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Everything You Need to Know About CBD Extraction

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 KENDRA NUTTALL  APRIL 12, 2019 BRIZO PURE EDUCATION / CBD EDUCATION

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The CBD wave is rising, but there’s still a lot to learn. We know CBD can have many benefits, but CBD’s efficacy and quality depend on several factors, including how the CBD was extracted.

In this article, we’ll discuss the three most common extraction methods, as well as a newer extraction method, and how they can influence the quality of your CBD product.

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CO2 

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The CO2 extraction method is the newest, as well as the most advanced method, however, it is also the most expensive and difficult process.

But, the end result, if done correctly, is potent, safe, and free of harmful chemical solvents, making CO2 one of the best extraction methods.

The CO2 extraction method is normally done with a piece of equipment called a “closed-loop extractor.” The machine has three different chambers. 

1. The first chamber holds solid, pressurized CO2, also known as dry ice. 

2. The second chamber holds the cannabis plant material.

3. The third chamber separates the CBD fluid from the plant.

How does it work? The CO2 is pumped from the first chamber into the second chamber where the cannabis plant material sits. Then, the solid CO2 takes on the form of supercritical CO2, a form between a liquid and gas. 

The supercritical CO2 runs through the plant material extracting cannabinoids. 

Finally, the supercritical CO2 is pumped into the third chamber where the CO2 moves to the top of the chamber and the fluid containing the cannabinoids moves to the bottom. 

Despite the learning curve and financial cost, CO2 extraction results in a healthy, safe, effective product.

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Liquid Solvent (Ethanol)

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Liquid solvents like ethanol, butane, alcohol, or isopropyl are commonly used to extract CBD.

Ethanol is the most common solvent used.

How does it work? Cannabis plant material must first be put in a container. Then, the liquid solvent is run through the material stripping it of cannabinoids. 

The cannabinoids are transferred to the liquid solvent. The liquid solvent is then evaporated from the mixture leaving the cannabinoids in oil form.

This process is cheaper than the CO2 method, as well as fast, and simple. Sounds great, right?

Well, there are a few major downsides. 

First, liquid solvents are extremely flammable, making this the most dangerous extraction method. 

Second, liquid solvents destroy important plant materials, including cannabinoids and terpenes that hold potential health benefits, inhibiting the final product’s performance. 

Third, there’s a potential for the unsafe residue to remain from the solvents used in the process, which can result in health issues.

All in all, this method is not ideal for consumer CBD products. 

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Olive Oil

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The olive oil extraction method is commonly used by CBD hobbyists, rather than commercial producers because it’s impractical for producing CBD on a large scale.

How does it work? First, cannabis plant material needs to be decarboxylated. This means it has to be heated to a certain temperature for a certain amount of time in order for the plant cannabinoids to “activate.”

Then, the plant material is added to olive oil and heated again to extract the cannabinoids. 

Unlike the liquid solvent method, the olive oil should not be evaporated from the mixture. As a result, the oil is also not as highly concentrated as other methods, necessitating a higher dose. 

CBD produced from olive oil is perishable and should be kept somewhere cool and dark.

This is one of the oldest extraction methods known. It is also safe, affordable, and relatively simple. 

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Whole Flower Fluid

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We’ve discussed the three most popular extraction methods, but as CBD’s popularity grows and more and more products enter the market, producers are coming up with new ways to extract.

At Brizo Pure, we use a new, proprietary, 100% natural whole flower fluid extraction process, similar to a cold press.

The whole flower extraction method CBD significantly differs from other methods. Rather than isolate the many components of the plant, whole flower extraction is designed to keep all of the plant components together and intact, resulting in higher bioavailability. We believe our extraction method is the best out there. 

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Full Spectrum CBD vs CBD Isolate

 KENDRA NUTTALL  APRIL 7, 2019 CBD EDUCATION

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Full-spectrum, broad-spectrum, isolate — what do all these terms mean? And how do we know which product will work?

Let’s break this down:

• Full-spectrum: Wide range of cannabinoids

• Broad-spectrum: Generally means a wide range of cannabinoids, without THC. However, this term is used very loosely. It can mean anything between the spectrum of Isolate and Full Spectrum

• Isolate: Contains CBD only

Okay, but what does all that mean? And which one do you want?

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Full Spectrum

The cannabis plant consists of hundreds of compounds.

Full-spectrum CBD, also commonly referred to as whole plant or whole flower CBD, contains CBD as well as a wide range of other cannabinoids, including THC, terpenes, flavonoids, and other cannabis compounds.

When all of these compounds work together, they can potentially have a wider effect on your health. This is called the “entourage effect.”

The entourage effect “magnifies the therapeutic benefits of the plant’s individual components — so that the medicinal impact of the whole plant is greater than the sum of its parts.”

Basically, when you consume full spectrum CBD, such as our product, Süthe, terpenes and cannabinoids work together by playing off each other’s strengths to deliver superior benefits.

In comparison, a product that doesn’t contain a wide range of cannabis compounds, such as CBD isolate, will not produce the entourage effect, meaning you won’t receive all the possible benefits of CBD.

In a groundbreaking study published by the Lautenberg Center, it was revealed that “in all of the tests, the isolated CBD was ineffective both before and after a certain dosage, while the effectiveness of the full-spectrum solution continued to increase as higher doses were administered.”

Research supports full-spectrum CBD as being the most effective and beneficial CBD.

