While CBD oil is much-loved by consumers for being an all-natural, hemp-derived product, few people understand the process that goes into extracting the compound. In fact, many people believe that CBD extraction is similar to that of hemp seed oil, even though the two processes vary greatly. However, the truth is that understanding how your favorite brand of CBD oil is extracted from the hemp plant could help you become a more savvy shopper.
First off, it is essential to acknowledge that nearly every compound, pharmaceutical or otherwise, has its own origins in nature. These origins can either be the raw materials or chemical components that make up the compound. In many cases, the term “alkaloids” refers to any compound that directly stems from the plant kingdom.
What does this have to do with CBD?
Scientists or chemists use specialized extraction processes and then alter this plant-based compound into an active product targeted for a specific purpose. With products such as medications that utilize chemical components, they can have various effects on the body and can even cause unforeseen adverse reactions that are difficult to avoid. This seems to be the primary reason that society as a whole is veering away from the pharmaceutical drug market in favor of more traditional and wholesome alternatives, such as CBD.
This is where understanding how your CBD is extracted comes into play. It is not, by any means, a new idea. Studies show that cannabis and hemp were used thousands of years ago for hundreds of different purposes. Today, however, companies like Diamond CBD have found ways to extract CBD for various purposes, turning it into CBD oil, CBD edibles, CBD creams, and more. That’s why CBD and the products derived from it are required to undergo a specialized extraction process before it’s put on the market for human consumption. Various extraction methods are used to obtain cannabidiol (CBD), which has quickly become one of the most prevalent cannabinoids of the past few years, including processes that utilize ethanol and butane. However, the most efficient method involves the use of pressurized carbon dioxide, otherwise known as supercritical CO2 extraction.
What About Hemp Seed Oil Extraction?
Because hemp-derived CBD oil and hemp seed oil both come from the hemp plant, many consumers think the extraction methods are the same. However, they couldn’t be more different. In fact, where CBD oil has taken over the lifestyle market as of late, the recently booming whole foods industry has been the area in which hemp seed oil has become dominant.
Just like it sounds, hemp seed oil is made by extracting the oil from hemp seeds. It has proven to be very popular among health food advocates. Still, hemp seed oil is often a primary ingredient used in various CBD products, though it is not CBD itself, and it can usually be found as the main ingredient in many different beauty products.
Hemp seed oil also provides many health benefits. These are mainly due to its essential fatty acid content that the body is easily able to assimilate.
Hemp seed oil extraction, which is not to be confused with hemp-derived CBD oil, involves a process of grinding, pressing, or otherwise applying intense pressure to the seeds. Often called “cold pressing,” the force is applied at temperatures below 120 degrees Fahrenheit.
Why would a CBD user need to know this? There’s a lot of confusion out there regarding the differences between hemp seed oil and CBD oil, especially when it comes to how both are extracted. Understanding that hemp seed oil is produced by cold pressing the hemp plant’s seeds will give you another tool to help you make better purchasing decisions.
Extracting CBD Oil from Stalks
CBD oil can come from different parts of the hemp plant, including the stalks. In fact, some manufacturers employ the same processes that are used to extract hemp seed oil for CBD as well, though it is not very common. However, manufacturers looking to make the most of their crops will apply various extraction methods to different parts of the hemp plant in an effort to maximize their CBD yield.
For example, the stalks are widely used for cannabidiol (CBD) extraction. The most favored way to extract this substance from the stalks of the plant is by utilizing the Supercritical CO2 extraction method, which is not only regarded as one of the safest methods according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) but one of the purest and cleanest as well.
Supercritical CO2 extraction is a non-toxic process that many manufacturers now embrace as the primary method for CBD extraction. Companies have been using this method to extract CBD oil from all parts of the hemp plant, yielding some of the purest, high-quality CBD oil on the market today. However, it should be noted that stalks contain very little CBD.
Why do companies prefer to use Supercritical CO2 extraction? Simply put, once the solvent is removed, all that is left is 100 percent pure cannabidiol. This process has even mainly been adopted by the commercial food industry for their own purposes.
Extracting CBD Oil from Flower
Most commonly, CBD is extracted from industrial hemp. Since the Farm Bill made hemp legal in 2018, the CBD industry has turned into one of America’s great booming sectors. The hemp plant is now legal to grow and cultivate throughout the nation under a strict set of rules and regulations, and consumer demand for CBD oil is higher than ever. Consumers want only the best.
But why industrial hemp? First off, it’s rich in CBD. Moreover, it’s a non-intoxicating plant that, by law, only contains up to 0.3 percent tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Industrial hemp has become the go-to product for which CBD companies and their consumers look to when seeking out the best products. And while some manufacturers still use solvent extractions, top-tier companies like Diamond CBD use supercritical CO2 extraction, yielding the best results.
In addition, another vital step takes place when extracting CBD from the flowers of these plants. It is a process known as chromatography, which assures that unnecessary phytochemicals are excluded from the extracted oil. Chlorophylls, which are responsible for giving color to the plant, are also removed to allow for the purest CBD oil attainable.
Companies like Diamond CBD extract pure, high-quality CBD from hemp flower, producing some of the most well-made products on the market today.
Understanding CBD Oil Extraction
Whether you prefer hemp seed oil or CBD oil, or CBD creams or CBD gummies, understanding the extraction process is a critical first step towards becoming a smarter shopper in the CBD market. With CBD oil growing to become a multi-billion business, less-than-scrupulous companies are beginning to pop up all over the country. As an informed consumer, you can question manufacturers and use your purchasing power to hold the industry accountable.
So make sure you understand how your CBD oil was extracted before you make your purchase. It can make all the difference in the world!
