why nature has put the immune system in place as a mechanism to mop them up. However, a lot of other natural interactions in the body can lead to an increase in the production of free radicals. In such situations, their quantity can become too high for the scavenging system to handle. This shows on the skin in the form of wrinkling, loss of radiance, and diminished elasticity. Too many oxidants also affect organs, muscles, ligaments and joints thereby manifesting as generalized body weakness. Unquestionably, these are the signs of aging!

The anti-aging effect of CBDs

Cells age whenever there is oxidative stress. As mentioned in the above section, this oxidative stress occurs in response to inflammatory reactions occurring within the body. The natural endogenous scavenging system is referred to as the endocannabinoid system. It composes two receptors, CB1 and CB2. The ability of cannabinoid to activate these receptors gives CBD anti-aging creams their unique anti-aging effect.

The potency of CBD as an anti-oxidant has been reported to surpass that of vitamin C and E. Its anti-oxidant effect has also been reported to be similar to that of butylated hydroxytoluene. However, CBD is rated higher than BHT as it is not associated with tumor promotion. This means that using topical CBD anti-aging creams has no chance of causing skin tumors, unlike BHT.

By preventing oxidative stress, CBD anti-aging creams will be able to prevent skin wrinkling in conditions where oxidative stress is expected to be especially problematic.

CBD is also effective in other conditions caused by excessive oxidative stress. Some of these conditions are closely associated with old age due to weakened scavenging system. Others develop earlier in life due to excessive build-up of free radicals. These conditions include, but are not limited to, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes mellitus type I and II, neuropathic pain, and Alzheimer’s disease.

Supporting evidence

Recently, awareness of the unique efficacy of CBD and THC has been on a steady rise. This has led to the legalization of their use as prescription drugs across many states in the US and beyond. Researchers have also seen the potential in CBD and efforts are being directed towards gaining more insight into how it can be fully utilized.

In some laboratory studies, CBD was shown to inhibit oxidative stress caused by endotoxins. It also inhibited the action of NADPH oxidase thereby enhancing the activity of the endogenous cannabinoids. These actions were recorded at very low concentrations of 1microMol.

In recent research, CBD was also noticed to reduce the actions of LPS. LPS is pro-inflammatory and its actions almost always lead to increased oxidant level. Similarly, CBD increases STAT3-related actions which are anti-inflammatory and therefore help prevent oxidant build-up.

Overall impression of CBD anti-aging creams

CBD’s anti-oxidant activity can hardly be compared with that of other anti-oxidants. What’s more, is that it does not have the adverse effects reported with the other agents commonly used for their anti-aging properties. This is mainly because only a little quantity of CBD is required for maximum efficacy and CBD use has not been linked to any serious side effects.

There is no doubt that CBD anti-aging creams are the best when it comes to the prevention and possible reversal of skin aging.

The post Anti-Aging Properties of Topical CBD appeared first on CBD MEDS.

Cannabinoids are chemical compounds, and cannabidiol is one of the active compounds (CBD). The goal of extraction is to isolate cannabidiol and leave other cannabinoids intact while ridding the finished product of psychoactive compounds (THC). There are a number of alleged health benefits to CBD, but keep in mind that research is still being conducted and results are unclear.

In popular literature, you’ll come across CO2 and ethanol extraction as the two most popular ways of isolating cannabidiol, but the extraction process of isolating CBD can be done in a number of ways. Ethanol is simply an organic solvent and can be swapped for other organic solvents. We’ll detail some of the more common CBD extractions, and reference a couple of methods that are still in test stages.

CO2 Extraction

“CO2 extraction” may sound like a scary and dangerous process, but remember, CO2 is just carbon-dioxide, the same substance used to produce carbonated water and soda! It is the same extractor sometimes used to remove caffeine from coffee beans.

The most popular extraction method for small batch CBD, CO2 extraction leverages temperature and pressure to extract cannabidiol. One of the larger companies in the CBD game, PotNetwork Holdings, uses a supercritical CO2 extraction to get the purest CBD. The process requires equipment and systems generally not suitable for the untrained.

Unlike organic solvents, CO2 acts as a solvent only at certain temperatures and pressures, allowing extractors a lot of control over the process. There are two ends of the spectrum in CO2 extraction, “supercritical” (which involves high temperature and pressure) and “subcritical” (involving low temperature and pressure).