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Broad Spectrum

Broad-spectrum generally refers to CBD products with a wide range of cannabinoids and other compounds, minus THC.

However, the term “broad spectrum” is used very loosely. It can mean anything between the spectrum of the isolate and full spectrum.

It could be just CBD with some terpenes or CBD with THC, but no other cannabinoids, etc.

All parts of the cannabis plant hold potential benefits. But the benefits may differ from cannabinoid to cannabinoid and terpene to terpene.

Unfortunately, research on the cannabis plant is still in the early stages, especially here in the U.S., there is still a lot to be discovered about the benefits of the cannabis plant and all its different components.

It might be best to choose a full spectrum product, as the research that’s been conducted so far points to full-spectrum CBD being the most effective.

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Isolate

Isolates do not include essential cannabinoids, terpenes, flavonoids, or any other compounds.

Isolate products simply contain CBD and nothing else.

In theory, this sounds great, but the fact is, CBD works better in conjunction with other components of the cannabis plant.

Research indicates that isolate products are generally less effective compared to broad-spectrum and full-spectrum products, due to CBD isolate’s lack of essential cannabis compounds.

However, one benefit of isolate products is that you can more easily dose. CBD isolate products generally list doses in milligrams, so you know how much CBD you’re consuming in each dose. This may be particularly important for those who require an exact dosage as part of treatment for a certain condition.

On the other hand, with full-spectrum CBD, milligram doses are less important, as the entourage effect works to create a wider impact than you can achieve with just CBD isolate.

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Conclusion

Research supports full-spectrum CBD as being the most superior CBD product, but you should pick the product that works best for you.

CBD affects everyone differently and what works for one person may not work for another person.

Consult with your doctor to find out what might work best for you.

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Sources:

Overcoming the Bell-Shaped Dose-Response of Cannabidiol by Using Cannabis Extract Enriched in…

Full Spectrum CBD VS. CBD Isolate: Which CBD Should I Take?

Cannabinoids in health and disease

https://www.projectcbd.org/science/terpenes-and-entourage-effect

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What’s the Right Dose of CBD For Me?

 KENDRA NUTTALL  MAY 4, 2019 CBD EDUCATION

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By now you’ve probably heard claims of CBD helping to relieve all kinds of ailments.

Maybe you think that CBD can help you, but what is the right dosage?

Let’s give you the facts you’ll need to become a smarter consumer and hopefully find a CBD product with the best dosage for you.

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Comparing two CBD products is like comparing apples and oranges.

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Research on the efficacy of cannabis is relatively new. Be skeptical if someone who isn’t a physician suggests that a specific milligram dosage of CBD will work for you.

Currently, the only FDA-approved CBD pharmaceutical is Epidiolex for the treatment of Dravet syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome.

However, there are thousands of other non-FDA-approved CBD products available for individuals wanting to try the benefits of CBD.

When it comes to all the unregulated products on the market, you need to be careful. Comparing the benefits of Product A and Product B is very difficult, as the efficacy of the CBD varies greatly from product to product.

If you are currently using a CBD product, you may either want to increase or decrease the mg of CBD per dose if switching products in order to get the same effect.

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Why does the effect of the same CBD milligram dosage vary so greatly from product to product?

Trying to figure out which dosage of CBD is right for you can be difficult. It requires an understanding of several different components that go into making your product:

• The plant used

• The extraction method used

• What the producer puts in or takes out of the plant

These three components all determine what CBD spectrum the final product becomes.

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What is the CBD spectrum?

There are three main categories in the CBD spectrum, and the CBD dosage required for the same effect will be different for each one.

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Full Spectrum (aka Whole Plant, Whole Flower)

Full-spectrum CBD products contain the full, wide range of compounds in the cannabis plant: cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids.

Full-spectrum CBD products are the only products that fully utilize the “entourage effect” — meaning that because the product preserves the full profile of the plant, hundreds of different chemical compounds (cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids) work together to provide a far superior benefit.

Because all these compounds work together to utilize the entourage effect, full-spectrum CBD products require the lowest dose of any CBD product. You should use the lowest recommended dosage and increase only if necessary.

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Broad Spectrum

Broad-spectrum generally refers to CBD products with a wide range of cannabinoids and other compounds, minus THC.

However, the term “broad spectrum” is used very loosely. It can mean anything between the spectrum of the isolate and the full spectrum.

Depending on the number and percentage of cannabinoids, a broad spectrum product may require significantly more CBD per dose.

A good rule of thumb with broad-spectrum products is to start low and increase your dosage over time. Be cost-conscious as you increase the dosage. A full spectrum product (which typically costs more upfront) may end up costing less per dose for the same effect.

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Isolate 

Isolate products contain CBD only.

These products require a precise, high milligram dosage for effectiveness due to the lack of terpenes, flavonoids, and cannabinoids other than CBD.

Although isolate products may sound appealing due to their lower cost, you’ll likely not save money in the long run as they need replacing more often.

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Conclusion

Full-spectrum CBD is generally pricier upfront but requires the lowest dosage, so you may find yourself saving money over the long run and having a longer-lasting product.

Broad-spectrum CBD varies widely in cost but also varies widely in ingredients. Due to this, broad-spectrum products can be difficult to precisely dose.

Isolate CBD is often the least expensive product, but it requires the highest dose, so you’ll find yourself replacing it more often and saving no money.

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