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Hemp is a highly nutritious plant that also contains an array of therapeutic compounds known as cannabinoids. The most important of these is CBD or cannabidiol which is anti-inflammatory and can assist with issues like arthritis. How is it actually made though? Let’s explore the end to end production process. Hemp has a multi step process involved in extracting its nutrient and vitamin rich oil. This oil when extracted via CO2 or alcohol extraction contains high levels of cannabinoids like CBN, CBG and CBD. It may also contain THC which causes the high from cannabis – although this can be removed. Let’s take a look at how hemp oil is made, why this matters when you buy CBD oil online and how to identify a high quality CBD oil product.
How is it made?
First there are multiple harvesting stages. This involves collecting the plants, drying them, stripping the buds and leaves and prepping them for oil extraction. After the three stages of harvesting are completed, the plant produce that has been taken from the mature plants is dried and allowed to develop in cool air where it concentrates into the final plant extract that is then pressed for oil. This can take up to a couple of weeks. In this process the flowers and buds are removed in a manual trimming and sorting action, which are then further dried in containers that are vacuum sealed to prevent oxygen contaminating and decaying the plants (which can catch mould, fungi and other contaminants that can spoil the crop – much like other vegetables and plants). Storing the plant matter is known as the curing process, which can take weeks to months to complete in order to age the plant and let its chemical compounds develop. Again the curing length and method – whether vacuum sealed or open air, using jars, using vats or other means varies depending on the farmer and their particular method of operating. It can vary from lengthier cures that are done by more reputable and high end growers to very rapid and short (or even skipping the cure) for black market operators.
Curing helps to both develop the plant matter and extend its shelf life, allowing it to be stored and kept for longer without degrading significantly. How do you choose the right grower or reputable product? It’s difficult in Australia where the market is still nascent and developing and many operators are not yet fully operating at a mature, efficient and quality focused cadence but this is changing over time. One of the best methods is to find third party, non biased reviews from reputable Full Spectrum CBD Oil testers and sites in order to validate and assess whether the product is reliable and delivers true benefits.
What types of CBD products are there?
There are a few different varieties of plant matter and processed forms of cannabis after it’s been harvested, based on the different sections of the plant in its biology. Each can have differing cannabinoid compound content, differing fiber and nutrient levels and has differing uses for industrial purposes as well as dietary. Let’s examine the top types of CBD products after the harvesting and extracting processes have been completed, to understand more about what your options are for supplementation and dietary delivery.
Extraction processes can vary significantly in chemicals used and methods performed to reach the final extracted CBD oil products. From propane, ethanol and Co2, there are a number of differing ways the cannabinoid and resins can be extracted from the buds and trim of the plant, but Co2 is typically considered the best process and most clean for the end user by minimizing chemical by-products and potential contamination of the end product. Solvents can be completely avoided in certain extraction methods that use gas only to completely remove any chance of solvents ending up in the final extract. Where possible opt for solvent-less methods.
CBD Tinctures
What is a tincture? You might’ve seen or heard of full spectrum CBD tinctures online. Their history is actually quite long due to being a more general format of storing oils and plant essences in oil. Tinctures are a method of extracting and storing cannabis oil and cannabinoids into a fat soluble liquid like MCT or glycerol, that can then be mixed into the substrate oil and suspended into it in order to create an even and effective dosage. Tinctures have been in use for at least a hundred years amongst botanists and pharmaceutical businesses, enabling the storage and use of plant botanicals and essences in oil and liquid form for dosage control and delivery. Carrier oils are used with tinctures to suspend the rich cannabinoid containing oil, typically these are MCT (medium chain triglyceride), olive or grapeseed oil. For tinctures to work and be bioactive (usable by the body), the cannabis matter inserted into the oil must be decarboxylated before producing the end product. This activates the CBD and THC within the plant matter, allowing the body to absorb it. Tinctures are a great way to control dose and ensure you get the most from the full spectrum CBD oil, we recommend using an MCT carrier for best results.
When someone refers to Full Spectrum CBD Oil they’re really referring to a tincture – they’re terms that can be used in place of one another. Tinctures can be taken sublingually or ingested, sublingual application means absorption is more rapid to the bloodstream. Adding into foods that have high fat content like coffee or peanut butter helps with absorption, increasing bioavailability.
Conclusions
Hemp oil is very useful and already in use by many for their health. It has a huge range of beneficial qualities that assist with complete health and wellbeing. Whether you’re seeking improved cardiovascular and heart health or better recovery and performance, hemp’s blend of powerful phytonutrients, vitamins, minerals and complex healthy fats make it the ideal supplement. When extracted via the multi stage harvest, processing and extraction method the final product will contain antioxidants and terpenes plus cannabinoids. Those like CBD or cannabidiol are greatly beneficial due to interacting with the endocannabinoid system and triggering the release of potent anti-inflammatory compounds like anandamide. Other cannabinoids like CBG, CBN and CBDA assist with different health issues. CBDA is antimicrobial and antibacterial, making it great to assist with immunity. CBG is very anti-inflammatory and can assist in reducing arthritis symptoms plus associated pain. Pain killing is really the core benefit of CBD oil – it’s why many use cannabis for chronic pain, particularly nerve pain issues.