When people say “supercritical CO2 extraction”, they are referring to the state of CO2 when pressure and temperature are used to put CO2 in a “supercritical” state halfway between a gas and liquid. The supercritical state is perfect for toxin-free extraction and isn’t dangerous. A “subcritical” CO2 extraction uses a low temperature and pressure to draw out CBD without damaging the plant.

In addition to super and sub-critical models, CO2 in a solid-state (dry ice) can also be used for extraction. It is the more difficult of the at-home distillation processes (go with olive oil if you’re going to try it yourself) but can be effective in small batches. To do it, you have to chop up cannabis and combine it in a bag with dry ice, shaking it to get the oils to mix with the CO2 and extract the CBD.

Pros:

• Generally produces a safer CBD, less toxin and flammability worries than ethanol and organic solvent solutions.
• Higher-quality CBD free of chlorophyll
• CO2 is a safe product used in food all the time

Cons:

• Difficult to master. Requires more equipment and training than organic solvent methods.
• More expensive than other CBD extraction methods.

Ethanol (And Other Organic Solvents)

The most popular and easiest way to extract CBD is to use an organic solvent. Ethanol is a popular CBD extraction technique, but it isn’t the only organic solvent that can be used for CBD extraction. Methanol, chloroform, butane, and hexane all also work as CBD extractants.

An article in Science Direct details recent research into CBD extraction using Ethanol. The study found that “the concentration of ethanol strongly affects the composition of obtained extracts.” The high ethanol concentration, 80% and 96%, obtained much purer extracts with high amounts of CBD. If ethanol is used to isolate CBD, the higher concentrations of ethanol will yield higher concentrations of CBD.

Using ethanol creates non-biodegradable waste and is not an eco-friendly process. Some companies are trying to change that, like Greenbelt resources and NCM Biotech’s attempt to create quality CBD with bioethanol that carries a lower carbon footprint and actually works better than organic ethanol extraction.

Pros

• Low cost of function
• Easy extraction process doesn’t require significant equipment or training

Cons

• Organic solvents can create nonbiodegradable waste
• Destroys certain plant waxes which have some of the alleged health benefits of CBD
• Flammability and toxicity pose problems for both the human extractors and the environment at large.

Water Vapor Extraction

Similar to CO2 extraction (in that it also leverages heat and pressure) is the patented thermal extraction process used by the company making CBD for your pets–Petabis. The company provides itself on offering full-spectrum CBD that includes the other medicinal compounds found in cannabinoids, removing only the psychoactive THC and leaving the rest of the plant intact. The process takes mere seconds instead of the hours required by CO2 extraction, and the process uses no chemical solvents. The process is also zero waste!

Pros:

• Zero-waste
• Time and energy-efficient process
• Produces a nutty, buttery-tasting CBD
• Full-spectrum extraction because it isolates and removes the psychoactive materials.

Cons:

• Well… done by a company making CBD for pets.

Olive Oil Extraction

The at-home equivalent of weed brownies, you can also cook your own CBD using regular old olive oil! It’s a safe process, requiring you to first heat the hemp product and then “cook” it in hot olive oil to draw out the chemicals. The product is pretty unstable and requires careful storage so it doesn’t perish.

Pros:

• You can make your own CBD!

Cons:

• Highly perishable
• Not the purest extraction
• Not great for larger batches

Dust Processing

When hemp is processed for fibre production, around 33% of the plant can be lost in processing as “dust.” This article from the journal Science Direct details some research that found supercritical fluids were effective for the extraction of waxes and CBD from hemp waste. The study found that Heptane Soxhlet was an effective extraction process for hemp dust.

Pros:

• Uses normally unusable parts of the hemp plant.

Cons:

• It would have to be used in conjunction with a more standard CBD extraction process.

Conclusion

CBD extraction is still in its early stages of research. The best methods will produce pure and quality CBD, leaving other cannabinoids intact (full spectrum), while not harming the people making it or harming the environment. Newer methods of pressure, temperature, and water vapor seem to be the most fruitful areas of research.

The post How CBD is Extracted appeared first on CBD MEDS.