Surely you have heard about the famous cannabidiol, of which many studies have been conducted over the last few years to demonstrate the therapeutic benefits of hemp flower. However, maybe you don’t have much information about what this compound is, where it comes from and how it is extracted. So, if you have ever wondered anything about CBD, we invite you to read on and find out what are the methods to extract CBD from hemp flowers.
What are hemp flower and CBD?
The hemp flower is a plant derived from cannabis, characterized by a low THC content compared to marijuana. Cannabidiol, on the other hand, better known as CBD, is one of the cannabinoids (compounds) present in hemp flower. This one in particular is characterized by not being a psychoactive substance, on the contrary, it has been shown to have certain positive effects on health.
CBD”s anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, antioxidant, and anticonvulsant properties are just a few of the therapeutic effects that have been discovered. CBD not only has these outstanding properties, but it is also non-intoxicating, making it a simple molecule to take for a much larger number of people.
Why is CBD extraction important?
To make CBD oils, cosmetics, or supplements, the cannabinoid must first be extracted from raw plant material. Hemp, a selectively developed crop employed extensively in dozens of commercial enterprises, is, fortunately, the most abundant source of CBD. Although there are numerous methods for extracting CBD from hemp, some are far more effective and safer than others. It”s critical to understand the differences since the method
you use to extract CBD has an impact on the purity and efficacy of the final product.
Methods to extract CBD
Below we will be discussing the two best methods to extract CBD from the hemp flower, including some pros and cons of each extraction method.
Olive oil CBD extraction
To extract olive oil at home, you must first ensure that your plant material is decarboxylated. In layman”s terms, this means it goes through the process of heat activating acidic cannabinoids. Of course, this occurs when you smoke or vape cannabis, but it can also occur when you bake it.
Once your plant matter has been decarboxylated, combine it with olive oil and cook it on the stove for several hours. CBD, other cannabinoids, and vital terpenes will attach to the oil’s fats, resulting in an infused product. The mixture is then allowed to cool before being filtered to eliminate any remaining plant matter.
Pros of olive oil extraction
- It’s easy to do at home
- Relatively safe, as no prior extraction experience is required
- A higher degree of purity than a solventless extraction
Cons of olive oil extraction
- In comparison to more professional procedures, there is less control over the final extract
- The CBD concentration is weak and unreliable
- It is not suited for commercial sale
Supercritical CO₂ CBD extraction
CO2 is managed in this way to reach a supercritical state. It’s pushed through raw plant material under-regulated settings, taking away important terpenes and cannabinoids without destroying them, and it has the properties of both a gas and a liquid.
Pros of supercritical CO₂ extraction
- Allows for the extraction of clean and safe concentrates without the use of additional additives or impurities;
- It provides high-yielding harvests, maximizing the hemp plant”s potential.
- CO2 extraction is both environmentally beneficial and sustainable.
Cons of supercritical CO₂ extraction
- Co2 extraction is a high-cost industrial procedure
- It requires skill to complete successfully.
What happens after extraction?
The CBD oil obtained after extraction is referred to as “full-spectrum” This implies that cannabinoids other than CBD are still present, including CBDA, CBDV, THC, and others. However, as long as the product is made from industrial hemp, the THC content will be less than 0.3 percent, which makes it legal in many countries.
Conclusion
Extracting CBD from hemp flower turned out to be not as difficult as you thought, right? Still, we always recommend good advice in case you want to try it from home, as many times you can”t have control over it. Also, always consult with someone a little more expert on the subject about the way of preservation and creation.
