The CBD oil has become increasingly popular over the recent years. Cannabidiol, better known as CBD, is a compound found in the Cannabis sativa L. plant species that offers a number of health benefits. However, do you know what to look for when choosing a brand?
CBD oil reduces pain, inflammation, seizures, and brings about balance within our bodies. However, unlike the compound tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), CBD has no psychoactive properties that would cause you to get high.
Because of its amazing efficacy, it has been sought by many patients who want an alternative to pharmaceutical pain relievers or other medications that are not only addictive, but with harmful side effects.
Unfortunately, there is a lack of transparency and regulation that currently exists in the market. Driven by the desire to make quick money, producers use misleading marketing and deceptive advertising. Therefore, not all CBD brands are reputable.
To convince people to buy CBD oil or other products made of hemp or containing cannabidiol, some companies claim that their products can cure pretty much anything from cancer to acne scars, yet they have no scientific argument to support their statements. Therefore, it’s not surprising that people are reluctant to buy such products, or that they feel overwhelmed and have no idea how to buy CBD oil without getting scammed.
The CBD medical market is still unregulated. Quality control is insufficient, and consumers are mostly unaware what to look for when buying. It’s important to know what criteria to use when assessing products.
Four standards to look for when purchasing CBD medical hemp oil
Extraction Methods
CBD-rich oil is extracted from the cannabis plant. A number of methods are used, but typically, this is not something customers ask.
It’s not a surprise that many companies use cheap methods that involve toxic solvents such as propane, hexane, pentane, and butane, which are flammable hydrocarbon gases found in petroleum. Of course, no one wants to consume this especially if the person is ill.
Cannabis oil made with toxic solvents leave unsafe residues that compromise the immune system and delay the healing process. Be cautious of companies that try to convince you that using a hydrocarbon method stays the most true to the plant. Butane is illegal for a reason. Butane extraction is cheap and efficient, but it is definitely toxic. Inhalation of butane residue can cause cardiac and respiratory problems.
Organic, pharmaceutical-grade ethanol, which is a grain alcohol, is optimal. It eliminates certain toxins and residues in the raw plant material itself. However, while this extraction method yields a high amount of cannabinoids and is GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) for human consumption, it destroys the plant’s waxes, leading to a less potent oil.
On the other hand, to preserve most of the plant’s trichrome, (cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids) look for supercritical (or subcritical) CO2 extraction. This method uses carbon dioxide under high pressure and extremely low temperatures, isolating, preserving, and maintaining the purity of the medicinal oil. Although this method is more expensive and involves complex equipment and expertise, it ensures quality.
The CBD oil obtained through supercritical extraction is a full spectrum cannabinoid-rich product. This method also produces a cleaner taste, and mycotoxins cannot survive this process. It’s also eco-friendly and non-flammable, creating a safer laboratory and manufacturing environment, and better product control.
Another method to extract cannabis oil is by using olive oil or coconut oil. This method is both safe and inexpensive. Cannabis-infused olive oil, whether CBD-rich or THC-dominant, is perishable and should be stored in a cool, dark place.
Sourcing
The quality of CBD oil is really based on its source including where it was grown, how it was grown, and the species of cannabis such as sativa, ruderalis, or indica. The soil, climate, plants growing on the farm next door, and the flowers in the farmer’s garden, are all reflected in the final essence of the plant.
Hemp’s cultivation environment is so important because the cannabis plant is a hyper accumulator, which means it easily absorbs contaminants from the soil while it grows. In fact, it’s used in bioremediation, a cost-effective plant-based approach to clean the environment of toxic heavy metals and organic pollutants. Unfortunately, industrial hemp grown in non-food grade conditions is falsely being sold as CBD medicine over the internet.
If the soil is polluted with heavy metals, then that plant will likely contain high levels of lead or mercury. There have been cases where children have almost died taking hemp extracts that were high in lead.
Look for brands that source their cannabinoids from German-certified, hemp-grown farms in pristine regions of Europe. The German regulatory system is extremely strict and enforced, providing confidence in the superiority of their harvest, processes, and extraction quality. Organic hemp grown in Europe also adhere to EU’s organic standards, which are stricter than in the U.S. and highly audited. Also, look for ingredients that are certified organic and wild crafted.
The consensus among hemp experts on this debate is that the best hemp extracts are found in plants from where growing hemp has been legal for generations and the environment is well preserved, such in Europe.
Meanwhile, independent testing by accredited laboratories with globally accepted analytical methods ensures the organic extract is intact from pesticides, heavy metals, or microbiological contaminants. Moreover, reputable CBD companies have lab results from independent laboratories available on their websites. This can also be used as an indicator for consumers to check what companies are providing high quality CBD. When it comes to the best type, it really depends upon your illness and the effects you are looking for.
Look for quality, not for low prices.
With so many CBD products available on the market, it’s tempting to grab the most affordable one you can find online. However, cheap is not necessarily better. Surely, lower prices are more attractive, but think twice before choosing the cheap CBD oil over the high quality one.
If you want to make sure you are getting a safe and effective product, look for quality, not for a low price. What does quality mean when it comes to CBD products? The higher the concentration of cannabidiol in a product, the more powerful its effects, and thus the wiser the investment.
Make sure your oil is Non-Psychoactive.
Some strains of cannabinoid products available on the market contain psychoactive compounds such as THC. Cannabidiol (CBD) is scientifically proven to be anti-psychoactive. Therefore, it’s important to check the label before buying a CBD oil and to choose only products that have no psychoactive effects.
As long as you stick with non-psychoactive products, there’s no risk of getting high or intoxicated from them. They can definitely be addictive. Although there are strains that contain a bit of THC, which are great for depression and insomnia, it is still important to avoid them. It also depends largely on your condition or illness. Again, avoid cheap products. Making a good CBD oil that retains only the beneficial compounds from hemp requires a certain technology, and that technology is usually costly.
Some claim that you can make a DIY CBD oil at home by smashing some hemp seeds and extracting that fluid. Unfortunately, this way you will get (at best!) a poorly qualitative CBD oil. You cannot take the psychoactive THC out of cannabis oil by simply squeezing the liquid from some seeds.
