Today more than ever the spotlight is entirely on the “green substance” which has contributed to revolutionizing the idea of the illegal. Let’s talk about hemp sativa and of everything that can be obtained from one’s innumerable properties. The market is constantly evolving and the products obtained from the cannabis plant are proof that something has changed in our era.
In the previous articles, we had described in detail which ones benefits can be obtained from the use of all the components of hemp. In particular, we had focused on theCBD oil and tincture.
Today, however, we would like to analyze the similarities and differences between natural CBD oil And oil produced with CBD crystals and delve deeper into the methodology used to achieve both.
What are CBD crystals?
As we know, CBD is a substance contained in cannabis and nowadays it is present in various forms, including CBD crystals. Here it is appropriate to clarify how the extraction and processing process of the crystals takes place. First, those who produce CBD crystals similarly to those who produce natural CBD oil extract the best plant matter from hemp plants.The difference between the two compounds is, however, substantial and lies in the extraction process itself.In fact, while the production ofnatural CBD oil, producers take the entire Cannabis phytocomplex (containing non-psychoactive substances such as CBG, CBC, CBN, TERPENOIDS AND AMINO ACIDS), crystal producers tend to eliminate all the beneficial substances connected to the plant, taking only CBD. This selection by the crystal producers is closely linked to their antiquated production process which only uses pure CBD.And so far everything is fine, except that modern society tends to have a strong prejudice, namely that the effectiveness and quality of a product is measured relative to purity. Let’s talk about prejudice, since purity is not always a symptom of quality when it comes to natural compounds.Just think of commercial white sugar, which, despite being more refined, contains pure sucrose, while cane sugar, certainly less treated, contains more minerals thanks to the intervention of a substance called molasses together with other compounds.Taking this consumer belief into consideration, retailers often add CBD crystals to the natural mixture to increase the value of CBD in the oil.
Natural CBD oil and its entourage effect
Unlike oil produced with crystals, natural CBD oil contains the entire hemp phytocomplex which is responsible for the combination and synergistic action between CBD and terpenoids, called the entourage effect, in which the plant’s natural compounds are thought to work together more harmoniously than CBD on its own. The entourage effect, as defined and extended by Wagner and Ulrich-Mertesenih, follows four mechanisms, distributed over different levels of benefit: 1. Ability to influence different areas of the organism; 2. Ability to promote the absorption of active ingredients; 3. Ability to overcome the defense put in place by the bacteria; 4. Ability to minimize side effects.
How to tell if CBD oil is natural or made with CBD crystals?
When we talk about natural CBD oil and tincture we must underline that in both cases it is the extract of the hemp plant. The extract in its pure form contains more than 20% of CBD (non-psychoactive substance of hemp), but the limit of THC (psychoactive substance of hemp) is well beyond the legal limit of most European states (Italy: 0.2-0.6%, Germany: 0.2%, Austria: 0.3%).To lower the THC concentration (this process consequently also lowers the CBD concentration) manufacturers dilute the hemp extract with alcohol (in the case of natural CBD tincture) and with edible oil (in the case of natural CBD oil).
The Italian legal limit of 0.2%-0.6% THC corresponds to the concentration of max. 6-8% CBD.
Therefore, if the CBD value for the oil or tincture distributed in Europe exceeds 8% it follows that the CBD content has been increased and enhanced with pure CBD, i.e. CBD crystals. On the contrary, if the tincture or oil has been extracted in a completely natural way, the CBD cannot have a higher value as the THC is less than 0.2-0.6%.
So, to recap:1. Natural CBD oil without added crystals triggers the entourage phenomenon, vice versa the one with crystals does not.
2. CBD has a more incisive and beneficial action on the body when it is combined with other natural hemp compounds (natural CBD oil without crystals) and not in its pure form (CBD crystals or CBD oil with added crystals)3. A study conducted by Israeli scientists has shown that “probably the other compounds of the extract (of the hemp plant) act synergistically with CBD, offering a greater anti-inflammatory action, capable of helping to overcome even the “dose-response” action of pure CBD.4. Nothing of the plant’s natural and beneficial substances is added or removed from the naturally produced oil and tincture. If the CBD value exceeds 6-8% it is the oil/tincture produced with CBD crystals.
Having said that and analyzed the most salient aspects, the choice remains only yours!