The CBD market has been booming for several years now, and its by-products have become increasingly diversified. CBD oils, the flagship product, are a big hit with consumers: they can be easily administered sublingually, without the psychoactive effects of THC, can be precisely dosed and, above all, do not require combustion to release their full potential.
Cannabinoid extraction methods are constantly being perfected to meet the needs of an increasingly demanding clientele.Different methods exist today, and innovations in the field guarantee a certain level of quality. Knowing how CBD oil is extracted is an important criterion before making your choice.
Reminder: what is the CBD oil spectrum?
For those of you just beginning to delve into the delicate art of hemp cultivation, you've probably already heard offull spectrum products. In a nutshell, hemp plants contain hundreds of natural chemicals, including cannabinoids(CBD, THC, CBG, CBN...). Broad-spectrum and full-spectrum CBD oils preserve a greater variety of these molecules: phytocannabinoids, terpenes, flavonoids, phytonutrients, cannabinoids... According to some studies, these different compounds act better all together and have, through synergistic action, proactive effects on the human body. This is known as the entourage effect. The quality of an oil and the extent of its spectrum therefore depend largely on the quality of its extraction method, but also on the origin of the plant, the richness of the soil and its cultivation methods.
Liquid solvent extraction: the ancestral method
Solvent extraction involves immersing a body in a liquid to extract its components. Grain alcohol or isopropyl alcohol is generally chosen. This process has been used for millennia by herbalists to recover the chemical constituents of plants. Its ability to evaporate once the selected molecules have been extracted makes it an interesting ingredient for the manufacture of oils. Highly flammable, this method is not recommended for home use. Better mastered in the industrial sector, it is the subject of debate, as the results obtained are often variable...
The plus
- Inexpensive, requires little equipment
The -
- Highly flammable solvents, fairly dangerous method (do not use at home)
- Solvent residues may crystallize in the preparation
- Poor preservation of the plant's rich organic compounds: low-quality oil if the process is poorly controlled. Little or no surrounding effect.
Edible oil extraction: the artisanal method
An artisanal method that's easy to make at home, it guarantees a healthy product, provided that your basic products are healthy too (we can't stress this enough, prefer CBD flowers and edible oils from organic farming).
The plus
- Easy to make, inexpensive
- Low-risk, homemade method that can be carried out at home
- Healthy, relatively high-quality end product
The -
- The plant's organic compounds, including CBD, can be altered by heat if the process is not controlled.
- Limited shelf life
Supercritical CO2 extraction: the pros' method
Let's get down to business! Do you want a high-quality, healthy, rich and responsible oil without having to get behind the stove and keep a constant eye on your hob? Well, supercritical CO2 extraction is the method of choice for professionals and manufacturers alike. Unfortunately, you won't be able to use it at home, and you'll have to go to a store or online to obtain oils derived from it.
This extraction method emerged in the 70s as an alternative to distillation in the food industry. It is completely non-toxic, non-polluting and non-flammable, and can extract products with very high levels of purity (up to 99.9%). Today, it's the cleanest, most efficient, best-controlled industrial method for extracting CBD oils.
The plus
- Optimal, controlled and safe scientific method
- Preserves all the plant's organic compounds (broad or full spectrum)
- Healthy, high-quality, non-polluting end product
The -
- Expensive professional equipment
As you can imagine, CBD extraction methods vary according to use and quantity produced. As time goes by and public interest in CBD grows, extraction methods are constantly evolving and being perfected. Passionate producers who want to guarantee a quality product will not hesitate to use the best methods and will be transparent with their buyers on the subject. They will regularly publish analyses from independent laboratories, and will not hesitate to answer any questions you may have. As with any fashionable product, CBD and its derivatives are sometimes of poor quality and misappropriated by unscrupulous people interested only in their lucrative potential. Before you buy, be sure to find out about extraction methods, the origin of the plant and the THC content of the final product.