The Feel Good Guide to CBD Oils

CBD is everywhere these days and as more and more people set out to discover it’s beneficial effects, they often ask the question; “Where does CBD come from?”

A seemingly simple question but the methods of producing CBD-based products are so varied and complex that many people are searching for reliable information on the subject. Making an informed decision about which products they can trust is the best way to make sure the CBD ‘does what it say on the tin’. In this blog, we will give a detailed overview of the different processes and results, how it is made and where it comes from.

What is CBD?

Cannabidiol, or CBD for short, is a chemical found in both cannabis and industrial hemp that works alongside many other cannabinoids to awaken your endocannabinoid system (ECS).

When was CBD discovered?

CBD was discovered in the 1940s. Later, in the 1960s, scientists started studying the effects of individual cannabinoids like CBD, THC, and CBN. However, it was more than 40 years later that the US Farm Bill was passed in 2018 and so until then CBD and other hemp products could not be sold on the open market.

CBD & THC

The 2018 Farm Bill stated that industrial hemp plants (the kind from which CBD is primarily extracted), could not contain more than 0.3 percent THC. THC is the one cannabinoid that’s psychoactive and so is illegal in the UK; CBD on the other hand won’t get you ‘high’ and it has many beneficial effects.

What is CBD Oil Made From?

People often ask; “What are CBD oils made of?” To answer this, we must look at the cannabis plant and the Cannabis sativa L strain in particular. It starts by planting a seed and just like the plant, the CBD story grows from there.

What is Cannabis Sativa?

Cannabis sativa is an herbaceous species that has been cultivated throughout history. Cannabis sativa is grown for a variety of uses, including recreational purposes.

Sativa & Indica

These are the two most common varieties of the cannabis plant. So, what is the difference between Cannabis sativa and Cannabis indica? Sativa plants are typically much taller than the indica versions, which are shorter and stouter. Also, sativa strains are much more able to withstand the heat and so can grow in hotter climates.

Hemp & Marijuana

Cannabis sativa is generally chosen to produce industrial hemp due to their tall stalks making them better for producing textiles such as clothing and rope. Industrial hemp still contains some THC as well, but the levels are usually very low.

When plants are being grown for industrial hemp both male and female plants are grown together so they produce better fibres and also create seeds which are used to make hemp seed oil. Alternatively, when the plants are being grown for CBD or THC, the male plants are usually removed. This is because the unfertilised female plants will produce much higher levels of the various cannabinoids, so therefore more can be harvested from the same number of plants.

How Hemp is made into CBD Oil

There are a number of ways that CBD is extracted from the plants once they are harvested. Here are some of the most common types of extraction. Understanding these will give you a solid understanding of the various CBD oils that are available on the market.

CO2 Extraction

Carbon dioxide (CO2) extraction uses CO2 at very low temperatures to extract the cannabinoids and terpenes from the harvested plants. This method is very precise and when done in a lab can produce the purest CBD available. When done properly this will result in the highest quality CBD isolate which can then be blended with natural ingredients to make both CBD topicals and CBD tinctures.

Ethanol Extraction

Ethanol extraction is the most widely used process to produce CBD and it also results in a full spectrum product as all the cannabinoids and terpenes are extracted too. As the process can be done in normal conditions and temperatures it is safer and more time efficient that CO2 extraction. Alcohol (ethanol) is used to separate the CBD and other cannabinoids from the plant matter. However as all the cannabinoids are extracted there will still be levels of THC (albeit low levels) in the products so people who are drugs tested at work could be better off using a pure CBD isolate based product in order to be sure no THC will show up on their tests.

These extraction processes are just the start, as the wide variety of CBD oils available have also been produced by a number of different manufacturing processes.

Types of CBD

The terms ‘CBD isolate’, ‘full spectrum’ and ‘broad spectrum’ are often heard when people are talking about and researching the best CBD to use. Here we will help you to understand the differences so that when you buy CBD oil you know what you are getting and can be better placed to ensure of its quality. Below we will look at the most common types of CBD product and how they are made.

CBD Isolate

CBD isolate is CBD in it’s purest form as all the other cannabinoids are removed. These CBD isolate is then blended with other ingredients to create a wide variety of products such as tinctures, topicals, gummies, roll-ons, toothpaste, sun cream and more. As mentioned earlier, people who want to stay clear of THC are best placed to use these CBD isolate based products as they can be safe in the knowledge that they contain no THC. All CBD brands should produce a lab report for each batch showing all the cannabinoid levels and these should be available to every consumer. See the Feel Good CBD lab report here.

Full-Spectrum CBD

Full spectrum CBD contains all of the cannabinoids and the terpenes in the original plants. CBD and other chemicals which have benefits, such as CBN and CBG, are all contained within full spectrum products. However small amount of THC will still be there too, and this can potentially build up in your system to show a positive test result. So as mentioned earlier, athletes and other people who are drugs tested for work should be wary of these full spectrum products.

Broad-Spectrum CBD

Broad spectrum CBD sits in the middle of CBD isolate and full spectrum CBD. First full spectrum CBD is extracted and then from this any THC left is also removed to create a hybrid product.

However, with some broad-spectrum products there will be consistency issues between batches due to the technicality of extracting the same ratios of cannabinoids time after time.

So, some companies have started to create enhanced formulas of broad-spectrum CBD so that they can take the best qualities of the different extraction methods and keep the levels of the broad-spectrum cannabinoids consistent.

Feel Good CBD produces both enhanced broad spectrum CBD oils (CBD FLAVOURS) and also oils made from CBD isolate (CBD OILS). So, we hope that now you can make a more informed decision on which products will be best for you.

Learn More About CBD

Learning about CBD is an ongoing process. Keep up to date with industry trends, CBD information and newly developed products. Discover more by following our blog, and stay connected with the entire CBD community by checking out Feel Good CBD on both Instagram and Facebook!