What is CBD oil? Composition and manufacturing process

The popularity of CBD oils is growing year on year. This has been influenced by both the legalisation of medical cannabis and consumers' greater knowledge of the product. Fewer and fewer people are also mistakenly equating CBD with cannabis. Instead, the substance is seen as an effective, safe and all-natural remedy for many conditions and properties. So what is CBD oil and how is it made?

What is CBD oil?

The substance popularly known as CBD is cannabidiol - one of the hundred cannabinoids found naturally in plants of the hemp family (including cannabis and hempseed). These are organic chemical compounds, almost identical to those produced by our bodies. These compounds are able to interact directly with the human endocannabinoid system - hence their name. This system is made up of receptors, the stimulation of which stimulates all the most important processes in the body and ensures their efficient functioning. 

Receptors of the endocannabinoid system are found, among others, in:

• brain;
• nervous system;
• liver;
• cells of the immune system;
• bone and joint cells;
• the muscular system.

Thanks to its ability to interact with these receptors, CBD can actively influence processes occurring throughout the body and helps it maintain a state of homeostasis, i.e. natural balance. The use of CBD oils in particular affects:

• regulation of the hormonal economy;
• maintaining metabolism at an optimal level;
• stimulating the development of the nervous system.

Thanks to its ability to interact with these receptors, CBD can actively influence processes throughout the body and help it maintain a state of homeostasis

How are CBD oils produced?

CBD oil for medicinal and therapeutic purposes is obtained from the flowers and leaves of the hemp plant (Cannabis Sativa L). It is worth mentioning that trade in these hemp products is fully legal, safe and regulated in Poland. Hemp crops must be registered in the European Union and the CBD oil production process is subject to control.

CBD oil can be produced by various methods, of which two are most commonly used. The most popular of these is the method alcoholic extraction of CBD. In this case, the flowers and leaves of the hemp plant are soaked in alcohol, which 'extracts' the active substances, including CBD. The resulting liquid is filtered to remove waxes and chlorophyll. Equally popular - but more often indicated as appropriate - is also extraction of CBD with carbon dioxidewhich is used due to the high process safety and environmental friendliness. The resulting product is very pure and safe. It also does not need to be filtered.

Characteristics of CBD oils

CBD, despite belonging to the same group of organic compounds as THC, is not a psychoactive substance. Therefore, it does not cause disturbances of consciousness or other mental side effects, and its use is completely safe.  Furthermore, taking CBD oil several times a day has a beneficial effect on the entire body. This was confirmed as early as 2003 by the US Agency for Health and Welfare. The study indicated that CBD oils can be used for:

• treatment of inflammatory conditions;
• mitigating the effects of neurological disorders;
• as an aid to drug-resistant epilepsy;
• treatment of psychosomatic illnesses;
• treatment of depression, neuroses and depressed mood states;
• cognitive impairment and memory problems.

However, it must be remembered that numerous clinical studies on CBD oils and their effects are still ongoing, so the full spectrum of possibilities is not yet known. For the time being, they are treated as dietary supplements, but special ones. This is because they are one of the few to attract widespread, worldwide attention.