5 Ways to Identify High Quality CBD Oil

Updated on July 4, 2019

The popularity of CBD oil has exploded in recent years with people looking to treat their various ailments naturally. CBD is one of the chemical compounds found in the cannabis plants that offers relief from multiple symptoms without having the psychoactive effect of THC. One of the most popular forms of consuming CBD is using CBD oil. When taken sublingually, CBD oil can take anywhere from 5 to 10 minutes to take effect, offering fast-acting relief to users. 

Not all CBD oils are made the same. It is important that while shopping for oils you look out for these 5 properties that show you are buying a quality product. Make sure you shop around and look for reputable retailers that have experience in making your product. Because there are so many products on the market today, it is important that you take your time and do sufficient research. Better quality oils may cost more, but it will be worth it to get a safe, natural, and effective oil.

Terpenes

The first quality property you should look for is the number of terpenes in the product. The terpenes will be responsible for boosting the therapeutic properties of your CBD oil. Terpenes also give CBD good aromatic and flavor profiles, making your oil more pleasant to smell and taste. The number of terpenes in the oil will also contribute to how fast your body is able to absorb it, because of their ability to quickly cross the blood-brain barrier. The terpenes present during the growing process also help to naturally repel pests, reducing the need for artificial pesticides. 

Where Was the Flower Grown

It is also important to research where the hemp flower used to make the CBD oil was grown. Smaller companies that produce their own flowers and products will be able to tell you more about where the hemp was cultivated compared to large retailers that sell an abundance of products from different growers. Hemp is known to easily absorb the materials in the soil around it, a plant that was cultivated in an area with rich soil will be much better for you to consume. Some farms have soil rife with heavy metals and those should be avoided because it may show up in the hemp flower, making it more dangerous for you to consume. It will always be better to stick to more natural products while you are shopping. 

How Was the Oil Manufactured

Looking at how the oil was manufactured will also tell you a great deal about the quality of your product. One of the initial things to look for is the price point of the oil. Some companies may be selling CBD oil at a seemingly impossibly low rate and this is a red flag. Oil that is much cheaper than other products has a larger chance of being produced using methods that are dangerous to your health. Some companies will use toxic solvents such as propane or butane that are harmful to ingest. Instead, you should seek out companies that use organic and pharmaceutical grade ethanol to do their extractions. Using ethanol is known to be the safest and most effective way of extracting CBD from the hemp plant. Another option when looking at manufacturers is to seek out companies that use a new method that involves using carbon dioxide under high pressure in frigid temperatures to extract the CBD. This process takes longer and may come with a higher price tag but it ensures that the CBD oil maintains its purity without the addition of potentially harmful chemicals. 

Third Party Testing

A company can create any results they want in regards to purity, THC content, and CBD content. It is important that you seek out reputable companies that allow for random testing of their products through an unbiased third party. A good company that creates quality products will welcome third-party testing so their customers can verify the integrity of the products themselves. A reputable company will have a steady stream of recent results to show that their products contain what they say it does. Companies that have good customer service will also be more likely to have a quality product. Make sure to also look at reviews for the third-party labs, some will be better and more trustworthy than others.

CBD Crystals

Good quality oil will be free from CBD crystals. These crystals will contain nearly pure concentrations of CBD but they do not contain any of the therapeutic qualities of the plants. What is important to have in the oil in order to feel the therapeutic effects are terpenes and cannabinoids. These crystals may cause the user a relaxing effect but they offer none of the other health benefits other forms of the plant contains. Seeking out products that have the “whole plant” or “full-spectrum” label will make it more likely that you are choosing a quality product because it offers all the good benefits that the hemp plant can give. 

Seeking out the best product for you will take time, but if you follow these 5 steps, you will be much more likely to purchase a product that is safe and effective. Not all CBD oils are made the same, your diligence in seeking the best one will pay off in the end.

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